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“Oh, good, you have a translator. That’ll make this easier.”
Tarik nodded with another grin. “What is he?”
“A dragon,” Paige said.
Tarik glanced at the small carrier, then up at Paige with narrowed eyes.
Paige winced and mouthed “teacup” before giving her head a shake to indicate he should drop the subject.
Tarik nodded, picking up on the hint, and motioned to the trailer behind him. “I have the camels, and we can set off as soon as you’d like.”
“I’d like to go right away. How long of a ride do we have?”
He flung the trailer door open. “If we set a hard pace, we can make it just after sunset. Have you ridden before?”
Paige shoved her glasses up on her already-sweaty nose. “No, I’m afraid not. I hope that’s not a problem.”
“Not at all,” he said with another friendly grin.
“Good. How much knowledge do you have of the tomb?”
“A good amount. I have inquired about the crystal for you discreetly.” He led the first camel out of the trailer and handed the reins to Paige.
Paige’s eyebrows knit as she petted the camel’s nose. “Inquired? Do you know someone on site?”
“Yes,” Tarik called from within the trailer, “I know several key people.” He led the other two camels out of the trailer and coaxed them down before he swung the doors shut and locked them. “I was part of the team that found the tomb.”
Paige snapped her gaze to him. “You were part of the Edwards team?”
He urged Paige’s camel down to its knees. “Indeed, I was. Henry Taylor is a good friend.”
“And he doesn’t know anything about this?” She motioned to herself, then Dewey.
“None at all. Henry does not know the extent of all my connections.” Tarik instructed her on mounting the camel and, after one failed attempt, she managed to stay in the saddle as the camel stood.
“Do you want Dewey to ride on his own?” he asked.
“Out of his carrier?” Paige questioned.
Tarik shrugged. “There are not many people in the desert. Or we could tie the carrier to the camel and lead it.”
“Oh, boy, I’ve never ridden a camel before. Can I try, Paige? Please, please? I’d be the only one in my family who’s ever done it.”
“Sure,” Paige agreed, lifting the strap over her head and handing the carrier off to Tarik.
He unzipped it, and Dewey flitted out, sticking a paw out. “Hi, Dewey Decimael.”
“Tarik Mahmoud,” the man said, pumping Dewey’s hand up and down without skipping a beat.
Dewey spun and eyed the remaining two camels. “So, which one of these bad boys is mine?”
Tarik let out a loud laugh and pointed to one camel. “Actually, this is a girl. She is all yours.”
Dewey flitted over and settled on the camel’s back, grabbing the reins. His wings fluttered as the camel rose to stand. Tarik secured the carrier to the camel before he climbed atop his camel and urged it forward.
The other camels fell into line, and they set off into the desert, the rising sun at their backs. They spent the morning hours and into the early afternoon traveling west deeper and deeper into the desert.
All signs of civilization were left behind as sand surrounded them on all sides. Tarik brought the camels to a stop around midafternoon when the heat rose to its highest level. They allowed the animals to rest while they ate a quick lunch.
