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<center><div class="menu"><div class="typed-speed55-delay500">Interactive Excerpt</div></div></center>
<center><span class="links"><span style="text-transform:uppercase;"><div class="menubutton"><<click "BEGIN" "Info">><<set $type to "true">><<set $shake to "true">><<set $none to "false">><</click>></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;">*play without text effects</span></div></span></span></center><center><small><small>Excerpt from SIXTEEN HORSES,
a novel by GREG BUCHANAN.
Abridged excerpts used with permission of Pan Macmillan.
Interactive fiction programmed and developed by G.C. BACCARIS.
Photo art by TREVOR HENDERSON.
Trailer by GARY KINGS. Trailer music by HARRIET FORD.
Using audio by JONATHAN SHAW & KEVIN MACLEOD,
and glitch CSS by ALAIN BARRIOS.
Copyright © Buchanan Productions 2021</small></small></center><<if tags().includes("credits")>><div class="uibutton"><<popup "credits" "Credits">></div><</if>><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed55-delay500">‘I don’t keep horses.’</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>‘I don’t keep horses.’<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links"><span class="shaking-text2">[[‘I’ve never kept horses.’]]</span></span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>[[‘I’ve never kept horses.’]]<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><center><span class="longfade"><div class="menubutton"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sixteen-Horses-Greg-Buchanan/dp/1529027160/">PREORDER (UK)</a></div><div class="menubutton"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sixteen-Horses-Novel-Greg-Buchanan/dp/1250246660">PREORDER (US)</a></div></span>
<div class="videoframe"><video controls src="video/trailer.mp4" height="500px;" width="500px;" autoplay></video></div>
<span class="longfade"><div class="menubutton"><<link "REREAD?">><<script>>state.restart()<</script>><</link>></div></span><span class="links"></span></center>
<i><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed55-delay500">MISSING DOG.
CHOCOLATE LAB.
RAN AWAY IN DENTON PARK AUGUST 2ND.
VERY FRIENDLY. ANSWERS TO LIZZIE.
PLEASE HELP US FIND HER.</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">><center>MISSING DOG.
CHOCOLATE LAB.
RAN AWAY IN DENTON PARK AUGUST 2ND.
VERY FRIENDLY. ANSWERS TO LIZZIE.
PLEASE HELP US FIND HER.</center><br><</if>> <center><div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links"><span class="shaking-text">[[£50 REWARD.|fifty feet away]]</span></span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>[[£50 REWARD.|fifty feet away]]<span class="links"></span><</if>></div></center></i><span class="title">1. PROLOGUE.</span>
<div class="line"></div>
<<masteraudio stop>><<audio "ambience" volume 0.80 play loop>><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">Tufts of cloud burned black before the sunrise, the horizon littered with the flotsam of old and rusted silhouettes.</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>Tufts of cloud burned black before the sunrise, the horizon littered with the flotsam of old and rusted silhouettes.<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links">[[They were alone.|3]]</span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>[[They were alone.|3]]<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">‘Chemtrails,’ the farmer had said to Alec, early on their walk. Other than this, he had been silent.</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>‘Chemtrails,’ the farmer had said to Alec, early on their walk. Other than this, he had been silent.<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links">Their torches revealed the [[edge of a bank|where]].
The reeds [[sang with flies|mud]] and crickets and buntings.</span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>Their torches revealed the [[edge of a bank|where]].
The reeds [[sang with flies|mud]] and crickets and buntings.<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">The world was still dark, even if only for a little while.
The sun was almost free. The day had almost begun.</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>The world was still dark, even if only for a little while.
The sun was almost free. The day had almost begun.<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links">‘Where are they?’ Alec asked, <span class="unshaking-text">[[shivering|MISSING]]</span>.</span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>‘Where are they?’ Alec asked, [[shivering|MISSING]].<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">Fifty feet away, the field gave way to freshly tilled brown soil, forming mounds everywhere on the uneven earth. Chalky rocks littered the plot in every direction. Each step in this place was as muddy and wet as the last.
The farmer walked his fields, and the detective followed, right up until a thin metal fence marking the edge of the land, clots of wool decorating the wire like fairy lights where the sheep had once tried to break through.
</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>Fifty feet away, the field gave way to freshly tilled brown soil, forming mounds everywhere on the uneven earth. Chalky rocks littered the plot in every direction. Each step in this place was as muddy and wet as the last.
The farmer walked his fields, and the detective followed, right up until a thin metal fence marking the edge of the land, clots of wool decorating the wire like fairy lights where the sheep had once tried to break through.<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links">There were [[no animals|MISSING2]] in sight now.
There was nothing but [[detritus|MISSING2]].</span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>There were [[no animals|MISSING2]] in sight now.
There was nothing but [[detritus|MISSING2]].<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">Alec looked down. For a moment, he saw nothing but dirt.
‘I don’t—’
Alec stopped talking, a breeze moving past them both. </div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>Alec looked down. For a moment, he saw nothing but dirt.
‘I don’t—’
Alec stopped talking, a breeze moving past them both. <br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links"><span class="shaking-text">[[Something shook]]</span> along the soil.</span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>[[Something shook]] along the soil.<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">Just three feet away, almost the same colour as the mud itself, there lay a great mound of black hair, coiled in thick and silken spirals.
Alec moved closer and knelt down. He wiped his hands on his trouser legs, reached into his pockets, and pulled out a pair of latex gloves.
He lifted some of the hair up, surprised by the weight of it, its coarseness. He held it higher and ran his fingers along the strands, gripping at intervals. Towards the base of the spiral, where the rest of the hair still lay upon the ground…</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>Just three feet away, almost the same colour as the mud itself, there lay a great mound of black hair, coiled in thick and silken spirals.
Alec moved closer and knelt down. He wiped his hands on his trouser legs, reached into his pockets, and pulled out a pair of latex gloves.
He lifted some of the hair up, surprised by the weight of it, its coarseness. He held it higher and ran his fingers along the strands, gripping at intervals. Towards the base of the spiral, where the rest of the hair still lay upon the ground…<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links"><span class="shaking-text">[[He felt flesh and bone.]]</span></span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>[[He felt flesh and bone.]]<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">Alec put it back carefully. The sun continued to rise.
There was something else.
It was black, almost like plastic in its sheen, a thin half-moon of dulled white at its rim. It looked past him.</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>Alec put it back carefully. The sun continued to rise.
There was something else.
It was black, almost like plastic in its sheen, a thin half-moon of dulled white at its rim. It looked past him.<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links"><span class="shaking-text2">There was [[an eye|eye]], a large sad eye in the earth.</span></span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>There was [[an eye|eye]], a large sad eye in the earth.<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">Alec shone his torch across the area. There were others – some close together, some alone. He walked until he was sure he had found the whole set. He paced back and forth, a hundred feet all around.
He counted sixteen submerged heads, all apart, all with only the barest strand of skin on display…</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>Alec shone his torch across the area. There were others – some close together, some alone. He walked until he was sure he had found the whole set. He paced back and forth, a hundred feet all around.
He counted sixteen submerged heads, all apart, all with only the barest strand of skin on display…<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links"><span class="shaking-text">All with [[a single eye]] left exposed to the sun.</span></span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>All with [[a single eye]] left exposed to the sun.<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">One of the heads had been dug up a little more than the others, revealing the neck, at least. It was unclear how much of the corpse remained beneath the surface.
There were footprints everywhere: Alec’s, the farmer’s, the daughter’s, no doubt. He hadn’t been told any of this… He hadn’t known…</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>One of the heads had been dug up a little more than the others, revealing the neck, at least. It was unclear how much of the corpse remained beneath the surface.
There were footprints everywhere: Alec’s, the farmer’s, the daughter’s, no doubt. He hadn’t been told any of this… He hadn’t known…<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links">‘Who could <span class="shaking-text2">[[do]]</span> this?’ the farmer croaked, blinking.
‘Who could <span class="shaking-text2">[[make themselves]]—</span>’</span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>‘Who could [[do]] this?’ the farmer croaked, blinking.
‘Who could [[make themselves]]—’<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">Alec looked up suddenly, acid rising in his throat. The sky was growing brighter, its red spreading like fire, the clouds shifting blue. Still the flies and crickets screamed across the reeds, though nothing crawled along those dead eyes. Nothing seemed to touch them.
‘Have you ever seen anything like this?’ the farmer asked. ‘It’s—’</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>Alec looked up suddenly, acid rising in his throat. The sky was growing brighter, its red spreading like fire, the clouds shifting blue. Still the flies and crickets screamed across the reeds, though nothing crawled along those dead eyes. Nothing seemed to touch them.
‘Have you ever seen anything like this?’ the farmer asked. ‘It’s—’<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links"><i><span class="unshaking-text">[[Grotesque.|Beautiful.]]</span>
<span class="unshaking-text">[[Beautiful.]]</span></i></span><</if>><<if $none is "true">><i>[[Grotesque.|Beautiful.]]
[[Beautiful.]]</i><span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">Alec shook his head, stepping back, staring once more at the hair. It was all tails, he could see that now.
‘That’s murder,’ the farmer said, his voice soft. ‘Just look at them. Look.’
It was in fact criminal damage, a mere property crime.</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>Alec shook his head, stepping back, staring once more at the hair. It was all tails, he could see that now.
‘That’s murder,’ the farmer said, his voice soft. ‘Just look at them. Look.’
It was in fact criminal damage, a mere property crime.<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links">If you decide something <span class="shaking-text">[[isn’t human]]</span>, you can do almost anything.</span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>If you decide something [[isn’t human]], you can do almost anything.<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">Alec looked at the house again, dark and cold in the distance.
‘We need to get a vet in.’ Alec stood up. ‘We need to get post-mortems performed, if we can. I wouldn’t touch them until we know more—’
‘Can’t afford any of that,’ the farmer said.</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>Alec looked at the house again, dark and cold in the distance.
‘We need to get a vet in.’ Alec stood up. ‘We need to get post-mortems performed, if we can. I wouldn’t touch them until we know more—’
‘Can’t afford any of that,’ the farmer said.<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links">[[‘You wouldn't have to—’|two torsos]]</span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>[[‘You wouldn't have to—’|two torsos]]<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">‘What about the owner?’ asked the farmer.
‘Of what?’
‘Them – these—’ The farmer gesticulated, wincing.
‘What?’ Alec glanced down at the heads and up again at this man. ‘Were you stabling them?’ He paused. ‘We’d need to contact the—’</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>‘What about the owner?’ asked the farmer.
‘Of what?’
‘Them – these—’ The farmer gesticulated, wincing.
‘What?’ Alec glanced down at the heads and up again at this man. ‘Were you stabling them?’ He paused. ‘We’d need to contact the—’<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links">‘NO,’ the farmer spat. <span class="shaking-text3">[[‘No – no – no—’]]</span></span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>‘NO,’ the farmer spat. [[‘No – no – no—’]]<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">‘Hey, it’s OK,’ Alec said, stepping closer as the farmer turned away. ‘I’m sure it’s covered by your insurance.’</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>‘Hey, it’s OK,’ Alec said, stepping closer as the farmer turned away. ‘I’m sure it’s covered by your insurance.’<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links"><span class="shaking-text2">[[‘You don’t understand.’]]</span></span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>[[‘You don’t understand.’]]<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<masteraudio stop>><<masteraudio stop>><center><br><br><br><div class="menu"><big><span class="fade">COMING SOON</span></big></div></center>
<<timed 2s>><<goto "a novel">><</timed>><span class="links"></span><<masteraudio stop>><<audio "apprehension" volume 0.80 play loop>><<timed 4s>><<goto "eye2">><</timed>><span class="links"></span><div class="glitch">
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</div><<timed 5s>><<goto "an eye">><</timed>><span class="links"></span><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed55-delay500">‘That’s what I tried to tell the girl on the phone—’
A fly landed on the rim of an eye.</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>‘That’s what I tried to tell the girl on the phone—’
A fly landed on the rim of an eye.<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links"><span class="shaking-text3">[[‘I’ve never seen these horses before in my life.’]]</span></span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>[[‘I’ve never seen these horses before in my life.’]]<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><center><br><br><br><div class="menu"><big><span class="fade">A NOVEL BY
GREG BUCHANAN</span></big></div></center>
<<timed 4s>><<goto "horses">><</timed>><span class="links"></span><center>The following is an abridged,
interactive excerpt from the beginning of
the novel <i>Sixteen Horses.</i>
To advance the text, click on
[[coloured words|One]]
when they appear.
<i>These events have
already occurred.
There is no way to
change the past.</i></center><span class="links"></span><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">Alec stared at the mud, and the farmer grinned, his cheeks ruddy beneath his dirty white beard. With that thick wax coat and that gut and that voice, he could have been a lunatic Santa Claus.
‘You won’t fall,’ he said. ‘Not afraid of a little dirt, are you, Sergeant Nichols?’</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>Alec stared at the mud, and the farmer grinned, his cheeks ruddy beneath his dirty white beard. With that thick wax coat and that gut and that voice, he could have been a lunatic Santa Claus.
‘You won’t fall,’ he said. ‘Not afraid of a little dirt, are you, Sergeant Nichols?’<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links">[[No.]]
[[Yes.]]</span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>[[No.]]
[[Yes.]]<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">‘I just hope you aren’t wasting my time. And these flies…’
Alec swatted one away from his rolled-up sleeve, a great bulbous thing that had nestled on the hairs of his forearm.</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>‘I just hope you aren’t wasting my time. And these flies…’
Alec swatted one away from his rolled-up sleeve, a great bulbous thing that had nestled on the hairs of his forearm.<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links">He was [[food]] for this whole place.</span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>He was [[food]] for this whole place.<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">The other man tutted, smiling. ‘What have we come to, eh?’
Alec leapt over the ditch and came down with a thud, right into the thick and gelatinous mud.</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>The other man tutted, smiling. ‘What have we come to, eh?’
Alec leapt over the ditch and came down with a thud, right into the thick and gelatinous mud.<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links">He [[splattered|where]] his black trouser legs and the farmer’s jeans.</span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>He [[splattered|where]] his black trouser legs and the farmer’s jeans.<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200"><i>‘Who could make themselves—’</i>
There was making here, wasn’t there?
There was creation.</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">><i>‘Who could make themselves—’</i>
There was making here, wasn’t there?
There was creation.<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links">Even in all this [[death|eyes]], even in all this burial…</span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>Even in all this [[death|eyes]], even in all this burial…<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200"><i>‘Who could do this?’</i>
And how many had done what?
How many were ‘who’?</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">><i>‘Who could do this?’</i>
And how many had done what?
How many were ‘who’?<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links">There were so many [[animals|eyes]] here… so much earth upon them…</span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>There were so many [[animals|eyes]] here… so much earth upon them…<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">‘Try covering up next time,’ the farmer said.
Alec grimaced. He stepped back, tensing…</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>‘Try covering up next time,’ the farmer said.
Alec grimaced. He stepped back, tensing…<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links">And [[rushed|where]] over the ditch.</span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>And [[rushed|where]] over the ditch.<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><i><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed38-delay300">‘It's happened again… and it's going to keep happening, isn't it?’
The night before, a van had driven through the darkness. There had been fireworks in the sky, an effigy in a bonfire, closer to Ilmarsh.</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>‘It's happened again… and it's going to keep happening, isn't it?’
The night before, a van had driven through the darkness. There had been fireworks in the sky, an effigy in a bonfire, closer to Ilmarsh.<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links">‘Tell me… would you rather be [[careless|Ilmarsh]] or [[cruel|Ilmarsh]]?’</span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>‘Tell me… would you rather be [[careless|Ilmarsh]] or [[cruel|Ilmarsh]]?’<span class="links"></span><</if>></div></i><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">This place had been a pleasure town, once. All lettered rock and candy floss by the sea.
A place to escape. A place to drink clean air, to recede from the grind of daily work.
Alec didn't know these people.</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>This place had been a pleasure town, once. All lettered rock and candy floss by the sea.
A place to escape. A place to drink clean air, to recede from the grind of daily work.
Alec didn't know these people.<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links">He didn't know anyone, least of all [[himself]].</span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>He didn't know anyone, least of all [[himself]].<span class="links"></span><</if>></div><<if $type is "true">><div class="typed-speed22-delay200">He stood in an empty field at the edge of everything, and he could not understand what he was supposed to find.</div><</if>><<if $none is "true">>He stood in an empty field at the edge of everything, and he could not understand what he was supposed to find.<br><</if>>
<div class="linkcont"><<if $none is not "true">><span class="links">‘There,’ the farmer interrupted. [[‘In the ground.’|detritus]]</span><</if>><<if $none is "true">>‘There,’ the farmer interrupted. [[‘In the ground.’|detritus]]<span class="links"></span><</if>></div>
