by Zuheb Alep
*
Towering red rocky mountains passed by the windows of the red jeep. The journey had been a long and tiring one, and Benjamin’s bottom was sore from sitting in the same position all day. The others slept through half the journey while Sebastian drove, travelling north-west. Darkness was falling when they neared their uncle’s village. Benjamin looked westward to watch the blue sea drift by, trying to make out the dim outline of Egypta on the other side; it was then he realised that another car had been following them since they left home.
At first, Benjamin only noticed the car because of its large dent on the bumper, which led him to have some fun with Kevin and Alby, discussing the possibility of funny accidents.
Now he realised that it was still there, following in their wake. Whoever was driving that dented car might even be going to Hearth village too, which would be a real coincidence. Had Sebastian noticed? If so, why hadn’t he said anything?
The thought of the car following them troubled Benjamin as he played with the Unique Compass, keeping the hologram of the universe in lock. Writing appeared on the compass in glowing pixie dust, making Benjamin feel strange; it was almost as if the compass was speaking to him, even though he’d asked no question to begin with.
It read: Accept what is about to happen and do not hold back, for it leads you to your destiny.
Confused, Benjamin closed the compass.
The jeep halted. They arrived at the crossroads to another region of Aradia. Benjamin watched the dented car park next to them. Two men were driving it, both resembling Egyptians. One had a massive scar across his face and the other had a black eye-patch. They rolled their windows down and called for Sebastian to roll his down too.
Benjamin watched anxiously.
“Say,” said the driver, “do you know how to get to Hearth village?”
Sebastian nodded. “It’s not far,” he replied. “Follow me, because that’s where I’m going.”
The driver saluted Sebastian and gave Benjamin a sharp look.
Benjamin shrank back into his seat and felt the throb of the engine as the jeep sped forward.
*
By the time they reached Hearth village, it was midnight. The dented car was gone. Benjamin was relieved; he had been uncomfortable, not knowing what the strange drivers were up to. He would have liked to ask the Unique Compass but didn’t know exactly how, not to mention that it would attract the attention of his family now that they were awake. The compass must remain a secret between himself and Herman.
Hearth village wasn’t as big as you might expect; it was a peaceful place with houses built separately from each other, unlike the busy city of Springhaven. There were wide spaces to roam about, and it was a good village to live in. They parked beside the house of Uncle Merin, which was in the centre of the village, near the market. Benjamin felt sleepy and nearly missed his uncle, who had been standing on the threshold waiting for them.
“We’ll save our greetings for the morning,” said Sebastian, rousing everyone from their sleep.
Feeling groggy, Benjamin got up, yearning for a good long sleep. He carried Kevin while Edgar carried Alby, and one by one they were all tucked into bed.
*
The next morning was bright but also chilly, alerting Benjamin to the realisation that two weeks had already passed since the birthday carnival. Looking around, he saw that he was in the room of his cousin Raman who didn’t live here anymore.
Uncle Merin was a widower. His wife had died of heart failure many years ago, and she was greatly missed. He was now a lonely man in a lonely house, as all his children had married and had families of their own.
A strong aroma of food wafted through the corridors; breakfast had already been prepared by Jordanna and Nadine. They had cooked spiced omelette and tomato soup, a well-known Aradian dish. Benjamin got up, went downstairs and joined his family after greeting his uncle. His stomach was rumbling and he ate a good breakfast.
There wasn’t much to say or do. It was a boring house, where Kevin and Alby had only a chessboard to play with. While Nadine listened to the elders talk about Mama and Papa, Benjamin sneaked back up to the bedroom to use the Unique Compass.
“What are my friends doing?” he asked, making sure no one was around.
The Unique Compass replied, They are sleeping at home.
“Typical of them!” Benjamin chuckled.
Then he decided to ask about something else, something more serious. He wanted to find out where his Mama and Papa had gone, but he had been too scared to ask. Just when the compass was about to reply, Benjamin heard a sudden scream from downstairs.
Tucking the Unique Compass back into his pocket, he ran down. As he entered the kitchen he saw Alby on the floor, one hand holding the other, which was pouring blood.
“Alby, what happened?” asked Benjamin, his face full of concern.
“I cut my finger! I was carrying my plate into the kitchen, but I held the knife so hard that I hurt myself. It was an accident.”
“Don’t worry,” said Kevin kindly, taking his brother by the arm. “I’ll fix it up for you, but be careful next time.”
Benjamin smiled. The two were inseparable. Kevin loved his brother so much, almost like a guardian angel. Once, when Alby was a new-born baby, Mama had been tired from waking up in the middle of the night to tend to him. The crying annoyed Benjamin too, but never Kevin. Benjamin had opened his right eye and seen Kevin get out of bed. He had left the room and gone into his parents’ room to lift Alby out of his crib.
Kevin, what are you doing? Go to sleep. Mama had said, groggily shuffling out of bed.
No, Mama, Kevin had replied, bouncing the baby up and down. You go back to sleep. I’ll take care of him.
Mama had woken Papa in amazement. They didn’t scold him; they were stunned by the affection he showed for Alby when he was only four.
“Stay here. We won’t be long.”
Benjamin roused himself from his thoughts and looked at Sebastian, who was standing at the front door with Edgar and Uncle Merin. “We’re going to get some things from the shop,” he told them.
Benjamin nodded. Grabbing a brush, he cleaned up the broken plate before dumping it into the rubbish bin.
“There! That’s better – ” What Kevin said next was drowned out by a scream, followed by many others.
The three brothers froze.
The sounds were coming from outside, screaming accompanied by the crackling of fire. The whole village seemed to be awake and in a panic.
“What’s that?” asked Kevin, holding Alby’s hand.
“I don’t know,” said Benjamin.
“Let’s find out!” Alby squealed as he ran out of the kitchen with the other two at his tail.
“Alby, no! Wait!”
But it was too late. They halted at the threshold, their eyes widening at the horror unfolding in front of them. Fire roared from the rooftops and doors of numerous houses, smoke billowing into the air. Dust and ashes rained down with a faint orange glow. The citizens of the small village ran for their lives, scattering to and fro.
What were they running from?
Benjamin groaned with fear and disappointment. Another trouble had come, this time completely unrelated to the missing children. Shielding Alby and Kevin from the danger, Benjamin saw unusual wagons driven by men in strange dress: white skirts and large headdresses. Their muscular torsos were bare, and they carried whips in their hands.
Crack! Crack!
There was another cry, louder than before. An elderly man fell to the ground with two gashes in his back.
What’s happening? wondered Benjamin.
“There! Him!” shouted a rough voice.
A group of bulky men were looking at him and coming closer, pointing him out to one another. Their eyes held no mercy and Benjamin was scared. He didn’t have hi
s long knife to defend himself and his brothers with, so all they could do was run. Holding his brothers by the hand, Benjamin ran, but there was a sudden tug and a hand seized him from behind while two others grabbed the little ones. Wails and cries were all that could be heard, from Benjamin and many others.
There was a flurry of activity, and Benjamin found himself lying flat on the hard floor of a large wagon with Kevin and Alby beside him. He held them close; they were crying in terror, like many others who had also been captured.
“HERMAN!” shouted Benjamin, hoping for a quick rescue. He wanted nothing more than to be saved by his brother from these cruel men.
Herman ran out of his uncle’s house, slamming the door shut and warning Nadine and Jordanna not to come out; then he went after Benjamin, Kevin and Alby, all of whom were reaching out their hands.
“Look out!”
The warning came too late. Herman’s knees buckled from the blow to the back of his head. He was lifted by two men who chucked him into the wagon. Kevin and Alby dashed to help their dazed brother, but Benjamin didn’t move. The rear door closed with a loud slam. They had been captured, for reasons unknown.
“Herman! What’s going on?” cried Kevin.
“I want to go home!” bawled Alby.
Herman grunted loudly, trying with all his might to kick open the door, but it had been bolted on the outside.
The wagon suddenly jolted forward and drove off at speed, bound for who knew where. What had happened to Sebastian, Edgar and Uncle Merin? Would the girls be safe?
Benjamin said nothing; he didn’t cry or struggle. He was remembering what the compass had told him the previous night.
Accept what is about to happen and do not hold back, for it leads you to your destiny.
*
Benjamin was grateful for the small amount of food and water that had been passed through a small flap in the rear door, despite the fact that it wasn’t enough to fully quench his thirst. The journey had been wearying, the scorching heat drying their sweat before it could even drop down from their foreheads.
No one had spoken a single word.
Benjamin looked around at the other hostages. There were no females, only males, all too frightened of the whip to speak.
It was as if they’d seen ghosts or had become ghosts themselves.
“Where are we going?” murmured Kevin.
Herman looked at him sadly and shrugged slightly. “I don’t know,” he said. “Only the Almighty knows where we are.”
“But where are Sebastian, Edgar, Jordanna and Nadine?” asked Alby.
Herman shrugged again.
Many hours later, when night had fallen and the smell of the small toilet at the back grew unbearable, Benjamin woke up and realised that the wagon wasn’t moving anymore. It was swaying from side to side, which could only mean one thing – they were on a ship, crossing the sea. The sea lay in the west, and if they were crossing it from Aradia, that meant they were going to Egypta.
Benjamin wanted to wake his brothers to let them know what he had worked out, but thought it best not to do so. It had been a traumatic day, and only their dreams could provide some relief from the terror.
Counting the seconds into minutes, and minutes into hours, Benjamin waited until he heard another clunk. The wagon had started to move again, and Benjamin knew that they were now in Egypta. The journey over the sea had been shorter than he’d expected.
“Far away from home.” Benjamin murmured, lowering his head in disappointment. “Is Egypta then to be my destiny?”
*
By the time the journey had ended the weather had grown even hotter, blazing with the heat of the sun. He felt heavy, as if his limbs could no longer support his weight. Lolling to one side, Benjamin noticed that night had fallen again. He could see the pearly moonlight through the gap in the wagon’s rear door, and numerous shadows passing before it.
The door opened. Benjamin stood up, using all the strength he had left, and roused his three brothers. He assumed they were in Egypta but didn’t know for sure, and the men dragging them out of the truck told them nothing.
Stumbling onto the ground, Benjamin saw that it was not earth but thick golden sands. He looked up, his mouth dropping with disbelief as he gazed at the wonders of the city.
Enormous statues of Ra and Osiris and many others representing Egyptian royal ancestors stood erect from ground to sky. Further down were huge buildings, sanctuariums and others, made from gold and ivory. They all surrounded a large palace in the form of a pyramid, where no doubt the great king of Egypta, the pharaoh, dwelt.
It was an amazing sight, although most of these elaborate monuments were still under construction. A disturbing sight met Benjamin’s eyes; thousands of slaves, all male, grunting, puffing and sweating as they toiled unceasingly. Scaffolding as tall as trees surrounded the unfinished wonders, and further along there were roaring fires, mostly used for forging metal and other materials. A foul smell assaulted Benjamin’s nose, a horrible stench of burning mud being formed into bricks.
The enslaved men and boys were put into groups to do different tasks, compelled by the fearsome whips of the Egyptian overseers to finish the creation of these monuments for the pharaoh. Exhausted men pulled heaving stacks of rocks which left their hands covered in blisters and burns, while young boys carried large bricks upon their backs which rendered them permanently crooked. There were camels and elephants working there too, as well as horses pulling heavy carriages. On the backs of these slaves were numerous weals and gashes.
Benjamin almost cried when he saw this.
Nobody had the right to treat others like that. What had happened to humanity?
“Come on!”
A push forced Benjamin to keep walking, and he clutched Herman’s arm. He wouldn’t get separated from him or his younger brothers. They must stay together and avoid being lost and alone.
Diverting his gaze from the wondrous city, Benjamin looked over the whole area for any sign of Sebastian and Edgar, with no luck. Too many of the village’s men and boys had been captured, a few hundred of them, so they could be anywhere.
After the newcomers had been gathered together into one area, they were moved en masse in a different direction. Where would they be brought? wondered Benjamin. It was hard to believe that this was really happening. Benjamin wanted desperately to free the slaves, but what could one boy do? Why wasn’t the rest of the world doing anything about this?
Could it be possible that they didn’t know?
Benjamin’s first reactions had been fear and sadness but now rage filled his heart. He looked at the slaves and told himself that, if he could rescue the kidnapped children, then he could rescue these slaves too. One day soon he would do it.
The crowd of newcomers from Uncle Merin’s village were herded into an area full of white tents. These were decorated with garments of different colours so that the slaves could find their way to their new homes. They were told that this was where they would be sleeping. Benjamin clutched Herman’s arm, and Kevin and Alby huddled together behind them. No one said a word.
Benjamin would remember this day as long as he lived.
Difficult though it was, Benjamin tried to adapt to their new circumstances. Like a pack of mules, the newcomers were led in separate groups to their new homes. Benjamin held onto Herman, and Kevin and Alby clutched the back of their shirts.
It was much more frightening than being kidnapped and brought to the Far South, or so Benjamin imagined Kevin and Alby to feel.
Soon they entered a large tent containing red garments. Twenty or so shabby sofa-beds were roughly laid out in four rows, with a small amount of food and water at the side. It was dim here, lit only by small candles.
Herman guided his brothers to some beds at a distance from the entrance. It might be safer there, with a little more privacy. They fell on t
he food and water, but the hunger that growled in Benjamin’s stomach was unsatisfied. Worst of all, though, was the thirst. They shared what they had, but it provided little comfort.
“Here.”
Benjamin looked up to see two men with a trolley, passing around pairs of sandals and white men-skirts.
Herman took them into his hands with a frown.
“Get changed now!”
Startled, Benjamin and his three brothers obeyed the command.
In the evening it was comfortably warm, but Benjamin dreaded the heat that would build up from dawn the next morning. He wouldn’t even think about the scorching sun of noon.
When Benjamin had changed into his man-skirt, he moved the Unique Compass from the pocket of his jeans and rolled it under the skirt-band on his back for safety. Some other slaves came into their tents to take away their clothes.
“Where are you taking our clothes?” asked Kevin when they had reached them.
Herman nudged Kevin sternly, reminding him not to speak to strangers.
However, the slave replied apologetically, “We’ve been ordered to burn them. Those clothes you’re wearing now are your new uniforms.”
Benjamin felt uncomfortable wearing only skirts; it meant that his chest and half his legs were visible. On the other hand, who would want to wear full clothing in this heat? Just then, another Egyptian overseer entered the tent.
Benjamin backed away slowly, so as not to get into trouble. Those whips would be best avoided.
“Go to sleep!” said the Egyptian. “You start work at dawn!”
*
The next morning, Benjamin thought about school; all his friends would be attending their classes to find that he hadn’t returned. Somehow he had become a worthless slave instead of a respected schoolboy.
Benjamin and his brothers had hardly slept all night. They were homesick and hungry, and the dingy sofa-beds hadn’t helped as they had bedbugs; Kevin in particular was itching badly from bites.
Benjamin didn’t itch, but he kept thinking of the women back in Hearth village. Were they all okay? Had they escaped? Would his sisters inform Prince Adam of all that had happened? He dearly hoped so.