ALI CHILD IN THE DESERT

ALI AND HIS FATHER, JABAD, ARE TRAVELLING TO RISSANI, A MOROCCAN MARKET
TOWN, TO SELL THEIR CAMELS AND MAKE MONEY. WHEN THE WIND HOWLS, ALI HEARS
HIS FATHER’S VOICE CALLING FOR HIM TO COME, BUT HE IS BLINDED BY THE WHIRLING
SAND. HE JERKS UP HIS HOOD AND KICKS AT JABAD’S SIDES, BUT IS BLINDED BY THE
WHIRLING SAND. FINALLY, ALI HEARS THE JANGLE OF BELLS FROM SOMEWHERE OVER
THE DUNES, AND HE CLIMBS ONTO JABAD’S BACK AND HEADS TOWARDS THE WEST.
HE HEARS THE JANGLE OF BELLS FROM SOMEWHERE OVER THE DUNES.

ALI AND JABAD MEET A GOATHERD AND HIS FLOCK, AND ALI INVITES JABAD TO
SHARE TEA WITH HIM. ABDUL AND HIS GRANDSON FOLLOW THEM TO A DWELLING
HALF-SUNK IN THE SAND, WHERE THEY BUILD A FIRE AND BOIL WATER. ALI TELLS
ABOUT THE CHERQUI AND HIS FATHER AND THEIR CAMELS, AND ABDUL INVITES HIM
TO COME WITH THEM TO THE MOUNTAINS. HE BURYS A ROUND OF BREAD DOUGH IN
THE COALS, AND ABDUL POURS THE BOILING WATER INTO THREE TALL GLASSES
STUFFED WITH WILD PEPPERMINT. HE THEN BREAKS A LOAF OF KESRAH AND HANDS IT
OUT.

ALI AND YUSEF ENJOY A FEAST OF WARM BREAD AND MINT TEA. ABDUL TELLS A
STORY ABOUT THE BERBER WARRIOR-TRIBESMEN, WHO SHAVED THEIR HEADS EXCEPT
FOR A SINGLE LOCK OF HAIR. ALI IMAGINES ABDUL AS A YOUNG WARRIOR, SITTING
TALL ATOP HIS PRANCING STALLION, READY FOR BATTLE. THEY SIT IN SILENCE FOR A
MOMENT. ALI MUST DECIDE WHETHER TO WAIT FOR HIS FATHER OR GO WITH ABDUL
TO THE MOUNTAINS.

HE STOKED A FIRE TO KEEP AWAY HYENAS AND WONDERED WHAT HE WOULD FIND IF
HE STAYED IN THE DESERT. ABDUL STOOD OUTSIDE THE HUT, HOLDING HIS MUSKET,
AND ALI BREATHED DEEP AND BOWED IN MORNING PRAYER. ALI DECIDES TO STAY IN
THE DESERT, THINKING OF HIS FATHER’S WORDS THAT THERE IS NOTHING OR
EVERYTHING IN THE DESERT.