Chapter Five—Oasis

Shiro poured the last of his water, squeezing the skin for the few drops that were left. Ali looked at him, his face one of wanting.

The fool had already drunk all his water.

“Soon,” he said. “The oasis will be in sight.”

They couldn’t turn back now. They would never make it out of the desert. This was a fool’s errand. Why had he allowed Ali to convince him to come out here?

As a last result, they could kill their camels. That would give them another day or so. Shiro grunted.

“Any time,” Ali repeated. “We just”—he motioned forward with his hand—“keep pushing forward. “The old man won’t let us down. Have faith, my friend.”

“Ali?”

“What is it?”

“Do you know why you ran out of water before me?”

Ali seemed to think about it for a moment. “Because I love life and I’m a thirstier man than you?”

“No,” Shiro said plainly, not feeling the amusement of Ali’s joke. Not in this situation.

“Then perhaps it is because I am a larger man than you. I need more liquid to sustain myself.”

“No,” Shiro repeated. “It’s because you talk too much.”

A serous look crossed Ali’s face, but then it quickly flicked away and he laughed so hard he smacked his camel with his hand. She groaned and he apologized to the animal.

Pointing, and waving his finger, he said, “Yes, you are right. You are absolutely right, my friend!”

There was a pause between the two men.

Ali stared on.

“Well, if we keep walking, we might reach the oasis in a day. But…”

Shiro looked at his camel. She was fine in this hot weather without water. The creatures could go days without water.

“Oh no,” Ali said.

Now what was it?

“I think… Shiro, I think I am seeing something. You should have shared your water with me, you ingrate.”

His suffering almost made Shiro feel a bit better, if for the only reason that he got some tiny bit of satisfaction—of revenge—for the other man’s incessant chatting and annoyingly bright outlook.

Shiro’s heart started beating faster when he saw it. A blur in the shimmer off the horizon. “No,” he said. He shielded his eyes from the sun. “No, I think I see something as well.”

“Oh!” Ali exclaimed. “Let it not be a rock or an old tree—here to trick us into relief that we’re saved.”

Shiro glanced toward the other man, annoyed.

“What?”

“Shut up! You will bring evil tidings on us.”

“Ha! You’re right. Then let’s press on!”

He heeled his camel and she groaned, but picked up pace against her will. Shiro did the same to his animal. He didn’t kick her, but certainly gave her a good nudge with his heels.

Ali was always more aggressive with his beast.

After a time, it was clear that what they were seeing was in fact, hills and green trees!

We are saved, Shiro thought.

“I’m going to drink the whole oasis away. Eat all my food, hunt, and eat more until my belly is round.”

Shiro just wanted some water, to find that dungeon and make some money. Perhaps he would be able to pay off his debs and keep some for himself. After splitting both ways, that was unlikely.

The trees became more and more visible, the oasis situated at the base of some hills, those hills breaking to form a rocky ravine where a shallow river slowed from the mountains.

The trees were plenty, growing large armored fruits called turtle nuts. At the height of the rocky ravine, a waterfall was clearly visible.

“YES! THE GODS HAVE SEEN TO OUR PLIGHTS!” Ali screamed, taking his camel directly into the shallow water, sliding off and falling in. No sooner had he surfaced did he begin to drink the water.

Shiro watched him, shook his head and dismounted. His camel bent her neck down and began to slurp up water. Shiro took his water skin and filled it up.

Glancing about as Ali drank, coughed and proclaimed the gods were watching over them, Shiro remembered what that map had shown.

The entrance to the dungeon was behind the waterfall.

He lifted his skin and drank deeply.