Taj and the Great Camel Trek Read Free Page B

ordered them to sit. ‘Hooshta!’ Padar always said ‘hoosh’ or ‘hooshta’ with a long ‘sss’ so it was soothing to the camels. It always fascinated me to watch them sink to the ground together, folding up their long legs as if they were a flock of birds dancing, the front legs first and then the back. But it was their eyes that I liked the most. Mustara’s eyelashes were so long I was sure he winked at me.
    I walked the riding camels over and we laid the wooden saddles on them. Padar can make these saddles and we would repair them on the expedition.
    â€˜Hoy, Saleh! You are busy already I see.’ Mr Giles emerged from the house. I was glad that the other explorers came out with him to help us load the camels. A man stood on each side of the beast to lift the load on, and they balanced it with their knees against the camel’s side. The tall Jess Young jumped out of the way when Malik the youngest bull roared at him. He didn’t look like a brave soldier then. I didn’t laugh but some of the Nunga boys who had come to watch did. So did Tommy.
    When we were nearly finished loading I whistled for Mustara and I found why he hadn’t come before. Emmeline was there, barefoot and hatless, talking to him, and scratching between his eyes. ‘You will be good, won’t you?’ She was looking at me when she spoke, but I hoped she meant Mustara.
    â€˜Padar said we will have to come home if Mustara can’t keep up with the string.’
    I saw the hope and pride fight on Emmeline’s face before she finally said, ‘Of course he will keep up.’ She was a good friend; she knew how much I wanted to go.
    â€˜Thank you.’ I almost hugged her as if she truly were my sister, but of course she wasn’t and Padar had strict rules about who I could hug. Emmeline was on his list of those I couldn’t, and once she turned thirteen I wouldn’t be able to take her on any more rides into the desert. She walked with me back to the string. Mr Giles was ordering all the men to mount. It was time toleave, for once camels have been loaded they can’t bear to stand still. I chose to be brave like Emmeline and I smiled at her as I mounted.
    I could hear her laughing as we rode down the hill from the homestead, yet I knew she didn’t want me to leave. It was just after dawn. I settled into Mustara’s rhythm and watched the pink sky draining across the ranges. When would I see my home again?

Since the camels couldn’t stand long with their loads on we kept marching the first day until it was time to eat dinner. I ate some damper during the day while I was riding on Mustara. Padar and I managed to stop at noon to say our prayers. Mr Giles said we could but Jess Young was frowning as Padar and I dismounted and laid out our prayer rugs. I followed Padar’s example and ignored Jess Young’s dark look.
    We weren’t long but the string set off again before we were finished. Padar put his hands on my shoulders as the string walked past us. ‘Do not worry if we are not permitted to stop or if there is no water, and only sand to wash in,’ he said. ‘For we can say our prayers in our hearts and Allah will understand.’ I nodded. These were the special rules for travellers; we were allowed to travel on Jumah, our holy day, too. Yet I was sad at the way Padar had to make Roshni gallop to reach his place at the beginning of the string. I took my place at the end behind Tommy. He turned andgrinned at me but I wasn’t sure what his grin meant.
    I thought my backside couldn’t ache any more by the time Mr Giles gave the order to camp for the night. He called it ‘encamp’. I’d never ridden all day but I was determined not to complain. Padar grinned at me as I dismounted and my legs spread two different ways. I nearly fell and Tommy laughed. I gritted my teeth and tried to stand tall. How was I going to do this for