+ He had already spent much of the fortune left to him by his +father, fruitlessly seeking the Philosopher’s Stone. He had spent +enormous amounts of time at the great libraries of the world, and +had purchased all the rarest and most important volumes on +alchemy. In one he had read that, many years ago, a famous Arabian +alchemist had visited Europe. It was said that he was more than two +hundred years old, and that he had discovered the Philosopher’s +Stone and the Elixir of Life. The Englishman had been profoundly +impressed by the story. But he would never have thought it more +than just a myth, had not a friend of his—returning from an +archaeological expedition in the desert—told him about an Arab +that was possessed of exceptional powers. +“He lives at the Al-Fayoum oasis,” his friend had said. “And +people say that he is two hundred years old, and is able to +transform any metal into gold.” +The Englishman could not contain his excitement. He canceled +all his commitments and pulled together the most important of his +books, and now here he was, sitting inside a dusty, smelly +warehouse. Outside, a huge caravan was being prepared for a +crossing of the Sahara, and was scheduled to pass through AlFayoum. +I’m going to find that damned alchemist, the Englishman +thought. And the odor of the animals became a bit more tolerable. +A young Arab, also loaded down with baggage, entered, and +greeted the Englishman. +“Where are you bound?” asked the young Arab. +“I’m going into the desert,” the man answered, turning back to +his reading. He didn’t want any conversation at this point. What he +needed to do was review all he had learned over the years, because +the alchemist would certainly put him to the test. +The young Arab took out a book and began to read. The book +was written in Spanish. That’s good, thought the Englishman. He +spoke Spanish better than Arabic, and, if this boy was going to AlFayoum, there would be someone to talk to when there were no +other important things to do. +“THAT’S STRANGE,” SAID THE BOY, AS HE TRIED ONCE again to read the +burial scene that began the book. “I’ve been trying for two years to +read this book, and I never get past these first few pages.” Even +without a king to provide an interruption, he was unable to +concentrate. +He still had some doubts about the decision he had made. But he +was able to understand one thing: making a decision was only the +beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really +diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had +never dreamed of when he first made the decision. +When I decided to seek out my treasure, I never imagined that +I’d wind up working in a crystal shop, he thought. And joining this +caravan may have been my decision, but where it goes is going to be +a mystery to me. +Nearby was the Englishman, reading a book. He seemed +unfriendly, and had looked irritated when the boy had entered. +They might even have become friends, but the Englishman closed +off the conversation. +
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