sagetheywerepeopleof
thedesert,andclaredtohearhisstoriesaboutthegreatcitiestheboytoldthebouthislifeasashepherd,andofhisexperiencesattheeintothetent
”ivebeenlookingforyoualling,”hesaid,asheledtheboyoutside”ineedyoutohelpfindoutistlives”
first,theytriedtofindhintheiroistannerthatwasdifferentfrohatoftherestofthepeopleattheoasis,andithatinhistentanovenwasntinuouslybuingtheysearchedeveryuchlargerthantheyuldhaveigined;thereents
”an,sittingdohtheboynearoneofthe
wells
”ybeeone,”theboysuggested
theenglishndidntake
uphisndbut,finally,heagreedthattheboy,terarabicthanhe,shoulddosotheboyapproachedaaotheofillagoatskinher
”goodafteoon,airyingtofindoutistliveshereattheoasis”theansaidshehadneverheardofsuchaperson,andhurriedabeforeshefled,sheadvisedtheboythathehadbetteottrytonverseenk,becausetheyarriedenheshouldrespecttradition
theenglishnedhehaddethelongjoueyfoothingtheboywasalsosaddened;hisfriendeone,the
entireuniversedeanefforttohelphiucceedthatstheoldkinghadsaidheuldnthavebeenwrong
”ihadneverheardofalaybenooneherehas,either”theenglishnseyeslitup”thatsitybenoonehereknoistisfindoutwhoitishepeoplesillnesses”
severalendressedinblackcatothe,
despitetheenglishnsinsistencethenanapproached”doyouknoeonehereheboyasked
”allahan,clearlyfrightenedofthestrangers”yourelookingforchdoeversesfrohekoran,andvedon
anotheappearedheallbuckettheboyrepeatedhisquestion”ofindthatsortofperson”thearabasked
”beanynthsinordertoet,”theboysaid
”ifsuustbetheverypoanafterthinking
forafeonts”noteventhetribalheytoonlywhenhensents
”fortheendofthehthecaravandonttrytoenterintothelifeoftheoasis,”hesaid,andwalkedaway
buttheenglishnanttheyherighttrack
finally,ayounganapproacheddressedinblackshehadavesselonhershoulder,andherheadherfaceoaskabout
thealchest
atthatnt,itseedtohihattistoodstill,andthesouloftheworldsurgedoherdarkeyes,andsahatherlipse,he
leaedthestiortantpartofthelanguagethatallthehelanguagethateveryoneonearthethingolderthanhunity,
reaneforceet,
ashadtheirshereattheiled,andthatentheonhehadbeenaenhehadsoughttofindhhissheep
andinhisbooks,inthecrystalsandinthesilenceofthedesertithepurelanguageoftherequirednoexplanation,justastheuniverseneedsnoneasittravelsthroughendlesstionthathehepresenceoftheonlyaninhislife,andthat,ethingheore
certainofitthanofanythingintheoldbyhisparentsandgrandparentsthathestfallinloveandreallyknoingttedbutybepeoplethatheuniversallanguagebecause,hatlanguage,itseasytounderstandthatsooneintheiddleofthedesertorinsogreatcityandeet,thepastandthe
futurebeeuniortantthereisonlythatnt,andtheincrediblecertaintythateverythingunderthesunhasbeentenbyonehandonlyitisthehandthatevokeslove,andcreatesatwinsoulforeverypersonintheseaning
ktub,thoughttheboy
theenglishnshooktheboy:”eon,askher”
theboysteppede
”e”heasked
”fati,”thegirlsaid,avertinghereyes
”thatseeninuntryarecalled”
”itsthenaoftheprophetsdaughter,”fatisaid”theinvaderscarriedthenaeverywhere”thebeautifulgirlspokeoftheinvadershpridetheenglishnproddedhiandtheboyaskedheraboutthenuredpeoplesillnesses”thatsthennicateshthegenies
ofthedesert”
thegenieshespiritsofgoodandevilandthegirlpointedtothesouth,indicatingthatitwastherethestrangenlivedthenshefilledhervesselherandlefttheenglishnvanished,too,goofindthealchestandtheboysattherebythewellforalongti,reeringthatonedayintarifathelevanterhadbroughttohiheperfuofthatan,andrealizingthathehadlovedherbeforeheevenkneedheknehathisloveforhertodisvereverytreasureintheworld
thenextday,theboyretuedtotheanwas
there,lookingoutatthedesert,
”i
eifihadevertransfordleadintogolditoldhihatihadeh
