The Golden Fountain

by Zuheb Alep

  “Oh, no!” cried Benjamin. “We’re outnumbered!”

  He saw Sebastian strike up his sword. “CATAPULTS, FIRE!” he roared towards the back, and obediently the catapults at the edge of the icy rocks hurled fireballs.

  “CANNONS, FIRE!” shouted another commander.

  BANG! BANG! BANG! Rows of big guns bombarded the enemy with rusty balls as big as meteors, never missing a target.

  “Mikhael!” Sebastian called. “Are you ready?”

  The twenty balloons that hovered in the sky turned their attention to the black hole. Simultaneous fire smashed it to smithereens, sending the enemy troops flying through the air.

  Benjamin thought they now had a chance of winning but was soon to change his mind. A slight vibration from beneath the ground began to grow stronger and stronger.

  “Can you feel that?” asked Amberina curiously.

  “Feel what?” asked Ruby.

  One by one, Benjamin’s companions looked towards the south with dread in their faces. Their mouths gaped as they watched. What were they looking at? What was so terrifying?

  “We’ve got another problem now,” Musab whispered, his sword hanging limply from his fingers.

  Benjamin turned to face the source of their terror, horrified by the sight that met his eyes. He was stunned. Now they must be lost.

  More than thirty war-elephants were thundering towards them, heads hot with rage and eyes black with fury. Their huge flat feet slammed on the sandy ground, strong enough to create craters. On their grey backs were large blue cloths which covered their silver armour; they had spiked knee-plates and helmets upon which metal rhinoceros horns were mounted. Their ivory tusks were threateningly huge and sharp chains were linked between them, rusted with blood. Their massive bodies were huge, fat and wrinkly and if one fell, it could crush ten humans.

  Mounted on the backs of the vicious war-elephants were several soldiers of Halamaband who were controlling them, holding reins attached to their flapping ears. It was horrifying to see the grey giants thunder closer and closer, their heavy steps and trumpeting trunks growing louder and louder.

  Stamp! Stamp! Stamp!

  Each breath they exhaled was like heavy smoke, both from their roaring mouths and swaying trunks. They stormed up the bridges in groups of three, passed through the battlefield and shook the ground like an earthquake. They swept their mighty tusks sideways, spiralling the Aradian soldiers into the sky.

  Benjamin was terrified of their thunderous feet which crushed everything into dust. Many of the soldiers darted away to save themselves, but those who felt brave enough rushed forward to attack.

  Alerted, the Orellions looked up, snarling with the frenzy that bubbled inside their ferocious hearts. King Renzillion was the first to charge towards the leading elephant, and the rest of his clan followed, attacking in their own fashion.

  “Impossible!” roared Sebastian. “How can the elephants be on their side?”

  “Those elephants are the free tribes!” Supreme Commander Warrick shouted back. “They’re the ones who don’t see Princess Elma as their future queen. Don’t you remember?”

  “Then use the cannons!” Sebastian was throwing orders like a madman. “USE ALL OF THEM!”

  Benjamin had no idea what they were talking about. Musab distracted him with a vigorous tug. “Are we going to rescue the children or not?” he asked. “We’ve been here too long!”

  Benjamin hadn’t forgotten; he was trying hard to find a way through the crowd but it was difficult with these tall legs moving about. Just then a small gap opened, allowing him a view of the three bridges. Taking his chance while the elephants were distracting the soldiers, Benjamin ran with the long knife in his hand. “Let’s go!” he called to the others. “This way!” He pulled and dragged each and every one of his companions, nudging them along, and looked back only once to see his family all still fighting with whatever strength was left in them. Would he see them again? He hoped so with all his heart.

  Benjamin carried the worry of their safety through the battlefield until he looked ahead and saw the buildings of Halamaband, visible in broad daylight. However, the battlefield was much harder to wade through now that the elephants were there, their monstrous legs hard to avoid. They were thrusting their fierce heads forwards and their huge tusks sideways.

  Ducking, dodging and jumping all the time, Benjamin and his companions managed to stay safe. Suddenly he halted at the sight of Herman, recognisable without his helmet; he had stabbed a strange man wearing a white cloak, and there was something in his hand.

  “Herman!” he called.

  Herman turned his head, looking greatly relieved. “Why are you still here?” he called hoarsely. “Rescue the children now, all of you! Hurry!” Then he was gone. Benjamin’s heart was wrenched by his disappearance but at least he was okay; nothing bad had happened to him. Someone tugged on his sleeve and led him away. Conscious now of the urgency, he ran energetically with his companions. They sped through the battlefield like sprinters, Benjamin’s small legs jumping over dead bodies and fallen weapons.

  The battle was horrifying; the Orellions fought the wolves and war-elephants, while the soldiers killed one another without mercy. The black shape had vanished, leaving the sky clear with no dark clouds. The smell of sweat and blood was overpowering. Benjamin and his band emerged safely from the crowd and reached the three bridges, running over one of them in a huddle.

  “Are we going to rescue the children the April Goldenberry way?” asked Musab.

  “No; that’s what we tried to do yesterday!” Benjamin told him. He peered over the edge to gaze down at the gaping crevasse below. It was dark and seemed to be bottomless. He huffed and puffed halfway to the other side, stopping at the sound of a large explosion behind them. Benjamin saw with horror that an enemy soldier had fired a cannonball towards the base of the bridge, blasting it to smithereens. Rumbles and cracking noises could be heard, and the bridge was shaken by tremors. Cracks appeared here and there, several gashes that sent stones spiralling like sparks. The bridge was breaking apart, its rocks hurtling down to the deep abyss.

  “Forward, quickly!” shouted Benjamin. “Run!”

  With his companions in the lead, Benjamin ran with all his might. He had to reach the other side. The bridge began to give way, making him stumble. Another rock fell and Benjamin jumped, his legs soaring into the air to barely gain the edge of safe ground.

  They had reached the other side. The bridge in the middle was broken, and only two remained.

  “Are you all okay?” asked Benjamin, counting his companions. They nodded, although their heads were swirling with dizziness. Benjamin stood up and staggered, but Musab caught him before he could hurt himself. So much was happening, and Benjamin couldn’t keep track of it all. It felt as if there was a war in his brain matching the war he had recently witnessed, but his head soon cleared at the sight of the buildings ahead. It wasn’t far to go to reach Prince Adam, Kaileena and the others. They were all in there, almost within his reach, so he ran once more. Benjamin’s lungs ached and his throat was sore. He had shouted a lot and done plenty of running. Sleep seemed like a pearl that was just out of his reach.

  Down ahead lay a large marble road. On it was a single row of white lamp-posts, and beyond the fences that surrounded the site were six silver buildings with tube-shaped tunnels connecting one to another. The building in the middle had a domed roof and large doors with golden lettering spelling out O.O.H. What this stood for was still a mystery to Benjamin. They passed through the gate and crept up the steps that led into the main building. It was bright inside. Tiled floors and white walls took up most of the space, and the ceilings were covered with opaque panels to balance the light peering through.

  The missing children were here somewhere. But where? A childish scream pierced their ears, startling them.

  “Get off me! Go aw
ay!”

  It was a child, whose voice was coming from the next corridor. No doubt it was going to be tortured, and Benjamin couldn’t let that happen. Holding the long knife in his hand, he ran with his companions in the direction from which the voice had come, letting it guide them to a wide door. Pushing this open, they entered a semi-circular room. There were men here clothed in white robes similar to that worn by the man Herman had stabbed, but it was the large cage in the centre which scared him the most.

  What room is this? thought Benjamin.

  Sitting in the middle of the cage was a tiny boy, half asleep and terrified. He crawled towards the door, trying to get out, but the men slammed it shut.

  “Full throttle!”

  In response, another man pulled down a lever on a big machine at the other end of the room. No one had yet noticed Benjamin or his band. The cage started to rattle, flashing with sparkling electrical bolts. Frightened, the boy stepped back, hoping it would be safer near the centre of the cage.

  “Stop!” he pleaded. “What are you doing? Please stop!”

  But the men paid no attention.

  Benjamin was angry, even angrier than he had been before. What they were doing to the children in this place was still a mystery, but whatever it was, it had to stop. He and his companions flung out their weapons which kept the men at bay. They raised their hands in surrender and moved to one corner. Musab and Ruby were busy tying them up with a band of stellotape.

  Benjamin rushed over to the door of the cage and opened it, pulling the boy out.

  “What were they trying to do to me?” the little boy asked with a whimper when they were back in the corridor.

  Benjamin took a deep breath. “I’m not sure,” he said, “but I’m glad we found you in time.”

  “Hey!” interrupted Ruby. “Where are the other children?”

  The boy raised an arm to point. “In the dormitory,” he said. Benjamin hoped he was right; they couldn’t risk getting lost in a dangerous place like this. It was too big, with corridors leading everywhere. Taking the child by the hand, Benjamin beckoned his companions to follow.

  In less than a minute they were crossing a tunnel leading directly to the dormitory.

  Nearly there, not far, thought Benjamin. With each step, his chest swelled with hope, bringing him to the point of tears. He would see them soon.

  Windows set into the walls allowed them to see the brutal war outside. There were fires producing billowing smoke, as dark as dried blood. Benjamin thought about his family, right in the middle of the fighting, and hoped they were still unharmed.

  “Here it is.”

  The child had stopped in his tracks; they had arrived. There was a door marked ‘Boys’ and another marked ‘Girls’. They decided that they would each enter the appropriate dormitory, but the decision proved unnecessary as they heard voices coming from the boys’ dormitory and none from the girls’. The children were all hiding together in the male dormitory; Prince Adam, Kaileena and everyone else.

  Benjamin flung the door wide and there they were, a large number of children, all looking terrified. When they saw that the intruders were dressed in Aradian armour, their fear turned to hope and they began to smile.

  One boy stood up with a huge grin splashed across his face.

  “Benjamin! I knew you’d come,” said Prince Adam. “You kept your promise!”

  Kaileena, Kevin and Alby were there too. Benjamin almost cried at the sight of them all, sighing with relief. They were safe; nothing bad had happened to them. “Of course I did,” he replied, smiling.

  “See! I said he’d come! I told you!”

  Abel, Jama and Anouk were astounded, but Kaileena, Kevin and Alby only grinned.

  “Come on!” shouted Musab. “We’re getting out of here!”

  The children did as they were told, standing up like an army rising from the sea. Both Kevin and Alby came over to give Benjamin a tight hug.

  “I was so worried about you both!” Benjamin couldn’t stop squeezing them. He checked them for signs of torture but thankfully there were none. When everyone had risen, Kelindra pushed through to the front with Hamish and her little brother, Noor.

  “We’re still members of your band,” she said. “What do you want us to do?”

  Glad of her loyalty, Benjamin knew what to do next. “Set off the fire alarm!” he said. “If there any other children in the building, we can warn them.”

  Kelindra and Hamish ran out of the dormitory and smashed the fire alarm on the wall, which emitted an ear-splitting shriek. The children cheered. Prince Adam gripped Benjamin’s arm. “There are children caged in the basement,” he said urgently.

  There was no time to ask why. “Musab, Amberina – go with Adam!”

  They nodded and left.

  “The rest of you get some warm clothing, but be quick! Let’s go!” Benjamin and his remaining companions headed for the cloakroom, led by Kevin who knew where it was.

  They were all soon ready. Pale-faced children arrived from the basement, looking unwell. The other children screamed when they saw them, but Benjamin quietened them. He was pleased that the pale children had been freed, but knew they would need medical treatment. When all was quiet and a thousand pairs of eyes gazed at him for guidance, Benjamin shouted, “RUN!”

  He and his band led the children down the corridors to freedom. Before they knew it they’d arrived at the entrance, where the children burst through the front door and flooded outside like a tsunami. Most of them ran ahead while some cried out for their siblings and friends.

  Hamish ran off to the left with Kelindra, where a lorry was parking. “There are other children in there!” he said to Benjamin. “We have to save them!”

  Huffing and puffing, out of breath but still moving, Benjamin nodded and headed straight for the bridges as fast as he could.

  They had done it! They had finally rescued the children, himself and his band.

  Benjamin’s heart eased slightly at the sight of his friends and siblings, all unharmed. He hoped the soldiers would stop fighting now that the children were safe.

  The throb of an engine broke into his thoughts. Benjamin looked to his left and saw Hamish driving the lorry with Kelindra, passing the cheering children. How Hamish could drive was a mystery, but it was known he had five big brothers who were mechanics. They honked the horn, signalling the children to move out of the way. The driver, Benjamin saw, was knocked unconscious and left behind at the parking area.

  So much was happening at once. Feet slapping against the dark ground, arms banging against each other, crying and cheering, the children followed Benjamin. The air was filled with dust and the more they ran, the louder the noise became. Benjamin kept heading straight for the bridges, holding Kevin and Alby by the hand. His friends ran beside him while the crowd of free children followed with speed, their jackets and scarves swaying behind their backs.

  On the battlefield at the other side of the deep crevasse, the battle ceased. The soldiers saw them coming and were stunned into silence, hardly believing their eyes. The children were free; it couldn’t be denied. Edgar, Herman and Nadine cheered loudly: “Go, Benjamin! Go, Benjamin!” They took off their disguises, allowing Sebastian and Jordanna to recognise them, no longer worried about getting into trouble.

  Now the soldiers knew one name: Benjamin.

  Sebastian and Jordanna heard their siblings call and looked around to see it was true; their brother, Benjamin, was running with Kevin, Alby and his friends by his side and the rest of the free children trailing behind. They had thought him powerless because he was just a child, but they had been wrong; Benjamin and his friends had actually done it.

  “There!” shouted Benjamin to the children. “Follow me to the bridge! We have to get to the zeppelins!”

  A trumpeting elephant and a couple of shots started a new bout of clashing sw
ords and bashing shields; the silence was broken and the battle went on.

  Then something terrifying happened which Benjamin had not expected: two enemy soldiers fired missiles at the foot of each of the two bridges. Hamish quickly drove the lorry over the bridge on the left-hand side but, weakened by the damage to the base, the bridge collapsed. The cab of the lorry landed on the battlefield, but the cargo container attached to it fell behind and dangled below the edge of the crevasse. Screams and cries could be heard from inside. “Help! Help!”

  Hamish pressed down on the accelerator with all his strength, causing the front wheels to roll with such heat that it burnt the ground, making the sand erupt into the air like a miniature tornado. Kelindra waved through the window for aid.

  Benjamin screamed at the sight of it. He wanted to turn back and help them, but it was too late. The children following him were already swarming over the last standing bridge.

  Cracks started to appear beneath his feet and a rock gave way, then another; the sound of crumbling rocks filled the air once more.

  “No!” cried Benjamin.

  As the bridge collapsed, only two children reached the other side safely. Kevin withdrew his hand from Benjamin’s, hurriedly grabbed Alby and tossed him over to safe ground. Then Prince Adam jumped, landing safely beside Alby, but just as Benjamin was about to toss Kevin over they plunged downwards. Hundreds of children fell, plummeting into the gaping abyss.

  “Kevin! Benjamin!” wailed Alby.

  Prince Adam stretched out his hands but it was too late.

  “NO!” came an anguished cry from the battlefield. It was Sebastian, who had seen everything. The children who hadn’t reached the bridge stepped back.

  “We’re stranded!” said one of them.

  “Somebody help us!” said another.

  “How can we cross over?”

  “All the bridges have collapsed!”