The Black Stallion Legend Read Online Free PDF Page A

he’d kept in shape by exercisinghimself in the large paddocks. There was no fat on him. Nor did he look drawn, creased or worn out from all the racing he’d done. There was a sharpness and spring to his every movement that matched the alertness in his eyes. Alec knew the Black was in good racing condition despite his being away from the track.
    The stallion cocked his ears as Alec continued talking to him, the words making little sense most of the time with only the sounds and rhythm being important. In this way they communicated with each other. The Black whinnied in reply, his long nostrils distended, his eyes bold.
    “I wish you were going to France with me, but I’ll be away only a few days. I can’t take you this time. When I get back, we’ll do something together that’s fun, really fun, I promise you.”
    But
, Alec wondered,
should I promise? Can I have fun with him when I get back? What about Henry? What about all that’s ahead?
He had responsibilities. And with the breeding season coming up in February, the Black had responsibilities as well. Yet, Alec thought, there would be a slowing down of work between Christmas and February. If he could just get out of racing so much, perhaps he and the Black could get away together if only for a short time.
    Suddenly the Black raised his head from Alec’s arms, his small ears cocked and listening. Then he whinnied to the mares he’d heard outside. He went to the window and looked out, a coal-black silhouette against the golden light of the sun. Becoming more excited, he uttered a shrill whistle that was clearly meant for the mares he could not see but knew were there. Hegathered himself, rocked back on his hindquarters and plunged about the stall, almost knocking Alec over.
    Alec left the stall, knowing he could do nothing to distract the Black from the mares outside. “You be good,” he said. “I’ll be back soon and then we’ll go away. Somehow we’ll go away somewhere, if only for a few days.”
    Outside the barn he plodded through the deep snow of the driveway. He wanted to pick up the mail to find out if there was a last letter from Pam before he drove to Kennedy Airport in New York City. Back in the office was his plane ticket, and his bag was packed and ready. Now that he’d been with the Black he’d said his good-byes to everybody. No one would miss him for a while.
    Alec looked at the broodmares on the other side of the driveway fence. They were listening to the Black’s calls from the Stallion Barn. So it is with life, Alec thought, and with one’s
need
for another. One needed one for balance.
    “Oh, Pam, soon we’ll be together,” he said aloud.
    Reaching into the mail container, he removed several letters and
The New York Times
. There was no letter from Pam, only bills addressed to the farm.
    Alec walked up the driveway while opening up the newspaper to read the day’s weather forecast. Snow was predicted in the afternoon, but if he left soon, he should have no trouble getting to the airport on time.
    His eyes fell to a short story in the lower right-hand corner of the front page. He was attracted to it because of the
Paris, France
, dateline. Then he read:
    FOUR STUDENTS KILLED
IN ALPS CAR CRASH
    ONE FROM U.S.
    PARIS, France, December 15—Four students of the famous Phillipe de Pluminel School of Horsemanship were killed in a car crash twenty miles outside the mountain town of Kufstein, Austria. The students, Pam Athena, Denise Hermes, Simone Hachette, and Claudette Bradley, were riding in a Volkswagen when it skidded on the highest road in the Alps and plunged into an abyss. All students were from France except Pam Athena, an American, from Venice, Florida. The students were on their way to watch the Lipizzaner horses perform at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.
    The newspaper dropped from Alec’s hands. For a moment he stood quietly in the snow, feeling nothing, seeing nothing. Then from somewhere deep within him came a piercing