Alec rode the Black next to a long caravan as they neared the tents they would use for the night. The race was to begin the day after tomorrow- tomorrow was given to the foreigners so they could see the lay of the land.
Alec looked behind him once more. Henry and Pam were fifty yards behind him, leading Satan and Black Minx. What was Henry thinking, Alec asked himself, to bring his prized retired stallion to Arabia? Alec recalled not long ago before Black Minx had been discovered that Henry had led Satan through Belmont Park for his final look at the track. And Black Minx as well! How was the filly, who only ran when she wanted to, here in the unpredictable desert- she had been retired not long after Satan when she fell in love with another race horse.
It was insane, Alec thought. Even though both Black Minx and Satan were in excellent form, they were retired. And being retired at such a young age meant they could not race. Henry knew this as well as Alec did and yet here they were.
In all the excitement, Alec had completely forgotten about Steve and Flame. The fiery red stallion, easy to spot in the sunlight, was trotting up to the head of the caravan. Steve knew he had a magnificent stallion on his hands and was probably showing him off to the Arabs. Suddenly the stallion reared and shrilled a challenge across the sand. The Black, ever eager to fight Flame, attempted to rear but Alec managed to keep him down and to a fast trot. Satan, hearing the challenge, responded with a whistle of his own. This was going to be impossible, Alec almost said out loud in his exasperation, racing with three stallions such as the Black, Flame and Satan!
The now large group of American riders were led to a group of tents separated from the Arabs. Alec chose the tent farthest away from Satan and Flame and dismounted. The Black was excited to be back in the desert. He was born to run in the sand. As soon as the Black was calm, tied securely and eating his evening oats, Alec started over to Henry's tent. Alec was determined to figure out what was going on.
Henry, his gray hair disheveled, looked up calmly at Alec's entrance. "What are Satan and Black Minx doing here?" Alec asked. "They can't race, Henry, and you know that. You should have brought Napoleon and we'd have the whole family here!"
Henry had sidelined the Black and Satan many times when he feared it was either too dangerous or not worth the risk to race the stallions. Here he sat, with his most loved stallion not ten feet away.
"Alec, I was watching Satan the morning you were to leave and I had the doc come and everything. Satan's fracture is completely healed, Alec. You know how much he means to me and I wouldn't even have him out here if I wasn't completely sure he was ready. I'm sure he can handle this race. He's got the Black in him."
Alec looked at his old companion. Henry was strangely determined to see Satan race in the desert. Alec remembered a time when he himself had been that determined to buy The Ghost, a white mare that performed in the circus until her owner died in a freak accident in the Everglades. She had been in foal to the Black and had given birth to Blackjack, one of the yearlings that would start training next spring.
"Who will ride him, Henry?"
"A good friend of yours, Alec, who has known Satan from the very start. You remember Lenny Sansone, of course. He rode against Satan in the Hopeful almost four years ago."
Alec remembered back when Satan truly embodied his name- he had the fiery spirit of the Black and Henry was he only one who could tame him.
Alec shook his head. "And why Black Minx? She won't run without her boyfriend."
Henry smiled. "This is a whole new environment for her. Did you see the way she was playing in the sand earlier? She'll run, Alec, I'm sure. She likes the sand." Henry paused. "Are you alright with Pam riding her? I know she's good with horses, the way she rode the Black that time..."
Alec glanced out of the tent to where Pam sat, reading.
"I'm a little worried about her, Henry. I will always be worried but I can't think of anyone better to handle Black Minx."
Henry looked out to where Steve was brushing Flame.
"I can't believe he's here as well." He said. "Those two are a strange pair."
Alec chuckled. "The Black and I are a strange pair."
Henry watched Flame for a moment longer before his gaze returned to Alec.
"Flame lives on an island, right? This will be a hard transition for an island stallion."
Alec shrugged. "It was Steve's decision. He has so much confidence in that stallion I doubt he'd ever back down from any challenge."
A thought suddenly occurred to Alec. "Who do you want to win, Henry?"
Henry sighed. "I just hope everyone finishes the race. You can support one horse or another but in the end it's all unpredictable." He adjusted his pillows. "Tomorrow is a new day. Who knows? 'Night, Alec."
Alec nodded. "Goodnight, Henry."