Nightmare on the nose — Context and Discussion

From Bedroom to Backstretch

The transition from nightmare to racehorse is swift and pragmatic. Watson's idea—"how'd you like to run in a race?"—is met with Incubus's immediate, cynical agreement. The middle excerpts show the pair navigating the racing world: entering Incubus in an allowance race, dealing with the racing secretary's skepticism, and winning handily. Smith keeps the focus on logistics and dialogue rather than explaining the supernatural mechanics. The story never clarifies how Incubus appears as a horse to others or how her supernatural speed works; readers must accept the premise as given.

Notable is the recurring motif of fairness. Incubus initially worries about cheating, but Watson dismisses her scruples. Later, the horse Pamplemousse convinces her that competing is unethical, introducing a moral dimension that complicates the simple wish-fulfillment plot. The middle sections thus shift from pure comedy to a subtle exploration of what it means to be a "stake horse" among claimers.

Love, Pregnancy, and a Bend Sinister

Incubus's romance with Pamplemousse—a claimer who lectures her on ethics—introduces a sentimental subplot that undercuts the earlier cynicism. Smith handles the pregnancy with deadpan humor: Watson asks "how could you do it?" and Incubus snickers, "I have my methods." The foal's "bend sinister" (a heraldic term for illegitimacy) is a wry nod to the impossibility of registering a supernatural horse's offspring.

This section deepens Incubus's character beyond the wisecracking nightmare. She chooses loyalty to Watson over love, winning the Belmont Futurity before revealing her pregnancy. The emotional register shifts from farce to genuine pathos, preparing readers for the story's conclusion. The middle excerpts show Smith balancing multiple tones—comic, romantic, and melancholic—within a tight word count.

The Big Bookie Calls

The closing excerpts deliver the story's emotional payoff: Incubus must return to her supernatural origins because "the Big Bookie" decrees it. Her farewell speech—"I had my baby tonight, Watson. Take good care of her"—is poignant but undercut by her earlier snark. The foal, half-equine, can remain on Earth, and Prunella will help raise it. Watson's vow to care for the baby provides a bittersweet resolution that avoids sentimentality.

Readers should note that the story never explains who or what the Big Bookie is, nor does it detail Incubus's original punishment. The ending relies on the emotional weight of the relationship built over the preceding pages, not on world-building. The final image—a foal that "will be the fastest thing on earth"—leaves the door open for future adventures while closing Incubus's arc with dignity.

Voice and Structure: A First Reading Guide

Smith's prose is efficient and dialogue-driven. Key observations for a first reading:

• Voice: Incubus speaks in a tough, colloquial register ("Whaddya mean run?") that contrasts with Watson's more formal complaints. This verbal clash drives the comedy.
• Structure: The story moves through three distinct phases: nightmare setup, racing success, and sentimental departure. Each phase has a different dominant tone—comic, triumphant, melancholic.
• Recurring details: The word "ethical" appears multiple times, first dismissed by Watson, later embraced by Incubus. The racing terminology (claimer, allowance, Futurity) is used accurately but never explained, assuming reader familiarity.
• Incompleteness: The excerpts do not show the foal's birth or the final race; readers must infer these from dialogue. The story's brevity (7,143 words) means every scene carries weight.

Approach Nightmare on the Nose as a character-driven fantasy that uses horse racing as a backdrop for a story about loyalty, love, and the cost of winning. The supernatural elements are never over-explained; instead, Smith trusts the reader to accept a talking, card-playing horse as a given. Pay attention to how Incubus's voice evolves from abrasive to tender, and how the story's humor gives way to genuine emotion without losing its edge. The ending, while bittersweet, feels earned because the relationship between Watson and Incubus has been built through shared victories and quiet conversations in the stable.

The odd, bittersweet way Incubus finally leaves the gambler stayed with me. It felt less like a punchline and more like a quiet farewell, the sort of gentle, strange melancholy you find at the end of a good campfire tale. That lingering warmth reminded me of The Boy Scouts Book of Campfire Stories — A Closer Reading, where every story’s ending seems to hold its breath, too.