Dave's Anatomy: My History As a Writer, #68: "Horse Latitudes"

Horses have been companions to the human race for a thousand years. It's debatable who first tamed them, but from Japan and China to the edge of Europe, they were beasts of burden, vital to the economy and culture of everyone from the Mongols to the Knights of the Round Table. Spanish invaders brought horses to the new world; some got away, went wild, and the native tribes learned to ride them and use them as a decisive weapon against their enemies, both European and native. It has only been about a hundred years since horses faded from the scene, replaced by mechanized vehicles.

In the tale "Horse Latitudes," Sossity Chandler is on a cruise with her boyfriend. She enjoys the relative anonymity; though a lot of people on the cruise know who she is, and though she has agreed to do a short concert beyond the voyage ends, the people on board generally respect her privacy and she is able to relax and enjoy herself.

Horses painted by Chirico

But she is also getting visions of horses. And the horses are not particularly friendly. As C. S. Lewis wrote in a poem about two horses of the future, "the look / Of half-indignant melancholy and delicate alarm’s gone." These horses, and the ones Sossity sees, are rather ferocious and dangerous. And, of course, wild horses are dangerous and formidable. Sossity sees one in the water beside the boat and in her dreams. More disturbingly, one night she dreams she is adrift at sea and horses are trying to kill her by dragging her down into the sea; she is rescued, though only after much mayhem, death, and horror.

Hobnobbing with other passengers, she learns, from a Professor of Spanish literature, that they are in the "horse latitudes," and near a place called "Horse Island." The Horse Latitudes were located in parts of oceans where ships were often becalmed. Legend had it that ships transporting horses to the new world sometimes had to throw them into the water to drown because they were stalled and running out of food and water for the horses. Scholars today say that this was probably an "urban legend" of the time and did not really happen. Still, paranormal stories allow one to push the limits. Sossity learns that Almagro, the Captain of the ship, comes from a Spanish family that raised and transported horses in 1600s—and is still in the horse-raising business today.

The most frightening incident happens when Sossity goes out one night to smoke some joints with other passengers. Making her way back to his cabin, she is cornered by three large horses that surround her. They are soaking wet and seem to study her with their big, serious eyes. After a few moments, they disappear. She thinks the whole thing a drug-induced hallucination, but the next day, Almagro has his crew cleaning up a pool of salt water that has somehow appeared on the deck of the ship. Sossity also learns that one of Almagro's relatives came to Horse Island a short time ago and ended up dying of anthrax.

Once on Horse Island, she is able to forget her fears. She enjoys the luxury hotel and amenities of the island. Seeing the herd of wild horses (and is a little unnerved to see three beasts who like the horses who cornered her on the boat), she goes running with other cruise passengers, and has a good time. She sees Almagro uses a taser on a horse that is trying to menace him. She talks to him and learns more of his disgust for horses and for his family's horse-raising.

One morning she goes for a run with a group of women staying at the hotel. When she returns, she founds the horses have attacked.

Mayhem has broken out. The horses have come into the hotel, chased people across the grounds, and, in some cases, trampled and stomped people. She thinks of Diggory, her boyfriend, and runs toward the hotel. After a while she finds him safe, protected by police with rifles. Meanwhile, Almagro has learned of the incident and given his crew instructions to kill all the horses. He and his girlfriend appear in a jeep, but before they get to the hotel, horses descend on and kill them. Sossity is near-by. The three horses she saw on the ship gather around her, as they did the night she first saw them—not to harm her but to protect her. When Almagro is dead, the horses—including the ones guarding Sossity so she will not be harmed—depart for sanctuaries in the hills. They have had their revenge and the anger of their memories can rest.

Almagro and his girlfriend are dead. A few tourists have been hurt, none seriously. Eight horses were killed. The Police Chief countermands Almagro's order and says the horses are not to be harmed. They are too valuable as tourist attractions to be destroyed.

"Horse Latitudes" appeared in a print magazine called Brain Soup, which only went for one issue. I don't believe it is available today. Another story to resubmit.

For additional comments, check out my Writer's Page.

I would love to hear your comments. Some people are afraid of horses. I never was, though I have not been around them a lot and have hardly ridden. Some people, though, find them frightening.

Happy reading.