Part 13 (1/2)

”And now,” said Jim Neville, ”let's get going.”

Henry led Napoleon up into the van and Alec followed with the Black. He was as docile now as he had been difficult before.

A few minutes later they rolled down the driveway. Alec sat between Henry and Jim. They waved to the small group standing beside the barn.

”Good luck,” yelled Joe Russo.

”Be careful, son,” his father called. ”And put everything you've got into it!”

”Take-a da good care of my Napoleon,” Tony shouted.

Then they went through the gate.

”We're off,” said Henry.

CHICAGO.

17.

It was two-thirty by Jim's watch when they drove into the freight yards. ”Just in time,” he said.

Trucks laden with freight for the trains pulled into the yards, their horns blowing. Men's shouts rang through the afternoon air. Henry brought the van to a stop. ”I'll find out where we're to go,” Jim said. ”Wait here.”

Alec looked back through the window. He could see the heads of the Black and Napoleon. The stallion was pawing at the floor. ”Guess the noise and the ride's made him kinda nervous, Henry,” he said.

”Yeah, we'll have to watch him. Wouldn't want him to get too excited just before the race.”

A few minutes later Jim returned. ”Our car's down at the end,” he said. Henry put the truck in gear and moved in and out of the crowded yards. Jim pointed to a car. ”That's the one.”

”I can back right up to the door,” Henry said as he turned the wheel. ”He'll hardly know he's getting into it.”

When Henry brought the van to a stop, Jim and Alec jumped out. They climbed into the train and Henry followed them. ”Say, this is swell!” Alec said as he looked around him. A box stall was at one end and three cots were in front of it.

”Not a bad layout,” agreed Henry. ”The Black won't mind this so much.”

”We haven't a stall for Napoleon, though,” Jim said.

”We can put him right outside the Black's,” Henry said, ”and move our cots down this way.”

After they'd moved the cots and Henry had bedded down the stallion's stall with straw, Alec went to get the Black.

He opened the rear of the van and walked in beside him. The Black moved nervously. ”h.e.l.lo, fella.” Alec stroked his neck. Napoleon pushed his face toward him and Alec rubbed his nose too. ”You're both going on a long ride now,” he said. He grasped the Black's halter and backed him into the stall. The horse stretched his neck high into the air and his leg continued to paw the straw. ”There, Boy,” Alec said. ”Take it easy, now.”

”Don't bring Napoleon in yet,” Henry said. ”I'll need more straw if we're going to bed him down and make him comfortable. I'll go see if I can't get some.”

”I'll go along with you, Henry,” Jim said. ”I have to make arrangements to get this van back.”

As soon as they had gone, Alec went inside the van and dragged Henry's large trunk into the car. He opened it and took out Henry's blazing green s.h.i.+rt and jockey cap. Sat.u.r.day he'd be wearing them! The same things even to the faded number 3 that Henry had worn when he and Chang won the Kentucky Derby! Alec's throat tightened as he laid them carefully back into the trunk.

A short time later, Henry returned with a bale of straw. He spread it in front of the Black's stall. ”Okay to bring Napoleon in now,” he said. Napoleon's ears p.r.i.c.ked forward when he saw the Black. He shoved his nose toward him.

Jim climbed into the car. ”Everything's set,” he said.

Fifteen minutes later the train whistle blew.

”Chicago, here we come,” Alec shouted.

He tossed on his cot that night. The clattering of the wheels on the iron rails kept him awake. He heard the Black moving restlessly around in his stall. Alec rose and made his way quietly over to him. Henry's and Jim's deep breathing told him that they were both sound asleep. Napoleon, too, was sleeping.

The Black whinnied when he saw the boy. ”Shh, fella.” Alec rubbed the stallion's head.

The train rocked a little, and the Black s.h.i.+ed. ”Not any worse than a boat, though, is it?” Alec asked. The Black shook his head. For fifteen minutes Alec stayed with him. Then he gave a final pat. ”Gotta try and get some sleep now, fella-we both need it.”

He went back to his cot and lay down. He dozed off. He was dreaming of the coming race. Then he opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. He had to quit thinking. He must get some sleep. He tried to concentrate on the rhythmic beat of the wheels on the rails. They seemed to say, ”Chicago-Chicago-Chicago-” Alec dropped off to sleep.

The next thing he knew, Henry was shaking him. Both he and Jim were already dressed. ”We're almost there,” Henry said.

Alec pulled on his clothes sleepily.

”How do you feel, kid?” Jim asked.

”All right,” answered Alec.

”We're entering the city limits now,” Henry said.

”How far is the track from the station?” Alec asked.

Jim looked at his watch. ”About a forty-five-minute ride,” he said. ”It's five-thirty now; if the van I hired is waiting for us, we'll be at the track by six-thirty at the latest.”

”Let's hope it's there,” Henry said. ”It'll be better if we can get to the track before any people start roaming around.”

The train pulled into the freight yards. Alec snapped the Black's new blanket around him. Henry took care of Napoleon. As the train slowed down, Jim pushed the door of the car open. Trucks clattered beside the train. ”Bad as New York,” Henry said.

”I'll see if I can find our van,” Jim said, jumping off the train as it came to a stop.

The Black moved uneasily and Alec held him tighter. Henry moved Napoleon over closer to him. The stallion's startled eyes gazed nervously out the open door, then quieted as Napoleon shoved his head toward him.

A van moved alongside the car. Then they heard Jim's voice. ”Back it up to the door,” he directed the driver.