Section 2: Journey into the Desert
The painter Jack found Arthur waiting for him at the caravan and offered to help with the fare, but Arthur declined.
He explained that his mother had given him her necklace, which he could sell if needed. The painter Jack felt sorrow for what Arthur had experienced in the town and decided to accompany him, leaving the town behind.
During their journey, they arrived in a city where the painter Jack suggested selling some paintings to acquire food.
Together, they went to sell the paintings, and people loved the artist's work, eagerly purchasing them.
They soon discovered that the caravan was preparing to depart.
Arthur ran among the people, with the painter Jack following closely behind, and managed to catch up to the moving convoy. They hid behind a box, ensuring they remained unnoticed by the caravan guard.
Returning to their spot, they sat down to eat. However, they heard a commotion behind them and discovered another sick man.
Realizing that he had contracted the same disease as the townspeople, they attempted to save him, but unfortunately, he passed away in their arms. The son of the deceased glared at them angrily, filled with resentment.
Night fell while they were still on the road, and the angry son collaborated with some caravan owners to get rid of Arthur and the painter. They couldn't save his father, and the caravan made a stop at a resting place. The painter Jack and Arthur walked away and found themselves isolated. Suddenly, they were attacked with sticks and had their belongings set ablaze.
The caravan guards noticed the commotion and rushed towards them, causing the gang to flee.
Arthur discovered the painter Jack severely burned and unconscious. Filled with guilt and self-blame, he rushed to tend to Jack's wounds.
The painter Jack suggested they board the caravan and try to forget what had happened, focusing on reaching the Arabian desert. The next morning, Arthur witnessed Jack's struggle to eat due to his burned hands. He attempted to help but realized that if he assisted Jack with eating, how would his hands be able to paint again? Arthur felt profound sadness for the pain his companion was enduring and reassured him that everything would be alright.
He moved away and sat alone, watching a bird gather straw to build its nest in a nearby tree.
Thoughts of the merchant's daughter came to Arthur's mind, knowing she needed him at that moment. However, he also worried about his mother, uncertain whether she was alive or if her illness had taken her life.
A man approached them from a distance, claiming to know the town and mentioning a doctor who treated burns. Arthur and Jack realized they had to see the doctor before the caravan departed. They visited the doctor, who treated Jack's burns.
Arthur inquired if the doctor knew about the herb in the Arabian desert. The doctor explained its location between two large mountains in the desert, where it could only thrive in the shade.
He thanked the doctor for his assistance, and they resumed their journey.
On their way, they encountered a child attempting to steal bread, caught by the shop owner.
Arthur and the painter Jack paid for the bread, explaining to the shop owner that the child had resorted to theft due to hunger. The shop owner agreed to release the child, understanding their plight. They continued their journey, riding with the caravan throughout the night until morning arrived.
Suddenly, they were startled by the screams of a woman, causing the caravan to come to a halt. They approached the source of the sound and found a mother tightly embracing her daughter.
And the painter Jack and Arthur saw the child's face and realized she had contracted the disease.
They looked around in the middle of the desert, unsure of what to do. Arthur glanced away and noticed smoke rising from behind a hill. He suggested they go there in hopes of finding something to help the child and a place to rest. They made their way towards the source of the smoke.
Arthur carried the child, with her mother following closely behind, worried about her daughter's fate. They entered a village and discovered that only a few residents remained, as most had left for the city in the Arabian desert.
Only a small lake and a few trees were left behind. Seeing the condition of the village, they began to lose hope of saving the child. Nevertheless, they decided to stay with her.
The convoy's owner advised them to continue their journey, but Arthur insisted they stay until the child improved. The mother expressed that her daughter couldn't continue the journey and would remain in the village with some of the villagers while seeking a solution for her illness.
Arthur and the painter Jack assured her that they would return and advised her to stay in the village until they found the herb from the Arabian desert.
After bidding her farewell, they set off while the convoy continued on its way. Arthur noticed something among the hills and suggested they stop there.
However, the convoy commander didn't believe him. Arthur insisted that they must enter the hills to reach the city. Upon entering, they found themselves surrounded by bandits. The bandits informed them that the only way to enter the village was by relinquishing all their money, clothes, and horses to their leader.
The convoy commander vowed to resist and not give anything, but Arthur cautioned him that the thieves outnumbered them. He emphasized that they should avoid a battle that would harm women and children.
Everyone agreed, and the thieves took all their possessions, leaving them to continue the journey on foot. Their supply of drinking water soon ran out.
The convoy commander grew weary on the way and entrusted them with a package to deliver to his family, instructing them to guide his family to the remaining path to reach the city.
Arthur accepted the trust and promised to fulfill it. The commander passed away, and his friends buried him in the desert.
The painter Jack proposed placing stones on his grave to indicate the presence of the grave and to bury those who died on the journey due to illness with him. Arthur and his companions collected stones and placed them on the grave.
They returned to the convoy commander to resume their journey and eventually arrived in the city in the heart of the Arabian desert.
After discussing their plans, everyone dispersed, agreeing to reunite once their tasks were completed to return together. Arthur and Jack proceeded to deliver the package entrusted to them and reached the commander's house.
His wife and children came out to greet them at the door. Overwhelmed by emotions, Arthur found it difficult to speak when he saw the children.
He couldn't bring himself to tell them that their father had passed away.
Observing the safety deposit box, the wife sensed that something bad had happened to her husband.
Arthur handed her the box, and in a hushed voice, the painter Jack informed her of her husband's demise during the journey, explaining that he had sent the box to them. The wife took the children inside, closing the door, and asked about her husband's resting place.
Arthur informed her that his friends had buried him in the desert. The mother asked how she could find him.
Jack said, "You will find many rocks on his grave in the desert." The wife began to cry and invited them to eat and rest after their tiring journey.
Arthur replied, "We don't want to burden you any further. We will let you rest now. We are sorry for what happened to your husband.
" The wife thanked them, and they bid farewell, leaving her behind. Arthur felt a deep sense of sadness.
They arrived at the heart of the city and were captivated by a grand ceremony organized by the city's residents in honor of their leader.
They joined the festivities to take a break from their arduous travels.
The following day, Arthur and Jack went to visit the chief physician of the city to inquire about the desert herb.
They entered a large place filled with medicines and eventually found the chief physician at the end of a corridor.
They asked him about the desert herb, but he informed them that he wasn't the head of the doctors and that they should leave because the president did not meet with outsiders.
They explained to him that the people in their city had fallen ill and desperately needed the herb. Upon hearing this, the chief physician instructed the guards to let them stay and went to meet them at the door. He apologized for the misunderstanding and assured them that he would see them the next morning.
Meanwhile, Arthur and Jack went to the market to sell some paintings and use the earnings to buy food.
They were surprised to find people gathering around them as they had not seen such paintings in that city before.
People even requested them to draw their portraits. They worked until midnight, and Arthur counted the money, realizing they had earned a significant sum. Before they left, an old man approached them, requesting their presence at his wedding the following day.
He asked them to draw portraits of the newlyweds, and they agreed. Arthur then went to buy food, and they also helped some of the poor in town. Afterward, they found a suitable place to rent and sleep in before attending the wedding. The owner of the place welcomed them, assuring them that they could stay as long as they wished.