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him. His father smiled, but Alec could see that it was forced. The ramp of the van was down, the driver standing alongside. Just lead the colt up the short ramp, and he’d have him inside. Then home, and before long hisfather would have forgotten all that had happened at the pier.
    Henry said, “Want me to help you take him in, Alec?”
    “I can manage, Henry. Thanks.” Alec’s voice was clipped. He moved forward with the colt. Sebastian barked, then whimpered, his tail wagging; he wanted to get to Alec. The black colt swerved again, and Alec knew Sebastian wasn’t helping matters any. He was about to ask his father to take Sebastian away from the back of the van when a sudden gust of wind, blowing from the river, swept through the shed. Alec saw his father make a grab at his brown hat as the wind caught it, knocking it from his head. As the hat tumbled down to the ground, his father went after it with both hands, and Sebastian was free. Bounding forward, the puppy ran excitedly to Alec.
    Then it all happened very quickly. The colt reared, swerved to the right, then plunged forward, his small hoofs striking out viciously.
    And when Alec had him still once more, Sebastian lay inert upon the wooden floor of the shed.
    Then his father and Henry were beside him, and his father bent over the dog. Finally, he looked up at Alec. “He’s still breathing,” he said in a strained voice. “I’ll get him to a veterinary.” Then, carrying Sebastian in his arms, he left them.
    Alec stood gazing at his father’s back as the older man walked quickly away with Sebastian.
    “I don’t think the colt hit him square,” Alec heard Henry say. “Just glanced him on the side, probablyknocking the wind out of him. He’ll be okay, I think, Alec. Don’t worry.”
    “I sure hope so, Henry,” Alec replied slowly. “I’d hate to have anything happen to Sebastian.”
    “The colt’s excited.…”
    Alec nodded, his eyes on the quivering body of the horse beside him.
    “Let’s get out of here,” Henry said. “It’s no place for him.”
    As they led the colt into the van, Alec said bitterly, “A good start, Henry.”
    “Yeah,” Henry returned, “… a good start.”

S ATAN
4
    When the van left the pier shed, Alec was sitting between the driver and Henry. Turning his head, Alec could see the black colt through the small window. He was tied securely; everything was all right now.
    Henry said, “He’ll turn out okay, Alec. Don’t worry about him.”
    Without looking at his friend, Alec said, “I’m not worrying too much, Henry. It’s the way I hoped he’d be.” Pausing, he added, “I just wish he hadn’t kicked Sebastian.”
    Henry didn’t say anything, and after a few minutes Alec glanced at him. The old man’s face was still troubled. Alec’s gaze left him and returned to the road ahead. For several blocks he was undecided whether or not to bring up the subject which was foremost in his mind. Then he said quietly, “Your job, Henry. How’s it going?”
    Without hesitation Henry replied, “It’s all right, Alec. Boldt’s got some fine youngsters this year. He’sthinkin’ they’re the best he’s ever had. May be right, too, from the looks of ’me.” And then Alec detected a sudden eagerness in Henry’s voice as he added, “There’s one colt especially that Boldt’s staking everything on … a gray colt sired by his champion, Shooting Star. That’s the horse, you know, that copped all the big stakes a couple years back. Well, Boldt put him in stud and bred him to that great English mare, the Lady, which he bought for fifty thousand dollars. The gray colt’s the result, and Boldt wouldn’t sell him for any price. He’s already named him Boldt’s Comet.”
    Alec remained silent when Henry had finished. It was pretty much as he’d figured, Alec thought. Henry didn’t want any part of his black colt. With Boldt, there were horses Henry could get excited about and, at the same time, pull down a