Part 9 (1/2)
The Black raised his head high in the air, his ears pitched forward, and he answered Napoleon's call. Alec looked at him, then at the barn.
”Henry,” he said.
”Yeah.”
”I've got an idea. Why not take Napoleon with us? The two of them can fit into the truck-and I've a feeling it'll make the Black a lot easier to handle, besides being a lot quieter.”
Henry looked thoughtfully at the restless stallion. ”Okay,” he finally said. ”It's worth trying.” A minute later he led Napoleon toward the truck.
The Black neighed softly when he saw him, and Alec had no trouble getting him up the ramp into the truck. Henry followed with Napoleon. ”Now,” said Henry, ”we not only have to get this moving van back to the guy I borrowed it from before six, but we have to get Napoleon back to Tony as well!”
”It's only one-thirty now,” Alec said.
”We have to be over there by two.” Henry climbed into the driver's seat and Alec sat beside him. A minute later the truck was moving down the driveway. Only the sound of hoofs came from the back of the van.
Henry drove rapidly through the darkened streets, and half an hour later they pulled up in front of a high iron gate. He touched the horn lightly twice. Over the gate Alec made out the name BELMONT. A glimpse of white caught his eye. Two hands grasped the bars, and a head topped with snow-white hair peered through.
”That you, Henry?” an aged high-pitched voice asked.
Henry leaned far out over the side of the car. ”Yeah, Jake-it's me,” he answered softly. ”Everything okay?”
”Okay,” came the answer.
Alec heard the rattle of keys, then the turning of the lock. A moment later the gate swung open. Henry put the car in gear and drove through. The gate was closed behind him. Henry didn't stop; he drove as if he knew his way around.
”Who was that, Henry?” Alec asked.
Henry kept his eyes on the graveled road in front of him, but Alec noticed a slight smile on his lips. ”That's Jake,” he answered. ”We've been pals from 'way back. In fact,” he grinned, ”Jake taught me to ride. I was just a kid who loved horses and I wanted to ride, but I'd never even been on a horse. I used to go around and watch the early morning workouts, dreaming of the day when I'd be out there on some thoroughbred. Jake was a well-known jockey then-and I guess I sorta idolized him, but then all the kids did. Well, I guess Jake took me in hand just because he couldn't get rid of me. Anyway, he taught me 'most everything I know-and if I've been a success, he's the reason for it. Jake later went into training horses-and now he's sorta, well-retired, I guess you could call it.”
Henry paused as he carefully turned a corner. Then he continued, ”Y'know, Alec, horses are kind of like the sea, you'll find out-once you get used to 'em and learn to love 'em, you can't ever give them up. That's Jake and that's me. Jake's only the watchman around here now, but he loves it. There are horses training around here most of the year, and the track'll be opening up pretty soon, so he's content.” Henry brought the truck to a stop beside the track.
”Are you sure no one's around, Henry?” Alec asked.
”Sure,” answered Henry. ”There are only a few horses in training and Jake's keeping an eye on them, so we practically have the place to ourselves.”
Henry had pulled up beside an unloading ramp. They jumped out and went around to open the back doors. The horses whinnied as Alec climbed in beside them. The stallion threw back his head and tried to break free.
Alec grasped him by the halter. ”Whoa, fella, take it easy,” he said. He backed the Black out onto the ramp and then down to the ground.
Henry followed with Napoleon. ”It'll be a good thing to have Napoleon around where the Black can see him,” he said. ”Now you'd better walk the Black up and down a few times to get him loosened up.”
”Okay,” Alec said.
A few minutes later, when he walked the Black back toward the truck, he heard old Jake's high-pitched voice again and saw the little white-haired man talking to Henry. ”Bejabbers, Henry,” he was saying, ”don't tell me that gray imitation of a hoss there is the champion that I'm riskin' my job for!”
Henry laughed. ”Bejabbers yourself, Jake,” he said. ”Don't jump to conclusions so fast. You haven't seen this gray devil run yet.”
”I'm too old a hand around here, my lad, for you to make me believe this critter can do anything but go around that track in a walk-bejabbers, I am,” Jake replied.
Alec couldn't help laughing. Jake heard him and turned. Then he saw the Black, and his mouth opened wide. Slowly he walked toward the stallion. The Black reared a little, but Alec quieted him down. Jake went around him, his eyes covering every inch of the Black.
Henry came up. ”Well, Jake,” he said, after a minute of silence, ”what do you think of him?”
Jake looked up at him. ”You sure were right, Henry. You've got a real horse here.”
”Worth risking your job for?” Henry smiled.
”Worth risking my job for,” the old man answered, nodding his head. ”Haven't seen a horse like him”-he continued-”since Chang.”
”That's just what I told Alec,” Henry said. He winked at Alec. ”Jake,” he said, ”meet the owner of this black stallion, Alec Ramsay-Alec, this is Jake.”
Alec grasped the old man's hand in a warm clasp, and was surprised at the strength in Jake's fingers. ”Glad to know you, son,” Jake said.
”And I'm glad to know you, sir,” answered Alec. ”It was awfully nice of you to let us in here. Henry and I certainly appreciate it.”
”Glad to do it,” Jake replied. ”Guess Henry knows my weakness. When he said you had a champion, I had to see for myself.”
”You'll never change, Jake.” Henry laughed.
” 'Fraid not.” The old man grinned.
The Black tossed his head, and the night breeze blew his mane. ”He's rarin' to go, Henry,” Alec said.
”Okay, I'll get the saddle.” Henry moved toward the truck. ”Stick around, Jake,” he said over his shoulder, ”and you'll see the fastest thing on four legs.”
”Don't worry. I'm not a-goin',” Jake answered. ”Come on, son.” He turned to Alec. ”We'll take him down near the gate.”
A few minutes later Henry came up and threw the saddle on the Black. The stallion pranced easily, then reared a little when Henry tightened the cinch. Alec and Jake put the bridle on him.
”All set,” Henry said, when they had finished. He turned to Alec. ”Now the idea tonight, kid,” he said, ”is just to get him used to the track. Lucky there's a full moon so it isn't so dark out there, and I don't think you'll have any trouble seeing. Keep him under control as much as you can-try not to let him have his head until coming down the homestretch, then if everything is okay, let him out for a few hundred yards. I've been waiting a long while for this! Before you start, walk him down a ways and back. Got it?”
”Right,” answered Alec.
Jake was leaning on the fence, his white head against the rail, his eyes on the stallion. He moved slightly and Alec saw the flash of silver in his hand. He knew Jake held a stopwatch.
Henry boosted Alec up on the Black's back and adjusted the stirrups. His knees came up, and he squatted on the small racing saddle like a veteran. The stallion moved uneasily. Henry led him out on the track.
”Okay, son,” he said. ”Walk him down and back first.”
The Black stepped quickly over the soft dirt, his head high, his eyes s.h.i.+fting from side to side. Alec reached over and patted his neck. ”Take it easy, fella,” he murmured. The stallion wanted to run and Alec had his hands full keeping him to a walk. He went to the first turn and then came back. The night was warm, and as they approached Henry, Alec pulled off his sweater. ”Save this till I come back.” He tossed it to Henry, and walked the Black a few yards past him.
”Here goes,” he said as he whirled the Black around.
The stallion reared. The boy clung to his neck, his white s.h.i.+rt standing out vividly against the Black's body. Then the stallion bolted forward. Alec tightened the reins and held him in. Down the track they streaked, the stallion's giant strides swallowing up the yards. Alec, high in his stirrups, hung low beside the Black's neck. The wind blew in his face and tears streamed down his cheeks. They swung around the first turn and into the backstretch. Alec kept him close to the white fence. He still held the Black in, but never before had he gone so fast, except on the island.
The stallion loved it and fought for his head. Alec tried frantically to hold him but, halfway down the backstretch, he got the bit in his teeth and ripped the reins out of the boy's control. Once again he was wild and free. Alec pulled on the reins with all his might, but the Black ran faster and faster. Alec couldn't see any more. The wind whipped him like a gale, tearing at his s.h.i.+rt.