The King's Son (complete)
THE KING’S SON by John Acton
(A novel of some 25,000 words)
Published by Pianist Storyteller Novels 2008
26 Holmwood Avenue, Shenfield, Brentwood, Essex CM15 8QS
ISBN 978-0-9559080-2-6
and now published by Kindle/Amazon for their electronic reader, see
THE-KINGS-SON
and now published by Kindle/Amazon for their electronic reader, see
THE-KINGS-SON
John G Acton as the author asserts his right to copyright of the novel and the frontispiece in The King's Son and the other novels and their illustrations in this series :-
Jack Banks Discovery
Jack Banks on Trial
Ben Bugden Thirteen (also in Kindle)
Martin Ashworth Fourteen (also in Kindle)
Martin Ashworth Fourteen Plus (also in Kindle0
Martin Ashworth Fourteen Plus (also in Kindle0
Full details can be found on the Internet by going to
http://pianist-storyteller.blogspot.com/
SHORT SUMMARY FOR OUTSIDE COVER OR FLYLEAF
This adventure story for children is set in Middle Eastern country many hundreds of years ago. David, the King’s Son of the title, is twelve and leads a lonely guarded life in the Palace.
“But John, I really am Prince David,” began David but stopped as John continued chuckling.
John bowed and said, “Your Highness, shall I prepare the royal bath?” The royal stream runs just down here past the royal cows, so please mind the er… royal droppings! It gets cold at night so you had better keep your royal rags on.”
David never thought that that his daring evening out, dressed in dirty plain clothes, would lead to his hiding from a cruel merchant with John in a cave. But he likes John, an orphan country boy about his own age, despite his teasing, and so he puts off returning to the Palace.
It is a mistake that is to lead into many desperate situations, particularly when the boys become slaves of the Goaners, the King’s enemies, and David dare not reveal his true identity. They meet a helpful slave girl, Larna, but also come across Bern, the spoilt cocky son of Chief Sirdar of the Goaners. Then the threat of war between the tribes develops.
CONTENT
Preface
Chapter
1 Escape from the Palace
2 Hardship and a Friend
3 Journey into Captivity
4 Slavery
5 Chief Sirdar and Bern
6 Desert Attack Alarm
7 Interrogation and Confession
8 Secret Mission
9 The King’s Plan
10 King Boneh goes to War
11 David tells All
12 King Boneh is Unimpressed
13 Escape into Captivity
14 Bern finds a Friend
15 The Cost of Peace
THE KING’S SON
PREFACE
Many hundreds of years ago there was a certain King who ruled a small country called Boneh. It was bounded on the West by the sea and on the North and East by mountains with a desert plateau to the South. The principal town, also called Boneh, was situated on a river not far from the sea. This was where the King of Boneh had his palace.
He was a good King trying hard to serve his people, but he was mostly lonely and sad. He had no near relatives apart from one 12 year old son, David. Now, although he loved David dearly, he did not see very much of him because the King was so busy with the work of ruling his kingdom.
It was before the days when the son of Kings and Queens went to school and were brought up with other boys and girls. David was not allowed to have friends of his own age. He was always surrounded by teachers, servants and bodyguards. Occasionally he went out on state visits to the theatre, horse and camel races and special trade fairs. However, he could never really have the sort of fun that most boys and girls have when they are young. He saw lots of youngsters at a distance, but no one was allowed to come near except important officials and trusted servants.
Acknowledgements and Dedication
I am grateful to the junior boys and girls of the Brentwood Crusaders Group, who provided the motivation for the creation and first telling of this story. I must also mention the inspiration I received from some delightful piano pupils from various national backgrounds. As always I am indebted to my wife for her advice and help throughout.
The novel is dedicated to children of all colours, countries and cultures, especially those I have been privileged to meet.
John G Acton
Sample chapters
Chapter 1 Escape from the Palace
“No! I won’t,” said the rebellious boy.
“But you must,” insisted the grey-haired man in a brown robe.
“I’ve got a headache and I can’t remember these dull dates.”
“The heir to the throne must learn the basic facts of our country’s history,” the tutor said gently.
“But it’s so boring. Can’t you make it more exciting,” demanded the boy irritably.
“I am doing my best - if you would only pay attention instead of staring out of the window.” chided the tutor.
“I shall ask my father to provide a better teacher,” threatened the boy.
“Don’t be too sure that your father will be sympathetic. I don’t know what’s come over you lately. You used to be a good pupil.”
“I’ve explained. I’m bored and I’ve got a headache. I am going to lie down.”
Genic, the tutor sighed heavily and said, “Very well my Prince. Shall I ask the Healer to visit you?”
“No,” snapped Prince David, adding quietly but intentionally loudly enough for Genic to hear, “He’s not much use either.”
David was behaving badly and he knew it, yet found it so difficult to continue this strict Palace routine of lessons, physical training and occasional State functions. He was always surrounded by adults.
Later that evening after the meal, David made a further approach to his father, “Couldn’t I have just one or two boys in to play with me?”
King Boneh looked sadly at the pleading eyes of his young son, slowly shook his head and said, “You know how sorry I am, but I am afraid that the King’s only son, the heir to the throne, is too important to have anyone becoming a close friend unless he is also of royal blood.” He went on to explain that his two brothers were killed by the Goaners, a neighbouring people, in the last war. They tried to kill him as well. He worried that the Goaners might get some spy in to kidnap or poison his only son.
“Surely father, there must be some eminent Boneh soldiers or merchants with sons that you could trust to play with me on occasion?
“With your dear mother dying shortly after you were born, you are all I have. So I have to guard you carefully when you go out. But here in the palace you are free to run around and enjoy yourself. Your teachers have orders to give you play time as well as lessons. Now be a good lad and try to understand.”
“Yes father,” said David dutifully as he had done so many times before - but it was with a dull ache in his heart.
That evening in the palace bedroom, David was still sad as he watched his manservant, Ben, finish folding his clothes.
“Can I do anything more for you, my Prince?” Ben asked.
“No thank you, Ben. Just turn out the oil lamp and pull the window curtains apart so that I can hear the noises from the town,
“Very well, Your Highness.”
‘It’s just not fair,’ thought David, as lying in bed, he listened to the sounds floating in from the town. ‘Surely there must be a group of boys laughing and playing around. That music would be for the dancing girls. Those other noises might come from bargaining at the carpet and brassware stalls or the food market? If only he wasn’t the King’s son, he would be free to go and join in the fun.’
Suddenly he caught his breath. An idea exploded in his mind. He had suddenly remembered what Ben had said to him at bath-time, “Forgive me Royal Master. Remember I always seek to serve you and only desire your good - - but it pains me to see your body so thin. Without your royal clothes no one would believe that you were the King’s son. You really must take more exercise and eat the abundance of good food you so often leave on the platter. Your father, the King, will scold me if you don’t develop a little more strength, and you yourself would feel so much better.”
It was all very humiliating at the time but David had swallowed his pride and said, “Don’t worry Ben. I will try and improve. I’ll perhaps go for a run round the palace gardens before breakfast, but I warn you,” he added cheekily, “I have no intention of becoming plump or ‘Ben-shaped’.”
“WITHOUT YOUR ROYAL CLOTHES no one would think ………….” David sat bolt upright in bed, stunned with the idea. Jumping out of bed he ran to the door and silently closed the long wooden draw-bar, so as not to disturb the sentry outside. Then he riffled through his clothes. Most were of fine material with distinctive markings, but at last he found an ordinary brown robe, a plain white tunic and a pair of short drawers used in his gymnastic lessons. Putting them on was easy but how could he get out to go to the town? His bedroom was on the outer wall of the palace but a good 10 metres above ground, a sheer drop with a patrolling sentry below.
‘If only I had a rope,’ he thought. He was almost in tears. Dismally he pulled off his clothes, stuffed them back in the long storage box, jammed his night robe on and crawled back into bed. He buried his head under the covers, so that he could no longer hear the music and noises of the town.
Next day, Prince David got up with a sore head. However, as it progressed his morale began to improve. He did go for the run before breakfast and did his best to eat a little better. He also paid a lot of attention to playing in his tree house. He persuaded his gym teacher, a big muscular young man named Oric, to help him make a new and better rope ladder to hook on to the tree house.
That night Ben thought that his young Master was looking better already. ‘I do believe he has even put on a little weight to-day,’ he thought. Ben was perfectly right if you count the rope ladder that was wound tightly round David’s middle and hidden by his tunic!
When all was quiet save for the usual noises from the town, David once again crept across the room, bolted the door and unwound the rope ladder from his middle. He then put on the tunic, shorts and brown robe he had found the previous evening. Then taking a bag of bonfire dirt that he had secretly brought in, he happily smeared some over his clothing and also a little on his face and arms.
The next job was to look cautiously out of his window to check on the sentry on patrol below. He was walking slowly by, but David knew that in another 2 or 3 minutes he would reach and turn the corner. As soon as he was out of sight, David hooked the rope ladder firmly on the end of his bed and carefully lowered it out of the window. Oh dear! The ladder only went down about 5 metres, leaving rather a long drop to reach the ground. David went back and pushed his bed right up to the window to narrow the gap a bit, but there would still be a nasty drop in the dark.
Now David could see the sentry making his way back from the distant corner so he froze. “Clack, clack, clack,” sounded the measured tread of the sentry as he passed right underneath and then gradually grew fainter as went along and round to the other side of the palace. No alarm had been sounded but David knew he must now descend the rope ladder quickly if he was going to escape undetected.
Putting aside awful thoughts of what his father might say and do, if he knew, David scrambled on to the window ledge, kneeling gingerly on the stone sill. It was much more awkward than he had imagined. Quite painful too, as he cautiously turned on his knee caps so that his legs faced outwards. Beneath was a void of darkness. Time was short. David somehow managed to stick one leg out behind him and slither on to his stomach, resisting the urge to yell as he grazed his right knee and shin in the process. Feeling carefully with his feet he let himself down the ladder as quickly as he could in the murky darkness. The last rung was reached before he realised it and he nearly fell off. He just managed to hold on swaying desperately at the end of the flimsy ladder. He then gradually dropped his hands down the rungs until his body was doubled up in a crouch position. Gripping the last rung but one firmly with both hands, David let his feet swing down. Almost 5 metres to go - it was now or never. David gritted his teeth and let go, remembering, however, to keep his knees slightly bent.
He hit the ground suddenly but fortunately suffered only a scratched palm to add to his earlier grazes. He had made good use of his gymnastic training with Oric. He ran quickly to the outer wall and managed to scramble over it using hands and toes on the rough brickwork. Another 5 seconds and he had dropped safely into one of the town streets of Boneh The great adventure had begun.
Chapter 2 Hardship and a Friend
Fortunately the street in which Prince David found himself was fairly quiet, but it led almost immediately into a busy market area. There were still plenty of people crowding around the stalls lit by flickering oil lamps. David moved cautiously into this hubbub and was delighted to have no one at all take any notice of him. Great! He began to run excitedly from stall to stall, admiring the piles of died cloth and skins, the carved wooden platters and great mounds of oranges and figs.
Suddenly David felt a strong hand on his shoulder. “Hey - You! Gotcha just as you were trying to steal my fruit! See that everybody,” said an ugly-looking black bearded man, “Caught, red-handed stealing my fruit.”
“I wasn’t even touching your fruit. Let me go …. Ouch!” gasped David for the man (known as Jason) had seized David by the ear and punched him hard in the ribs. The pain was so intense that David could now only splutter helplessly. Some people hurrying by looked a little concerned but did nothing to intervene or help David.
“Right. Perhaps you understand a little better now,” said Jason. “Either you come quietly and do a job for me, or else I’ll hand you over to the Town Guard. They’ll lock you up for a week or so AND make you work, so you might just as well do a little job for me.”
All this time Jason had been pulling the slightly built David through the streets, until they arrived at a large store-house. Outside there were three wagons full of sacks. Two men and a boy were carrying the bulky sacks one at a time on their shoulders up a long outside staircase into the dimly lit interior of the store.
“You are to join this gang and help carry the sacks up into my store. Now get a move on,” snarled Jason.
David went pale. “I won’t. I won’t. I wasn’t touching your fruit. Do you know who I am?” I am …. Ouch.” Before he could finish, Jason had pulled a small whip from his belt and struck David across his legs and back. Five or six times the whip hissed viciously until the helpless boy fell over in the mud.
“I don’t care if you are Prince David, himself,” said Jason. “Get moving on those sacks.”
Slowly David got up out of the mud and, despite his smarting back, went over to the nearest wagon. Wincing and nearly crying with the pain and shame, he pulled a heavy sack full of vegetables on to his shoulders. He staggered over to the store and then up the staircase and into the store entrance, where a store-keeper took his load off him. Again and again he made the journey with Jason just giving him a touch of the whip now and then, scarcely hurting him but keeping up a grim reminder of the need to keep working.
During all this, David became gradually aware of another boy about his own age also carrying sacks along with Jason’s men. This boy bumped past David and suddenly whispered in his ear, “Psst. That bully Jason is a scoundrel. I am going to run off, first chance I get. Do you want to come with me? Shush …. He’s watching.” The boy rapidly walked on with his sack.
The next time David’s path crossed with that of the other boy, he whispered, “Right. I’ll follow your lead.”
“Good,” said the boy. “We’ll go shortly - when I say, ‘Run’, drop your sack and follow me.”
“On the next journey, about a metre only from the wagon, the strange boy whispered hard in David’s ear, “Now ! Run!”
Both boys dropped their sacks and bolted. Before they reached the end of the street they heard Jason’s roar, “Stop them!” piercing the night air. The strange boy was in the lead with David puffing and grunting quite a few metres behind. The boy stopped and grabbed David’s hand, saying “Come on you.” He pulled and encouraged David on and on through the back streets, until eventually they reached hilly open country. The boy led the way to an outcrop of rock. Round the back, out of sight of the road, the boy pushed aside a bush and invited David to enter his secret cave hide-out.
“We can rest here safely until morning. My name is John. What’s yours?” asked the boy.
“Er ……Prin …..er… David,” stammered David, thinking he had better not say too much about being a prince.
“Oh, David. Hi. Welcome to my cave,” said John completely missing the .Prin’ bit. “We were lucky to get away from Jason.” He went on to explain that Jason used to be his father’s foreman on their farm. After his father died and then sadly, also his mother, Jason had taken over their farm and all their possessions. He made John work for him for his keep. He was a really evil man.
“That’s terrible,” said David. “Can’t you report him to the authorities?”
“I’ve tried but they believe Jason rather than me. He claimed that he was owed wages from his earlier work on the farm. My father used to tell me that a grown man can usually get the better of a boy.”
“What will you do now?” asked David.
“I shall have to run right away from Boneh now. If he catches me, he will beat and beat me. But one of these days when I am older, I can perhaps get my story to the King. I feel sure he would give me justice.”
David’s eyes bulged hotly. In the faint light from the moon, John could see them bright with indignation. Then David said, “You surely will get justice John. The moment I get home I will tell my father all about your case and about Jason’s wickedness to me. How he accused me falsely of stealing his fruit and how he beat me and made me work for him, me the King’s son!”
John stared hard at David for a moment and then burst into rollicking laughter. “Oh, excellent, great - your Royal Highness,” he spluttered in mock courtesy. “Would my Lord like to have Jason brought round at 10 a.m. or shall he be confined for another night in the dungeons before he is sent to the Northern quarries?”
“But John, I really am Prince David,” began David but stopped as John continued chuckling.
John bowed and said, “Your Highness, shall I prepare the royal bath? The royal stream runs just down here past the royal cows, so please mind the er… royal droppings! It gets cold at night so you had better keep your royal rags on. If you don’t mind sharing an old blanket with a commoner, it may stop your royal blood from freezing.” John finished with such a cackle of laughter, that David could see it was hopeless trying to tell who he really was.
“Here,” said John, “Have a bite of bread. It’s all I have but I am pleased to share it with you. Then wash your face in the stream and have a drink at the same time. We might also bring in a little more brushwood for our bedding. We need as much rest as possible as I reckon we shall need to move on early tomorrow.”
“But…..,” said David, thinking he ought to try and get back to the palace. Then he thought what fun it was camping out with John, and forgot all about his beating and the danger from Jason. He didn’t want to leave John and besides, it was his duty to stick with John and bring him back to his father. Then he would get justice and stop Jason in his tracks.
“But what?” asked John. “Have you got a home to go to?”
“Well it’s not really a home as you would know it. I’ll stick with you if I may - certainly for to-night,” said David not daring to risk any more ridicule.
“Good,” said David drowsily. Shortly afterwards both boys were sleeping soundly.
Towards morning, however, David had a series of dreams. He saw Jason leering down at him, “Call yourself the King’s son, do you? Take that and that….” Jason was laughing nastily. Then John’s earnest face came into focus, “Run, run for your life!” The nightmare scamper through the dark streets. “It’s no good. I can’t keep up. I can’t keep up.” David’s breath was coming in agonised grunts. He felt as if he was stifling. He put his hand up to his mouth and woke abruptly, pushing away a pile of brushwood that was entangled over his head.
The low morning sun was streaming in. There was no sign of John. As he collected his senses, David became aware of a commotion coming from the farmyard about 40 metres away. With a sinking sensation David peered cautiously around the edge of the cave entrance. His worst fears were realised. He could see John struggling amidst a group of 3 or 4 men, one of whom was Jason.
Jason was shaking John. “Come on you little rat-face. Where’s that other wretch you went off with, eh? All right men. Tie him up to this old cartwheel. I have got my little persuader here to tickle some sense into him.” He produced his small whip, but stayed his hand as he heard a faint high-pitched cry, “Stop it. Stop it,” as David came running recklessly towards them.
“Excellent, excellent,” grinned Jason. “That makes two boys. I ought to get a good price for them as well as for my carpets. Tie their hands behind their backs and put a rope securely round their waists. Then we’ll catch up with the caravan that has already started for the first oasis. We’ll go straight there in case anyone in the town has started asking questions about missing boys.
Sample chapters
Chapter 1 Escape from the Palace
“No! I won’t,” said the rebellious boy.
“But you must,” insisted the grey-haired man in a brown robe.
“I’ve got a headache and I can’t remember these dull dates.”
“The heir to the throne must learn the basic facts of our country’s history,” the tutor said gently.
“But it’s so boring. Can’t you make it more exciting,” demanded the boy irritably.
“I am doing my best - if you would only pay attention instead of staring out of the window.” chided the tutor.
“I shall ask my father to provide a better teacher,” threatened the boy.
“Don’t be too sure that your father will be sympathetic. I don’t know what’s come over you lately. You used to be a good pupil.”
“I’ve explained. I’m bored and I’ve got a headache. I am going to lie down.”
Genic, the tutor sighed heavily and said, “Very well my Prince. Shall I ask the Healer to visit you?”
“No,” snapped Prince David, adding quietly but intentionally loudly enough for Genic to hear, “He’s not much use either.”
David was behaving badly and he knew it, yet found it so difficult to continue this strict Palace routine of lessons, physical training and occasional State functions. He was always surrounded by adults.
Later that evening after the meal, David made a further approach to his father, “Couldn’t I have just one or two boys in to play with me?”
King Boneh looked sadly at the pleading eyes of his young son, slowly shook his head and said, “You know how sorry I am, but I am afraid that the King’s only son, the heir to the throne, is too important to have anyone becoming a close friend unless he is also of royal blood.” He went on to explain that his two brothers were killed by the Goaners, a neighbouring people, in the last war. They tried to kill him as well. He worried that the Goaners might get some spy in to kidnap or poison his only son.
“Surely father, there must be some eminent Boneh soldiers or merchants with sons that you could trust to play with me on occasion?
“With your dear mother dying shortly after you were born, you are all I have. So I have to guard you carefully when you go out. But here in the palace you are free to run around and enjoy yourself. Your teachers have orders to give you play time as well as lessons. Now be a good lad and try to understand.”
“Yes father,” said David dutifully as he had done so many times before - but it was with a dull ache in his heart.
That evening in the palace bedroom, David was still sad as he watched his manservant, Ben, finish folding his clothes.
“Can I do anything more for you, my Prince?” Ben asked.
“No thank you, Ben. Just turn out the oil lamp and pull the window curtains apart so that I can hear the noises from the town,
“Very well, Your Highness.”
‘It’s just not fair,’ thought David, as lying in bed, he listened to the sounds floating in from the town. ‘Surely there must be a group of boys laughing and playing around. That music would be for the dancing girls. Those other noises might come from bargaining at the carpet and brassware stalls or the food market? If only he wasn’t the King’s son, he would be free to go and join in the fun.’
Suddenly he caught his breath. An idea exploded in his mind. He had suddenly remembered what Ben had said to him at bath-time, “Forgive me Royal Master. Remember I always seek to serve you and only desire your good - - but it pains me to see your body so thin. Without your royal clothes no one would believe that you were the King’s son. You really must take more exercise and eat the abundance of good food you so often leave on the platter. Your father, the King, will scold me if you don’t develop a little more strength, and you yourself would feel so much better.”
It was all very humiliating at the time but David had swallowed his pride and said, “Don’t worry Ben. I will try and improve. I’ll perhaps go for a run round the palace gardens before breakfast, but I warn you,” he added cheekily, “I have no intention of becoming plump or ‘Ben-shaped’.”
“WITHOUT YOUR ROYAL CLOTHES no one would think ………….” David sat bolt upright in bed, stunned with the idea. Jumping out of bed he ran to the door and silently closed the long wooden draw-bar, so as not to disturb the sentry outside. Then he riffled through his clothes. Most were of fine material with distinctive markings, but at last he found an ordinary brown robe, a plain white tunic and a pair of short drawers used in his gymnastic lessons. Putting them on was easy but how could he get out to go to the town? His bedroom was on the outer wall of the palace but a good 10 metres above ground, a sheer drop with a patrolling sentry below.
‘If only I had a rope,’ he thought. He was almost in tears. Dismally he pulled off his clothes, stuffed them back in the long storage box, jammed his night robe on and crawled back into bed. He buried his head under the covers, so that he could no longer hear the music and noises of the town.
Next day, Prince David got up with a sore head. However, as it progressed his morale began to improve. He did go for the run before breakfast and did his best to eat a little better. He also paid a lot of attention to playing in his tree house. He persuaded his gym teacher, a big muscular young man named Oric, to help him make a new and better rope ladder to hook on to the tree house.
That night Ben thought that his young Master was looking better already. ‘I do believe he has even put on a little weight to-day,’ he thought. Ben was perfectly right if you count the rope ladder that was wound tightly round David’s middle and hidden by his tunic!
When all was quiet save for the usual noises from the town, David once again crept across the room, bolted the door and unwound the rope ladder from his middle. He then put on the tunic, shorts and brown robe he had found the previous evening. Then taking a bag of bonfire dirt that he had secretly brought in, he happily smeared some over his clothing and also a little on his face and arms.
The next job was to look cautiously out of his window to check on the sentry on patrol below. He was walking slowly by, but David knew that in another 2 or 3 minutes he would reach and turn the corner. As soon as he was out of sight, David hooked the rope ladder firmly on the end of his bed and carefully lowered it out of the window. Oh dear! The ladder only went down about 5 metres, leaving rather a long drop to reach the ground. David went back and pushed his bed right up to the window to narrow the gap a bit, but there would still be a nasty drop in the dark.
Now David could see the sentry making his way back from the distant corner so he froze. “Clack, clack, clack,” sounded the measured tread of the sentry as he passed right underneath and then gradually grew fainter as went along and round to the other side of the palace. No alarm had been sounded but David knew he must now descend the rope ladder quickly if he was going to escape undetected.
Putting aside awful thoughts of what his father might say and do, if he knew, David scrambled on to the window ledge, kneeling gingerly on the stone sill. It was much more awkward than he had imagined. Quite painful too, as he cautiously turned on his knee caps so that his legs faced outwards. Beneath was a void of darkness. Time was short. David somehow managed to stick one leg out behind him and slither on to his stomach, resisting the urge to yell as he grazed his right knee and shin in the process. Feeling carefully with his feet he let himself down the ladder as quickly as he could in the murky darkness. The last rung was reached before he realised it and he nearly fell off. He just managed to hold on swaying desperately at the end of the flimsy ladder. He then gradually dropped his hands down the rungs until his body was doubled up in a crouch position. Gripping the last rung but one firmly with both hands, David let his feet swing down. Almost 5 metres to go - it was now or never. David gritted his teeth and let go, remembering, however, to keep his knees slightly bent.
He hit the ground suddenly but fortunately suffered only a scratched palm to add to his earlier grazes. He had made good use of his gymnastic training with Oric. He ran quickly to the outer wall and managed to scramble over it using hands and toes on the rough brickwork. Another 5 seconds and he had dropped safely into one of the town streets of Boneh The great adventure had begun.
Chapter 2 Hardship and a Friend
Fortunately the street in which Prince David found himself was fairly quiet, but it led almost immediately into a busy market area. There were still plenty of people crowding around the stalls lit by flickering oil lamps. David moved cautiously into this hubbub and was delighted to have no one at all take any notice of him. Great! He began to run excitedly from stall to stall, admiring the piles of died cloth and skins, the carved wooden platters and great mounds of oranges and figs.
Suddenly David felt a strong hand on his shoulder. “Hey - You! Gotcha just as you were trying to steal my fruit! See that everybody,” said an ugly-looking black bearded man, “Caught, red-handed stealing my fruit.”
“I wasn’t even touching your fruit. Let me go …. Ouch!” gasped David for the man (known as Jason) had seized David by the ear and punched him hard in the ribs. The pain was so intense that David could now only splutter helplessly. Some people hurrying by looked a little concerned but did nothing to intervene or help David.
“Right. Perhaps you understand a little better now,” said Jason. “Either you come quietly and do a job for me, or else I’ll hand you over to the Town Guard. They’ll lock you up for a week or so AND make you work, so you might just as well do a little job for me.”
All this time Jason had been pulling the slightly built David through the streets, until they arrived at a large store-house. Outside there were three wagons full of sacks. Two men and a boy were carrying the bulky sacks one at a time on their shoulders up a long outside staircase into the dimly lit interior of the store.
“You are to join this gang and help carry the sacks up into my store. Now get a move on,” snarled Jason.
David went pale. “I won’t. I won’t. I wasn’t touching your fruit. Do you know who I am?” I am …. Ouch.” Before he could finish, Jason had pulled a small whip from his belt and struck David across his legs and back. Five or six times the whip hissed viciously until the helpless boy fell over in the mud.
“I don’t care if you are Prince David, himself,” said Jason. “Get moving on those sacks.”
Slowly David got up out of the mud and, despite his smarting back, went over to the nearest wagon. Wincing and nearly crying with the pain and shame, he pulled a heavy sack full of vegetables on to his shoulders. He staggered over to the store and then up the staircase and into the store entrance, where a store-keeper took his load off him. Again and again he made the journey with Jason just giving him a touch of the whip now and then, scarcely hurting him but keeping up a grim reminder of the need to keep working.
During all this, David became gradually aware of another boy about his own age also carrying sacks along with Jason’s men. This boy bumped past David and suddenly whispered in his ear, “Psst. That bully Jason is a scoundrel. I am going to run off, first chance I get. Do you want to come with me? Shush …. He’s watching.” The boy rapidly walked on with his sack.
The next time David’s path crossed with that of the other boy, he whispered, “Right. I’ll follow your lead.”
“Good,” said the boy. “We’ll go shortly - when I say, ‘Run’, drop your sack and follow me.”
“On the next journey, about a metre only from the wagon, the strange boy whispered hard in David’s ear, “Now ! Run!”
Both boys dropped their sacks and bolted. Before they reached the end of the street they heard Jason’s roar, “Stop them!” piercing the night air. The strange boy was in the lead with David puffing and grunting quite a few metres behind. The boy stopped and grabbed David’s hand, saying “Come on you.” He pulled and encouraged David on and on through the back streets, until eventually they reached hilly open country. The boy led the way to an outcrop of rock. Round the back, out of sight of the road, the boy pushed aside a bush and invited David to enter his secret cave hide-out.
“We can rest here safely until morning. My name is John. What’s yours?” asked the boy.
“Er ……Prin …..er… David,” stammered David, thinking he had better not say too much about being a prince.
“Oh, David. Hi. Welcome to my cave,” said John completely missing the .Prin’ bit. “We were lucky to get away from Jason.” He went on to explain that Jason used to be his father’s foreman on their farm. After his father died and then sadly, also his mother, Jason had taken over their farm and all their possessions. He made John work for him for his keep. He was a really evil man.
“That’s terrible,” said David. “Can’t you report him to the authorities?”
“I’ve tried but they believe Jason rather than me. He claimed that he was owed wages from his earlier work on the farm. My father used to tell me that a grown man can usually get the better of a boy.”
“What will you do now?” asked David.
“I shall have to run right away from Boneh now. If he catches me, he will beat and beat me. But one of these days when I am older, I can perhaps get my story to the King. I feel sure he would give me justice.”
David’s eyes bulged hotly. In the faint light from the moon, John could see them bright with indignation. Then David said, “You surely will get justice John. The moment I get home I will tell my father all about your case and about Jason’s wickedness to me. How he accused me falsely of stealing his fruit and how he beat me and made me work for him, me the King’s son!”
John stared hard at David for a moment and then burst into rollicking laughter. “Oh, excellent, great - your Royal Highness,” he spluttered in mock courtesy. “Would my Lord like to have Jason brought round at 10 a.m. or shall he be confined for another night in the dungeons before he is sent to the Northern quarries?”
“But John, I really am Prince David,” began David but stopped as John continued chuckling.
John bowed and said, “Your Highness, shall I prepare the royal bath? The royal stream runs just down here past the royal cows, so please mind the er… royal droppings! It gets cold at night so you had better keep your royal rags on. If you don’t mind sharing an old blanket with a commoner, it may stop your royal blood from freezing.” John finished with such a cackle of laughter, that David could see it was hopeless trying to tell who he really was.
“Here,” said John, “Have a bite of bread. It’s all I have but I am pleased to share it with you. Then wash your face in the stream and have a drink at the same time. We might also bring in a little more brushwood for our bedding. We need as much rest as possible as I reckon we shall need to move on early tomorrow.”
“But…..,” said David, thinking he ought to try and get back to the palace. Then he thought what fun it was camping out with John, and forgot all about his beating and the danger from Jason. He didn’t want to leave John and besides, it was his duty to stick with John and bring him back to his father. Then he would get justice and stop Jason in his tracks.
“But what?” asked John. “Have you got a home to go to?”
“Well it’s not really a home as you would know it. I’ll stick with you if I may - certainly for to-night,” said David not daring to risk any more ridicule.
“Good,” said David drowsily. Shortly afterwards both boys were sleeping soundly.
Towards morning, however, David had a series of dreams. He saw Jason leering down at him, “Call yourself the King’s son, do you? Take that and that….” Jason was laughing nastily. Then John’s earnest face came into focus, “Run, run for your life!” The nightmare scamper through the dark streets. “It’s no good. I can’t keep up. I can’t keep up.” David’s breath was coming in agonised grunts. He felt as if he was stifling. He put his hand up to his mouth and woke abruptly, pushing away a pile of brushwood that was entangled over his head.
The low morning sun was streaming in. There was no sign of John. As he collected his senses, David became aware of a commotion coming from the farmyard about 40 metres away. With a sinking sensation David peered cautiously around the edge of the cave entrance. His worst fears were realised. He could see John struggling amidst a group of 3 or 4 men, one of whom was Jason.
Jason was shaking John. “Come on you little rat-face. Where’s that other wretch you went off with, eh? All right men. Tie him up to this old cartwheel. I have got my little persuader here to tickle some sense into him.” He produced his small whip, but stayed his hand as he heard a faint high-pitched cry, “Stop it. Stop it,” as David came running recklessly towards them.
“Excellent, excellent,” grinned Jason. “That makes two boys. I ought to get a good price for them as well as for my carpets. Tie their hands behind their backs and put a rope securely round their waists. Then we’ll catch up with the caravan that has already started for the first oasis. We’ll go straight there in case anyone in the town has started asking questions about missing boys.
posted by John Acton at 4:20 AM
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