The wind made another forceful howl as if taunting her. She’d never be able to hear anyone calling out for her over the noise. Panic buzzed in her chest. The world tilted. She let go of the reins and gripped the animal’s thick, curly fur.
For the few seconds she managed to keep her eyes open, she could only see a few feet in front of her. Not daring to move, she sat frozen on top of Fatma, who shifted her weight from foot to foot in unease. Without knowing where the edge was, they couldn’t take another step. A rumble of thunder rolled through the air.
Then she heard it. The distant call of her name. The haunting sound echoed off the rocks before being lost to the wind. Was it coming from straight ahead? Left or right? From behind?
A tug came from the side and she forced her eyes open against the stinging torrent. Brown. All she could see was brown. Then movement below her. A dusty hand grabbed the reins.
Abdullah moved on foot, leaning forward with his head tipped toward the ground as he pushed himself against the wind. His headscarf whipped behind him. The once black material was now covered in powdery brown dust.
Fatma followed his lead, grunting in protest while Leila clung to her fur. After a few minutes of trudging against the wind, they turned a corner around a wall of serrated stone. The other two camels rested on the ground, their legs tucked beneath their bellies, eyes closed and heads lowered. Abdullah released the reins and walked off.
Leila slid down from Fatma and led the beast to her companions. Immediately, the camel began the complicated descent to the ground, lowering one knee at a time until she sat. Leila unhooked her bag and hurried after Abdullah.
Her bag banged against her side with each pounding step she took after him. The man strode toward the corner of the outcrop, its top obscured by swirling sand and dust.
Her gaze was drawn up, following the dark line of a jagged crack. Like a bolt of lightning it ripped down the side of the mountain, ending in a gaping black opening, large enough for them to crawl through. Abdullah stopped in front of the rock and she skidded to a halt behind him.
He crouched and continued on his hands and knees. How he had seen this from their path, she had no idea. Unless he knew it was there.
Abdullah had already disappeared inside the dark hole, so she threw herself to the ground and crawled after him, the sharp rocks tearing at her knees with each movement.
The lonely wail of the wind grew fainter behind her while the stillness of the cave became louder. Relief of being out of the stinging, relentless wind was instant.
Unable to see in the pitch blackness, she used her hands to guide her, cringing as stones pinched and scratched at her palms. Her shoulders brushed against the walls of the cave, until after a few feet she noticed she had more empty space to her left and right.
“Abdullah, did you find her?” Amina’s voice echoed from somewhere in front of her.
Boots crunched over rocks.
He grunted an affirmative reply.
Leila waved a hand over her head. More empty space. If Abdullah was walking, it must be safe to stand. She straightened her legs and crunched farther into the cave.
A rustling noise came from somewhere to her right as if someone was looking through their bag. There was a click, and a beam of light illuminated the cavern.
Leila glanced around the chamber from her spot near the mouth of the cave, the wind still whistling through the entrance behind her. The cavern stretched out before her, both long and wide enough for a bus to fit inside. The back narrowed with sharp rocks that cast tooth-like shadows on the walls behind them.
The siblings had settled down near the back, sitting on their blankets rolled up like a pillow. Amina set the flashlight on the ground and surrounded it with rocks to keep it upright.
Leila crossed the chamber, eying the shadows for any snakes or scorpions. Satisfied there weren’t any movements or crawling sounds, she tossed her bag to the ground.
“Are you okay?” Leila said as she lowered herself next to Amina.
Amina nodded. “Just tired.”
A flash of lightning lit up the triangular opening. Abdullah wandered to the mouth of the cave and placed himself near the entrance, resting his arms on his knees. The three of them remained silent as the vicious howl of the wind raged on. Leila’s eyelids grew heavy in the dry and warm air in the cave.
Before she could fall asleep, she pulled her bag in front of her. It felt like it was twenty pounds heavier and it slumped into an odd shape. Frowning, she lifted the flap and peered inside.
Sand. With a sigh, she flipped it upside down and dumped the contents into a mound.
She sorted through the grains, dusting off the bread as much as she could. It was impossible to get rid of every speck, but she was starting to get used to the grittiness. A bit of a crunch was okay, but a whole mouthful was still revolting. At least they had food.
She pulled her bottle of water out of the heap and cringed at the sight. All that was left inside was a murky, brown slush.
“There are wells in El-Misbah,” Amina reassured her.
“I hope so.” Leila stuck the bottle back into her bag and nibbled at her piece of bread, which felt more like biting into one of the rocks at her feet. Her teeth scraped against the hard surface, breaking off sharp crumbs.
“Here.” Amina patted her arm. “Try mine before you break your teeth.”
Leila looked to see her holding out a piece of bread. “Are you sure?”
“Take it. We should have enough for another three days. It will last us to Saint Catherine.”
The monastery felt like worlds away. If everything went without a hitch from here on out, they would still need another two days. At least.
She shook off the pessimistic thoughts and took a few bites of bread. It was still hard, but at least it didn’t feel like her teeth were cracking.
Another flash of lighting drew her gaze to the mouth of the cave. Abdullah still sat before the opening, the raging storm outside commanding his full attention.
Amina dug something out of her bag—another piece of bread—and started to stand. Leila placed a hand on her arm to stop her.
“I’ll take it. You rest.”
Amina nodded and Leila stood with the bread in hand. She approached Abdullah slowly. Finally she’d get her chance to talk to him. He sat as still as a statue, his knees drawn up with his arms resting on top. For the first time he had removed his headscarf and his tousled curls fell to his shoulders. His head remained turned toward the tunnel entrance, and she wondered for a moment if he had fallen asleep.
As she neared, Abdullah tilted his head toward her, then moved back to his previous position. His hand lay against his chest, his fingers rolling a white pendant between them.
