human
Thou art young and of good stature. It surpriseth me that thou dost not return to thine own people and take a wife from among them.
gpt
Why should I marry? I asked, laughing.
human
While I am alone, I wander at my own inclination; if I married, my actions would be ruled by another.
gpt
Because ere the sun had risen this morning a camel had placed its hoof upon thy spittle, he answered, looking at me with his keen serious eyes that age had not dimmed.
human
It is an omen. _'Ty-ib bi'chire Allah yosallimak_!
gpt
An omen! Of what?
human
Of impending evil.
gpt
But we English believe not in superstition; neither have we witches nor sorcerers,
human
Infidels have no need of them, he retorted, angrily.
gpt
Only True Believers will behold the great lote tree, or quench their thirst at Salsabil, Allah be thanked!
human
But this strange omen--what particular misfortune is it supposed to presage?
gpt
Hearken, and take heed, he said, earnestly.
human
Thou art young, and as yet no woman hath captivated thee. Do I give utterance to the truth?
gpt
Yes, I answered.
human
As yet I have never been enmeshed.
gpt
Then beware! There will be a day when thy life will be lightened by the rays of a woman's face, rivalled only by the sun. Her eyes will be brilliant as the gazelle's, her cheeks will bear the bloom of the peach, and her lips will be sweet as the fresh-blown rose. In those eyes the love-light will flash, those cheeks will blush at thine approach, and those lips will meet with passion thy caress. Then remember the words of Ali Ben Hafiz. Remember the Omen of the Camel's Hoof!
human
On the auspicious day when I meet this paragon of beauty which you prophesy, how am I to act?
gpt
Act? he cried.
human
Do nothing. Return not her caresses. Cast her from thee even though she be one of the houris of Paradise, and--
gpt
Will she be a Moor, an Arab, or one of mine own people?
human
Ask me not. I am no prophet, though this is not the first time I have seen similar cases to thine. The Omen of the Camel's Hoof hath been revealed--and it is fatal.
gpt
Fatal? I cried in alarm.
human
What dost thou mean? Am I to die?
gpt
It resulteth in death--sometimes. It is always fatal to love.
human
Have others succumbed, then?
gpt
Yes, alas! he said, with knit brows and a curiously thoughtful expression.
human
One case occurred in mine own family. My nephew, who was of about the same age as thou art, had the distinctive mark between the eyes, the same as thou hast upon thy countenance. After the last Fast of Ramadan, he took the caravan of his father and journeyed for one moon west to Duera, in Morocco. Before the sun had risen on the last day of Doul Hadja, the camel he was riding, alas! stepped upon his spittle. His tent-man, a Biskri well versed in anthroposcopy, told him of the ominous warning, but he ridiculed it, saying that Kamra Fathma, the daughter of the cadi at Bona, was already betrothed unto him, and that he could never look with admiration upon another woman's face. The Omen had been revealed; its warning was, alas! disregarded.
gpt
What was the result?
human
Ah, the result? It was fatal! A week later he who scoffed at the humble tent-man's words crossed the Figuig into the land of our lord the Sultan. There, at Sidi Mumen, he chanced to pass the daughter of the Basha on foot. An ill wind blew aside her veil, and he gazed for a second upon her uncovered face. The lines of her fatal beauty were in that instant graven deeply upon his heart, and he loved her violently, casting aside the pretty Kamra, his betrothed at Bona. Tarrying long near the woman who had fascinated him, he succeeded in earning the good graces of the Basha, and at length married her.
gpt
Well, if he succeeded in marrying her, the Omen of the Camel's Hoof could not have been fatal to love,
human
But it was! he replied quickly.
gpt
After his marriage, he remained in Sidi Mumen, and set up a large house, and his wife had many slaves.
human
Was he not happy?
gpt
For three moons, and then--
human
And then?
gpt
The prophecy was fulfilled. He took a cup of tea too much. [An expression used by the Moors, poison being invariably administered in tea.] The woman who had entranced him and obtained his money was verily a daughter of Eblis. She poisoned him!
human
Horrible! I said.
gpt
I hope mine will not be a similar fate.