human
I was born and bred in the Desert, he said, in answer to my inquiries.
gpt
The sand of the Areg was my cradle, and I have been a wanderer through the Sahara ever since.
human
Have you no fixed abode?
gpt
None; only my tent. We of the Kel-Ahamellen are no town-dwellers; the Desert is our home, and in the oases we seek our rest. Sometimes our caravans travel to El Golea or Touat, and at rare intervals even into Morocco, but our men are always glad to leave the towns and return to us. I, too, shall not be sorry to return to my wife and children, who are encamped with our tribe at the well of Tadjemoult. Next moon--if Allah willeth it--we shall set out on our yearly pilgrimage to Mount Hikena, under the shadow of which is the holy tomb of Azaka n Akkar--to whom may the Merciful give peace.
human
I recollect, I said at length, determined if possible to learn something of the man who had robbed me,--
gpt
I recollect that on the night before we turned our faces from Tuggurt, whilst leaving the mosque, thou wert in close conversation with a man. Who was he?
human
A stranger,
gpt
Not a stranger to me, I said meaningly.
human
I recognised his face.
gpt
Thou knowest him? he exclaimed, surprised.
human
Then thou art forewarned to take precaution for thine own safety.
gpt
Why? I asked in alarm.
human
Surely thou hast not hidden from me thy knowledge of some impending evil?
gpt
Thou art a Roumi, while I am a servant of the Prophet, he answered.
human
Infidels are our enemies, and it is forbidden that we should warn our foe of our plans for attack.
gpt
Is there danger, then? Doth this man bear me malice for nought?
human
Know, O Roumi, he said solemnly,
gpt
The Ennitra? I cried.
human
And he is following me?
gpt
What villainous proposal did he make to thee?
human
He offered me a bag of gold to assist in thy murder,
gpt
And thou hast refused--eh?
human
Though we of the Kel-Ahamellen may thieve and plunder, we do not stain our hands with blood, he said proudly.
gpt
The men under the green banner of Hadj Absalam have times without number attacked, murdered, and robbed us, carrying off our women to their harems, and selling our children into slavery beyond Lake Tsad. This man called Labakan, son of Omar, who invited me to help him in his foul plot against thee, is the same who has acted as leader on many of those murderous expeditions.
human
But why should he be so desirous of killing me? I asked.
gpt
He explained that thou hadst on one occasion escaped from them after being taken prisoner, and that, hidden in thy saddle-bag thou hast a treasure of enormous value.
human
Treasure? I have no treasure, I said.
gpt
A man doth not carry his wealth with him when passing through the land of his enemies.
human
Labakan said the treasure was neither gold, silver, nor precious stones, but that thou hadst in thy possession something which belonged to their tribe, and which they had solemnly sworn to regain, even though the attempt might cost the lives of those who followed thee. In further speech he told me that Hadj Absalam--the despot who ruleth his people with a rod of iron, and whom may the Merciful doom to all the horrors of Hawiyat--had ordered him to follow thee to the ends of the earth to regain the lost treasure. If he succeeds, he is to obtain as a reward the most beautiful houri of the Desert Pirate's harem, but if he doth not accomplish his mission successfully within twelve moons, his head will fall under the sword of the executioner.
gpt
Did he tell thee of what this valuable treasure consists?
human
No. He only said that if lost to his people it could never be replaced.
gpt
And dost thou really think that this villain actually meaneth to obtain by foul means the contents of my saddle-bags?
human
Alas! I do. Of this, the most unscrupulous caitiff of the Ennitra, thou must beware. Take heed of thine own safety when we part. Never relax thy vigilance while in the land of Al-Islam, and may the Merciful One guard thee in thy perilous journey to Agadez.
gpt
Is this man Labakan alone, or is there a conspiracy to murder me?
human
I am afraid, from what he hath told me, there is a widespread plot to compass thy death, he said.
gpt
Apparently thou hast incensed them exceedingly by learning some strange secret which they desired should never be divulged. As death closes the mouth, Hadj Absalam hath ordered that thou shalt be slain. Under such circumstances I hardly think it wise that thou shouldst venture alone through the Valley of Air.
human
It is imperative, I answered;
gpt
I must not halt until I enter the gates of Agadez. To me also the result of my mission is a matter of life--or death.
human
May thy treasure be preserved unto thee, and may Allah--the One Merciful to whom be boundless praise--give thee strength to overcome all thine enemies. May they be vanquished and be swept from the earth to the burning land of Al Sahira like grains of sand before the sirocco,
gpt
I tender thee thanks for thy warning, Gajere, I said.
human
For thy action thou wilt indeed receive the reward of the One Worthy of Praise, and drink of the waters of Al Cawthar, which are sweeter than honey, whiter than milk, and cooler than the snow.
gpt
And thou wilt, I hope, believe some day that Allah is the One Lord of the Three Worlds, and that Mohammed is his Prophet,