The Black Stallion Returns by Walter Farley

Author:Walter Farley [Farley, Walter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-80493-8
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2011-08-16T16:00:00+00:00

BLOOD BROTHER

11

That next morning Alec was awakened by a soft knock on the door. One of Abu Ishak’s servants walked in and moved silently across the room. As he passed the foot of Alec’s bed he turned and smiled, then proceeded to the large windows, where he pulled the long drapes wide open, allowing the early morning sun to flood the room.

He left and a moment later returned with a large tray bearing fruit, which he placed in front of Alec. He retired near the door and stood there in silence.

Luxuriously, Alec stretched in bed and ate.

He thought of Tabari and the story she had told him. He thought of the beauty of Abd-al-Rahman’s chestnut stallion, and wondered if Sagr could match the heart and speed of the Black. It would be a race to see! Alec sobered … if only the stakes weren’t so high. For if Tabari was right, the defeat of the Black would mean much bloodshed. His thoughts turned to Abd-al-Rahman and once more he saw the tall, big-boned Bedouin with the great black beard. Why couldn’t he see that Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak couldn’t have murdered his best friend and his wife and newborn child? Still, there was the knife, and Abd-al-Rahman was young and impetuous. He sought revenge.

Alec’s thoughts turned to the gold medallion and the bird that they thought to be the Phoenix. Where did that come in? And was it, by any chance, upon Abd-al-Rahman’s orders that the Black had been stolen in order to keep him out of the race, to make certain that Sagr would win? And failing, and knowing that Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak was on his way to the United States to bring back Shêtân, did Abd-al-Rahman or one of his men reach the States first and attempt to kill the Black?

They were not pleasant thoughts. He could not think of Abd-al-Rahman as resorting to such treachery. Yet, this was a strange land, and he had much to learn.

As he dressed, his thoughts turned to Tabari and what Henry had told him last night before they had gone to bed. Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak had met his wife in the Far East, he had informed Henry and Mr. Volence, and had brought her back with him to the Kharj. She had died three years later after the birth of her second child, Tabari. Abu Ishak had sent both of his children to England to receive their education, but Tabari, unhappy away from her father and her home, had returned after five years. That accounted, anyway, for her well-spoken English.

The others, including Abu Ishak, were waiting for Alec when he arrived downstairs.

“Come,” their host said, “we have horses waiting.”

Alec fell in beside Henry. “What’s it all about?” he asked. “Where are we going?”

“Abu told us this morning about the comin’ race, but didn’t go into all the details,” Henry whispered. “Now we’re gonna watch a workout. He thought we’d be interested.”

Outside, Bedouins held the horses. Tabari mounted Jôhar, while the filly danced nervously.

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