Ch4-Ships of the Desert

CHAPTER FOUR Ships of the Desert The camel riders all silently watched the sun set over the faraway dunes. As the fiery ball slipped beneath the horizon, the desert was flooded with red light. As soon as the sun disappeared, the air grew much cooler.

Mamoon stood up. "It is time to go," he said. The camel riders put out their small fire. In the growing darkness, Mamoon helped them saddle up their animals and load them with baggage. Then Mamoon came over to Jack and Annie. "You can ride those two sisters," he said, pointing to two camels kneeling in the sand. "Climb on, then come to the front of the line to ride with me." Jack and Annie walked over to the two camel sisters. Each had reins hanging from her neck. Saddles made from colorful cushions were piled high on their humps.

Annie patted the wiry, tan-colored fur of one of the camels. The camel looked at Annie with big eyes and fluttered her thick eyelashes. "Hey, Cutie," said Annie. The other camel nuzzled Annie's neck. "Hey, Beauty," Annie said to the other. "You want some attention, too?" "Cutie and Beauty?" said Jack. He didn't find either camel particularly cute or beautiful. Annie climbed onto Cutie's saddle cushion and picked up the reins. "Let's ride!" she said. Cutie rose awkwardly up from a kneeling position to a full stand. "Oh, wow!" said

Annie, towering over Jack. "She's really tall." Jack started to climb onto Beauty. But the camel caught an end of his head cloth and began chewing it. "Stop that!" said Jack, pulling the cloth away from her. Beauty opened her mouth wide and flashed rows of sharp teeth. Jack drew back. "Don't be afraid," said Annie. "Easy for you to say," said Jack. "Yours likes you." "Don't worry, Beauty likes you, too," said Annie. "I can tell." Annie's camel began ambling toward the other camels waiting to

head off into the desert. "Come on, Jack! It's really fun once you're moving!" she called. "Fun," muttered Jack. "Right." He held on to the ends of his head cloth and put his leg over Beauty's hump. The camel eyed him suspiciously. She swished her tail, slapping his back. "Hey!" said Jack. Jack tried to get comfortable on the saddle cushion. But Beauty spat at him and made a weird screeching sound. "Quiet!" said Jack. He hooked his shoulder bag onto a saddle horn. When he was finally settled, Beauty turned her head and started chewing on his leather bag.

"No! Don't!" yelled Jack. He tried pulling the bag away, but Beauty played tug-of-war. "Come on, let go," Jack said. "Give it back, stupid!" "Do you really think she is stupid?" Jack jumped. Mamoon had ridden up behind him and was watching as he tried to get his bag back from Beauty. Jack was embarrassed. "Um, she won't let go of my stuff," he said. Mamoon grabbed the strap of Jack's bag. He clucked his tongue, and the camel let go. She groaned as Mamoon hooked the leather bag back onto the saddle horn.