The desert was relentless and merciless as always, the hot sun beating down on them, the wind picking up, stirring the sand particles to irritate their skin and eyes, and the monotone long walk among the golden dunes without a change of scenery or a landmark filled them with doubts about losing their way in a sea of sand.
They marched on, following Sindbad as he led them across the vast lands without hesitation, as though he was pulled by some invisible thread through the empty landscape.
It never ceased to amaze the children how well he knew his way around.
As they traveled further from the sea and river, the heat began to increase, and their water storage decreased, making the long trip to the heart of the desert an arduous one.
The only relief they got was when the sun would sink beyond the dunes, and the cool night would overwhelm them.
