Son of the Black Stallion by Walter Farley Read Free Book Online Page B

was important, much more important than Alec realized. Finally Henry turned to Alec and said, “I’m flying back to the West Coast early tomorrow morning to quit my job with Boldt. Then I’ll be back in a few days.”
    Alec looked at Henry, studying his wrinkled face with keen eyes. “But your contract, Henry,” he said, “… it’s not up for two months.”
    “I can talk Boldt into lettin’ me go,” Henry replied. “I’ve got ways.” Then, grinning, he explained, “Just let me mention that I saw Volence’s youngsters when I was east and they looked mighty good to me … say, even better than his gray colt … that’s all I have to do. He’ll sack me for that, Alec. I know him and his kind. Boldt can act like a jealous kid when it comes to his horses.”
    Alec said thoughtfully, “You’ll lose money on the deal, Henry. Two months’ salary, maybe.”
    “Mebbe an’ mebbe not,” Henry replied. “If I do, it’s worth it.”
    “You’re a good friend, Henry.”
    “Naw,” Henry scoffed. “There isn’t a trainer in thecountry who wouldn’t give his right arm to get a crack at the son of the Black. An’ don’t you forget it, Alec.”
    It wasn’t until they neared Flushing that Henry spoke again. “Besides,” he said, “another reason for my bein’ around is that you’re due to go back to that upstate college mighty soon, ain’tcha? Tomorrow is the first of September … that means I oughta be back just before you leave,” he concluded. When Alec didn’t reply, he turned and noticed the way Alec avoided his eyes. “What were you thinkin’ of doin’, Alec, if I couldn’t have gotten back here for another two months? Were you thinkin’ of lettin’ Tony keep an eye on the colt, or somethin’ like that?”
    Alec said quietly, “I was thinking of quitting school, Henry.”
    It was several minutes before Henry said anything. “Have you mentioned this to your father?”
    “No …”
    “But now that I’m goin’ to be around, you won’t have to quit,” Henry said.
    “I still want to be around, too, Henry.”
    “But you’ll be back during Christmas vacation an’ then there’ll be all of next summer.” Henry’s gaze found Alec’s. “Besides,” he added lightly, “there’s not going to be much to do. Just keepin’ watch on him, that’s all. And Alec”—he paused—“I know how your folks feel about your goin’ to school.”
    “I know, Henry,” Alec replied, almost curtly. “I know, but this is important.”
    “School’s important, too,” Henry said slowly. “You once’t told me you wanted to know all there was to know about horses … what went on inside ’em as wellas outside. An’ in your letters to me while you were at school y’said the subjects you were takin’ were just what you wanted, like animal anatomy and those other things you mentioned.”
    “
You
never had them,” Alec said quietly.
    “Sure, and mebbe I’d be a better trainer if I’d had,” Henry insisted. Shrugging his shoulders, he added, “It’s your life, Alec. Play it the way you want to. I’m jest sayin’ that it’s goin’ to take months and months for the colt to grow up an’ our real trainin’ won’t begin until then.”
    Alec was silent as the van reached Flushing. There was a lot to what Henry said, he knew. But he had waited a long time for the arrival of his colt, and now that Satan was here he wanted to be with him every day. He wanted to feed him, take care of him, watch him playing in the field, just as he’d done with the Black. And then when the time came, he’d ride him around the field until Henry said the colt was ready to be taken to the track for workouts. It would probably be Belmont, since that track was the nearest to Flushing. And they’d have night workouts, too, so no one would get an inkling of Satan’s speed.
    Henry said, “You’ll get the registration blanks from the Jockey Club?”
    Nodding, Alec answered, “Tomorrow,