“Say, Henry!” Alec shouted. “That looks a lot like Mr. Volence!”
“Bejabbers! It sure does. C’mon.”
The two ran toward the gate. Neither had seen the wealthy owner of Sun Raider since the big race in Chicago, when the Black had beaten his horse.
Alec was the first to recognize him. “It’s Mr. Volence all right, Henry,” he shouted.
“Yeah. Wonder what he wants?”
Mr. Volence met them at the gate. “Henry! Alec! It’s good seeing you again!” His large, heavily jowled face creased in a big grin.
A few minutes later they walked toward the barn. “So this is where you keep that black devil,” Mr. Volence said. “Tell me, has he calmed down any or is he as wild as ever?”
Henry looked at Alec. Alec shoved his hands in his pockets and said quietly, “He doesn’t live here anymore, Mr. Volence.”
“You … you mean you sold him?”
“No,” Alec explained. “His real owner turned up.”
Then Alec told him the whole story. When he had finished, Mr. Volence walked slowly over to the bench and sat down. “That’s like something out of a book,” he said. “You know,” he continued, “one of the reasons I came to New York was to see if you wouldn’t sell the Black. I’ve retired Sun Raider to stud at my farm in Kentucky, but I still need a few more good stallions. The Black could have done much to improve the bloodline of the American thoroughbred, you know. At least, that’s my belief.”
“That’s just what I said,” Henry agreed.
Alec looked at Mr. Volence. “There’s still more to the story … something that happened the night before Abu Ishak showed up.” Then he proceeded to tell him about the mysterious night visitor who had attempted to kill the Black.
“Whew!” Mr. Volence said when Alec finished. “And you don’t think there’s any connection between Abu Ishak and the Black’s attacker?”
Alec’s gaze shifted to Henry, then back to Mr. Volence. “There may be a connection somewhere,” he said. “I’m sure he recognized the medallion on the gold chain.”
“He may have recognized it, Alec,” Henry insisted, “but I’m certain he didn’t have anything to do with the attack on the Black.”
Mr. Volence nodded. “I’m inclined to agree with Henry, Alec. Abu Ishak would have no reason for wanting to harm his own horse.”
“You’re probably right,” Alec said, “but still …”
The three sat in silence for a few minutes. Finally, Mr. Volence slapped his hands on his knees and said, “Well, I guess it’ll be one of those unsolved mysteries. Too bad the Black got away. We’ll probably never see another like him.” He stood up. “I plan to go abroad in a few weeks to see if I can’t pick up some stallions.”
Alec eyed Mr. Volence. “Where do you think you’ll go, sir?” he asked. Henry noted a strained note in his voice.
“Probably England, Alec. Have a better chance of getting some good stock there than any place else.”
“Why?”
The tall man looked down at Alec and there was a slight twinkle in his eyes. “Say, what are you driving at, Alec? As far as I know, and I’ve been in this business a long time, the English are pretty good at horse-breeding. Take a look at the records,” he added, smiling. “You’ll find I’m right.”
Alec’s face was serious and his gaze didn’t waver. “How about the Black, sir? Do you think that he was born, well, overnight? Don’t you think a horse like that … you said yourself that we’ll probably never see another like him … don’t you think he’s the result of years and years of careful breeding?”
Mr. Volence looked at Henry and they both nodded.
Alec continued, “I don’t think Abu Ishak is any amateur at this horse-breeding business. And it just seems to me, Mr. Volence, that if I were you and so intent upon improving the bloodline of the American thoroughbred, I’d skip England and go to Arabia instead and find Abu Ishak!”
Mr. Volence and Henry stared at Alec. They were silent for a minute, then Henry said, “But that’s a little like trying to find a needle in a haystack, isn’t it, Alec?”
“Guess so, Henry. Still, if the needle was pretty important to you, you’d probably find it.” His gaze turned to Mr. Volence. “Isn’t that right, sir?”
Mr. Volence didn’t answer immediately. His eyes left Alec and turned toward the open field. Alec watched him anxiously.
“You may have something, Alec,” he finally said.
“Maybe,” Henry suggested, “the American Consulate in Arabia could help you locate Abu.”
“That’s an idea, Henry,” Mr. Volence replied. “I wonder how much information I could dig up in Washington. Is there a phone around here?”
“You can use ours,” Alec said excitedly. “C’mon.”
As they climbed the steps to Alec’s house, Mr. Volence asked, “Do you think Abu Ishak would sell the Black if I offered him a good price?”
“I don’t think so,” Alec answered, “but I’m sure you’ll find that he has others he probably will sell.”
Entering the house, Alec said, “Mom’s out … the phone’s in here.” He led the way to it, and waited patiently while Mr. Volence asked the operator for a Washington number.
“If my Washington office can’t get some information on Abu Ishak, nobody can,” he explained.
A few minutes passed, then finally he got his connection.
“Flynn, this is Volence,” they heard him say. “Look, I’ve got an important job for you to do. I want you to get all the information you can concerning an Abu Ishak … Ishak … I-S-H-A-K … yeah, that’s it. He’s in Arabia. No, I don’t know where. That’s what I want you to find out. That, and anything else. Use every available source. Yes, and also cable the American Consulate if you have to. I want to get in touch with Abu Ishak, if possible. No, I don’t know anything about him, other than that he seems to be pretty important.” There was a slight pause, then, “Sure, sure I know Arabia is a big place, but that’s what you’re there for. Get everything you can! And, George, listen … I want it within a couple of days. Something’s come up and I may change my plans about going to England … all depends on how much information you can give me, so comb every available source. No, no … I won’t be in New York … have to go back to the farm tonight to clear up some matters … call me there as soon as you can. Sure you’ve got everything straight? … Yeah, that’s right. Okay. G’bye.”
Mr. Volence turned from the telephone and joined Alec and Henry. “Well, that starts the ball rolling, and inside a couple of days I should have something.”
“Then what?” Alec asked.
“Well, Alec, if there’s any chance of locating Abu Ishak, I’ll cable him to find out whether or not he’ll sell the Black and, if not, whether he has any other horses that he’ll sell. If he’s receptive to my offer I’ll go to Arabia on your hunch that he may be a past master at this horse-breeding game and has some horses that are worth buying. If the Black is any sample of the type of horses he’s breeding I want to see the others. I’m not sure exactly what I’ll do if I can’t reach Abu Ishak … it’ll all depend on how much information I can obtain as to his whereabouts. I just don’t want to go to Arabia on a wild-goose chase. However, you can be sure that if there’s the slightest chance of finding Abu Ishak, I’ll go.”
Alec’s eyes were aflame with excitement. This was the moment he’d been waiting for. “If you go … you wouldn’t … what I meant to say is … could you use another man to help you get those horses back?”
Mr. Volence smiled. “Ah, the light dawns,” he said. “Say, perhaps you saw this coming up right along. A good job of engineering, Alec.” He placed a hand on his shoulder. “Seriously,” he continued, “if I go, I’d like to have you come along. As you know Abu Ishak, you’d probably be able to help quite a bit.”
“Sure,” Henry broke in, “and don’t forget if it wasn’t for Alec, the Black wouldn’t be alive today. Abu knows that … in fact, he offered the kid a reward,
but he refused it.” Henry’s gaze shifted from Mr. Volence to the brown house across the street, which could be seen through the living room window. “Couldn’t use still another man, could you?” he asked anxiously.
“I could, if the other man were you, Henry, and you’d be satisfied with just expenses paid … no more.”
“Would I!” Henry shouted. “It’s a deal!”
They walked toward the door. “Well, here’s hoping nothing stops us from going to Arabia,” Mr. Volence said. “I’ll get in touch with you as soon as I’ve made all the arrangements. Meanwhile, Alec, you’d better speak to your parents to see if it’s okay with them, so there will be no delay if we go.”
Three days later Alec received a letter from Mr. Volence, and without opening it he ran over to the barn. He found Henry cleaning the Black’s bridle. “It’s here!” he shouted, waving the letter in the air. They sat down on the bench and Alec tore open the envelope. “Cross your fingers, Henry,” he said.
Down Under Farm
June 26th
Dear Alec and Henry,
I’ve exhausted all available sources and the only information that I could get concerning Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak is that he’s a chieftain of a small kingdom somewhere in the Kharj district, which is far to the east across the Great Central Desert of Arabia, and incidentally the least explored part of the country. There isn’t a chance in the world of communicating with him, I’m afraid.
However, and Alec please note, I want to find that needle and plan to sift every piece of sand in the desert looking for it. I now definitely agree with Alec that the Black is the result of years of selective and careful breeding. Abu Ishak may have others like him.
Fortunately, an old friend of mine is now in the town of Haribwan, which is located on the western edge of the Great Central Desert. I’ve cabled him and he has assured me that he’ll be able to get me a guide and caravan to take me across the desert. There’s even the possibility that one of the traders in Haribwan may know the location of Abu Ishak’s kingdom.
I’m taking quite a gamble, I know, in attempting to locate him. Frankly, though, I’m excited about the trip—it could be a lot of fun, and, if successful, profitable.
I realize, however, that with chances so slim of finding Abu Ishak and the Black, you may not want to make this trip with me. If not, I’ll understand. But if you still want to go, wire me immediately as I intend to leave on next week’s plane providing space is available.
Best regards,
Charles I. Volence
Alec and Henry finished reading the letter together. “Gosh, Henry!” Alec said. “It sounds wonderful!”
“Sure does!” Henry agreed enthusiastically. “And I have a feelin’ that Volence won’t leave any stone unturned tryin’ to find Abu Ishak. He’s used to gettin’ what he wants.” He paused, then continued, “How about your folks, Alec … you said anything to them yet?”
“Yes, Henry, I did. Told them right after Mr. Volence was here. They didn’t know what to make of it at first. Mom’s a little scared, but I think Dad’s on my side. They didn’t tell me one way or another … whether I could go or not, I mean. Dad said they’d let me know as soon as Mr. Volence decided for sure he was going. I think I can win Mom over. It’s not as though I were going alone.”
Henry rose from the bench and stretched. “You’re a lot better off than I am,” he said. “Haven’t said a word to the missus yet.”
“What do you think she’ll say, Henry?”
“Plenty” was the rueful answer.
They started walking slowly toward Henry’s house. “You going to have trouble with her?” Alec asked.
“Always have trouble,” Henry replied, glancing apprehensively at the house from which came an energetic thumping and swishing and sounds of furniture being dragged. “Guess she’s housecleaning.”
“Maybe you ought to give a hand,” Alec suggested. “It might help.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right. I aim to tell her right now … no sense puttin’ it off any longer.”
Alec knocked some mud off his shoe. “Gee, Henry, I hope nothing goes wrong with either one of us. I plan to speak to Dad as soon as he gets home. I’ll tell you what … if it’s okay for you to go, whistle three times, and I’ll do the same.”
“Okay, Alec. Well, here’s hopin’ …” Henry turned and headed for the front door. Alec saw him stop, look down at his shoes that were caked with mud, and then go around to the back door. Grinning, Alec proceeded toward the gate and home.
As he shut the gate, he glanced nervously at his watch. It was just about time for his father to arrive home, and tonight he’d have to know whether he could go to Arabia or not. Gosh, he hoped nothing would go wrong!
As Alec crossed the street, he saw the tall figure of his father walking down from the corner bus station. He yelled and ran to meet him.
Smiling, his father removed his brown, battered hat and wiped the perspiration off his forehead. “I can hardly walk in this heat, and here you’re running around like mad … it’s good to be young!” He put an arm around Alec’s shoulders and together they walked toward the house.
They were climbing the steps when Alec decided that no more time should be wasted in finding out what he had to know. “Dad,” he said hesitatingly, “could I talk to you and Mother now, before dinner?”
Mr. Ramsay could tell, from the serious tone of the young voice, what his son wanted to discuss. “Sure, Alec, let’s go in and get your mother out of the kitchen … much too hot a night to spend in there anyway.”
Alec waited in the living room while his father went into the kitchen. Pretending to read the evening paper, Alec sat down in a chair. It wouldn’t be long now. He’d know soon, one way or the other.…
His mother entered the room, wiping her hands on a short apron. Alec didn’t like the stern look on his father’s face. Then he smiled as he heard his father say, “Slaving over a hot stove, Alec, that’s where I found her, just as I thought.” He grasped his wife by the waist and they turned to Alec.
“We heard from Mr. Volence today and he’s going,” Alec began. “Remember, you told me to tell you when we heard from him.” He stopped, looked out the window, and then back at his parents. “He’s going next week and still wants me to go along.”
“Henry going?” his father asked quietly, his arm still around Alec’s mother.
“Think so, Dad. Sure, I’m sure he is. He told me this afternoon that he was.”
His mother wasn’t convinced. “Mrs. Dailey didn’t mention it to me, and I saw her this afternoon,” she said.
“Gosh, Mom,” Alec almost shouted, “you didn’t say anything to her, did you?”
“Shouldn’t I?” his mother asked.
“Gee, no, Mom, Henry hasn’t even …” Suddenly the still night was pierced by a sharp whistle. Alec turned towards the open window. The whistle was repeated twice more. “He’s going, Mom,” he shouted. “Yes, Henry’s going!”
Mr. Ramsay smiled. “Prearranged signals, eh?” he asked. He turned to his wife, then back to Alec. “Son,” he continued, “your mother and I have already decided that you can make the trip.”
“Yipppeeeee!” Alec shouted, throwing his arms around them. “You’re the best mother and father in the whole world.”
His father laughed. “We didn’t think it wise to keep a wild colt like you around here during the summer anyway.”
His mother’s pale blue eyes were worried. “You will be careful, Alec, won’t you? And you’ll do everything Mr. Volence and Henry tell you to?”
“Sure, Mom, I will … honest, I will. I’ll be careful as I can. Why, this trip will do me worlds of good, so don’t you worry. Travel is the best education a guy can get.”
His father grabbed him by the belt of his trousers. “And that reminds me. Don’t get back here months after everyone else has started school. Remember, you’re going to college next fall.”
“Sure, sure, Dad, I’ll remember.” He turned to h
is mother. “Mom, would you mind if I wired Mr. Volence before dinner? He said to wire him right away.… He has to get tickets on the plane. We’re going by plane, Mom, think of it. I’m going to fly across the ocean, and all the way to Arabia! Gee, that’ll be an education in itself, won’t it, Dad? I’ve gotta see Henry, too. You don’t mind, do you, Mom? It’ll only take a few minutes, honest.”
He was halfway to the door when his mother answered, her eyes on the back of his red head. “No,” she said softly, “I don’t mind.” Her fingers tightened over the large hand around her waist.
ARABIA BOUND
4
Alec, Henry and Mr. Volence waited impatiently for their flight to be called at La Guardia’s Marine Air Terminal. Through the window Alec could see the giant flying boat cabled securely against the ramp that led out over Flushing Bay. His heart pounded, for it would be only a short time now before they’d be on her … and off! “That’s the Flying Clipper, isn’t it, Mr. Volence?” he asked excitedly.
“Yes, Alec, that’s what they call it. She’s a beauty, isn’t she?”
“Sure is,” Alec agreed. “We ought to be off soon.” His eyes swept to the clock. Seven o’clock, and they were scheduled to leave at seven-thirty. He turned to the window again and looked at the clear, blue sky overhead. It was going to be a nice day, and they were sure to take off unless there was “dirty” weather over the Atlantic. Mr. Volence had told him that the ship wouldn’t leave unless weather reports were good. He hoped nothing would prevent them from going today. He’d looked forward to this day ever so much, and didn’t want to put it off any longer.
Henry caught him looking out the window. “We’ll take off all right, Alec,” he assured him. “They’d have told us earlier if the weather was no good over the Atlantic.” He jerked his head in the direction of the adjoining room. “C’mon. They have some vittles inside, and my stomach’s cryin’ from hunger.”
“Didn’t you have breakfast home, Henry? I did.”