Giggling Marbles
Peter sat on the sand close to Tal-Mishem and the soothing voice of Tal-Mishem entered his head and they talked again. He turned to the camel as he heard him speak to him. The night had fallen over them. I want to go home, Sarah whispered amongst sobs and tears on her face. Her round blue eyes gleamed with wetness reflecting the pale blue moonlight above them.
"Don't worry Peter and tell Sarah not to be sad. In a few days, we're very far from the thieves. They have no camels, "Tal-Mishem spoke mentally to Peter.
The brother and sister cuddled together and got ready to sleep. The cool wind reminded Peter of London. Minutes later the rapid cold of the desert fell over them. Two of the oldest children walked around the herd of camels picking up the dried dung and the dropped it into the fire. A dance of flames rose into the air in a whirlpool of sparks.
Sarah began counting the floating sparks. Peter's eyes followed with interest the twister of sparks going up the sky like fireflies. The next morning before Peter could come to awake himself, he felt Sarah's hand pushing him to wake up. The cool morning still hovered over them, but Sarah seemed quite awake.
"Peter, listen to Pete...I have just dreamed of the camel too! The Talking Camel was in my dream too.....it was so real I didn't want to wake up Peter! Peter, wake up! Sarah said pushing Peter to wake up. It was morning already.
"I know Sarah. He said he would come to you too. We're going home, right? Peter asked and Sarah's eyes got rounder and bigger.
"Yeah…she said. He said that too," Sarah confirmed.
"I know Sarah. Tal-Mishem asked me to tell you. He's here to help us escape and even though you have only heard his voice, he’s here, " Peter mumbled in a whisper.
"Is that his name? It sounds like you said “Paul Misshem”. It’s a weird name. Can we just call him Mr. Camel instead?
“I like it too, Peter said. We can ask Tal-Mishem, but he likes TM. Tall means sleepy camel, he told me for a baby he loves to sleep more than all camels, “ Peter said softly, and Sarah giggled on that.
“I have an idea! Why don’t we call him Paul-Mishem? It rhymes with Tal. See Paul and Tal they sound the same. I can remember that easy, “Sarah said giggling.
“I don’t know. He might like his real name more than an English name. Look Peter said, he pushed a hand into his pocket. Here...these are the magic marbles. They will make you giggle when you put them in your hands.”
“Try it...now, "Peter said putting the marbles on Sarah's tiny hand who grabbed the marble.
"What do I do now Peter...they make happy," Sarah said giggling and feeling happy again.
"Say something..say good morning Tal-Mishem this Sarah. He'll hear you for sure, "Peter said and Sarah did.
"Good morning...Mr. Tal-Mishem," Sarah said and giggled feeling funny.
"Good morning, Sarah and to you Peter. It's a wonderful day. We have a long way to go. Be ready. Please, Sarah, get some milk and eat your pita bread. You’re going to need all your strength when we travel the desert again,” Tal-Mishem said with a friendly voice.
They were ready to go. Peter brought Sarah the pouch filled with camel's milk. Sarah took a large drink from the pouch, then a second one. She smacked her lips pleased with the camel's milk for the first time. Peter put a large squirt in his mouth too.
"Not bad, ahh Sarah? Asked Tal-Mishem.
"Great, Tal-Mishem, thank you.....it doesn't taste greasy...anymore.
I'm going to have it every morning from now on,” Sarah said. After breakfast and on the camel’s back Sarah begged Peter if she could use the magic marble.
“Tal-Mishem calls them Marbles", Peter explained as Sarah giggled about the marbles’ new name.
“I call them gigglers for they make giggle,“ Sarah said looking closer at the white transparency of the marbles.
“Think only what you want to say,” Peter said happy to see her sister's face glowing with happiness.
“They tickled me! They tickled a lot! Sarah said giggling again and again. Once on the hump of Tal-Mishem and her arms around his brother, Sarah talked to Tal-Mishem again. A million questions popped in her head as the caravan walked into the sands. Sarah was giggling again holding the magic marbles. "They make me giggle so much," Sarah said enjoying the tickling marbles.
"Ok, Peter, it's fine, let her be happy again,” Tal-Mishem said to Peter. The camels were watered, and the caravan moved again. After a while, the trail leading to their destination became a deserted road. It was sprinkled with pebbles and dried yellowish stones of all sizes. Peter and Sarah thought of the false gold of Spain.
They came to a water hole. They rested a bit under some trees. Later the sun lost its heat and the cool of the night fell upon the desert like a very cold blanket while the caravan camped out again. Much later that evening the winds began whistling. Peter and Sarah cuddled against each other under the pelts to stay warm.
"Tal-Mishem...?
"Yes, Peter.
“Do animals feel sad sometimes?
“Are you thinking about the baby camel, Peter,“ asked Tal-Mishem reading his mind.
“I know what happened that day Peter. The old camel soon will return where he once belonged. He will find happiness among his own kind. Man is sometimes unkind to animals, “Tal-Mishem said with sadness in his voice.
"I wished to have done more and make them free from that man,” said Peter.
"I know Peter, but you did. Now pay attention, Peter. The winds will be blowing harder than any other day. When we travel again to keep a firm grip on me and look over Sarah. And you Sarah grab from your brother's waist. It’s going to be windy and chilly sometimes early in the morning. And then, very hot again, “Tal-Mishem warned.
The next morning, they left again. Tal-Mishem walked fast and for sometimes it felt like he wasn’t walking on the sand, Peter and Sarah noticed. The winds whistled around them and Peter kept a good grip of Tal-Mishem's reins. The morning sun followed them everywhere they went to the desert. Peter and Sarah now had magic marbles to talk to Tal-Mishem.
“This is what Egyptian people call old Egypt. There are many miles from here to the river Nile, “Tal-Mishem said again.
“Where does begin? Peter asked.
“No, tell us where does end, “Sarah also asked.
“Let me tell you, Peter. It begins over six thousand miles from here in a place called Tanzania. Then, it runs through the lands of many countries. People called it the river of all nations too and also the Nile and the Blue Nile for the Blue Nile is found in Lake Tana in the country of Ethiopia, “ Tal-Mishem said again.
“Now, listen well Sarah. The Nile river is indeed a mighty river and very old. The river ends in the sea called the Mediterranean where the port of Alexandria is now.
“The old Egyptians always called it the Iter which is the word for river or large channel of water, “ Tal-Mishem said stopping for their next question.
“Wow...over six thousand miles...! Peter said.
There’re more miles than from Cairo to London. Peter said remembering his father said there were two thousand miles from London to Cairo one way and four thousand two ways.
“Indeed, you're correct Peter. Tal-Mishem said.
So, that day, as they went through the desert Peter and Sarah and the Talking camel talked. And talked and talked until sundown.
Tal-Mishem told them about his time in Africa too. Also, he told them about his journey to Australia and Fiji and Tonga.
And of course, without forgetting about his traveling through Japan and Russia as well as other cold, cold lands like Norway and Scandinavia. “But Going to America someday,” Tal-Mishem said.