Barkal Mountains & pyramid | Jiří Chaloupka, Google Maps
“This is as far as I take you, brother.”
He had learned not to try to bargain with the Alodians. One trying to knock a few coins from the cost of an escort would find themselves paying double by the time negotiations were done. “I thank you for your service,” he said.
The Alodian had been a good guide and a loyal guard on the road to Egypt. He was grateful to have made it this far with provisions intact.
The guide squinted at him, his face as weathered at the stones of ancient Memphis. “How will you make it across the Nubian? It is said there are no oases.”
He stared into the distance to where the sun was veiled in a scrim of dust. His bride was out there, on the other side of this endless ocean of sand.
His fate was with the gods now.
—
148 words
This has been an edition of What Pegman Saw. To read more stories inspired by the prompt, click here.
k. Rawson 
Now here is a different place to visit. And you have tempted me with your talk of deserts and guides. Although I’m not sure I can make it this week. I’ll try. 🙂
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Hope you can find the time. It’s an interesting place! Lots of ancient history here.
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Regrets. It’s all I can do to keep up with reading the posts this week. Apologies.
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No worries! Take care of yourself, too.
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Yea, thanks. Just one of those weeks that life throws at us to ensure we don’t get bored!
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Excellent piece. The vivid descriptions work will with the protagonist’s visionary stubbornness.
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Haha, visionary stubbornness–I like that. That is him exactly!
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He’ll probably make it about a hundred yards.
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Bahaha! If he’s lucky 🙂
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I hope he knows what he’s doing – love cannot conquer the desert! Super story, Karen. Beautifully told as always
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Thank you kindly Lynn. I can’t decide if he knows what he’s doing or not. The desert is a fierce adversary.
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I suspect things will not end well for the poor man! My pleasure Karen
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Strangely reminiscent of “The Alchemist” in many ways, I thought.
Very nice.
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You nailed it! That is exactly what I was going for. You made my day.
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What a simple yet moving piece, Karen. I like the fact his bride is the water that will sustain him on his long and arduous journey. I hope she is an oasis and more for him.
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