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.