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.