Tal-Mishem Goes Home
The King and his horsemen galloped all night. By daybreak arrived at Giza. The three pyramids indeed looked like giant triangles. Not too far from them the Nile river. Palm trees along the river gave shade to the people protecting them from the sun. It made the land rich with green endless pastures. People could grow grains anything they wanted and sell in their markets. They could make a living selling their harvests.
“Oh, the river Nile. I swam in it many times as a child, the king said remembering his happy childhood. The Nile is more real than any fantastic camel I want to have as a toy. No, I'm not a boy anymore. I'm a king now, "the king said in a whisper turning his head for the mathematician to hear.
“Yes, I remembered well. We came many times to see you play and swim here,” the mathematician said.
And he said aloud. “I came here as a child-prince and plunged into the river many times.
“I had many friends and family then. I was very happy as a child, “the king said. He remembered how happy he had been as a child and not as the king of Egypt. He missed his family and friends. I forgot about all this wanting the Talking Camel only for me! The king said.
The old mathematician said, "It's too late now. The camel is gone. Before your father's father and other kings before them; the White Talking Camel come only to children who needed him.
“Maybe it was never for me. He’s a free camel as I’m a free man," the king said.
"Let it be, mighty king, let it be. Your kingdom waits for you. Your people are going to look up to a wise king.
“You could be that king for them. Perhaps it's time for the mighty king to forget all this nonsense. Instead, a family could bring you happiness. Be good and just king also. Remember the many slaves that labor in your kingdom too; perhaps you would want to be kind and let go free. They suffer, their families too. That would make many your loyal friends again for nobody before you have made them free men.”
“Your words are wise and good counsel to my heart and ears,” the king said listening.
“Yes, yes, the camel, it runs from here to there and everywhere, but nobody had ever seen this camel. Perhaps the whole thing is only a bed story for children. Maybe it was meant to be always a free camel and not a toy in the gardens of your palace,“ the wise man said.
“Like many other children I dreamed about the riding on its loins and fly with him,” the king said.
“I did too believe in him as a kid, I believed too like you, mighty king. I wanted to see him even for one moment. I went looking everywhere for the king of camels, the camel king, the White Talking Camel.
“We dreamed like children dream, even you perhaps wise old man,” the king said.
“Oh, yes, indeed, great king, I did, but one day I heard myself saying "let it be, if he wants to, he will one day come to thee. I instead learned how to read and write well, then I studied the stars and the galaxies. I became a mathematician instead and here I’m,” the wise mathematician added hoping to convince the king to forget about the camel and a just king instead.
“Very wise if you, old man,” the king said.
“Then, I built palaces and gardens for our kings.
“In time, I earned the respect of many kings, found a wife and a family, and Jaz-Min came to be my daughter and lived happily since then," the mathematician said with a grin in his face.
“You're a wise old mathematician. Yes, I've spent too much time looking for the camel king indeed. I've managed the affairs of my kingdom poorly. I’ve forgotten to be a just king and make my people happy. There are beggars on the streets. There are thieves in the mountains. There are hungry people on the streets. Too many of our young warriors have gone out to war too far lands way too many times.
What have I done to make my people happy? It’s a shame on me, old mathematician; shame on me, for many years, the king added with regret.
“Understanding your many wrong paths, may one lead us to the right one,” my king the mathematician said.
“Yes, indeed, But I promise you to be a new king from now on. I shall govern my kingdom with wisdom. I shall govern my kingdom with kind and justice from now on. I will stop having slaves in my kingdom and every man will be free from now on, “the kind said. It will make your kingdom prosperous and happy,” the old man commented.
“And, I shall look for a queen to be my wife forever. I will ask her for children to love and care for and be a family. I will seek to have my own family and be happy again, "the king said.
"My heart fills with happiness to hear our mighty king. He’s thinking to be a new man. A just king to the people he commands. For sure the people will come to respect you.
That will make your kingdom a peaceful nation to live in and people know of your wisdom and will come to be your people, "the mathematician said sincerely for the king’s ears and heart.