set off northward following the Roman Road to Aqaba. The terrain consisted of parched, hard earth with a thin layer of sand atop it. Rocks of all shapes and sizes dotted the landscape as far as the eye could see. Most were of a brownish color a few were gray. The August Sun combined with their heavy load made walking an arduous affair.
As they walked, Nasir turned to Maarika and asked, “Tell me about your life before the hungry came.”
Maarika smiled at the interest being shown her, “We led a difficult life trying to scratch a living out of the barren wastes of Arabia. At least that is what my father told me they were called. If one stopped to look, one could see that even the deep desert teemed with life. From the lizards and mice darting about trying to score a morsel without becoming a meal themselves to the lazy snakes lying on rocks to take in the Sun life abounded.”
Nasir smiled, “Aye, so many of the Romans only see a harsh dead place when they look at our home. Though they work tirelessly to control all that they see, they never take the time to see it.”
Maarika snorted, “You’re priests don’t agree on how to worship your God and the owners of the land look but don’t see it? What kind of crazy world do you live in?”
Nasir laughed, “You always seem to gaze right through the bullshit and see what matters.” Maarika nodded in agreement and joined in his laughter. He then asked, “What was your tribe called? Maybe I’ve met other members before.”
“We were of the Judam tribe. It is said that we sprang from a warrior of some ruler named David. The legend passed down to me from my ancestors say that the warrior was unhappy with King David’s dishonorable behavior so he set off from the fabled land of milk and honey looking for a new home.”
Nasir interjected, “King David from the Bible?”
“I know not for sure, I have no knowledge of the Bible. Is that a story passed down to you from your ancestors?”
“In a way, God spoke to many men, and they wrote down his words.”
“Like those strange symbols on the tablets at the fort?”
“Aye, that’s writing. It enables a person to share words with someone that comes later.”
“What a marvel that is! To be able to speak to someone after you’ve gone. Even in death?”
“Aye, even in death. We have buildings four times the size of the fort we saw today filled with scrolls with the knowledge of those who came before.”
Maarika grinned with a twinkle in her eye, “If the word of God is written down, how is it that your priests can’t agree on what it says?”
“How indeed! Woman you have a mind like a lizard trap!”
Maarika smiled at the compliment and took his hand in hers as they walked. She fell into deep thought trying to digest what she had just learned. As she did so, Nasir rolled the name of Maarika’s tribe around in his mind Judam. That sounds an awful lot like Judah. Maarika is descended from the Israelites in the Bible! Nasir then shared his thoughts aloud, “I think I know from whence the warrior that created your tribe came.”
“Please share!”
“David of Judah was a Sheppard boy that defeated the champion of his people’s enemy the Philistines. This immense warrior was known by the name Goliath, for his enormous size. This seemingly simple Sheppard boy struck down Goliath with a single sling bullet. Years later he became King and began construction on the First Temple of God. It would make sense that it is the same King David. Afterall Judam sounds very similar to Judah.”
“Where is this land of Judah you speak of?”
“From here?” She nodded in response, “About a week’s hard ride.” Nasir let go of her hand and flexed it to get the blood flowing again. He then smiled and put his arm through hers. They continued to walk arm in arm, “How large was your tribe?”
“Our tribe consisted of several clans headed by a warrior. Each family controlled a vital interest in the tribe. My family raised goats and turned their milk into cheese. Others raised sheep and camels. We traded the fruits of our labors between the clans so that everyone’s needs were met.”
“What was your function?”
“When I was younger I was responsible for milking the goats. Later when my gift with the sling was discovered, I tended to the herd as they searched around for something to eat with my brothers.”
The conversation continued for several hours as they traveled for many more miles. Two hours after sunset they made camp by simply dropping their supplies on the parched earth and laying out a blanket. They ate and then snuggled under the starlight as the temperature plummeted. The snuggling led to more, and for a time they were warm indeed as they drifted off into the tender embrace of slumber.
As Nasir slumbered, he felt a slight itch on his nose. He scratched the itch and instantly fell back asleep. He started to dream again but felt an overwhelming itch that screamed to be scratched. This time it was his cheek. He rubbed the spot with his hand and rolled over onto his stomach to shield his face. With Maarika’s warm body pressed up against his, combined with the sound of her rhythmic breathing, it wasn’t long before he slept again.
Falling into a deep sleep, he dreamed of Maarika. He re-lived several of their intimate moments and experienced some new ones that his mind created. As his manhood stirred from the images swirling in his mind, the infernal itch returned. This time it was tickling his calf. Enraged from yet another interruption, he opened his eyes and rolled over.
The eastern horizon was a dull purple in color. Nasir inwardly cursed that the time to rest was nearly at an end. There was a light breeze causing some of the sand particles to be cast aloft. Many of them had landed on himself and Maarika’s slumbering form. The itch was coming from the grains. This could mean only one thing, “God help us!” he exclaimed. Maarika stirred, groaned, and fell back asleep.
Nasir sprang to his feet and scanned the horizon looking for the telltale sign that his fear was fully justified. With the land still shrouded in darkness, it was hard to tell. After several minutes of searching, he saw it. The spot was off to the south in the direction of the deep desert, darkness within darkness, “Sandstorm!” he yelled.
Maarika instantly sprang from her slumber fully awake at the dreaded words, “What, where?”
Nasir pointed to the growing splotch on the southern horizon, “There.” As they watched, the light from the rising sun touched it. There could be no doubt. A brown mass was roiling in their direction growing larger by the second.
“We must find shelter!” Maarika said frantically.
They both looked 360 degrees around them. They saw nothing but flat, parched earth surrounding them, “Let’s gather our water and run. Perhaps we can find a boulder to shelter behind before the storm is upon us.” Nasir said.
The two grabbed their supplies and began running northward. The weight of Nasir’s armor, shield, weapons, and water slowed his pace considerably. As the pair ran, they both glanced back over their shoulder from time to time to check the advance of the storm. Though their pace was slow, the storm seemed to virtually stand still.
“Maarika, run on ahead and find shelter.”
“No, we mus’ant get separated. We will never find each other again.”
“I’ll be fine in my armor, but you’re unprotected.”
“But-“
“Listen to me girl! Keep to the road. Surely there will be a boulder or cliff face sooner or later. Go!”
Maarika nodded numbly and ran as fast as she could. As she ran, she stole several glances back at Nasir. He had stopped moving altogether. He faded from view, and she focused on running. One foot in front of the other. Seems so easy when you’re thinking about it. The desert conspired to draw the moisture out of her body as she ran. The dry air, ever a vampire, continued to suck away the precious moisture out of her body. This insidious process began to slow her pace.
&n
bsp; Ignoring her burning lungs and parched throat she continued to run. The storm drew closer and closer, and she couldn’t ignore her dry throat any longer. She stopped and drank deeply from one of her waterskins. As the extreme anguish of overwhelming thirst receded, she felt a sense of ecstasy.
Maarika dropped the dry skin and began running again. Slowly the sun was shrouded in a swirling brown blanket as it wrapped her up in its scouring embrace. Unable to breathe the particles in without coughing she slowed her pace and placed her arm over her mouth. The storm howled all around her. Must go on! The strong winds pressed down upon her, and it became difficult to remain standing.
She was forced to squint her eyes as the particles of sand collected on the surface of her eyelids. Remembering a hard lesson from when she was a little girl, she resisted the urge to rub her eyes as she did not want to damage them. Closing her eyes altogether, she continued to stumble forward in total darkness. Bismillah I beg thee, give me shelter!
Maarika was suddenly hit with a powerful gust of wind. The sudden blast caused her to stumble. She struggled to move forward as the storm’s fury pressed down upon her. The weight of the wind made her small frame feel as if she were many times her actual weight. The lithe muscles toned to move around a body of one hundred pounds quickly tired under the merciless onslaught. Giving up, she laid down on the ground and curled herself