Desert Queen, Ashley Wren [fiction book recommendations .txt] 📗

I knew very well that crossing the desert was dangerous, even with the protection of Uncle and the caravan. I was aware of the intense, sweltering heat during the day and the frigid temperatures at night. I remember the men telling me the barren desert was no place for a young lady of my standing and trying to frighten me with stories of unruly bandits, deadly quicksand, and poisonous snakes. Though all of these things worried me, I refused to be intimidated. I lied, saying that I wasn't afraid and, after much debating, the men finally agreed to accept my company. After all, the leader of the caravan was my uncle.
It was the middle of summer in Saida and a group of men was planning a trip through the Sahara to In Salah. The village was in dire need of goods and wouldn't last through the month without them. The conditions for traveling would be horrid in the unbearable heat and Maher was worried about the health of the camels.
"But Mahdi, the temperatures will climb as high as 125 degrees (Fahrenheit) in these summer months. The camels could never bear it, let alone the men!"
"Well what would you have me do, Maher?! I can't sit back and allow my people to die of starvation and illness! You know the infirmary is down to its last few ounces of medicine? What if Adara were to get the fever? THEN what would you have me do?"
The room grew silent; Maher looked to the floor. He thought about his beautiful wife Adara and the awful fever that had taken their precious daughter from them so many years ago.
"People are dying Maher," Mahdi continued. "We have no choice." Maher solemnly nodded his agreement. "So it's settled. We leave in three days. Ragab, prepare the camels."
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"But Uncle!" I begged. "You mustn't leave me here on my own! Whatever will I do?"
"Kalila, you know very well you cannot come with me; it's much too dangerous. Plus, you won't be alone; you'll be with Fatimah." Uncle gestured to the doorway where Fatimah, his servant, was standing. Fatimah smiled sweetly at me.
"Come now Kalila, it will be fun. We'll have a great time, just you and I."
"No offense Fatimah, but I'm nineteen years old... I don't need a babysitter. I'm also very capable of going with the caravan to In Salah!" I turned pleading eyes on Uncle.
"Oh Kalila..." Uncle sighed. "Alright, I will DISCUSS the possibility with the others." I threw my arms around him.
"Oh Uncle, thank you!" I kissed his cheek.
"Well don't get your hopes too high darling. I've still got to clear it with the rest of the group."

Later that day, Uncle called a meeting with the rest of the caravan group to settle some,
“final details.”
"Before we wrap up for the day gentlemen, I've got one final... proposition... for you. Kalila, we're ready for you!" I came in from the hallway; everyone had their eyes fixed on me.
"What is this Mahdi?" Ragab asked. Everyone looked to Uncle.
"Men, you all know my niece, Kalila," Uncle began. "Kalila here is a little distraught by the thought of my leaving her on her own while we are away. I talked with her this morning and promised her I would ask you all about the possibility of her attending our trip." Maher cut him off.
"Attending our trip!" he repeated. "Have you gone mad??"
"Have you any idea how dangerous the desert can be, especially in these summer months?" Hani shouted. The group turned to me once again; there was an awkward silence which was broken by Uncle.
"Now men, I..." I cut Uncle off before he could say any more.
"No, Uncle, allow me to explain." I fixed my eyes upon every member of the group one by one. "Now men, I understand your concern. I AM a woman, after all, and I could hinder the trip with my slow pace. Women ARE very delicate after all. But listen to me... I promise that, if you allow me to accompany you, I will keep pace with even the quickest of you, and will require not a moment's rest more. I am quite capable of..."
"Kalila darling," Hani stopped me with a raise of his hand. "It's not the trip we're so worried about."
"Sweetheart," continued Ragab, "the desert is no place for a young lady. The heat is unbearable during the day and the temperatures are freezing at night." Maher nodded and picked up where Ragab left off.
"There are also bandits in the desert, horrible men who would love to get their hands on such a beautiful young woman as yourself." I shivered at this thought, but protested regardless.
"But Uncle and the rest of you will be there to..." Ashraf cut me off mid-sentence.
"Nevertheless, there are also poisonous snakes and other creatures..."
"Like scorpions..." someone said.
"Wouldn't want to be stung by one of those..."
"Do you know of the awful quicksand?" someone else asked?
"I heard entire caravans have been lost to the quicksand pits!" Hani said.
"So you see, love?" Maher said. "It's much too dangerous."
All of these things frightened me, but I was determined not to let them see it. I looked at all of them directly and, without faltering, said simply, "I’m not afraid." Everyone grew silent; Uncle looked at the men who then looked at one another. They nodded.
I was going to In Salah.
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Two days later, the camels were prepared and the caravan set out for In Salah. We departed from Saida at 5 o’clock in the morning, just before the sun had risen, so the air was still cool. I sat behind Uncle on a camel we called Tatuk, while the rest of the men rode alone. We were silent, absorbed in our own thoughts about the trip that lay ahead; the only sound was that of the camels’ hooves as they strode gracefully through the desert sand.
I was still heavy with sleep, as I had just awoken less than an hour before. The rhythmic swish of the sand separating under the weight of the camels soon had me drifting back into a light sleep. I vaguely remember dreaming about being lost in the desert, wondering how the Jews were able to survive all that time ago.
I awoke sometime later to light shining in my eyes. The sun had fully risen and it was beginning to get uncomfortably warm. Beads of sweat were beginning to form on my forehead as I slipped the sleeves of my dress off my shoulders. I could see the men were beginning to heat up too, as most of them had taken off their shirts and tied them through the loops of their belts. I reached into the bag strapped to the camel beside me to get my sun hat. I pulled it low over my face to protect my delicate skin and eyes from the sun’s harsh rays.
I had pulled my long, dark hair into an elegant bun that morning in anticipation of the heat. I was dressed in a pale violet sun dress that came just low enough to cover my thighs as we rode. I wore sandals with straps to protect my dainty feet from the hot sand, just in case we were forced to walk. I felt the eyes of many of the men upon me, making me feel quite out of place. I got the impression that most of them were warming up to my company.
After another hour or so of riding, Uncle signaled for the group to stop. He turned Tatuk around to face the rest of the men. “Alright men,” he said. “We’ve made excellent progress so far, but we’ve still got quite a trip ahead of us.” Uncle glanced at his watch. “It’s noon now,” he announced. “I think it’s time we take a break.”
We dismounted our camels and walked around a bit to stretch our legs; I had gone stiff from sitting still so long. Ashraf called me over to help him water the camels and we talked as we worked.
“So, ready to turn back yet my lady?” he asked.
“Absolutely not,” I replied. “I’m thoroughly enjoying myself.”
“Well the trip isn’t even half over yet,” he replied.
“I’m well aware of this and I’m anxiously awaiting the rest of our journey.” As I said this, my legs, which had not entirely waken up yet, buckled under me and I nearly fell; Ashraf caught me and straightened me.
“Whoa there… someone’s still a little stiff,” he said with a laugh. He had already straightened me, but hadn’t released me yet. I gave him a nervous look. He stared at me for a moment, glanced around hesitantly, then, seeing his chance, pulled me into him. He wrapped his arms around me and pressed his lips to my neck.
“There’s just something about a woman that drives the senses wild…” he whispered. I felt his hands start to slip lower down my back; I was frozen with shock.
“Kalila!” I heard Uncle call my name. Ashraf released me and I recoiled with a start; he winked at me and walked away, pretending to busy himself with the camels.
“Oh Kalila, there you are,” Uncle said, coming over to where I was standing. He was completely oblivious to what had just happened. “I was looking for you. Are you ready for lunch?”
I was grateful that Uncle had saved me, but I didn’t want to tell him what had happened for fear he would make us turn back. I nodded that I was, indeed, ready for lunch and went with him back to where the men had set up a rest tent.
Our lunch consisted of only dry, packaged foods, as anything else would perish in the desert heat. We also had bottles of water and canteens to keep with us at all times; however, the water was already becoming hot from the sun. Some of us had begun to