The rainbow never sets

our ski turns, as we had learnt them in Zakopane, and came to a stop where the lake started. With all the snow about, the actual shoreline had disappeared.

We went down a couple more times, and then we faced the short side of the hill, going straight towards the lake. "You go first, Dieter," said Günter. I hesitated. From where we stood, we could not see the whole run down, as the slope became steeper further down. But I was challenged, and wanted to go first. Plucking up all my courage, I decided, I would go down at an angle, not straight down, turning several times. But I had to be careful not to get too close to the northern rim.

"Holidioh," I imitated some yodelling, and down I went. As there was plenty of fresh snow on the hill, the steep bit wasn't too bad. I managed the turns, and in no time I was down. I turned round and saw Günter coming down straight. He was a slightly better skier than I, and he certainly had more courage. He zoomed by me and came to a stop about 50 meters further down on the ice.

"Let's do it again!" I shouted as I was heading towards the long end of the hill. To climb up the steep end would have been too difficult. As we arrived on top again, both panting heavily, I said to Günter: "This time it is your turn to go first, and let's see who can get furthest on the lake."

Without hesitation he shot down the hill, knees bent, stocks parallel, just as our teacher had taught us in Zakopane.

I followed about half a minute later, as I wanted to use his tracks, to get me further. Going straight down there always gave me a tremendous thrill. It was easy to follow Günter's tracks, and coming down, I passed him easily on the lake.

"You are cheating, following my tracks. Of course you would get further than I that way."

"Ha, ha," I couldn't help laughing. "Let's do it again, and then see who can get further."

And so it went all morning. We forgot all about the time and coming home for lunch. It was sheer joy. Only when the sun started to come quite close to the horizon, did we realise that we had been here for too long, and we made a hasty retreat home.

At home, they were a bit worried about us. "We nearly sent out a search party," said Mutter jokingly. We were happy that no one was really angry with us. We still got some lunch and then snuggled up with a book in our cosy lounge.

Before we went to bed that night, Günter asked Vater: "Could we have a horse for tomorrow? We want to take it to the lake and around the park and have him pull us on our skis."

"I'll tell Franz in the morning. You just go when you are ready." Next day Günter went to fetch the horse, while I was getting the skis ready. He had to get a couple of long lines, which we fastened to the

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