LITMIR.BIZ

      They were going. Finally! Eevo and Sim could hardly wait. New people to meet, new places to explore. The plan had been to leave early, just after sunrise, but the tearful farewells had taken longer. They would miss their friends Ur and Ree, now the"Keepers of the Fire," and Og and Ab. Even Old Hunter had come to see them off. Already it was mid-morning, but now, there would be no more delays, only the long trek ahead. They could have started a full moon sooner, but Dedu had insisted that everything be just so. That included the weather. He wanted cool weather for walking across the sands. He also wanted plenty of water and to know that the water bags were tested for leakage before starting. Would the smoked meat that Shim had prepared for carrying be enough? Sim found it strange that his father was so fussy about things that seemed of so little consequence. But Dedu said that with good planning, a hard trip could be easy.

      He was right. It was a wonderful trip. As the four of them, Shim, Dedu, Eevo and Sim, along with the two wolves headed off to the Wetlands clan, their mother's former home, the land changed from open grassland to hill country. There were fast flowing rivulets, plunging down like rapids, and waterfalls that became slow pleasant streams following the valley-bottom lands. The trees were adorned with fall colours and birds could be heard. At night they slept beside their fire, under the stars, wrapped snugly in their sleeping furs. Now, four days after their start, they could see a huge mountain ahead of them.

      "How do we get over that?" asked Sim.

      "We don't," replied Dedu.

      "Then how ...?" began Sim.

      "We keep to our left and swing around it," interjected Mother.

      "And right there, that's where the sands begin. Then you'll see why we were so careful about our water. The sand seems to stretch forever — and no water. Our first crossing was dreadful! This time we're ready."

      It was the last night before the desert. The wolves had gone for their nightly prowl and the others prepared to sleep. The next day would test their ability to survive.

      "Dedu, do you think you'll find that cool cave we used?" Shim asked anxiously.

      Dedu, intent on watching a goat high above them, thinking about the food it could provide, grunted"Yes."

      Eevo and Sim were trying to imagine what lay ahead.

      "Tomorrow we leave this high country and go down to the sands," said Shim."It will become very warm. But there is a spring of fresh water and a pool. We'll cool off and fill our water bags. From there it's about a quarter day's walk to that cave near the beginning of the sand country. We'll try to sleep there for the rest of the day. In the cool of the evening, we'll start across the sands."

      Eevo and Sim were surprised, even though Shim had tried to prepare them. It was very hot in the lowlands. The pool was good but unexpectedly cold. Dedu just wet one foot. Even the wolves were hesitant — usually they enjoyed a splash in water.

      This was the beginning of their first unpleasant day. Even the cave was not as expected. It too was hot, not cool at all. Late in the afternoon they awoke, covered in sweat. Something was very wrong. What was happening? Cautiously, they crept to the opening of the cave. Both wolves, however, did not budge. They lay very still, their heads resting on their paws, but with eyes wide open.

      Two Sandstorm