But this morning the Black wouldn’t be jogging. He’d be going all out, running his very fastest! It would be over and done with in a very short time. They’d be back at the barn even before Tony and Napoleon left for the market.

Leaving the house, Alec ran across the street to the iron gate. He opened it wide and didn’t shut it behind him. Reaching the barn, he went inside without turning on the lights. The Black whinnied and Alec went to him, stroking the small head for a few minutes before going on to the tack room. He returned, carrying the light racing saddle and bridle.

Alec worked quickly in the darkness. The Black moved uneasily when the saddle pad, followed by the saddle, was put on his back. But he quieted at the touch of Alec’s hands and the sound of the boy’s voice. “You’re going light right now,” Alec said. “No feed until later.”

After Alec had the bridle on him, he led the Black from the barn. The stallion’s nostrils dilated and he snorted repeatedly as he moved beside Alec. The boy took him to the bench in front of the barn and mounted from there.

His knees pressed hard against the muscled withers, Alec took the Black down the driveway. And only for a fraction of a second did he hesitate before riding him through the gate and out onto the street.

Henry wouldn’t approve of what he was doing, he knew. For just before Henry had left he had cautioned him to do nothing that might arouse anyone’s suspicions that it was the Black which was stabled in the barn. But Henry wouldn’t know, neither would anyone else. This was something just between him and the Black.

After a few minutes Alec turned the stallion onto a narrow back street, where the shoulders were of dirt. And as the Black’s hoofs struck the earth in place of the hard pavement Alec let him go into a slow canter. He’d be at the park just at dawn … he’d be back at the barn soon after. There was nothing to worry about. The Black was ready for a fast workout, after having spent the last few weeks running about the field. It would do him a lot of good … Alec’s hand went to the watch within his pocket. “I’ll know,” he said aloud, “even if no one else does. And I want to know.”

The road led directly to the park, and within fifteen minutes after leaving the barn Alec and the Black were on the bridle path. The stallion was pulling now, but the boy was able to hold him to a slow gallop. He talked to him all the while, well knowing that no bit would hold the stallion once he took it in mind to run. He was not up on Satan, he reminded himself. He must remember he had no control over the stallion other than the Black’s willingness to obey him. The stallion was eager to go, his every movement showed it.

“Just a little while now,” Alec told him. “Just a few minutes more, then it’ll be all right.” Once he gave the Black his head, there would be no stopping him until he had run himself out.

The bridle path encircled the baseball diamond, and just on the other side was the golf course and the seventh tee.