Ambitious Beggar
The old man's eyes glittered with ambition. A glow of happiness rushed to his face. He saw himself on top of the camel as a king. He was now the new Master of the White Talking Camel, he told himself with pride.
“Grant my wishes now,” he commanded the beggar.
“I grant all your three wishes Master, but please let me walk to the market and find the boy. He’s like my little brother to me. If I can’t find him, your wishes I might not grant to you for my heart my not talk to my mind. If I can’t find him, your wishes I might not grant to you because my heart will be too sad, and I may die before, “TalMishem said feeling weak already.
The beggar said okay, and they went to look for Peter. It took TalMishem only a few minutes to walk to the market. Its big brown eyes looked everywhere for Peter, but before he could find him, the beggar demanded his wishes again. He grabbed the camel’s reins shouting aloud.
“No more of this nonsense, this is my wish,“ he said upset to Tal-Mishem. “Get me down! I command you! I know you are a talking camel and I’m your new Master, obey me now! The beggar demanded and Tal-Mishem put him down.
“And now grant me three wishes. You cannot deny them to me. I have heard you talking to the boy and the girl!
“I know your name too. I said Tal-Mishem three times too. I have ridden on your back as the story says,“ the beggar demanded, and TalMishem went down as ordered. The man went down holding to the reins.
"Talk to me camel! I order you that you talk to me! I am your Master now, and I’ve mounted on you back too! The beggar shouted and demanded to hear the camel’s talk.
“Yes, you are my Master now. Tal-Mishem said talking to the man moving his lips. “But I only have a wish left for you,“ Tal-Mishem reminded his new Master.
“What? You must grant me three wishes. Only one is a trick! You’re worse than a thief and scoundrels in the bazaar! The beggar yelled at Tal-Mishem.
“I've granted you two wishes already Master. First, you commanded me to get you down and I did. Second, you commanded me to talk to you. I'm doing that now. That’s wish number two,” Tal-Mishem eyes looked at the man patiently and spoke kindly to the beggar. "Yes, you are my Master now. If you remember the riddle well,“ explained TalMishem patiently, “I can only grant three wishes. You only have one left now. Think fast because there is no time left; soon, the king of Egypt and his men will be around. He wants me for his herd and kingdom and your head may roll with his ire. He’ll put me in his gardens. People will come and see me talking and they’re going to laugh at me. People will have fun with my talking, but I won’t be free but you will end up in dungeon too! Tal-Mishem reminded the beggar.
The old beggar stood upset in front of Tal-Mishem for some time.
Not knowing what to ask from the camel he paced from here to there. He thought and thought for some time. For many years and now he could wish the pain to go away.
"Help me then. You are older and wiser,” asked the old man. What would be better from my last wish? The man begged from TalMishem because the old beggar man could not decide for himself. “Wish to be a good and fortune seek your way in many ways,” Tal-Mishem said.
“No, not that! I want the richness of gold coins, the power of kings and their armies, “he shouted impatiently and confused.
He had always wished to be rich. He didn’t know what to ask. He could ask for gold.
"You could ask you for gold, but what would you do with gold when you cannot walk?
“I could ask you to cure me of my pain. But then I would be poor again! I don’t want to be a pauper without any of the gold! The beggar yelled upset with himself.
"I can only grant your wishes. I cannot tell you what to wish for," Tal-Mishem said softly.
"Very well, then. Make me rich like a king, fill my pocket with dinars of gold until they flow like a river! Said the beggar requesting his last wish.
“As you wish Master,” Tal-Mshem said ready to do as commanded.
“Fill the pockets of my garments! Fill them until gold coins are many and flow out of them like water from the river Nile! The ambitious old beggar commanded and Tal-Mishem granted him the worse of his wishes.
"If that is your wish, your wish will be granted now! Tal-Mishem said.
Then, Tal-Mishem closed his round eyes. He granted the third and last wish for the beggar. Soon gold coins filled the old beggar’s garments pockets. Large golden coins flowed out from his pockets like water. He tried to stop them! The river of gold coins rushed out even more. The coins flowed out of the beggar’s garments like a river indeed.
Clicking, link, link, link, they sounded as each fell to the ground and rolled around. The old beggar went crazy. He jumped and danced as the gold coins filled the pockets of his garments.
But gold coins kept falling to the ground. Gold coins falling from the old man flowing even more and more. Then, mobs of people ran to him. Men, women, and children yelling gold coins, gold coins! Beggars and merchants ran for the coins. Even old and sick people like him. All came to pick the coins of gold. They all ran after the gold coins. The coins rolled around him just like he had wished.
Like the river Nile flowing everywhere. The coins kept falling and rolling. Each coin chased by children and men. Everybody went running to pick the falling coins. Link, link, link, the coins sounded falling and rolling to everybody's feet.
Gold coins! Gold coins are falling from the old beggar clothes! The voices filled the market. Come and get the coins falling from his garments! People shouted and more people ran to pick up the coins falling. “Gold coins falling for all! The more people shouted the more people rushed to pick the beggar's coins.
A lot of people rushed to pick up the coins coming out from the beggar's garments. The old beggar tried to stop them. He could not walk fast enough to getaway. He would stop the coins from one pocket and then gold coins would flow from one and the other pocket!
“Getaway, getaway!! Get away from my gold coins! You scoundrels!
He yelled. But more coins flowed out from the next. He screamed and pushed men, women, and children. He screamed at beggars. They all laughed at him. Beggars and merchants ran to him with sacs. They filled one and two and three with gold coins from the beggar’s pockets. But after some time, the gold coins flow stopped running. Many people holding gold coins laughed at the old beggar. People now rich laughed at him. They went happy with many gold coins in their pockets. But the old beggar became very sad. He left the market limping from the pain on his legs.
“I've full-filled your wishes, old man. You should never speak of me again. If you do much harm may come to you. Hear my warning. Go in peace and do no more harm to yourself.
Look for your leg before you look for gold or shall suffer much more pain, “ Tal-Mishem said warning the old beggar. The old beggar walked away in shame as poor as before.
“Tal-Mishem, Tal-Mishem....! Peter yelled running toward him.
“What happened? Asked Peter mentally and Tal-Mishem explained.
Then, Tal-Mishem walked back to the abandoned barn with Peter on his back and new master again. Sarah waited for them. Peter told Sarah about the old beggar's trick. Then Tal-Mishem said to them that granting three wishes in one day would make him very tired. His fur would get old and lose its glow. He needed to rest before going into the desert again. So, Tal-Mishem lay down to rest for a while Peter and Sarah looked after him kindly.
“Can you grant us three wishes too? Asked Sarah.
“Yes, Sarah. In time I will grant you three wishes. Also for you Peter. You have ridden on my back and know my name. But above you’re kind and brave, "TM said.
“Now, listen very well. Tomorrow we have to go back to the market and buy the goods we need for the desert trip. Sarah will ride on my back. You, Peter, will lead me by the reins, “Tal-Mishem said tired and talked the children again. You'll do the buying and the haggling. I tell you what to buy and what price to pay, “Tal-Mishem instructed the children. Peter nodded. The next day, the camel and the children left their hiding place. The three wandered through the narrow streets of the city. They bought food and water for the desert trip to Cairo.