The Golden Fountain

by Zuheb Alep

  Anxious for an explanation, Benjamin came running into the living room with the youngsters; everyone was standing there, facing Sebastian.

  “Where are Mama and Papa?” Kevin asked again.

  Edgar, Jordanna and Herman exchanged perplexed glances.

  Nadine looked puzzled, too. “Maybe they’ve gone out, but I’m sure they’ll soon be back.”

  But Benjamin knew something was wrong.

  Sebastian crossed to the dining table and picked up an envelope. He opened it and took out a letter which he read out.

  Dearest children,

  We’re sorry to say that we’re leaving before you return and we don’t know how long we will be away.

  Remember that you will always be in our hearts and us in yours. We love you all deeply. We are reluctant to leave because we will carry the guilt and sorrow of our absence through the rest of our lives.

  Please forgive us and understand that we left for a reason, a very serious reason that will shock you. We will not write it down in this letter, but we’ll explain everything whenever we return.

  We’re leaving Sebastian in charge. He’ll know what to do. We know this may be hard to understand, but we’re trusting all of you to cope without us, dearest children.

  We’ve left our savings with you, enclosed in the envelope, and to Sebastian we leave the deeds to this house, making him the rightful owner until we return.

  Wherever we go, we will always be thinking of you.

  Please make us proud.

  Love, Papa and Mama.

  Benjamin gulped. His parents were gone, and no one knew when they might return. He could hear the words echoing inside his head: They’re gone … not coming back … gone … gone …

  It was hard to grasp. How could this have happened? What could have caused them to get up and go? And where was that hug he needed?

  “Gone?” he said finally, his voice faltering. He turned to Alby and Kevin, but they were frowning in confusion.

  Lowering the letter, Sebastian looked at them all, hoping he might be able to reassure them.

  “To where?” asked Nadine.

  “What is this nonsense?” asked Herman.

  “Is this some kind of joke?” scoffed Jordanna.

  Edgar kept quiet, looking down with a solemn expression.

  Sebastian wanted to say something but there was nothing to be said.

  All was silent as they tried to process the incredible news.

  Bowing his head, Benjamin crept out of the living room and made his way up to the bedroom, followed by his sisters’ sorrowful cries and a loud roar of frustration uttered by Herman. He could even hear Edgar sitting down heavily on the sofa.

  Everything in his bedroom was just as he’d left it. Without a second glance at any of his possessions, Benjamin lay on his bed and pulled the comfortable duvet over him. He didn’t sleep or even shut his eyes. It was as if he had seen something terrible, scarring him for life. Soon, his heartbeat slowed and he could hear his own gentle breathing, then his eyes closed soon after and he fell into a deep sleep.

  *

  When he woke, Benjamin found that it was already seven in the evening. Everybody was downstairs, including some of his relatives; his aunts, uncles and cousins had come by earlier. Sebastian had invited them all to come round in case they had any information regarding his parents’ whereabouts, but to his dismay, they bore no news. Mama and Papa must have left like a pair of quiet mice in the night.

  While the elders were in the living room conversing about Mama and Papa, Benjamin went to check on Kevin and Alby. He tried the garden first and there they were, playing with a dozen other young cousins including Abel and his siblings. Whenever they came round, Benjamin would usually play with them for hours on end, but he didn’t feel like it today.

  Turning away, Benjamin went into the kitchen for a drink. Herman and Nadine noticed that he was awake, so they served him some rice with lamb stew.

  Gratefully Benjamin took a bite, only to realise that he couldn’t swallow it. He didn’t dislike lamb, although he preferred chicken stew, he just didn’t feel like eating. He pushed the plate away and buried his head into his arms.

  Understanding how Benjamin was feeling, Herman sat next to him and gave him a reassuring cuddle.

  “Everything will be all right,” he said. “Mama and Papa will come back soon.”

  Benjamin nodded dubiously. But not for a long time, he thought sadly.

  *

  When Benjamin’s relatives had left, a family dinner was held at the dining table. Nobody spoke; they all ate in silence. The food was bought from a Lebanese restaurant around the corner and brought by Jordanna. It was midnight, but no one cared how late it was.

  After everyone finished eating, they cleaned up and went to bed. Since it was already an hour past midnight, Benjamin wondered what he could do to occupy himself. He should go to sleep, but he wasn’t tired after having slept for so long earlier. His parents’ disappearance troubled him, so he decided to read something which might distract him. Benjamin went to his bedroom and put on his reading glasses, took out The Dream Finder and headed back down to read in the empty room where the light wouldn’t bother anyone.

  For two hours, Benjamin lost himself in April Goldenberry’s adventures. For some reason he felt connected to her; like him, she had gone to rescue the children five years ago.

  Chapter 15

  The Unique Compass

  The morning was bright, the sun streaming through the gap in the scarlet curtains. Benjamin woke up on the sofa feeling disorientated. He slowly remembered that he was at home, having just returned yesterday from the expedition to the Far South. Rubbing his eyes, he looked up into the face of Herman; he must have been waiting for Benjamin to waken.

  Benjamin yawned in dismay. It wasn’t his mother or father waiting for him, just Herman.

  “Are you all right?” Herman asked, stroking his hair.

  Benjamin nodded, even though it wasn’t true.

  “Here, I want you to have this. I took it away from a man who tried to escape on the battlefield two days ago. I feel that you are meant to have it.” Searching through his pockets, Herman took out a round silver object and gave it to Benjamin.

  It was another gift from him.

  Benjamin took the magnificent object into his own hands and carefully examined it. Both back and front were etched with flowery designs, and when Benjamin opened it up he found a dial with two sharp needles, both facing north, one blue and the other red.

  It was some sort of compass.

  “It’s beautiful …” murmured Benjamin with a smile. He sat up with growing excitement.

  “It’s very special,” Herman explained. “I examined it last night after our late dinner, and I know something about it. The blue needle indicates what you most desire, and the red needle indicates what you most dislike or fear. This compass can guide you to anything you want.”

  Benjamin ran his hand over the sleek object and felt something hard underneath. It was a small button; he was curious, so he pressed it. Out of the blue the living room darkened, revealing a large hologram of the expanding universe.

  “I think I’ve just found another thing it can do,” Benjamin said nervously. They walked around, taking in everything that they saw. It was an amazing and magical sight.

  Herman raised a finger, pointing at a spiralling galaxy. “If I’m not mistaken,” he said, “that is our Galaxy of Lux Aeterna.”

  At his touch, the whole universe shrank into the galaxy that Herman had mentioned and they were surrounded by thousands of worlds, all shining in different colours. Benjamin was amazed to see his galaxy up close, turning his head in one direction after another. Herman walked up to a small red planet.

  “And this one here,” he continued, “is our World of Araillien.”

  There
was a long, silent pause while they gazed upon the beauty surrounding them. After a while, Benjamin pressed the button again and the hologram vanished. Herman looked at Benjamin and then at the compass. “A unique instrument,” he murmured.

  *

  At dawn, the daily newspaper was posted through the letterbox. Benjamin read through it and sighed with relief. A nationwide announcement had been made that schools would be reopened on the following day. He would see all his friends again then, but today he planned to visit the two he had missed most, Kaileena and Prince Adam.

  He rang up Prince Adam at the palace, and the prince invited them to come and visit him. Benjamin collected Kaileena from her house and they made their way over, delighted that it was now safe to be out on the streets.

  Standing at the threshold of the silver doors, they greeted Prince Adam and headed up to the roof. Taking strawberries to enjoy, they discussed everything that had happened. Prince Adam and Kaileena told Benjamin about their stay in Halamaband, which sounded very much like boarding school. Nurses and doctors had taken care of them with false but welcome kindness.

  What they’d been doing to some of the children hadn’t yet been revealed.

  In turn, Benjamin told Kaileena and Prince Adam about his journey to the Far South. He also told them about his parents’ disappearance, but didn’t say a word about the Unique Compass.

  He intended to keep that secret.

  *

  Later, when the sun began to set, Benjamin went home to find Sebastian, Edgar and Jordanna in the living room. The three of them were getting ready to go out.

  “Where are you going?” he asked them.

  “We’re going to visit the hospital,” Jordanna told him, putting on her jacket. “All the doctors and nurses are asking for Papa, so we need to try to explain why he left.”

  Benjamin remembered that Papa was a doctor, a well-known one, so an explanation was needed. His patients would be in need of his help.

  “We’re also going to check on the tortured children.”

  “Oh, yes!” gasped Benjamin. He had not forgotten the pale-faced ones. “Can I come?” he asked hopefully.

  Jordanna nodded. “I don’t see why not. I’m sure they’d like to meet the boy who saved them.”

  *

  Strolling around the ward which smelled of defrosted food, Benjamin waved at the children. They were pleased to see him, knowing he had come so far and risked his life to rescue them. Occasionally a child would call him over to thank him, while some even embraced him.

  There were several Neverworld children running around with bags of medicine which was not available in the human world; this medicine helped to restore the pale-faced children to their natural state of health.

  What the evil men had been doing to them in that horrible place hadn’t yet been determined. Benjamin was anxious for an answer to the vital question of why the children had been kidnapped in the first place.

  He was startled to feel a tap on the shoulder. It was Jordanna.

  “Benjamin, please go and sit with that patient,” she said. “He’s lonely.”

  “Which one?” he asked.

  “That boy over there.” Pointing to a boy who looked exhausted but otherwise well, Jordanna nudged Benjamin over.

  With a sigh, Benjamin hurried over to the suggested patient, whose name was written on the board above them; the patient’s name was Fabian Isamala.

  They exchanged greetings and Benjamin gulped, trying to be nonchalant. “May I ask you something?” he said.

  “I’ll try my best to answer,” Fabian groaned. He looked about a year older than Benjamin.

  “Why did they kidnap you, do you know?”

  Fabian knew what he meant. Taking a deep breath, he replied, “Well, from what I heard, children like us who haven’t yet reached adulthood still have our light and the people in Halamaband tried to take it out. I don’t know why.”

  Benjamin frowned. It seemed like a strange thing to do. Why would anyone want to eliminate the light of children? When Fabian continued, it became a little clearer.

  “It still hurts a little. We are weak, but the Neverworld children are here to cure our suffering with their medicines. They are going to restore our lights until we are whole again. This light is what feeds your soul when your body and conscience are pure and innocent. Without it, we’d be nothing and that makes us ill. I’m almost completely healed and hopefully will be out of bed by tomorrow.” Suddenly Fabian coughed and Benjamin gave him a glass of water to sip.

  “What about the adults?” asked Benjamin. “How come they’re not kidnapped? Do their lights leave them when they come of age?”

  “Some do,” answered Fabian after a deep breath, “but some don’t. It depends on whether they have a good or bad heart. I think that the reason why they’re not the target is because their light is offered to them as a choice when they come of age whereas ours are naturally in us since birth. The light of adults is not as strong as it used to be when they were a child; they’re living their future. The people at Halamaband don’t want the weak lights of adults that was given to them by choice, only the strong and natural lights of children. Remember the phrase ‘You can’t judge a book by its cover?”

  Benjamin nodded. “What has that to do with anything?”

  “Those who have light inside them, which means they’re good, may look bad on the outside with an appearance of darkness, and the same the other way round; there are people who may look like they’re good on the outside with light, but don’t be fooled, they may be bad on the inside with darkness. When people come to the age of eighteen, they each have a dream in which they choose either to keep the light or turn to darkness, that’s left for them to decide, but children are filled with light. They all have the light, even those who are naughty, mischievous and ill-behaved or those with the Inheritance of the Ifrahail, they are still naturally good.”

  Fabian stopped to rest for a moment and then went on.

  “They tortured us in that cage at Halamaband, trying to take away our light, but they failed because they couldn’t take it all away, they could only reduce it. A small, strong light lies deep inside our hearts, and it will not die. However, I’ve just realised something today; no matter what, there’s always light in the deepest darkness in everyone and everything. In this room, in this country, in this world and other worlds, in every living thing in the universe as well as our Galaxy of Lux Aeterna, there’s always light in the deepest darkness.”

  *

  When Benjamin got home, he thought about everything that Fabian Isamala had explained to him. He remembered how the O.O.H had been said to be strongly connected in some way to the Golden Fountain.

  Could it be that the lights in the children are connected to this Golden Fountain in some way?

  Benjamin knew very little as yet; he didn’t have the full explanation for the children being kidnapped, nor did he know how it was connected to the Golden Fountain, but he was getting closer.

  Chapter 16

  Egypta

  Two days had passed and there was still no sign of Mama or Papa. Sometimes Benjamin would sit on the steps of his house for hours, expecting them to turn up at any moment, but there wasn’t a single glimpse of their faces.

  Benjamin went to school and it helped to pass the time; it was good to keep busy and to be in the company of his friends.

  Some people from the Springhaven News came to the school to speak to him. By the headmaster’s orders, Benjamin was escorted out of his classroom during the third lesson; arriving in the front hall he found his band, who had been summoned to join him. Benjamin didn’t say much, but Kelindra made up for it. They were all interviewed individually, some exaggerating the tales of their brave and perilous journey to the Far South. At the end, they took a group photo.

  “How did you find out who we were?” Benjamin asked the
reporter before being escorted back to his classroom.

  The lady who had been interviewing them tipped her glasses with a chuckle. “Prince Adam asked us to make you known to the world.”

  *

  Benjamin woke at dawn the next morning and went downstairs to find the daily newspaper hanging from the letterbox. He took it out, unfolded it, and found he’d made the front page. Splashed across the coffee-coloured article was a large picture of his band, himself at its centre. He was famous; they all were. The whole world knew their names because of something great they had done. He grinned with pride.

  “What’s that you have there?” asked Jordanna, descending the stairs. She was in her dressing-gown, her radiant face glowing as if she’d just had a beauty treatment. How she did that, Benjamin would never know. She had always been pretty, but it was the first time Benjamin had realised it. Whether it was in the grey morning or the scorching heat of the late afternoon, she would always look stunning. Perspiration or tears made no difference; her beauty was unaffected. Nadia was almost as beautiful, but not quite. Once, when Benjamin was young, a man had come to their house asking for Jordanna’s hand.

  Her response had set the neighbours laughing. “I’m not old enough to marry you, that’s for sure!”

  He remembered that incident as he handed the newspaper to his pretty sister with a smile. Jordanna’s sleepy eyes widened and her mouth fell open. “Benjamin, this is great!” she gasped.

  Throughout breakfast, before the start of school and work, the whole family read the article and praised Benjamin for the part he’d played. Despite Mama and Papa’s departure, there were smiles on their faces again.

  The sanctuariums were to be reopened from the beginning of next week and Benjamin was glad to hear it. Sebastian had also made an announcement to his family that they would be visiting Uncle Merin in Hearth village over the coming weekend. Benjamin told his friends, including Prince Adam, that he was going away and he took the Unique Compass with him. He left the long knife behind, seeing no use for it.