The Beggar and the Cook
The old beggar went crying his misfortune and wandered through the city. He walked the streets and by night came to sleep right behind the walls of the king's palace. He woke up next morning dying of hunger. He smelled the odor of food that escaped from the king's kitchen. He peeked through the window hoping to get a handout from the cook yelling out to the cook inside.
“Please feed me only once. I'll tell you a secret. It will make you the favorite servant of the king,” the beggar said aloud for the cook to hear him. The cook stopped his chores for a second. He went and stared at the beggar who was outside looking through a tiny window of the palace.
"And what could be more important than the king's food? I am already his favorite cook. I travel with him everywhere he goes! The cook said with true pride.
But the beggar did not let himself be discouraged. He was very hungry by then and said.
"You surely are his favorite cook. Hear my secret and you’ll want to feed me then!
“Surely I will make you his favorite servant more than now. If you only feed me once from the King's food, even the dog's leftovers if you want,“ said the beggar.
"Tell me your secret now and feed you after! Demanded the cook with a threat in his words.
"No, I cannot tell you before you feed me. I am so weak that surely I would die before I finish my story,“ said the beggar faking stomach hunger pains and the cook fixed his round eyes on the man. The beggar's words touched his ambition too and he let the old man come inside to eat.
"I'll feed you once and only once, old man. I'll cook you myself if you're lying. The king may cut my head if I were to lie to him too! The cook said.
"Allah will bless you for your kindness. After, I tell you my secret. You will not mind feeding me once and for the rest of your life,” said the beggar.
The old man ate under the suspicious eyes of the black cook. When he finished the cook demanded the secret. The old beggar recited the story. He told him all about the children and the talking camel. The tall, big cook stood up. His angry eyes fell on the beggar. Then he picked up the old man. He walked to the door threw him in the air.
The old beggar landed in a pile of garbage outside the palace walls. The cook threatened to cook him alive. The old man left the walls of the palace before the cook could do as he yelled out.
“I should have known better you old crook! Shouted the cook closing the door.
But the story of the talking camel and children went around and around. Like many rumors, it didn’t stop with the cook. It went from the cook's mouth to many others. It went from the cooking maids to the elephants-keeper. Then it went from him to the king’s gardens keepers. Then, it went from them to the maids in the king’s quarters.
A few days later, the king himself heard the rumors of the talking camel. The king called each and every one of his servants. He asked them about the story. The maids claimed they had heard the story from the captain of guards. The guards, in turn, claimed to have heard the story from the elephants-keeper. The elephants-keeper, in turn, said he had heard the story from the gardener who heard from kitchen maids. The king ordered the Captain of the guard to bring the cook to him. The cook man came to the king. He knelt afraid for his life in front of him.
"Do you know that beggar from the camel story?
"No mighty king. He tricked me to feed him. Then told me about two children and the talking camel in Giza? The cook said.
"Do you know where to find him?
"No mighty king, but he's an old man who begs in the market,” the cook added.
"Can you recognize his face if you find him again?
"As well as I know you are my king,” the cook replied with respect.
"Very well, go with a man or two from my guard. Find this beggar and don't come back to the palace without him! Put him in a dungeon! Ordered the King.
Just as Tal-Mishem had forewarned the beggar never to speak again of him that harm would come to the old man.
The servants left the king room frightened by the ruler's threats. Minutes later the captain of the guards led a group of fifty men. Galloping on fast the horsemen left the palace to look for the beggar and the camel everywhere.
That night Peter and Sarah and Tal-Mishem left to the desert again. Peter, remembering Tal-Mishem promise to tell them where he came from, asked Tal-Mishem the question again.
"Tal-Mishem, where do you come from? Asked Peter in a whisper thought that went to the camel's mind clearly.
"Ah! That's a long, long story, Peter. I have not forgotten my promise.
"Would you tell us now then?
"Is that your wish? Yeah, said Peter and Sarah in their minds.
"Well, I don't know if I should. Maybe some other time, TalMishem said.
"Please Tal-Mishem! We’re your friends. We promise not to tell anybody else!
"Please begged Peter and Sarah again.
"Let me think, uhmm, where do I begin?
Tal-Mishem said making the children's faces glow with curiosity.
In the meantime, not too far from them, the king's men were looking everywhere for them.