The Golden Fountain by Zuheb Alep

Author:Zuheb Alep [Alep, Zuheb]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Troubador Publishing
Published: 2018-03-25T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

The Red Tents

Over the golden dunes of the desert towards the east, they kept running. Benjamin was tremendously tired from going up and down the wave of hills, but his brain wouldn’t allow his legs to stop. He had to go on, no matter how difficult it was.

Glancing behind at the slave city surrounded by large walls, Benjamin realised it had grown smaller now that they were further away. Thankfully, Alby had ceased to cry. It had been annoying to listen to his wails even after they had escaped. Benjamin was glad that they had got out of that horrible place. Even better was the clear river they found, flowing from the south. This river wasn’t particularly broad nor was it narrow, but about as wide as a road. It was a fast-flowing current and therefore drinkable, and it looked very inviting.

Sebastian was the first of the family to dip his head into the water. Alby followed suit, while Benjamin crawled towards them. He buried his head in the water and drank his fill, quenching the thirst in his dry throat. The bank was teeming with slaves drinking and resting to catch their breath. When they’d all drunk as much as they needed they fell flat on their backs, feeling as if they had drunk the whole river dry. They were reinvigorated by the healing liquid. Benjamin listened to his own breathing for a while, in and out, like a pump inflating and deflating, until he had finally caught his breath.

“The river’s going that way.” Kevin was peering over the bank. “All the way down there.”

Further to their left was a waterfall, flowing down to the sandy dunes. They couldn’t tell where they were nor which way to go.

“We’re in Egypta, so we need to go east,” panted Sebastian. “That’s where Aradia lies. That’s our way home. If only we knew which way east lies.”

“Benjamin, why don’t you use that compass of yours?” Herman suggested.

Benjamin nodded and took out the Unique Compass to find the blue needle facing downwards. He wanted badly to go home and didn’t need to say anything; his heart did the talking. In response, the blue needle swung upward to face the east and then spoke to him: To cross the river is dangerous. Find another way. Best to go north.

Benjamin sighed as he put away the compass. “That way is east, across the river,” he said, pointing.

“Where did you get that compass?” Sebastian came over to have a look.

“Herman gave it to me.” Benjamin was telling the truth, if not all of it.

“I took it from a man on the battlefield last week,” Herman quickly added.

Sebastian didn’t say anything, nor did he take the compass away as Benjamin had feared he might. He was too exhausted.

“Right, then, no time to waste,” he muttered. “Have one last drink and we’ll go on.” Sebastian raised his hand to signal the slaves, elephants and rhinos to drink before resuming their journey.

They nodded and did as they were told, drinking as much as their stomachs could hold.

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