At sunset, they filled their pigeon pouches with enough water from some snow wells untouched by the sun. Until the moon came out, they walked light up only by the stars and descended the mountain, almost groping, until they could see enough to quicken their pace.
When day broke, they gathered some berries, the last ones they could find before reaching the dreaded desert, and slept in the shade under a rocky slope with the intention of setting out again at night.
They were exhausted. So much so that the night caught them sleeping.
When they woke up, the world was still immersed in deep and quiet darkness, in profound silence, while the sky remained covered by a blanket of stars shining brightly in the infinite blackness.
It was time to march, and the two embraced and kissed to encourage each other on the long journey that awaited them through the unknown.
It was much later, as they walked towards the deep purple that indicates the cardinal point where the sun rises, that the darkness of the night began to give way to the first rays of dawn. At that moment, delicate and faint colours started to illuminate the horizon, creating a spectacle of lights and shadows on the sand dunes.
As they advanced, the gentle whistle of the wind weaving through the undulating contours of the dunes could be felt, while their shadows became more defined as the light gradually increased, revealing their soft texture. The same shadows projected behind them as they moved forward.
They had covered quite a bit of ground when the sun imposed its tyranny of heat over their heads. The sun now hung over them like a relentless oven, causing their throats to dry up and their lips to crack. The merciless rays filtered through the mountains and dunes, illuminating the landscape with an intense, almost white light that slowly made the shadows fade away, revealing a range of intense hues. Every grain of sand seemed to shine with its own light, creating a dazzling and desolate effect.
It made no sense to keep moving, and they stopped to rest and drink the last drops of water they had. They found a small, rocky outcrop and rested on a promontory where the sun didn’t reach.
But then, disaster struck. Tabal had not finished inspecting the place when suddenly he felt a sharp, stabbing pain above his ankle. A snake had just bitten him, and after screaming in agony, the young man instinctively hit it with the blunt end of his spear, and it quickly retreated as he fell to the ground.
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But Umma didn’t waste time. Even with eyes filled with terror, she hurried and with trembling hands, untied the cord holding the pigeon pouches to her waist and tightly tied the wounded leg to stop the advance of venom. Her eyes reflected determination as she looked at Tabal. “You’re going to be okay,” she murmured, although concern and fear echoed in her voice. Then she grabbed him and dragged him into the shade, seeking refuge. Tabal was panting; the snake’s venom was already taking effect, with his skin reddening and his heart beating uncontrollably.
The girl winced in pain as she struggled to stay strong. Tabal kept his eyes tightly closed, while his forehead beaded with sweat. Umma poured the last drops of water she had on his lips, and he seemed to be slightly comforted. She spoke to him gently, trying to keep him awake and comforting him with words of encouragement... But Tabal was slipping away. He had seen the bites of those snakes many times, and the victims took only a few minutes to die.
Then she resorted to the only thing left to do, and said, loudly and looking at the sky:
“Oh, my God! You, the only and highest Lord! I invoke you! Save Tabal! Save him!” she exclaimed, with a torn and deep voice, full of emotion, and then she burst into tears on the chest of her beloved.
Tears flowed endlessly from her large, slanted eyes as the boy felt worse and worse. Umma poured herself out over him, incessantly pleading for the favour of the One who was her only hope...
And her prayers were not long in being answered. Before long, those mighty lightning bolts they had seen in the days before appeared again, striking the nearby land. Umma was frightened, but deep down, she knew that it was nothing but a sign from the Most High, a comforting sign that this god, the only God, was on her side.
Tabal stopped trembling, the fever subsided, and the sweat slowly disappeared. He looked into the eyes of his beloved and weakly smiled, silently thanking her for her courage and care. Then, he sank into a deep sleep, his face showing relative calm.
“Sleep, my love! Sleep!” she whispered, lying down beside him, and embracing him gently.
Hours passed under the desert rocks, with the heat of the day gradually giving way to the setting sun. Umma didn’t move from his side, holding Tabal and consoling him every time he woke up.
The night finally enveloped the desert, bringing with it a cool breeze and a starry sky. Although the danger had passed, Umma and Tabal remained together under the rocks, sharing the warmth of their mutual support in the vastness of the desert.
The desert, a silent witness to their survival ordeal, seemed to whisper stories of resilience and bravery as the couple prepared to face the new day, which surely would be laden with dangers too.