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From: | Christian Sears |
Subject: | [Gnobb-dev-savannah] slither |
Date: | Sun, 10 Sep 2006 13:45:46 +0200 |
Besides Gasim was my man: and upon me lay the
responsibilityof him. A stink like a pestilence went acrossour party.
The hunters returned before noon, each with a good
gazelle.
And whatabout a library of foreign books? We fled
to a clean spot, rolling the second egg hot beforeus with gentle kicks.
We checked the men at the bottom of their narrow
sand-fold, whilst westudied the railway.
His prudent talk whiled away the slow passageof
abominable desolation.
That shifted the difficulty to myshoulders. A
deserted camp with empty sardine tins gaveproof of Newcombe and Hornby.
Zaal saw an oryx; stalked it on foot, and killed
it.
The hunters returned before noon, each with a good
gazelle. Only so could he cover us,while still pleasing the Turks.
Then we were impatient of waiting
longer.
The better jointswere tied upon the baggage camels
for the next halt, and our marchcontinued. Nasir and Nesib, really
interested,dismounted to scoff at us. Zaal saw an oryx; stalked it on foot, and
killed it. Again on the morrow there was mention of mange.
Gradually the enemy slackened, astonished perhaps
at our preparedness.
Audasanxiety passed and his eagerness kindled. Yet,
my dear, it isimperfect; and our nature stops not short of perfection. He knew the
country and hiscamel was under him. It was aboutthirty feet deep, stone-steyned,
seemingly ancient. Uneasily they shifted the talk to stud farms,and on the sixth day
the poor camel died. On chance Iturned my camels head that way, and in a few minutes
saw that it wasGasim. So we rode carefully, picking the softest way, Auda andmyself
in front.
And whatabout a library of foreign books? Then we
found that neitherof us had a match. Auda, Nasir, and the rest ofus kept our beasts
going by constant care. Auda drew his silver-hilted dagger andchipped the top of the
first egg.
Tension there was, for amoment; but then the
Howeitat hailed him.
Iwoke and stumbled across, ate, made my way back to
our couched camelsand slept again.
Uneasily they shifted the talk to stud farms,and on
the sixth day the poor camel died. He knew the country and hiscamel was under
him.
He told us the Howeitat were camped in front, from
Isawiya to Nebk,anxiously waiting our news. At the height of noon we reached the
well of our desire.
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