“But this time, Satan, it’s going to be different,” Alec muttered to himself as he moved behind his horse.
Satan turned as he neared the runway, and his ears pitched forward. Then with a short scream he broke across the field, but Alec, already running, headed him off, and Satan drew back on his haunches again.
Alec was only a short distance from him now. He saw Satan’s ears sweep back until they lay flat against his head. Alec tightened his grip on the broom he carried and moved it a little higher in front of him. If it came to that, he was ready, he told himself. But the colt only shook his head until his black forelock fell down and obliterated the white diamond on his forehead. Steadily Alec gazed into Satan’s blazing eyes and waited until, finally, the colt twirled and slowly made his way toward the west fence.
Alec walked slowly, too, his muscles ready for any move the colt might make. Satan stopped when he came to the northwest corner of the field; the runway was just a few yards to his right. His head turned toward it, then back to Alec. He snorted, half reared, and came down pawing the ground.
Alec moved forward, the broom ready.
When he was less than ten yards away, he could plainly see the anger in the colt’s eyes and the fury that possessed his black body. And it was then that Alec felt the uncertainty creep steadily through him again. For everything that Henry had ever warned him about Satan was there for him to see … the viciousness, the cunningness, the hate. For a moment, perhaps less, and for the first time in his life, Alec knew what it meant to be afraid of a horse. And he found himself wondering if he shouldn’t wait until spring before riding Satan. But the thought passed quickly as a gust of wind swept across the field, catching Satan’s mane and tossing it like windswept black flame. Momentarily the colt in front of Alec was the Black, standing there arrogant and ruthless … but his horse in spite of his savage nature.
Once more all fear of the colt left Alec and he moved forward, talking in his soft, even voice.
Satan’s ears pricked forward, then lay back again; he snorted, his teeth gleaming. Suddenly he twirled and trotted slowly down the runway toward the barn. Alec followed, and when the colt entered the stall the boy closed the door behind him. Then he made his way back down the runway toward the front of the barn, wondering what lay ahead of him.
Inside the barn he found Henry waiting. In the old trainer’s hands was the bridle they’d used on the Black.
“Let’s go,” Henry said. “We’ll get this on him. He shouldn’t mind it much. Not much different than a halter, except for the bit.” The old man paused, and his eyes softened for the first time since Alec had told him of his decision to ride Satan. “You’re sure, Alec?” he asked. “You want to go through with it?”
“Yes, Henry.”
The trainer’s body stiffened. “Okay, Alec,” he said quietly. “It’s in you to try to ride him, I know. Guess it couldn’t be any other way. But I’d hoped …”
Satan swerved away from them when they entered the stall, but Henry and Alec closed in upon his head, backing him into a corner. Then, while Alec talked to his horse, stroking the black neck, Henry slipped the reins over Satan’s head.
“This would be easy with any other horse,” Henry growled. “Any other horse, after all these months, would know we weren’t goin’ to hurt him none.”
Satan lunged at the old man when Henry approached him with the bit. “Get a better hold on his head, Alec,” Henry said, his eyes never leaving the colt.
Alec moved his hand down on the soft nose, trying to keep Satan still. “It’s not going to hurt you, fella,” he said softly, “and it’s got to be done.”
Satan’s fiery eyes were upon Henry, and when the old man moved toward him again, he bared his teeth and tried to break away from Alec’s grip.
Henry moved in close and, with Alec firmly holding Satan’s head, got the bit into the colt’s mouth. Then he quickly pulled the bridle over the heavy ears and, fastening it securely, stepped back.
Satan shook his head furiously as he felt the bar of iron in his mouth. Henry stepped in again and helped Alec. Half rearing, Satan struck out savagely, but they brought him down, backing him into the corner. After a while the colt quieted down, and only his champing teeth broke the stillness.
Finally Henry said, “We oughta give him a few days to get used to this.” The old trainer’s eyes were upon Alec as he added, “And the same thing goes for the saddle … a few days for that, mebbe longer. We’ll keep the girth loose for a while, then gradually tighten it. No stirrups, either, for a while.… They’d only frighten him an’ make it worse. In about a week or more you can be leanin’ on the saddle, getting the colt used to your weight on his back. We’ll see what happens then.”
Alec said nothing. A week or more, Henry had just said. And he had thought he would ride Satan today! Why did he stand there, saying nothing? And why, at Henry’s words, did this sudden sense of relief sweep over him? Words that meant a delay of days, maybe weeks, before he was to ride Satan. Was he really afraid of Satan? Was that it? Would the weeks of postponement lead to months? And would this fear of the colt eventually grow so strong that he would never have the courage to mount Satan? Alec’s heart pounded and the blood rushed to his head at this sudden realization that he was glad to put off his riding of Satan. Hating himself, he turned toward Henry. “Today, Henry,” he said slowly, and his own voice was unfamiliar to him. “It’s got to be today.”
Henry looked searchingly at Alec, and when he saw the determination in the boy’s eyes he knew that further appeal would be futile. After a long while he said, “Yes, Alec … you’re right. It’s got to be today.”
Henry left the stall and a few minutes later returned with saddle and pad. “Let’s get him back a little farther in the corner,” he said. “He might try to jump out from under this stuff when we put it on him.”
Still champing on his bit, the colt moved restlessly, his eyes upon Henry as the old man closed in on him again.
Alec began talking to his horse, his voice steady once more. And as he concentrated upon Satan, Henry placed the light saddlepad upon the colt’s back. Alec felt Satan tremble beneath his hand.
Then the old trainer said, “Get a good hold, Alec … saddle next.”
Satan bolted as he felt the weight of the saddle, but Alec kept him in the corner, and after a few minutes the colt quieted down with the saddle resting lightly upon his back.
“He’s taking it better than I thought he would,” Alec said.
Grunting, Henry replied, “He’s as cunning as he is vicious, Alec. Mind you, don’t trust him for one second.”
Reaching underneath Satan’s black body, Henry got hold of the cinch and drew it up slowly. “He ain’t going to like this much. I’ll tighten it just enough to keep the saddle on him, then we’ll see what happens.”
As the cinch began to tighten about Satan’s girth, the colt shook his head furiously and attempted to break Alec’s grip on his head. Failing, he kicked back his hind legs and his hoofs crashed into the side of the stall.
Finally Henry stepped back. “It’s loose, but the saddle will stay on,” he said.
They stood there beside Satan for a while, their eyes upon the colt’s fixed, stony glare.
“I wish I knew what he was thinkin’ about,” Henry muttered.
“He’s quiet, Henry, considering everything,” Alec said.
“Yeah, but he’s waitin’ … waitin’ to strike like a rattlesnake,” Henry warned. “I still say we oughta sell him and get outa this while we’re both still in one piece.”
“There’s no turning back now, Henry.… We’ve gone too far,” Alec said slowly. His fear of the colt had passed and he wanted to go through with his plan now, regardless of the consequences. He couldn’t back down and live with himself, knowing he had been afraid.
At last Henry said, “Let me have his head, Alec, an’ you go put some weight on the saddle. Lean on it lightly at first, then gradually put all your weight on him.�
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Moving beside the colt, Alec did as Henry had told him to do. When he placed his hands upon the dark brown saddle, Satan jumped, but Henry held him down in the corner. And with the colt pressed hard against the wall, Alec gradually applied more weight until his body was resting heavily upon Satan.
As Alec stood in that position for a long time, with Satan quiet except for the shifting, deep-set eyes, Henry said hopefully, “Mebbe it’ll work out, Alec. Mebbe he’ll take it.”
Then Henry turned Satan’s head and led him from the stall while Alec walked beside the colt, his right arm and part of his weight still resting on the saddle.
Free of his stall, Satan jumped and Henry and Alec had a hard time with him before they had him under control. As they walked past Napoleon’s empty stall, Henry picked up the lead rope and hooked it onto Satan’s bridle. “We’ll keep him on the rope so in case he bucks you off I’ll still have hold of him,” Henry said. Then he added, “An’ remember to fall clear, if he does let loose. An’ you’ve got no stirrups, so use your knees good. I know you’re not afraid, but you’ve got to remember what this horse is, an’ be ready for anything.”
Alec said nothing, but there was a hard look in his eyes and his body was tense.
Outside the barn, the colt moved more restlessly. He tossed his head, trying to rid himself of the iron in his mouth, and his body constantly swerved away from Alec as the boy tried to keep his weight upon the saddle.
They had gone through the gate and were a short distance within the field when Henry brought Satan to a stop. “This is as good a place as any,” he said. “Try all your weight on him again and see how he takes it.”
Moving closer beside the quivering body of his horse, Alec leaned heavily upon Satan. The colt gave ground, pivoting around Henry, who still kept a firm hand upon his head. Once Satan attempted to jump away from Alec, but the boy moved in hard against him, keeping his weight upon Satan’s back.
“He’s not buckin’, anyway,” muttered Henry.
For a long while they remained there with Henry holding the colt’s head and watching both Satan and Alec simultaneously. Alec moved with his horse, his body keyed for the test he knew was coming. Occasionally a slight twinge of fear would pass through him when Satan’s blazing eyes were turned in his direction, watching him, as though the colt, too, knew what was coming.
“Okay,” Henry finally said. “Get his head, Alec, while I tighten the cinch some more.”
Nodding, Alec moved forward and watched Henry tighten the cinch. Satan’s smoldering eyes seemed to burst into flame when the cinch was drawn about his girth. And as Henry made the straps fast, the colt bolted and Alec had to hang upon his head to hold him. Then Henry was beside Alec, helping him, and within a short time they had Satan quiet again.
“The cinch ain’t as tight as it should be, but the saddle won’t roll.” Henry was breathing heavily from the exertion of the last few minutes, and it was after a long pause that he said, “Guess that’s about it, Alec. He’s yours now … anytime you want to take him.” And as Alec moved beside his horse again, Henry said almost under his breath, “Luck, kid.”
Alec’s face was ashen white and the blood was pounding in his temples when he placed his weight upon the saddle. From the corner of his eye he saw Satan attempt to turn in his direction. Then Henry moved his body and shielded Alec from Satan’s blazing eyes. But Alec was certain that the colt knew what was happening and what he was about to do. With no stirrups, he would have to jump upon his horse, throwing his body across the saddle, and then, speedily, for he might not have much time, get astride Satan.
Alec stood quietly, balanced on his toes, his muscles tense and ready for the spring that would carry him up onto Satan. Moving restlessly, the colt slid away from him. His hands still upon the saddle, Alec moved with him. Then he took two short half-running steps and sprang into the air. His chest hit the saddle and for a fraction of a second his legs dangled over Satan’s side. Then quickly, just as the colt bolted, Alec drew up his right leg and threw it over the horse. He had no opportunity to grasp the colt with his knees, for Satan was already bucking, throwing him forward. Alec found himself high upon the colt’s neck, his hands desperately clutching the black mane to save himself from a fall.
As Alec recovered his balance, he saw Henry’s hand high up on the bridle. Satan fought the old man, temporarily forgetting the weight upon his back. And by the time Henry had the colt under control, Alec was in his seat and his knees were pressed firmly against Satan’s withers.
The colt moved restlessly but didn’t buck again.
Alec sat there, and gradually his tense body relaxed and he gloried in the feeling of once again being astride a horse like the Black … astride the son of the Black … his horse!
After a few minutes he said, “Henry, you see, he’s coming along. He’s not bucking. Henry … he’s going to be everything we wanted. And he can run, Henry, I can feel it all through him. He’s charged with fire!”
“Stop it, Alec!” Henry’s voice was as cold as ice. “Tend to your business up there. Keep those knees in. Take up the reins. Let go that mane.” Henry’s commands came short and fast, but his eyes never left the colt for more than a fraction of a second. “It would be better if he did some bucking,” he rasped. “Then we’d know what to look out for. He’s no bronc, Alec. He’s worse … he’s a killer. Be ready for anything, an’ don’t you forget it for one second.”
Henry said nothing more, and Alec, jolted by Henry’s sharp words, sat still, his body and mind keyed once more.
Slowly Henry led Satan around in a circle, holding the colt to a walk. And as they went around time and time again, Alec would have relaxed in the saddle but for Henry’s constant warnings and stern glances.
As Alec sat there, moving with his horse, he kept talking to him. “I’m not much to carry, Satan,” he said. “Nothing at all for a horse like you. And this is what I meant, Satan, when I said we’d do it together … you and I. We’re going to show them, Satan. We’re going to …”
Alec stopped short as the colt swerved fast, pulling the bridle out of Henry’s hands. Shouting a warning, Henry grabbed hold of the lead rope that was attached to the bridle.
A few feet away from Henry, Satan stopped, his eyes blazing with fire. Then he half reared and Alec’s knees dug deep into the black body. Coming down, the colt turned upon Henry, and Alec knew that the old man was too far away to close in upon the horse. Satan moved toward him, then stopped as though suddenly remembering the boy upon his back.
Alec bent far forward close to Satan’s neck as the colt rose again. And this time he reared to his full height. Sliding his hands around Satan’s neck, Alec clutched him desperately.
When the colt came down again, Alec saw Henry move toward him but then fall back as Satan’s forelegs struck out.
Then the colt rose again, and he didn’t stop until he was almost perpendicular to the ground. Only Alec’s deathlike hold around Satan’s neck kept him from sliding off.
As he came down Henry yelled, “Get off him, Alec, and run for it! He’ll kill you!”
But before Alec could jump off, Satan was rearing again. And this time, when he reached his utmost height, his eyes were a fiery red.
Alec felt the surge of the giant muscles. He flung himself hard alongside Satan’s neck, hoping that his weight would bring the colt down. But Satan rose higher, and his piercing scream shattered the air. Alec heard Henry’s shrill warning, “He’s taking you over! Jump or he’ll crush you!”
The color drained from Alec’s face. Then the black head and neck to which he had been clinging fell back upon him as Satan went over backwards. Alec felt himself falling with the giant body coming down on top of him!
PETER BOLDT
11
It was a week after the accident when Henry approached Alec’s house. As he walked up to the porch, his gaze took in the open windows of the front bedroom, Alec’s bedroom. It was good to see the window shades all the
way up again, for during the past week, while Alec had been in the hospital, they had been drawn and had only served to make Henry feel more depressed whenever he had passed by.
It was different now, for Alec was home, and the crisp white curtains gently swayed in the late afternoon breeze.
Sebastian raised himself from the hammock and trotted quickly toward Henry as the old man walked up the porch steps. The puppy was whimpering, and when he reached Henry his front paws began beating a light tattoo on the man’s knee. Bending down, Henry ran his hand over Sebastian’s brown head. “You’re glad to have him back, too, aren’t you, Seb?” he asked.
The dog whimpered, bending his head backward so Henry could scratch his neck.
Mrs. Ramsay appeared at the screen door and said quietly, “It’s nice of you to come, Henry. Alec has been asking for you.”
Giving Sebastian a final pat, Henry walked to the door, which Mrs. Ramsay opened for him. Her face was tired and strained, but there was a relieved look about her eyes.
“He’s going to be all right,” she said, smiling a little. “The doctors were afraid of a back injury, but the X-rays showed nothing. They told us to keep him in bed for a few days, but then let him get up if he wants to. And I’m sure he will,” she added, smiling. “Alec never was one to stay very long in bed, you know.”
“I’m glad, Mrs. Ramsay,” Henry said.
Sebastian slipped between Henry’s legs, and with a short bark ran up the stairs.
Mrs. Ramsay let him go. “I’ve kept him away from Alec all day,” she said, “but I guess it’s all right now.”
When they entered the hall Alec’s father joined them, and as he shook Henry’s hand, his face was lined with concern and his eyes were somber.
Son of the Black Stallion Page 11
