They arrived together in the gateway of Birch Hall, Good Times blowing badly and Luke easing up on Prince of Thieves to stay with him. They rode past Harry"s Range Rover, the burning house ahead of them. It seemed to Luke that Good Times was hardly moving, while Prince of Thieves was as strong as ever. But Phil had forgotten about their race. His entire attention was fixed on his burning house.
The front of the house was an inferno, the blaze fanned by the insistent wind. Phil leaped from Good Times as did Luke from Prince of Thieves. Both horses panicked and shied away from the blaze.
"NO! NOOOOO!!" Phil yelled at the sight of the destruction. He sprinted up the main steps, but Luke felled him in a flying tackle. Possessed by what seemed like a madman"s strength Phil struggled free and
