Amanda in Arabia: The Perfume Flask by Darlene Foster Page A

and no more food. It was time to make a wish for her and her friends to get back home safe.
    Then she called to Mohammed, “Are you sure you know where we are going?”
    â€œYes, my little friend, we will be there shortly. Inshalla .”
    â€œWhat does that mean, inshalla ?”
    â€œGod willing.”
    â€œ Inshalla ,” she murmured to herself.
    The sand turned a soft silky pink as the impatient sun rose from its hiding place behind the dunes. While the sun warmed the earth, the sand soon shimmered in shades of peach and orange. It was beginning to get hot when they stopped on the top of a huge dune. Mohammed walked to the edge and peered over.
    â€œJust as I thought,” he said as he stared at a sheer drop, “a broken dune. We better go back down the way we came.”
    â€œWhat is a broken dune?” asked Leah and Amanda at the same time. They looked at each other and smiled.
    â€œIt is a dune created by a sand storm that has blown the sand into a smooth hill on one side and left it broken off on the other. Many people have perished while dune bashing in their jeeps. They drive very fast up and down the dunes but when they reach a broken dune, the jeep tumbles over. It can happen if you are riding a camel very fast, too. Many times you do not see a broken dune until it is too late.”
    â€œWill it take longer if we have to go back?”
    â€œYes, but it is too dangerous to try to go down the other side.”
    â€œI guess you know best,” said Leah as Mohammed remounted Sheba.
    Amanda was surprised at how calmly Leah was taking all this. She always considered her to be the kind of person who would freak out at any sign of discomfort or trouble. ‘I guess I didn’t really know her that well,’ she thought with admiration.
    They rounded the dune and were on top of another when the sound of a jeep was heard. A very dirty jeep came bouncing over the dunes.
    â€œMohammed, I think it is those guys!” shouted Amanda.
    â€œRun!” shouted Mohammed.
    He didn’t need to tell the camels as they both started running as if they were in a camel race. They ran side by side with their tail and mane streaming behind them and their big lips flapping. “Hang on, Leah,” shouted Amanda. Her tummy lurched and her tired body came back to life as panic took over. ‘What will they do to us if they catch us? Can a camel out run a jeep? Will I ever see my parents again?’ She looked behind and saw them getting closer. The two men were shouting out of the windows and waving their arms as if to spur the jeep on. A knot of terror was in her stomach. She closed her eyes, hung on to Shamza and wished for a miracle.
    The camels slowed down. What does this mean? She was afraid to open her eyes.
    When she did, they were between two dunes and there was no sign of the jeep.
    â€œWh... What happened? Where are those guys?”
    â€œIt is a miracle. Their jeep stalled going up a dune and we got away,” replied Mohammed. “But they may find us again. We must keep moving.”
    â€˜This wishing thing seems to be working,’ thought Amanda.

Chapter 18
    The breeze felt good as Amanda’s cotton blouse flapped and her hot, sticky hair was blown from her face. Then a fine sheet of sand began to fly in her eyes. The sky became dull, the sun turned a pale, white shade and the sand swirled around the camels’ feet.
    â€œIs this a sand storm?” She closed her mouth quickly as it filled with sand.
    No one answered. Shamza pulled her scarf tighter around her face, not even her eyes were visible. Amanda wished she were wearing a scarf and long sleeves. The flying sand bit her bare arms like many mosquitoes attacking her. Mohammed and Leah, on Sheba, kept riding ahead into the gloomy, brownish clouds of sand. Then they disappeared.
    The sun faded into nothing. The wind made a strange moaning sound like a ghost in pain and came from every direction,