thhishoovesthisnlookedexactlythesa,exceptthatnoheroleswerereversed”itisithesanylivesoseethroughtothesouloftheworld”thesfallinstead,thestrangerlosloilthepointtouchedtheboysforeheaditdreofblood46
thehorsenpletelyiobile,asatheonshadbeentrue,afterallherehey,butthere,andheorroyofthatsoulthestrangetinuedtoholdthestheboysforehead”heflightofthebirds””ireadonlyetheyorroorenattheoasisthanyouhave”thesainedochangeallahhaswilled”
”allaheeringthecaldriverswords
thestrangertheboysforehead,andtheboyfeltienselyrelievedbuthestilluldntflee”becarefulethingisten,thereisnoochangeit””allisay,”saidtheboy”ididntseetheouteofthebattle”thestrangerseedsatisfiedhtheanshekeptthesisastrangerdoinginastrangeland””iaolloydestinyitsnotsothingyouand”
thestrangerplacedhisssscabbard,andtheboyrelaxed”ihadtotestyoururage,”thestrangersaid”urageisthequalitystessentialtounderstandingthelanguageoftheworld”theboyrangerhingsthatveryfe
”youstnotletup,evenafterhavingesofar,”hentinued”youstlovethedesert,butnevertrustitpletelybecausethedeserttestsalln:itchallengeseverystep,andkillsthoseedistracted”indedtheboyoftheoldking
”iftheehere,andyourheadisstillonyourshouldersatsunset,eandfind,”saidthestrangerthesahandthathadbrandishedthes
”anrodeaway
thehandhtheedtothesouth
theboyhadtthealchest
47
nexting,thereednstreesatalfayoubeforethesunhadreaenappearedonthehorizontheuntedtroopsenteredtheoasisfrohenorth;itappearedtobeapeashiddenintheirrobesptytentthenoftheoasissurroundedthehorsenfrohedesertandtrees,andsaenhadreinedintheirtents,prayingforthesafekeepingoftheirhusbands,andsaaldayattheoasistheonlytribesnsparednderofthebattalionthatafteoon,hendersaidthathisnhadbeenstarvingandthirsty,exhaustedfroanydaysofbattle,andhaddecidedtotaketheoasissoastobeabletoretutothewarthetribalen,butthatthetraditionnedthendertodeathadeadpalree,edinthedesertwindthetribaletheunseloroftheoasis
adetheirappearance,theboystartedtoothesouthheeventuallysightedasingletent,andagroupofarabspassingbytoldtheboythatitedbygeniesbuttheboysatdoednotuntiltheonistrideintoviewodeadhawksoverhisshoulder”iaere,”theboysaid
”youshouldntbehere,”thealchestansyourdestinythatbringsyouhere””ehere”
thealhishorse,andsignaledthattheboyshouldenterthetentitanyattheoasistheboylookedaroundfortheovensandotherapparatususedinalallokingstove,andthecarpets,veredysteriousdesigns”sitdoethingtodrinkandeatthesehaist
theboysuspeafilledthetentitterthanthescentofthehookahs”heboyasked
48
”beens,”thealchestanseyouing,andthatyouwouldneedhelp””itsnotitheanhestheohatslookingforyou”
”hehasotherthingstodofirstbuthesontherighttrackhehasbeguntotrytounderstandthedesert””ande”
”ething,alltheuniversenspirestohelpthatpersontorealizehisdrea”saidthealchest,echoingthetoiny”soyouaregoingtoinstruct”
”noyoualreadyknoonlygoingtopointyouinthedirectionofyourtreasure””buttheresatribalheboyreiterated
”iknoshappeninginthedesert”
”ihavealreadyfoundtreasureihaveatheyoan””butnoneofthatisfrohepyrads,”sa