The boat whistled sharply three times. The last horse, a young brown gelding, spooked as he was made to pass my stall. The boy took no notice but finished cleaning my wounds. Having done at last, he straightened and patted me. He left my stall and shut the door. My nostrils quivered. I just fought a great battle, and chose to go with him! He couldn't leave me now. The boy walked away to the stairs and started to climb them. I whinnied shrilly at him, and double barrelled the side of the stall. The boy ran back and instantly placed his hand on my nose. Other men came running too and looked at me. They talked excitedly to the boy, but he kept calm. He fixed the board that I broke, and decided to stay with me. He brought out a funny looking thing, but later I found that it was his bed. A cot, he called it. Huh. I don't see why he didn't have a stall for himself, but humans are strange things sometimes.

Later that night, the boat ran through heavy swells. Another storm? I pawed anxiously, but it didn't feel quite the same as the other storm, so I wasn't too worried. I leaned into the swells and waited for it to be over. The waves grew higher, and the other horses sickened, but since I had gone through it before, I remained well. The lightning cracked and thunder boomed, causing the young brown gelding to scream in fear. The other horses were nervous as well, but I was calm. Scared of a little lightning! What silly things.

The noise of the ship sputtered for a moment, causing my heart to seize with fear. Would we have to do this again? It came back to life a moment later, and I could see in the darkness that the boy was frightened as well. I pawed impatiently, and the boy proffered some sugar at me. Sugar at a time like this! I moved away, and struck at the side of the stall. If the ship goes down again, let me out! The boy understood my fear. It was a different fear than the other horses' fear. They had not seen what we had. He entered my stall, and I backed into a corner, not wanting to hurt him. "Whoa, Black," he said. I paused and looked at him. Again, he offered sugar on his palm. I remembered now that he had promised me, no matter what, we'd be together. I calmed at this, and leaned down and lipped the sugar. He patted me, and together we watched for the end of the storm.

Dawn broke and the ship had finally rode through the storm. The boy offered to help with the other horses, who still had not recovered. I watched everything he did, and saw the grooms get sick too. The waves tossing them around was too much for them. Unfortunately, as the day wore on, the boy sickened too. He lay on his cot and didn't move much. A man came down and took care of him, and I allowed other men to care for me.

A few days later, he was feeling better, and I was glad to have his hands on me and hear his voice again. The grooms and horses recovered, and all was well. We had no more troubles, and soon enough we finally stopped moving.

Soon the ship was busy once again with people dashing here and there. I watched the action, feeling apprehensive. The boy seemed uncertain, and started to walk away to talk to one of the important looking people. He didn't see another man unlocking my stall door! No one touches me except my boy! I whinnied fiercely at him and rose on my hind legs, towering over the startled man. I struck at him with my forelegs, and gleefully saw him go flying out of my stall. There, that'll show him who to mess with! The boy ran in my stall immediately, and grabbed my halter. He seemed frightened, but I wasn't worried. I didn't hit him that hard. The man stood up, and became angry and shouted at the boy, while other people came running. A different man calmly questioned the boy and the man I had struck. He took charge of the situation in a way that calmed me. He looked at me thoughtfully, and slowly entered the stall. I pranced a little, nervously, but the boy had a tight hold on my halter and was petting me. The man walked around me slowly, but did not touch me. He left my stall, and talked a while with the boy and the other man. Soon everyone left me alone, except the boy of course.

The boat began moving again, slowly. Were we almost there? I supposed the boat had to be moved someplace where we horses could get off, and I poked my nose on the boy's shoulder inquisitively. He smiled and patted me. I sensed he said something like "Soon." So it wouldn't be long now until I got off this wretched boat. I was nervous, but trusted the boy.

Finally the boat made a bump as it docked. The hold door was opened, and grooms got busy leading the other horses out. The brown gelding pranced and bubbled in a way that showed his age. Youngster! Finally, it was my turn. I turned my head to the sounds coming from beyond the hold door. It seemed noisy, noisier than the last time we changed boats. The boy held tight to my lead rope, and I followed him. I stepped out, and found that dark had fallen, and the dock and everywhere was lit with bright lights. Was there fire everywhere? The desert and the island had always been dark in the evening. What was this? I reared in uncertainty, but the boy got me down easily. I snorted sharply at the wall of sound and lights. Nothing changed. I screamed at the world I saw. Silence fell at the sound of my voice. Well, that was better anyway. I felt so many eyes watching me as the boy led me down the gangplank. My ears swiveled around. Now that people on the pier were quiet, I heard other sounds, roaring sounds, banging, and other things I could not identify. What was that?

A shrill whistle, higher than what humans could apparently hear, startled me. I was still on the gangplank when I reared high in fright. The boy kept me from losing my balance and got me down again. Men jumped on the gangplank. They're going to drag me away! I reared at them and struck with my forelegs. They did not come any closer. My black coat was starting to get damp with sweat. It's too noisy! The boy tried again, holding on to my halter with both hands and talking calmly to me. I was about to take another step, when a huge monster came onto the pier. It had wheels, and was very big and rattled. Two great lights shone from the front of it...they looked like giant glowing eyes! I reared in terror and whinnied. I didn't even stop to to think of the boy, who was still holding on to my halter. I lifted him off his feet, and tossed him aside. I nearly came over that time in my rear, but I found my balance again and landed. I knew the boy was somewhere beneath my feet, and managed not to step on him. I did a quick check...yes there he was between my feet. I snorted one more time at the monster, and fled back to my stall in the hold.

My stall door was closed, but I stood by it anyway, trembling. What kind of a world was out there? This was not the desert. It was a world of noise, strange smells and sights. It scared me. I turned to see the boy and a man in black at the hold door. The man did not approach me, but the boy walked to me, trying to calm me. He stood for a good while, petting me and giving me some sugar. I calmed down after a while. Finally he took my lead rope and I followed him. He led me to the hold door, but as soon as I saw the burning lights, I was frightened again. I rose up, but the boy turned me back to my stall again. He seemed to be wondering what to do with me. I have an idea! Let's go back to the desert! It's quiet there! The boy patted me again, then shrugged off his sweater. Hmm? What's he going to do with that? He led me to a box that he could stand on and tried to slip the sweater on over my eyes. Hey! Stop that! I tossed my head trying to get it off. He tied it more tightly to my halter, and in protest I did a little rear. He kept talking to me, and eventually I calmed down. I heard him jump off the box and tug on my halter. I couldn't see, so I had no choice but to follow him. I sensed the space of the doorway and paused, listening. I heard the clamour of the outside world, and flattened my ears. I hated it! I didn't want to go! The boy stroked my sweaty neck, and I took a step. Suddenly changing my mind, I reared. No! The boy did not hang on to my halter this time, but let the rope slide. I thudded down again, and felt the tug on my halter. Fine. I'll go. I trusted him to keep me safe. Soon I knew I was off the gangplank, and I pranced in nervousness, occasionally tossing my head to try to rid myself of the sweater. It was still noisy, but it didn't seem so bad now. At least although I couldn't see, there were no glaring lights to terrify me.

He lead me for a while, then excitedly called out to someone. I felt him fling his arms around someone, but I didn't know who it was. I flicked my ears forward and knew there were two people there...a male and a female. The male was calm sounded, and I liked his voice immediately. The female was worried sounding, and seemed afraid of me. I moved restlessly, and tried again to get the sweater off my head. I also kept turning my head to try and decipher what sounds I was hearing. I moved closer to the boy and heard the male nearby. I reached forward and sniffed. He did not touch me, but as I smelled him, I understood a few things. He had a distinct scent, as all humans do. However, the boy smelled something like him. I turned to the female, and discovered the same thing. Ah, I get it. The man was the boy's sire, and the female his dam. He was half of each of them. I remembered back to my own white dam, whom he still thought of on occasion, but every horse did. I had only seen my chestnut sire once, and did not remember much about him.

I turned as another male voice started talking. The boy was friendly to him, so I was not alarmed. I knew we couldn't stand here all night, and arrangements must be made for me. I was glad to get off the boat now, but I was naturally concerned of what would happen to me now. I knew though that the boy would not abandon me, not after all we'd been through.