Mum, if you ever read my diary, then please forgive me. Ive always despised lies. And even more so I think that it is lowly lying to such a dear person. But telling you the truth would have made you suffer And I didnt want that.
Once again, the road was calling!
I didnt join the caravan as an astronomer, but I was taken in as a teacher instead; more accurately, as a caretaker. I would accompany a group of students of the Academys high school to Konolwars school.
This was their first caravan journey their first way through the sands. Mainly these were the children of merchants and shopkeepers. There were also the children of scientists and representatives of the academy. Their parents traveled to the Valley with the first caravans, each motivated by their own goal. All of them were surely well-off, or they had risked everything for the sake of a new life in the Valley, for not everyone could pay for a well-equipped caravan with security.
And then there was the protection of the Academy! In truth, the Academy shifted its protective duties onto my shoulders. But it was my duty. Nobody forced me to do this. That meant I was responsible for my students with my head and with my heart Not just for their parents, first and foremost, for my own conscience!
If I had any authority at all, I would forbid children from going to the Valley. No one knew why it emptied and where its people disappeared to.
Lamis helps me, although she is from a poor family and still almost a child at the age of eighteen. She recently graduated from the high school and entered the Medical Faculty of the Academy so for her, accompanying these students is a chance to earn money for her further education.
For me, crossing the desert had long since become equivalent to a walk. True, I had not travelled with caravans in a long time, but once committed to this journey, I felt good again.
With only the longing to see my father eating at my heart, all I knew was I had twenty-two students to take care of and bring to the school of Konolwar in good health and good spirits.
I will help the children of the Academy to endure the burdens of camp life. In two months, we will be at Konolwar!
And after that I will go to Min-Mirif to the Amatt Estate
3
The next morning was incredibly hot.
For a month, the caravan travelled under a sparing sun, which is quite common for spring. Now dawn rays burned mercilessly since morning, immediately announcing the approaching summer! Were it Jumannas will, she would lead the caravan in the morning and evening hours, breaking sleep into day and night stages. But who was she to say? Here, experienced caravanners made the decisions.
The luggage was tied onto the camels backs, and the students, flasks full, unanimously declared they were ready for a new transition. All that remained was taking down the tent.
Jumanna was passing the bustling merchants when the fat owner of the Khatum Tangut caravan, only last night so affected by stomach pains, hurried towards her. Tanguts skin glistened with moisture, sweat dripping down his forehead from under the heavy turban. Despite this, the owner of the caravan seemed sure that if he shared a couple words with the young Djunitian lady before the caravans departure, he would make an impression on her.
Jumanna was irritated by this. When she was a little girl traveling with her father, no one hovered around her. Now they frustrated her with their cunning courtesy. What a turn of events! She asked to join the caravan as a caretaker for the Academys students, and usually the Academy sent decrepit old people as caretakers, but she was young and beautiful. With bronze skin, typically a little lighter than the Djunits, piercing brown eyes and dark chestnut, but not black, slightly curly hair.
She wanted to be perceived first of all as a caretaker of the Academy. However, the increased attention to her person was something different.
How did the noble Jumanna Inaiya sleep? How does she endure the hardships of the trip? enquired caravanner in a misleading pleasant tone.
Thank you, Tangut, I slept beautifully. I do not feel the burdens, Im used to them. Look! I did not even sweat! Jumanna liked the way she spited Tangut, whose face was already hot with streams, his rich clothes dampened. On a side note, allow me to ask as to why you are primarily interested in me, the caretaker, and not my students?
Hmph! The caretaker! Tangut smirked. He turned and hobbled in the direction of his elephant, nothing more to say.
What a wonderful way to start the morning!
Jumanna was sure that a similar conversation would take place in the evening, and the next morning, and throughout all the subsequent days. It had been this way for a month, ever since the launch of the caravan from Kay-Samiluf. It was as clear as day to Jumanna that Tangut would, until the end, hope that she would say it was hard for her, that she was tired, and then offer her patronage
Well, never in her lifetime!
The caravan consisted of camels alone, and only fat Tangut rode a desert elephant. These animals were half the size of ordinary gray elephants, but, like camels, they could go without water for two weeks at a time. The desert elephants skin was light beige, covered by a multitude of cracks, resembling the scales of a sand dragon.
No sooner had Jumanna come to her senses than the huge figure of Khallan, the commander of the military detachment accompanying the caravan, appeared before her.
Another one!
Khallan was simply huge, with impressive muscles easily discerned under his robe and thin mail. But something unnatural could be read in his movements. Khallan walked slowly, like a lion in a menagerie that growls only to amuse the crowd.
Jumanna knew what real warriors looked like. Inconspicuous, quiet, silent. But as soon as there was danger, their spears flew with the speed of lightning. She doubted the swords and spears of Khallan and his companions were as fast.
Well, is it difficult? Khallan inquired with a grin that resembled a scowl.
How tired I am of this!
No, she cut him off, and turned around defiantly.
I wanted to help, the warrior spoke to her retreating figure, evidently displeased.
How? Jumanna turned her head.
Khallan pondered. The young woman, meanwhile, set off once again to where her students were already taking down the tent.
Jumanna! Jumanna! I killed a huge scorpion! Makacash, one of the youngest boys, but incredibly lively and agile, told her joyfully. His favorite toy was the sword. Of course, one big enough only for childs play, but rather weighty for a boy his age. As soon as he grew up, the sand dragons would face a great threat.
Have you not tired of your great feats yet? Jumanna patted his head gently.
Oh, this isnt a poisonous scorpion! the inquisitive Astramed was already squatting beside the scorpion, cut by the sword. The scorpion, it must be noted, was really big, the length of three palms.
Astramed could be distinguished by his scientific, childishly funny, inquisitiveness. Upon encountering a plant or animal in the desert, he would immediately begin discussing it, much more rarely enquiring about it, if he did not know something. Jumanna herself had learned many new and interesting things from him.
Calif, who had employed several younger students to help him, was completing the work on the folding of the tent.
Do you not wish to help? Jumanna addressed Mulaf, who was lying in the shade of the barсhan, looking at the sky. He stood up reluctantly and went to Calif.
I say, some people are lazy by nature!
Half an hour later, the long string of hunchbacked animals, set off, burned by the cruel sun of the Great Desert.
Jumanna did not want to mount, and led her camel by the reins. She was caught up to by a mounted astronomer, Umal Al-Dassay. At first, he rode a little further, then easily dismounted his camel and began leading him.
I see that you do not feel very comfortable here? the astronomer began with an inquisitive tone.
He was an old man. An old man by years. Wrinkled, with a snow white beard and same colored hair, which peeped out from under his turbot. His purple robe with silver stars sewn onto it fluttered in the wind. It was unlikely this outfit was intended for a journey through the desert.
Hes going there too!
I feel exceptionally well on this journey! Jumanna looked into his eyes.
Im not talking about this " the astronomer continued apologetically. Im sure that you will easily cross the Great Desert on your own Im speaking in regards to the increased attention you are receiving from the men accompanying the caravan it annoys you!
It does annoy me! agreed Jumanna.
Understand, you are young and beautiful
Ive been on many different journeys since I was a child!
Hear me out and do not interrupt! the astronomer chastised, raising his voice a little. You accompany the children. And no one even cares about how they are handling the journey. Certainly, no one was interested in you when you traveled as a child. But you are a caretaker. Do you remember a time when caravans were ever accompanied by women? No, most definitely not. There exist male crafts and there exist female ones, it is not necessary to mix the two. Do agree with me? The world would look ridiculous if men begin to weave carpets, while women hunted scorpio-anglers.
Do you think your purple robe does not look ridiculous in the sand?
I do not want to offend you or your age " Jumanna began cautiously. You are cheerful and strong in spirit; you sit perfectly in the saddle. But have you seen whom the Academy usually sends as caretakers? These are elderly people who struggle with the journey. Would I not be more useful? I do not want to dragon hunt It is truly a mans craft But why should a woman not be a caretaker? An astronomer?
An a-stro-no-mer! the old man stretched each syllable. Never have I in my time ever met a woman astronomer!
Then look at me carefully! Jumanna could not restrain herself.
You?
Ive done more than a dozen voyages as an on-board astronomer! the young woman appeared to be trying to justify herself.
Al-Dassay only shook his head.
What do you want from me? For me to turn around and leave the caravan?
You have already chosen your path, the old man said calmly. You are full of enthusiasm and determination. However, you should be more attentive and understand that this is not accepted. Yes, you are more useful in the journey than the decrepit old men of the Academy, but this cannot be explained to the other members of the caravan who see a woman caretaker for the first time! Since you agreed to this journey, be ready for such unhealthy attention!
With the same ease, Al-Dassay jumped onto his camel and nudged it on towards the front of the caravan.
The mood for the day was completely ruined, making the walk difficult as the sun scorched them mercilessly.
For some reason, the sun felt gentle in any city, as if it were soothing, sending kindness with its every ray. In the desert, it simply scorched everything in its path, filling its beams with all the anger and malice it had accumulated against people. Now, it punished them.
What did the inhabitants of the deserts do wrong?
In the south of the Djunitian land, there is even a small port the Bay of the Evil Sun. It was necessary to build a port near Darif, a mining town with fine iron ore, and the shore was completely unsuitable for this. It was decided to lay the settlement on the only somewhat suitable location, a small streamlet near a small cove. During the construction of the port, heat and dehydration killed more than a thousand people. That was how the port got its name. Although the port was a necessity for traders, she wondered, had the merchants ever dwelled on the price paid to create this harbor?
The sand was ready to melt beneath the hooves of the camels. Tanguts elephant trailed at the back of the caravan and its owner was barely breathing, yet remained in the saddle. Jumanna knew if the caravan arrived a few days late, money would be lost, and Tangut would rather die on the road than lose his profit.
He is not at all fit for camp life, but dares to offer me help! If someone here cannot cope with the hardships of this journey, it is him. I hope he is lonely!
The fleeting thought of Tangut once again being affected by a series of stomach problems, or something else, amused her. Jumanna had never harbored any malice, but desired justice for his treatment of her.
On the way, we saw the skeleton of a huge lizard, probably the size of a camel. Giant lizards were not predators, but they were incredibly dangerous. If frightened, they could knock you down from an elephant or camel and trample you to death. The smaller lizards scurried along the sand in the morning, then in the afternoon, life in the desert simply disappeared. They were only djunas that went to the horizon, and the same blue sky and white sun.
Jumanna rode on, still unable to find a place for her ire. Only by the end of the day did all her anger go away, leaving the desire for a cool drink to quench her thirst in its place.
As the white sun became yellow, and then bright red, and swiftly rolled over the horizon, the whole caravan rejoiced.
The caretaker, together with Lamis, Calif, and tireless Makacash, unloaded the mattresses from the camels and set up the tent. The rest of the students were so exhausted they fell to the ground as if they had been knocked down. While they were putting up the tent, Jumanna felt the gaze of Khallans warriors, but pride prevented her from asking them for help.
They ate supper and went to bed. Some did not have the strength for dinner.
Jumanna thought that sleep would instantly come to her because the day had been incredibly tiring. But she could not fall asleep. Overcome with anger and annoyance, thoughts kept creeping into her head. She even thought that she should not have asked to join this trip, that it had not been worth lying to her mother. Then she remembered that if her brother had approved of her decision, she was right to go. She imagined how Khasims powerful blow to the jaw would overturn Khallan; how he would come to her to apologize for the indecent behavior on the journey.
And then suddenly her heart seized with fear, filling Jumanna with a familiar emotion. She not only acutely felt magic, but could predict the terrible events of the future. The last time she felt uneasy at night, the next morning a messenger arrived in Kay Samiluf, announcing the Valley was empty.
What will happen tomorrow?
Jumanna left the tent and looked upward at Jumann Khayat (Pearl Deposit), a star cluster after which she had been named. With her fingers, she felt the chain on her neck that carried her talismans a big pearl bought by her father at the market of Bandabaze on her memorable birthday, and a golden key that unlocked secret locks in the Amatt Estate.