+ The boy closed his book. He felt that he didn’t want to do + anything that might make him look like the Englishman. He took + Urim and Thummim from his pocket, and began playing with them. + The stranger shouted, “Urim and Thummim!” + In a flash the boy put them back in his pocket. + “They’re not for sale,” he said. + “They’re not worth much,” the Englishman answered. “They’re + only made of rock crystal, and there are millions of rock crystals in + the earth. But those who know about such things would know that + those are Urim and Thummim. I didn’t know that they had them in + this part of the world.” + “They were given to me as a present by a king,” the boy said. + The stranger didn’t answer; instead, he put his hand in his + pocket, and took out two stones that were the same as the boy’s. + “Did you say a king?” he asked. + “I guess you don’t believe that a king would talk to someone like + me, a shepherd,” he said, wanting to end the conversation. + “Not at all. It was shepherds who were the first to recognize a + king that the rest of the world refused to acknowledge. So, it’s not + surprising that kings would talk to shepherds.” + And he went on, fearing that the boy wouldn’t understand what + he was talking about, “It’s in the Bible. The same book that taught + me about Urim and Thummim. These stones were the only form of + divination permitted by God. The priests carried them in a golden + breastplate.” + The boy was suddenly happy to be there at the warehouse. + “Maybe this is an omen,” said the Englishman, half aloud. + “Who told you about omens?” The boy’s interest was increasing + by the moment. + “Everything in life is an omen,” said the Englishman, now closing + the journal he was reading. “There is a universal language, + understood by everybody, but already forgotten. I am in search of + that universal language, among other things. That’s why I’m here. I + have to find a man who knows that universal language. An + alchemist.” + The conversation was interrupted by the warehouse boss. + “You’re in luck, you two,” the fat Arab said. “There’s a caravan + leaving today for Al-Fayoum.” + “But I’m going to Egypt,” the boy said. + “Al-Fayoum is in Egypt,” said the Arab. “What kind of Arab are + you?” + “That’s a good luck omen,” the Englishman said, after the fat + Arab had gone out. “If I could, I’d write a huge encyclopedia just + about the words luck and coincidence. It’s with those words that the + universal language is written.” + He told the boy it was no coincidence that he had met him with + Urim and Thummim in his hand. And he asked the boy if he, too, + were in search of the alchemist. + “I’m looking for a treasure,” said the boy, and he immediately + regretted having said it. But the Englishman appeared not to attach + any importance to it. + “In a way, so am I,” he said. + “I don’t even know what alchemy is,” the boy was saying, when + the warehouse boss called to them to come outside. + “I’M THE LEADER OF THE CARAVAN,” SAID A DARK-EYED, bearded man. “I + hold the power of life and death for every person I take with me. + The desert is a capricious lady, and sometimes she drives men + crazy.” +
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