The Golden Fountain

by Zuheb Alep

  While the sun was blazing brightly in the sky, a trumpet sounded loudly, alerting the slaves who shivered with fear. It clearly meant something that wasn’t good.

  Benjamin looked at Haroon and saw that his hands were shaking. What was so terrifying about that trumpet?

  Curious, Benjamin turned to gaze at the long road before them. Surrounding the private city was a huge wall that reminded Benjamin of Springhaven, although the gates were much bigger. A loud creak could be heard and the gates opened, revealing the endless desert that stretched along the outline of the horizon.

  More than that was revealed also. In came a large, weary elephant dressed in red cloth and golden jewellery, its tusks swaying softly with each step, and upon the elephant’s back sat the pharaoh. He looked as old as time itself, and beside him trotted a couple of camels, ridden by his loyal servants.

  “Move!” shouted an overseer, blowing the trumpet once more.

  Benjamin stopped working, as did Kevin and Alby. They looked at Sebastian, who was growling, enraged by his first look at the pharaoh. Heart bursting with rage, he raised his pickaxe and worked harder instead of stopping. Several pairs of eyes turned towards him, and Edgar and Herman nudged him in alarm.

  “What are you doing?” asked Edgar.

  “Calm down!” hissed Herman hissed.

  Benjamin stood where he was, right next to the approaching elephant who suddenly stopped.

  The first servant raised a hand. He surveyed Benjamin keenly and called to his king. “Sire, please be so good as to look at this boy! See what we have brought you.”

  The elephant bent its staggering knees so that the pharaoh could see him clearly. Benjamin perceived the pharaoh to be an old man with dark, wrinkled skin. Wrapped around his shoulders was a golden cloak, matching the crowned headdress that he wore. A golden cobra with emerald eyes decorated the top. The emerald eyes were terrifying, thought Benjamin.

  The pharaoh appeared shocked, widening his tired eyes as if he’d seen a real ghost. “Well done, both of you,” he said to his servants. “This is the boy! Bring him to the palace.”

  Benjamin was stunned also, as the two servants on the camels were the same men who had driven the dented car.

  *

  Scrubbing the floor of the courtyard while he waited, Benjamin was worried. The palace was eerily quiet. Benjamin couldn’t believe he’d been summoned to an audience with the pharaoh. He didn’t understand how, out of all the slaves, he had ended up being chosen for this meeting. How could it have happened, and why?

  Soon afterwards, his thoughts were interrupted by a young boy who came to stand beside him. He was also a royal and very much like his father, but shorter and dressed in richer garments. He had a flawless skin and a shaven head.

  “My father thinks you are special,” said the prince. “He thinks you will –”

  “Ra! Leave us now!” The pharaoh had appeared behind them. “I will speak with him alone.” Waving his hand, he indicated that his son should depart. His expression was not as severe as Benjamin had expected.

  Ra, the Egyptian prince, took his departure, smiling at Benjamin as he left. When they were alone, the pharaoh raised his hand.

  “Rise!” he said majestically.

  Heeding the pharaoh’s command, Benjamin placed the brush inside the bucket and stood up, straightening his skirt. No matter what, he must look his best, just as Mama had taught him.

  “Come with me.”

  Benjamin followed the pharaoh without a word. They ascended to the balcony of the palace, looking out to the east which was dark and where stars glittered while the setting sun shone behind them in the western sky.

  “You will speak only when I tell you to. First, what is your name?”

  Benjamin looked at him silently until he nodded his head.

  “Speak!” the pharaoh commanded.

  “Benjamin Ishamara,” Benjamin answered quickly.

  “Benjamin. Hmm –” The pharaoh stroked his ageing goatee. “How old are you and when is your birthday?”

  Benjamin kept quiet, waiting to be told if he might speak.

  “You may speak,” nodded the pharaoh.

  “I’m twelve and my birthday is on the fourteenth of December, so I’ll soon be thirteen.”

  The pharaoh nodded once more. “I see; in two months’ time, then,” he said. He continuously stroked his chin, striding back and forth through the large balcony. “If you make a promise, will you keep it?”

  “Yes, but that depends – ” Benjamin began.

  “Wait until you are told to speak! I am thinking.”

  Pursing his lips tightly, Benjamin put his head down and waited a while longer.

  After a minute, the pharaoh nodded. “Speak!” he said.

  “Yes, I keep my promises, but I must know that I can fulfil them before I make them.”

  Why they were having this strange conversation, Benjamin didn’t know, but as long as it kept him alive, he would obey.

  “How do you know if you can keep it?” the pharaoh asked, permitting Benjamin to speak once more.

  “I search my heart to know what I should do,” Benjamin answered.

  “I see. Give me an example of the last promise you fulfilled? Speak, child.”

  “I made a promise to Prince Adam and Kaileena that I would rescue them if they were kidnapped, and I did. I fulfilled that promise.”

  “Yes, yes, good. It’s true, then: you are the same child who rescued the other children from the Far South?”

  Benjamin nodded proudly at the reminder.

  “Then I give my thanks to you, for you have rescued my son. Those men in Halamaband had asked for a visit from him, promising to send him back the following week; but he did not return. They lied. I was about to take some serious actions, only to find that you had rescued him. He is back home at my side. I thank you.”

  Benjamin couldn’t be hearing correctly. The pharaoh was thanking him, and he would surely never express gratitude to a slave. That didn’t seem like the behaviour of a selfish person. What was also strange was that the people from the O.O.H had asked for his son? They didn’t kidnap him like they did with the rest of the other children.

  “They ask you for your son, sire?” Benjamin asked. He was hoping for a confirmation regarding the twenty or so missing boys each month.

  The pharaoh didn’t shout at Benjamin when he spoke out of turn. “Yes,” he said, solemnly. “We have been working with them. They kidnap children and I give them more each month. In return, they help me kidnap slaves. But you stopped it all. Without the Halamaband of the Far South, who will help me get what I want? You see all of this?” The pharaoh waved his hand across the view of the unfinished city. “What you see here didn’t exist thirteen years ago. They helped me achieve this power. And they have been watching you. They have asked me to send my most trusted men to follow you to your village, and here you are standing before me.”

  At this point, the pharaoh muttered something out of earshot, turning his back on Benjamin. There was a rack of weapons laid out nearby, and the pharaoh lifted up a long sword, the darkest looking one of all, holding the point of the blade against Benjamin’s chest.

  “Unfortunately, I’m afraid I’m going to have to kill you to prevent the prophecy from coming true.”

  Benjamin heard it this time.

  What prophecy? He thought, but the sword at his chest kept the words unspoken and made his heart beat fast. He didn’t know what to do. How could he protect himself from this?

  “No, no, I cannot do it. You have shown such honour and bravery in rescuing my son from the Far South. I will let you live.”

  The pharaoh heaved a great sigh and lowered his sword. “I will give you this warning: think twice before you do anything wrong.”

  Benjamin wanted to heave a great sigh too, but his lungs wouldn�
�t let him. All this was too much to take in, especially when he didn’t understand any of it. It was all so confusing!

  “You have my permission to leave now and return to your family,” the pharaoh said quietly, looking away.

  Benjamin didn’t bid him farewell, nor did he bow to the Egyptian king; he left without a word, running down to the dark, clean courtyard of the palace and then the long golden stair toward the road. Some time later, he arrived at the tent where his brothers waited for him. He was about to open the flap when the Unique Compass vibrated in his pocket.

  Benjamin took it out and read these words: That was your destiny, to meet the pharaoh whose choice was to kill you or let you live.

  Slowly Benjamin said, “To let the prophecy come true.”

  *

  “You’re back!” cried Sebastian, clutching Benjamin’s shoulders.

  Benjamin waved his hands reassuringly. He couldn’t bring himself to explain the pharaoh’s desire to speak to him. It was better left unsaid until he understood what was happening.

  “Did they do anything to you?” Edgar asked him, checking him from top to bottom.

  “No,” said Benjamin, shaking his head. “Any news about the escape plan?” He hoped the change of subject would distract them.

  “First have something to eat,” Herman insisted. He peered around cautiously before adding, “We’ll talk about that later.”

  “Benjamin is fine. Now will you eat?” Edgar chuckled loudly, slapping Sebastian’s broad shoulders. It seemed that Sebastian hadn’t eaten anything since their return. He had been so worried about Benjamin that he did nothing but fret.

  Sitting on their sofa-beds, Benjamin and Sebastian shared a loaf of bread smothered with grilled cheese. Kevin and Alby were both lying fast asleep on their brother’s lap. They were exhausted, and who could blame them? Such hard work at their young age was too much for them, and Benjamin pitied them. After a long day of hunger he was finally fed, and then he sat back with just one question on his mind: What prophecy?

  The elders spoke about the various escape plans that they’d come up with, but Benjamin was only half-listening because he couldn’t stop thinking about the pharaoh’s remarks. He’d been shocked to find that the pharaoh’s servants had been the men in the dented car. Had they had anything to do with the invasion of Hearth village? Was that why they were following Sebastian’s red jeep from Springhaven – to get to Benjamin himself?

  “Benjamin?”

  He glanced up to find his brothers looking at him.

  “What do you think of the escape plans we’ve come up with? Which one would you prefer?”

  Benjamin raised his hand. “Give me a minute,” he said. He had thought of a clever idea; he could ask the compass for assistance. Turning his back to them, he took it out and opened it up, asking: What’s the best way to escape from this place?

  The compass replied: First you must cause a distraction upon which all eyes will be fixed; then, when you have the chance, make your escape with the slaves. You have three elder brothers who are wise and will know what to do. Tell the eldest of this diversion plan and leave the details to him.

  Benjamin slipped the compass back into his pocket and turned to Sebastian with this helpful information.

  “The best way to get out of here is to cause a diversion first, to keep all eyes fixed on something and take advantage of that.” Facing Herman, he whispered, “The compass told me.”

  Herman grinned. “I agree with Benjamin,” he said to Sebastian.

  Edgar shrugged. A diversion plan seemed like a good idea.

  Sebastian, who had been a successful general for ten years (as he often mentioned), knew how to plan an escape like this one. With a smile, he said, “I think I know what to do.”

  *

  All morning, Benjamin was nervous. What if the plan backfired? He knew that he could put his trust in Sebastian, but there was still the possibility of failure; the consequences, if they were caught, would most likely be death. He prayed for a safe escape, but still felt his nerve failing to the point where he considered asking Sebastian to back out. Maybe it would be best to wait for Prince Adam or the king to rescue them. Yet no words passed his lips. Prince Adam might not know their whereabouts, and more than anything Benjamin wanted to be far away from this godforsaken place.

  Sebastian planned everything alone in a single night. Having investigated the whole city over the past few days, he had a clear idea of what to do and whom to talk to. The first thing he did was talk to a gullible old slave, bribing him with extra water to let Sebastian tow the rhinos himself on the following morning. That was all he needed. Each of the gates in four directions, north, south, east and west, opened in the morning, afternoon and evening to allow in imports from nearby cities. The area in which the slaves would be working on the following day was at the eastern side of the city. The overseers would be there to watch them, but half would be in the dining hall for lunch. If Sebastian could lock them in securely, the slaves would outnumber the rest ten to one, thus giving them the opportunity to escape. The last thing Sebastian and Benjamin did together was to spread the word. They hoped it would reach the ears of three thousand slaves over one night, and to their satisfaction it spread like wildfire.

  After breakfast, Benjamin and his brothers were set to work under the blazing heat of the sun. Scheduled to work further away from his family, Benjamin stood on the fifteenth level of some wooden scaffolding not far from the eastern gate. He was tasked with chiselling a stone statue of the young Prince Ra, despising and pitying him at the same time. Glancing down, he could see Edgar and Herman in the distance, both constructing metal tools at the forgery.

  Sebastian passed by, sitting on a large cart which held heavy rocks. Leading him were two weary rhinos with the driest skin Benjamin had ever seen; slime dripped from their mouths from lack of water.

  Benjamin carefully watched and waited for the signal.

  At the sound of a large trumpet the eastern gate creaked open, sending flurries of sand over the ground. Half the overseers entered an old building for lunch. When Sebastian had seen them all go in, he pinched the rhinos which signalled them to roar. All eyes turned their way. Sebastian jumped out of the cart and Edgar and Herman handed him a large chain and a welding stick they had found by the forgery. Sebastian dashed to the door, closed it and wrapped the chain around the handles before using the welding stick to bind three links together.

  “It’s time!” Benjamin said. “Let’s go!” Dropping what he was doing, he stood up.

  “Benjamin –”

  “Haroon! It’s time! Get all the boys out now – to the eastern gate!”

  Someone blocked their way as they made for the wooden stairs. It was the Watcher. Benjamin didn’t care what they had to do to get out of here and reach freedom; together he and Haroon flexed their small muscles, channelling their fear and hatred to the point of murder, and shoved the Watcher over the edge of the scaffolding. Benjamin didn’t wait to find out if the fall had killed him nor check if the incident had alarmed the remaining overseers in the vicinity.

  Then he kept his eyes on Sebastian’s poor blistered hand. Sebastian pulled out a screw from the harness that connected the rhinos to the cage. There was another roar and the rhinos wobbled in their harness, bashing against one another. Sebastian disappeared to fetch Kevin, Alby and the other young boys.

  Sensing freedom within their grasp, the rhinos went crazy. Not even the frightened overseers could calm them down. The agitated beasts tried hard to free themselves from the rusty chains, but the rattling coils kept them caged to one another. Then the rhinos reared up on their hind legs and roared loudly, causing the slaves to smile and cheer.

  By now everyone had been alerted to the disturbance; even the elephants trumpeted.

  Benjamin had never known how strong the rhinos were until they thundered forwards over the
dry land, creating a small earthquake; not one but two empty towers of scaffolding fell as tremors shuddered across the settlement. Burst of sand rose up like stormclouds.

  A loud crash sounded, then another and another, followed by a creak and a boom.

  It was done! The first part of the plan had succeeded! The cart had broken apart, its chains spiralling and some of its wheels bouncing against the rocks. The rhinos were free and were stampeding forward, unstoppable. With their flat feet, they crushed the overseers who stood in their way as if they were a swarm of flies. They thrust out their horns like spears as they ran.

  Looking around, Benjamin saw a few elephants follow suit, causing the surrounding overseers to back away.

  The cheers of the slaves doubled.

  No one tried to regain control over the animals; the overseers were afraid of being crushed. Adrenaline told them to run and they ran, horrified. The elephants were breathing hard and swaying their great tusks in figures-of-eight; as if the rage was infectious, the beasts joined in the chaos. It grew into an uproar.

  “Benjamin, hurry!”

  Edgar, Herman and their group dashed to the ladder on the scaffolding to help him and the boys climb down. They were safe on the ground in less than a minute, and Benjamin looked about him.

  All around were the sounds of falling scaffolding and smashing statues, and splinters of wood were flying everywhere.

  Where were his brothers? They must be here. Where could they have got to?

  Sandy clouds of dust blocked Benjamin’s view. He could see only silhouettes of overseers running amok, but there were three who looked very much like Sebastian, Kevin and Alby. Behind them were some small boys. Sebastian grabbed Benjamin’s wrist, and with his other hand he waved and shouted to the others, calling, “Follow me!”

  Behind Benjamin were Edgar and Herman, checking the younger boys they had brought with them. Edgar carried the bawling Alby, while Herman heaved Kevin onto his thick shoulders. Darting away at speed, the group followed Sebastian towards the open gate, meeting the rest of the adults.