“This horse is an unusual one. It has a direct bearing on the success or failure of my cause. Only with the help of the horse can I win the horse race, ascend the throne and benefit the people of the Ling Tribe, as well as marry....” Choru took a look at Cholmo and held back “marry the beautiful and virtuous Cholmo.”
Cholmo blushed at Choru’s remark because she saw what he didn’t speak frankly. She nodded her head solemnly and listened to him intently.
“The horse and I came into the world at the same time. It has 12 teeth now. Its father is the white Heavenly horse and its mother is the white earthly horse. It possesses the best of Heaven and earth and is now living with the wild horses. It has nine features: a harrier’s head, a weasel’s neck, a goat’s face, a rabbit’s larynx, an old frog’s eyelids, an angry snake’s eyes, a female roe’s nostrils, and two net-bag polyps. The last one is the most important and obvious: there is a tuft of vulture’s feather on its sharp ears.”
“Ok. I’ve got all that. Mother and I will set off to catch the Heavenly horse right now.”
Cholmo was just about to leave when Choru stopped her:
“The horse can understand what humans say and speak as well. When it’s running it can fly into the air. Its body can call up deities and its tail can summon dragons. Cholmo, it’s the guarantee of my success in the future, please .…”
Mother Gormo who had kept silent interrupted him:
“You needn’t say any more, Choru. Cholmo and I are aware of the importance of the horse. A rich harvest depends on fertile soil, proper temperature and good seeds. Hunting animals requires strong bows, sharp arrows and brave hunters. And if Choru, Cholmo and Mother are of the same mindset, we will easily catch the heavenly horse. There are no ready-made ideas but if we make a concerted effort we can manage a way up to Heaven.”
Then Cholmo and Gormo set off on their journey. Finally they arrived at Pannai Mountain which was full of wild horses wandering around and playing. Gormo knew the Heavenly horse but she was not in a hurry to point it out. She wanted to see if Cholmo remembered what Choru said.
Cholmo didn’t ask mother Gormo to help her. She just looked among the hundreds of wild horses for a trace of the Heavenly horse. It was not easy for her but in the end she found it.
The horse looked so special. Its mane and tail were emerald green and the hair on its body was shining and ruby red. It was running and jumping around full of energy. An involuntary exclamation of joy escaped from her lips.
“Oh! Mother! Look! There’s the Heavenly horse! Hurry! Let’s catch it!”
“Don’t hurry, Cholmo. Choru told us that the Heavenly horse can understand what people say and it can speak, too. Let’s give it a try.” Gormo said, singing out to the ruby coloured horse:
“A heavenly horse is for a real hero.
If you are Choru’s horse, please come to Gormo quickly.
There are several reasons to do so:
first to help Choru to ascend the throne, second to protect the heavenly horse from loneliness, third to benefit the common people and fourth to subdue demons, defeat strong enemies and make a peaceful world.
Ah, holy is the Heavenly horse!
Prophetic is the Heavenly horse!
If you can understand me please come to me now.”
A lot of the wild horses were frightened by her singing and they all stamped except the Heavenly horse which instead approached her slowly. When she saw this Cholmo clapped her hands in delight:
“Mother Gormo, look, the Heavenly horse is coming to us!”
“Yes, it is!” It was really a pleasant surprise. Gormo’s eyes were glistening with tears.
The horse stopped unexpectedly about 20 yards away and opened its mouth to speak:
“I am a Heavenly horse and my name is Gyaingar Pebo. Some 12 years have passed here on earth for me and I could not even fulfil a tiny wish. I did not see Gormo and I knew nothing about where Choru is. Old age and infirmity have caught up with me, now so it is impossible for me to be a hero even if I wanted. Gormo, would you mind telling Choru I am going back to Heaven? ” As he finished speaking the Heavenly horse, Gyaingar Pebo, ran up to the sky and left.
When she saw this Cholmo began to cry. With the impulsive thought of stopping the Heavenly horse, she rushed forward while shouting at the top of her voice. Unluckily, she tripped over a stone and fell but she kept on crawling forward on all fours and called desperately: “Winged steed, please don’t go, Choru needs you! Ling Garpo needs you! I, Cholmo, also need you! Don’t leave, please, please….”
Unlike Cholmo, Mother Gormo did not look too upset. Seeing the Heavenly horse running up to the sky she immediately bent over to pray for the Buddhist Guardians’ help.
As expected, among the clouds in the sky, there appeared Choru’s siblings in Heaven escorted by deities and the Dragon king. The siblings were Choru’s elder brother Tungchon Garpo, younger brother Lungsho Waychon and younger sister Talay Waygar. They promised Toipa Garwa to help him long ago. Now they came to help Gormo and Cholmo.
The elder brother Tungchon Garpo had a magic rein in his hand, at the other end of which was the Heavenly horse. He handed the magic rein to Gormo. The horse finally became tame and was willing to be led by Gormo. Afterwards Choru’s siblings and the deities disappeared into the sky.
All this happened in front of Cholmo. Suddenly, she rose up from the ground and rushed at Gormo with the intention of taking over the magic rein from Gormo’s hands. But unfortunately her sudden movement scared the horse so that he soared into the air once again. This time it also took Gormo with it. Cholmo was dumfounded.
The Heavenly horse flew higher and higher, with Gormo on its back, and further and further. The wind whistled around Gormo’s ears and she did not dare open her eyes. The Heavenly horse turned to Gormo and said:
“Don’t be scared, Gormo. Open your eyes and look at the beautiful world.”
Gormo did as the Heavenly horse told her. India, Persia, Soipo, the lands inhabited by the Qiang and Han peoples and the areas occupied by demons came into view one after the other. Still Gormo was very worried.
As Gormo remained silent, the Heavenly horse said again:
“Gormo, have a good look at the lands where You may one day walk. What’s the matter? you seem to be upset?”
