The Beggar’s Gold
Peter and Sarah's words were heard above them. There was a man hiding; a homeless man staying in the old barn too. He had remained hidden in the loft of the roofless house, and he heard the children speak. He was sleeping before the children came, but then he heard them talking and dragged his body to the edge of the loft. The old beggar heard all about the children and Tal-Mishem, the White Talking Camel! He stared at the children from his hiding place and his eyes looked for the camel. He repeated Sarah's words to himself.
"I'm going ride on him, and I’m going to be is Master,” the beggar whispered to himself. The children said they talk to the camel, he told himself many times over. There was no doubt in his mind this was the “talking camel”, and if he did ride him, he told himself, the camel would grant him three wishes too.
He repeated the camel’s name again and again. He needed to remember the camel's name. He moved his head sideways and took a peek at Tal-Mishem snoring aloud. The man hid once more, but he had noticed the camel’s fur; it seemed to glow a soft light the darkness of the room. A white-bluish tint covered his glossy coat like light from the moon above and he looks tall and strong, he reminded himself.
“It’s indeed the talking camel! He whispered that to himself one more time and many more remembering all about the tale of the Talking Camel. I'm going to be a rich man now he thought as the beggar repeated the camel's name three times.
Just after that, he thought about his wishes; he went on to think about jewels and palaces, about land and slaves' wishes and many more thoughts came and went through his mind keeping him awake.
Tal-Mishem! Tal-Mishem! He told himself rehearsing the name only two times afraid the camel could hear him now. Make me a king, a very rich king, he practiced in his mind on and on and how to say it. I can't forget his name. All I need is a trick to ride on his back, he thought. He wanted to sleep but his eyes would not close afraid to lose the camel from his sight remembering the old, old story of the talking camel. He needed to ride on its loins even if only once. He rubbed his eyes once and twice and many more times. He shook his head in disbelief.
And again, every now and then, slowly he moved his head to peek again. Tal-Mishem was sleeping deeply, he could tell hearing TalMishem snoring loud with large puffs of air going out along short whistling going through his flaring nostrils. Next to his large furry belly, the beggar could see the children sleeping cuddled next to the camel’s belly.
“Ahh, the talking camel! I’m going to be a very rich man from now on. I could be a king too, but gold is enough for me. The old beggar told himself again and again. The tale of the white talking camel returned to his head.
He tried to sleep but stayed awake thinking that as a child he had dreamed of finding the camel too. Now, he is there, he said to himself. He needed a trick, he thought. He needed a plan to ride on the camel’s hump. He would be granted whatever he wanted If I could ride on the camel’s back and all is going to fine If I only do that, he reminded himself. Even if only for one second, he thought and he laid down staying awake all night long. He thought about this and that wish. He would ask Tal-Mishem a palace. Yeah. One made of white marble and golden domes like the Taj-Mahal in India.
Then, he thought about gems and gold filling many coffers. Then, he thought about land and a thousand slaves. Yes, the endless land of abundant vineyards and many slaves.
He perhaps wanted a large herd of camels. Yeah, he pondered for some time. Ten thousand camels would make rich too, he thought. I want to be a Sheik. No, not that! A king instead, he told himself thinking about what he could ask the camel. He could not wait for the next day. He dreamed of being like the king of Damascus. Maybe the one in Bagdad, he went on and on. But then he thought about being a Pharaoh.
"Yes, that’s it, a Pharaoh is richer than any king, " he told himself in a whisper. He stayed thinking awake the whole night. When the sun came out again and he was awake. The camel and the children were together and talked. Later, Peter and Sarah left early in the morning.
They went and helped around the market. To earn a few Shekels for they needed money. For one day the children labored in the market. They fed and watered camels. They ran errands for tired travelers. They made the dough for pita bread. They work hard and honestly. They earned enough for food and water. The trip back to Cairo only a few days away through the desert.
In the meantime, the beggar followed the children. He kept an eye on them thinking about his own plan. He needed to climb on the camel's back to be his master. He stayed hidden in the old barn. He listened to Peter and Sarah. He knew all about Tal-Mishem and about the English children’s kidnap and escape. For sure he knew it was the talking camel.
"Oh, poor child! Somebody help him! He shouted to himself aloud. He faked the most terrible grief sitting and crying in a corner of the abandoned barn. Poor, poor child! The beggar cried out for TalMishem and Sarah to hear him and they did and came to him with pity.
"What's the matter, old man? Why are you crying? What makes you so sad? Sarah asked him with kindness. The man pointed towards the market saying. "They all are thieves to me.
“They’re looking for a child in the market. There is a kid in need of help. His name is Peter. He asked to look for Sarah his sister, he needs help!
He said pretending grief again. If I could only walk, the beggar said with tears in his eyes. He wanted Tal-Mishem to hear him. The man sounded sincere. His words sounded truthful and Tal-Mishem forgot being careful with himself. Tal-Mishem forgot that nobody should ride on his back or would be his Master. Nobody, except kind and brave children he would carry on him. If somebody rode on his back, it would be his master and a new master could demand three wishes from him or never let him go free again.
"They’re going to take the kid! They’re going to take him away.
They’re going to find him. He's hiding behind the carpets shop,” he said faking his worry.
“We have to help him! Tal-Mishem said ready to go.
"I would, the beggar said, but I am very old. My legs are weak and I cannot walk the distance to the market. I would need a mare or donkey, "the beggar said.
"Sarah said Tal-Mishem; his voice firm. You stay Sarah, stay here. I'll carry this old man on my back. It is a short distance anyway TalMishem said the camel and went down on his front legs. The beggar quickly climbed to Tal-Mishem’s back. Wait for us here! “Don't come outside at any time, "Tal-Mishem yelled to Sarah.
My trick has worked, the beggar thought and picked the reins as he left the barn behind and the camel took quick steps. They went looking for Peter, but then Tal-Mishem heard the beggar yelling at his ear.
"I'm your master now! Hahhhahaaah, You must grant me now my three wishes,“ the beggar said laughing aloud.
“I'm on your back. And I am your new master for I know also your name. Tal-Mishem, Tal-Mishem, Tal-Mishem!!
Grant me three wishes, is my command for that’s your name and I know it,” the beggar said the camel’s name three times repeating, I’m your master now! With that, his new master could ask him three wishes to be granted to him.