The Black Stallion Returns (16 page)

Raj turned to Alec; their eyes were filled with hate. For here was a man capable of anything … a man who had carefully plotted the destruction of the tribes of Abd-al-Rahman and Abu Ishak. And if he succeeded there would be no stopping him. He and his band of outlaws would ravage the mountains and desert, pillaging and killing.

Ibn al Khaldun spoke again, and Raj continued, “He says that if the Bedouin lying at his feet had followed orders, the chestnut stallion of Abd-al-Rahman would have won the race and the best of Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak’s horses. It would then have been the time to strike, for he had carefully planned the death of Abd-al-Rahman. And upon his death he, Ibn al Khaldun, first cousin of Abd-al-Rahman, would become the sheikh. Then it would have been easy to bring them into the tribe, and, better mounted, they could have destroyed the clan of Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak! And gone on and on … until the Kharj district was theirs.

“But now his plans had to be changed for, on the plain beyond, the men of Abd-al-Rahman and Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak would battle tomorrow. Yes, they would attack as the battle waned, but by Allah it would be difficult for they were undermounted. Still, they would attack with all the fury of their scarred bodies for it was
not an opportunity to miss! And they would first seek Abd-al-Rahman and Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak, if they were still alive, and run their spears through them. Yes, and there was another who they must make sure died before the battle ended … a Bedouin youth, his face unlined, who rides a roan with a white forehead.”

Raj’s voice faltered. Alec turned to him for he knew that Raj rode such a horse. But his friend’s eyes were fastened on Ibn al Khaldun and he continued interpreting. “It will not be difficult for you to recognize him. He is taller than the others and his cheekbones are high. When you get close in battle you will see that he looks like Abd-al-Rahman … and rightly so … for he is his
brother
.”

The muscles in Raj’s face bulged, his mouth opened. Alec placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Easy, Raj,” he said, “we can do nothing now.”

Raj turned and his voice at first was bewildered as he said slowly, “Then I … I was the newborn babe Ibn al Khaldun could not find … to murder.” Then it became choked with bitterness and hate as he added vehemently, “This man, Alec … 
he
is responsible for the death of my mother and father …”

“I know, Raj, I know … and you will have your revenge. We have heard enough. We must get back to warn the others.” Alec paused, his eyes seeking his friends. “Aren’t you scared, Raj?”

“No, for neither Ibn al Khaldun nor his men shall kill me. It is they who will learn the meaning of fear; it is they who will quake and fall to their knees before the fury of my people. We go to tell my brother what we have heard … and then we return.”

Their gaze turned once again to Ibn al Khaldun, who was walking in the direction of his hut, followed by two scarred Bedouins carrying the limp figure of the man who was to pay with his life for disobeying orders.

The others returned to their groups, and soon high-pitched voices resumed the quarrels Ibn al Khaldun had interrupted.

They had crawled from the rock, and Raj was already moving on his way back down the canyon, when Alec placed a hand on his shoulder. “Raj,” he said, “you go … one of us ought to stay here. Besides, you’ll travel faster alone.”

Raj met his friend’s gaze. “You mean, you are going up the canyon to find the corral that holds Shêtân?”

“Maybe. It would be like Ibn al Khaldun to do away with the Black before the attack.”

“No, I do not think so,” Raj whispered. “For he is undermounted, as he himself said. He needs good horses.”

“But he’s going to kill the only man who can ride him,” Alec reminded him.

Raj shrugged his shoulders. “Stay if you wish, Alec,” he said. “I will return with many men before the moon rises above the mountains. The men here will be sleeping. It should not be difficult.” Raj turned and moved quickly away.

After Raj left, Alec slowly made his way through the rocks toward the upper canyon. Somewhere ahead was the Black! His brain whirled from the rapidity with which everything had fallen into place. Now he knew the reason for the attack on the Black … knew why Ibn al Khaldun had wanted him done away with. For Ibn al Khaldun, learning that Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak was on his way to the United States to claim his horse, had arrived there first and attempted to kill the Black. Yet the great stallion was but a small pawn in the complex, deadly game Ibn al Khaldun was playing! … Raj had to get through … Alec was certain he would. Raj … the brother of Abd-al-Rahman. It was a little difficult to believe at first … yet as Alec thought about it, and recalled the similarity in the features of the two, so different from the other Bedouins, he wondered that he had not guessed the truth before.

It was almost dark when Alec decided he had gone far enough and should see what was in the canyon
below. Cautiously, he approached the rim. About a mile down the canyon he could see the village and the men still grouped around the huts. At first he could see nothing below him in the ever deepening shadows, then he made out a narrow gorge that ran up the side of the mountain, only to come to an abrupt end as it met a sheer wall of stone. As Alec’s eyes became more accustomed to the dwindling light he made out a high wooden gate at the entrance of the gorge. This could be the corral for which he was searching!

Finding a narrow ledge that led down the side of the canyon, he set out. He moved slowly, his eyes on the precarious trail ahead. Stopping to rest halfway down, he looked in the direction of the village. It could not be seen. Shrugging his shoulders with relief, he started down again.

Reaching the floor of the canyon, he proceeded more cautiously than before, for the rocks no longer hid him from prying eyes, and he did not know if Ibn al Khaldun had placed a guard there.

He was nearing the gate when he heard the sound of pounding hoofs. Alec flattened himself against the rocks. As he stood there he saw the Black appear behind the gate, his head high and ears cocked. He turned in Alec’s direction and tossed his head.

Alec’s first impulse was to run to his horse, but he restrained himself and remained still. His eyes moved around the canyon for the sign of a sentry. The stallion neighed and shook his head more furiously. Minutes passed. The Black reared, bringing his forelegs down upon the gate, which reached high above his head.

Alec moved forward quickly for he realized the
Black might easily break a leg. At sight of him, the stallion shrilled loudly, and brought his forelegs down to the ground. Running to him, Alec shoved his arms through the long, wooden bars. Bending his head, the stallion nuzzled Alec, who rubbed the soft skin.

Alec looked anxiously down the canyon. The Black’s scream could easily have attracted the attention of the men in the village. He had to work fast! Untying the rope which held the gate closed, he swung it open. The stallion crab-stepped through and pushed him with his head. Alec swung him around alongside the gate, climbed a few bars, and then leaped on the back of the stallion, his fingers grasping the heavy mane.

For a moment, Alec forgot the dangers before him … forgot everything except the thrill of once again being astride the Black, whose sensitive body quivered at the touch of his knees. It was as though the stallion had missed him as well, for he stood quite still, his head up and ears cocked.

Fortunately night had fallen fast and Alec knew that it would be difficult for anyone to see them. He gave the Black his head, but kept him to a walk. He rode away from the village, hoping to find another exit from the narrow canyon. If he found none, he decided he would wait in the protective darkness of the night until the moon rose above the mountains … until Raj returned with the warriors of Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak and Abd-al-Rahman.

After Raj left Alec, he moved swiftly and with little caution down the canyon. When he reached the horses, he mounted his, and savagely threw the roan back onto its
haunches. His anxious, boyish expression was gone and his eyes smoldered with anger. Then he rode hard, a heavy hand on his mount.

A sense of new strength and power coursed through his veins. No longer was he Raj, the houseboy of Mr. Coggins of Haribwan, a nameless youth to be pitied.
La …
no! He was the brother of Abd-al-Rahman, powerful sheikh of the Kharj! And together they would seek vengeance upon Ibn al Khaldun for the murder of their father and mother.

Night had fallen by the time Raj reached the small plateau from which he and Alec had first seen Ibn al Khaldun. His horse stumbled and grabbed at the bit. Recovering, Raj drove him down the trail to the plain below.

No fires burned in the camp of Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak, but Raj knew the men were there … somewhere in the darkness … waiting vigilantly for the coming dawn. The roan responded as Raj gave him his head, and they swept down the plain.

A short time later he slowed his horse to a walk, for not far ahead was his brother’s stronghold and Abu Ishak’s men must be near even though he could not see them.

The roan pranced nervously, his body hot under Raj’s long limbs. Suddenly, there was the sharp click of a rifle bolt in the darkness to the left. A voice ordered him to halt.

Raj explained that it was important that he be taken to Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak at once.

An unmounted Bedouin appeared, leading his horse. He peered at Raj closely. Recognizing him, he
nodded, and motioned him to follow. They moved silently across the plain a short way. Then Raj made out the figures of a small group of men. He and the Bedouin sentry passed them and soon came to another group, which they also passed. Raj realized then that Abu Ishak, to avoid any chance of a surprise attack on the part of Abd-al-Rahman, had scattered his men.

Finally they stopped and the sentry told Raj to wait. A few minutes later he returned and with him was the tall, slim figure of Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak, his white beard sharply outlined in the darkness.

Raj, his voice strained with emotion, informed him in his native tongue of all that he and Alec had learned.

Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak listened without interruption. When Raj had finished his long story, Abu Ishak remained silent. Then in a cold voice he told Raj to follow and led the way back to his men. There he gave orders to his men to light fires and assemble. Taking his long rifle, he raised it in the air and fired a volley of three shots. Then he lighted a flare and, holding it, mounted his gray stallion. He motioned Raj to follow, and together they rode toward the stronghold of Abd-al-Rahman.

They stopped halfway and waited, their figures silhouetted against the darkness by the burning flare held in the raised hand of Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak.

The minutes passed … then out of the night came the hoofs of running horses. Suddenly they stopped and were no more. Raj realized that the horsemen, wary of a trap, had brought their mounts to a halt. Then trotting horses moved to the left, others to the
right. Coming directly toward them were the prancing but restrained hoofbeats of a walking horse.

Raj stared into the darkness as the hoofbeats ahead became more pronounced. Then the small head and golden mane of Sagr appeared in the light cast from the flaming torch. On his back sat Abd-al-Rahman, his rifle unslung and ready in his hand. “This man,” thought Raj, “is of my own flesh and blood … my brother.”

Abd-al-Rahman stopped a few yards away from them and his inquisitive eyes met those of the older sheikh. Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak was the first to speak, and he told Abd-al-Rahman what he had learned from Raj. As Abd-al-Rahman listened his eyes narrowed and his mouth became hard and set, forming a thin line. His gaze shifted to Raj when Abu Ishak told him that the youth with him was his brother, but his face disclosed no emotion.

When the story was finished, Abd-al-Rahman jerked his chestnut stallion into a rear. Up and down it plunged, as angry as its rider. Abd-al-Rahman swore as Sagr bucketed underneath him. He would first make certain Abu Ishak was telling him the truth, he shouted. He would return to his home and if Ibn al Khaldun was not to be found, he and his warriors would go with them to the canyon of which he had been told! Abd-al-Rahman flung Sagr around and disappeared into the darkness.

Raj returned with Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak to his men, who were now busily checking their arms and saddling their horses. They did not have long to wait before many lighted torches appeared, one following another, from the stronghold of Abd-al-Rahman.

“They come forth,” Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak said to Raj. Then, turning to his men, he ordered them to mount.

As the thunder of pounding hoofs shook the ground beneath and the seemingly endless line of flares pierced the darkness, Raj took the rifle Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak handed him. Tonight the clans of Abd-al-Rahman and Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak would ride together again … this time to avenge the death of his own father and mother. And he would ride beside his brother in battle! It was as his father would have wanted it. The moon was still behind the mountains and by the time it rose they would be at the canyon, as he had told Alec, his friend.

The canyon narrowed as Alec rode slowly in the night, the walls of stone gradually closing in upon him and his horse. If there was another way out, it was going to be difficult to find. Suddenly the Black shied and Alec felt the giant body tremble. He looked into the darkness but could see nothing. The stallion shied again, his nostrils quivering.

Alec placed a hand upon the high crest of the Black’s neck, attempting to calm him. Something was up, he thought, although in the blackness of the canyon he could not see any sign of movement. He brought the stallion to a halt, but the big horse would not remain still. His hoofs played nervously on the ground.

Sensing danger ahead, Alec turned the Black and went back the way he had come. The stallion attempted to break out of the running walk at which Alec held him. Having no reins or bridle, it was difficult for
Alec to hold his horse back. He talked to him, pushing his head close to the stallion’s neck.