The Golden Fountain

by Zuheb Alep

“Who’s going to save us now?”

  “We’re stuck!”

  “Help! Help!” they bawled.

  Benjamin looked up as a streak of glimmering metal crossed the sky. It dazzled like crystal in the strong sunlight, but all that could be seen clearly were talons.

  Talons?

  The beat of heavy wings became audible along with the squawks of birds the size of aeroplanes; there were large eagles, doves, pigeons, owls, crows, ravens, parrots, finches, sparrows and many others. It was the bird clan of the Aradian Empire who had finally come to their aid, armoured for battle and much bigger than those seen every day. The children who had fallen into the deep crevasse were caught by the talons of these huge birds, including Benjamin and Kevin, still holding each other’s hands. They were saved with only moments to spare.

  “The big birds!” murmured the children.

  “They’re here!” said a girl.

  “Good timing!” said a boy.

  The children on the other side of the crevasse were also picked up by the large birds.

  Benjamin turned to see how Hamish and Kelindra were doing. Were they safe? He saw that the Orellions had come forward to help. Their strong teeth gripped the metal bars and steam came from their mouths as they pulled backwards. To aid them, the big birds flew to the back and grasped the bars with their talons, using all the strength left in their beating wings to lift the lorry. With this assistance, the huge vehicle came over the edge of the crevasse.

  “Yes!” cheered Benjamin.

  Once the children were safely on firm ground, they drew deep breaths. They were tired, their hearts pumping with adrenaline. Their clothes were torn and dirty, their faces not much better. Suddenly they froze, their eyes wide with fear, as a group of Halamaband soldiers rose up against them.

  The large group of children outnumbered the soldiers by about twenty to one, but they had no armour or weapons; only Benjamin and his band had these.

  Benjamin raised his long knife. “I suggest you leave us all alone,” he said. “I’m taking these children home.”

  He felt strong and determined not to fail this time. His past mistakes had been redeemed. Benjamin’s friends, brothers and all who had gone missing because he couldn’t protect them, were now safe; no one was going to take that away from him.

  No one.

  He spat on the ground, daring the soldiers to come forward, ready to strike them all with the long knife. He was no longer frightened; he was finished with all that. One soldier stepped forward, the biggest of them all.

  Benjamin gripped the handle of his weapon as firmly as he could.

  “I’m taking these children home,” he repeated.

  In response, the big soldier slowly raised a hand, ready to capture Benjamin. Children murmured in horror but he ignored them; he knew something that the big soldier didn’t, that a single Orellion was crouching beside the heavily-armoured troops, creeping along like a hungry predator scavenging for food. There was a crash followed by several cries and a thunderous roar: Prince Chamillion was on top of the big soldier, ripping off his head like that of a doll.

  “Run, child!” he growled.

  Benjamin lowered his long knife and turned. “To the zeppelins!” he shouted.

  Anxious not to lose a moment, the children sprinted across the perimeter of the battlefield in the belief that it was the safest way. Their tired feet slapped against pools of blood and fallen weapons, but it was not safe there as Benjamin had thought it would be; he was wrong. Another peril had befallen the children: three war-elephants were stamping towards them at speed.

  “Benjamin! Benjamin! The elephants!” screamed Abel.

  Benjamin halted. They were coming straight at his group, and he didn’t know what to do.

  “I’ll have to drive them off somehow,” he muttered, not knowing how to solve this problem. He had the long knife in his hand and was ready to use it, but there was no way he could fight off all the vicious beasts coming his way. No solution came to mind. Benjamin had already saved the children once, but how could he save them now?

  Kaileena and Prince Adam grabbed him by the arms. “You can’t fight them alone!” they said. “Let’s get the children to safety.”

  Benjamin shook them off. “We won’t get them to safety if the elephants keep coming!”

  A hundred yards -

  “We have to leave now!” said Prince Adam.

  Fifty yards now -

  “Help me kill them!” shouted Benjamin.

  Twenty -

  “Benjamin, please!” cried Kaileena.

  Just a few yards away -

  “We can’t let them harm the – ”

  Benjamin didn’t finish his thought. Several bangs assaulted his eardrums. He jumped and shielded his head with his elbows as the war-elephants slowly dropped down dead, limping over the ground as if only their bones were keeping them stable.

  Who had done it?

  The three children standing beside him each held a bulky rifle. It was Musab, Amberina and Ruby who had faced and killed the vicious beasts with courage and lucky shots.

  “Run! Run!” called Hamish and Kelindra as they swept past in their lorry. “Don’t just stand there, let’s go!” they shouted.

  So they did.

  Benjamin took the lead in front of the swarming children.

  “Run!” he called once more. “Just keep running!”

  They were already doing so, the entire flock of children sprinting across this godforsaken land. They had been running for so long that all they wanted to do was stop for a breather, but they didn’t. They needed to reach safety, and the band would made sure they did. At last they drew up beside the zeppelins and trudged up the shaking ramps.

  “Inside, quickly!” urged Ruby.

  “You’ll see your parents soon if you get inside the zeppelins,” said Amberina.

  “This way!” said Kelindra.

  “Follow me in!” called Hamish.

  “In here! It’s safe here!” said Musab.

  The rescue bid was over and the battle ground to a halt. The soldiers of Halamaband vanished, feeling that they had lost.

  The Band of Benjamin had succeeded.

  Chapter 13

  The Fulfilment of the Band of Benjamin

  Happiness bloomed like flowers in the spring. Standing in the crowd, Benjamin watched the children stand outside the zeppelins, embracing their parents and siblings who had come to meet them. The children were safe at last, thanks to him and his band.

  Half the soldiers of the Aradian Empire had been injured by the angry war-elephants, and a third of those had sadly died. Most of them had been protected by their strong armour, which had saved the survivors.

  “I can’t believe you came for us, Benjamin!” said Abel, rubbing his head. “I just can’t believe it!”

  Kaileena gave Benjamin a big hug, as did Anouk who thanked him.

  “I thought we were gone for good,” Jama chuckled, “but we’re not. We’re going home!”

  “You’re a good kid.”

  “You won’t ever be a lonely child.”

  “I see you made some new friends, too.”

  These were the remarks they made, one after the other.

  Benjamin smiled. “That’s my band,” he said. “Thanks, but it wasn’t just me, it was all of us working together.”

  “Benjamin! Benjamin! You made it!”

  Benjamin turned around and was slammed on the chest by a girl who gave him a tight hug.

  “Kelindra! Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, and guess what?” she replied. “I’ve received the Inheritance of the Ifrahail! It’s so exciting!” She was shrieking at the top of her voice. Benjamin didn’t understand why she was so happy, but he reflected that she’d always been a weird girl.

  “More than jus
t a freak now,” Benjamin heard Abel whisper to Jama. Jama sniggered.

  “Stop that, both of you!” Anouk silenced them with a smack on the arm.

  Benjamin ignored this byplay and had a look around. Musab was wandering through the milling crowd, searching for his cousin Walid. He called and called and finally found him, his heart overflowing with relief. They had been reunited at last.

  Hamish and Amberina hadn’t lost anyone close to them, so they stayed with Benjamin discussing all that had happened. Ruby, however, was unable to find her missing relatives. Benjamin frowned anxiously. She had been wandering through the crowd for a long time, searching without success.

  “Ranjit! Pari!”

  There was no answer. With all other options exhausted, Ruby approached Benjamin.

  “Benjamin,” she cried, almost in tears, “I can’t find Ranjit and Pari. Where can they be?” She stamped her foot in frustration and took another look around the war-torn battlefield.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll soon find them,” said Benjamin reassuringly.

  The others bowed their heads in sympathy for Ruby, the only person who hadn’t found her loved ones.

  Prince Adam was shocked. “What could this mean?” he wondered.

  “Ruby,” Kelindra called, “I haven’t seen Ranjit or Pari in the building. I’m sorry, but I think it’s unlikely you’ll find them here. I’m sure they’re being looked after somewhere else, though.”

  “How can you say that?” Ruby went scarlet in the face.

  “What’s the matter? What did I say?” asked Kelindra, startled by her friend’s reaction.

  “Shut up! Not another word! That’s my brother and my cousin who are lost, and you think it’s all right to be sarcastic!”

  “Hold on, I’m not – ”

  “Yes, you are! How would you like it if you couldn’t find your brother?”

  “Calm down, Ruby.”

  “You’re so rude! It’s no wonder that you received the Inheritance of the Ifrahail! You were always a lonely child before I came along!”

  “Ruby!”

  “Well, it’s true, isn’t it?”

  Kelindra opened her mouth to say something but couldn’t think what to say. She was bewildered by Ruby’s appalling behaviour. Benjamin said nothing. He didn’t like to see them fighting, but he knew better than to get involved.

  “I’ll go with you,” said Amberina, pulling Ruby away. “We need to tell the adults.”

  As they left she turned her head, mouthing a silent apology.

  “What was all that about?” asked Kelindra. “What did I say wrong?”

  No one responded. Disgruntled, she stamped off in the opposite direction to fetch her brother Noor.

  “Time to go home!” called Colonel Rafe. “Get into the zeppelin! Come on, no time to waste!” He must make absolutely sure that none of the children or soldiers was left behind.

  “Come on, Benjamin!” said Abel, walking off with his friends.

  The band followed with their rescued siblings.

  “Just a minute,” said Prince Adam. “I’d like to have a quick word with Benjamin, if that’s all right.”

  “No problem,” said Abel. “Be quick, though, or you’ll be left behind.”

  The rest laughed, knowing what had happened back at the Orellion kingdom. They disappeared into the crowd.

  When it was just Prince Adam and Benjamin, the prince said, “Benjamin, you’ve kept your promise. I want to thank you for coming.”

  “That’s okay,” said Benjamin, waving his arm. “I always keep my promises.”

  “If anything happened to you, I would do the same. Benjamin, if I wanted to find something, would you try to stop me?”

  “That depends on what it is.”

  “Remember the Golden Fountain that I told you about?”

  “Yes,” said Benjamin, smiling at him and wondering why he was asking about this right now.

  “Now that I know it’s real, I want to find it.”

  Benjamin sighed. “I believe you. I heard rumours about the Golden Fountain relating to these terrible kidnappers. I’ll tell you about it when we go home.”

  “Okay. Will you try to stop me from finding it, though?” Prince Adam asked again.

  “Adam,” Benjamin chuckled, scratching his nose, “I won’t stand in your way, as long as you take me with you.”

  Prince Adam grinned. “Come on, then. Race you to the zeppelin!”

  They ran off together.

  Benjamin looked at the faces of his companions, one sad but most of them happy. They had done what they’d set out to do. He was looking forward to going home, but he was sad to think that he might never see some of his band again, his good friends who’d stuck with him through the hardest times of this expedition. He sighed and then smiled; now was the time to go back to Mama and Papa.

  As he was about to follow Prince Adam, he halted, noticing some characters he’d never expected to see again: the dark cloaked man, the lion and the ghost.

  The cloaked man and the ghost clapped their hands and the lion smiled. They were acknowledging Benjamin’s achievement.

  Part 3

  Egypta

  Chapter 14

  Homebound

  The wind was calm as the zeppelins rose high into the red sky, engines throbbing. There was no storm expected. Happy that they were going home, Benjamin walked to the front of the large airship with Prince Adam. He was going to see his family. There was nothing to worry about; everything was just as he had wished it to be. Today was a time for peace and happiness.

  In proof of this, Alby and Kevin were embracing Sebastian, happy to be back in his arms again. The other members of his family stood behind them, Nadine in the worst shape; she had cuts and bruises on her knee and elbow. Benjamin didn’t want to know how she had acquired them. It was enough to know that she was safe and well.

  With a silent sigh, Benjamin walked over to them. The whole of his family except for Mama and Papa were now together. Everything had been brought back to the way it was, and Benjamin would prefer it to stay that way.

  Pulling Benjamin into a gentle hug, Sebastian cried. “I should have seen how strongly you felt,” he said, “but don’t you ever do that to me again.”

  Benjamin smiled at him and pushed himself backwards, looking deeply into his brother’s tearful eyes.

  “I’ll never forget what you did,” Sebastian continued. “We could use someone like you in the army when you’re older.”

  With a tiny laugh, Benjamin shook his head. “I don’t think it’s the life for me,” he chuckled. “I just did what I came to do, that’s all.”

  Once more, warmth and love consumed the whole family as they embraced one another. Through a gap in the entwining arms, Benjamin saw Prince Adam standing alone in the corner. He was smiling.

  *

  The next day they had an uneventful journey home. While Benjamin’s family wandered around the dark cabin discussing recent events, a doctor came to tend to their minor injuries. All was well, but Benjamin would have liked to see the other members of his band and his friends. Sebastian was afraid to let him out of his sight, and Benjamin supposed he couldn’t blame him after everything that had happened.

  Sitting quietly on the sofa with Kevin and Alby who never left his side, Benjamin brooded. Gripping their tiny soft hands, Benjamin hoped that he wasn’t dreaming and that, on their return, life would go on as it had always done. All was quiet; no sound could be heard. He stared at the opposite wall, lost in thought. When he gazed down at his little brothers, he realised that there was something else to look forward to: the loving arms of Mama and Papa who would soon embrace him.

  At that soothing thought, he fell into a deep sleep.

  *

  As soon as the ships had docked in the bustling harbour of Springhaven, Benjamin�
��s family were the first to plod down the gangway. In the near distance, Sebastian’s red jeep could be seen waiting for them in the car park, driven by a stranger who got out and gave Sebastian the keys. Sebastian paid the man and he departed.

  That was strange.

  Benjamin expected his parents to be waiting for them with outstretched arms, ready to hug them and scold them for their unexpected absence. Where were they?

  “Where are Mama and Papa?” asked Kevin.

  “They must be at home,” Sebastian told him, an uneasy expression in his eyes.

  When everyone had taken a seat, Benjamin took the long knife from his bag and gazed at it. The glorious weapon lay on his lap like a souvenir of war. Benjamin was proud of it; it had proven itself a worthy weapon. Looking out of the streaky window, Benjamin saw many people standing at the harbour, waiting for their children, anxious for their first glimpse of them.

  With a sigh of satisfaction, Benjamin smiled happily. The city was back to normal.

  The jeep turned a corner and drove through the city for about half an hour. It wasn’t busy at this time of day. The bazaars were closing up and shutters slid across the windows of hundreds of stores.

  Soon they had reached home.

  Mama and Papa might be having tea, waiting for them to come through the door. Benjamin was anxious to see their faces, even if they were angry with him; he didn’t care as long as he saw them. Although he’d been gone for only a few days, it felt like a year. Nothing else mattered now except seeing Mama and Papa.

  The jeep stopped in front of their house, and Sebastian emerged to open the door. Benjamin rushed past him, followed by Kevin and Alby who stumbled over the threshold. The house was dusty, as if no one had been inside it for some time, and their shouts echoed hollowly.

  “Mama! Papa!” called Benjamin, running up the stairs. He checked the bedroom, bathroom and even the loft but no one was there. There was no sign of life anywhere. How strange! Why weren’t his parents here? They might be in the garden, but when Benjamin looked out of the window above, he could see the garden was empty except for a couple of squirrels scuttling up a tree. Nadine went into the kitchen to check but they weren’t there either.