The White Camel
By Eugene Wright, first published in Harper's Magazine
A military captain captures a giant white camel in the Sahara while on his conquests in the desert. The captain is determined to prove himself a more worthy rider than its previous owner, who was his enemy in combat.
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Plot Summary
Spotting a giant white camel in the distance, military Captain Djon recognizes the beast instantly: the prized camel of the legendary Captain Moussa, an enemy of Djon. He sets out with his team to capture the camel, and though they do, all of them are too fearful to actually mount it. Legend has it that the camel wanders the Sahara in search of his master, or someone greater. Upon inspecting the camel, Djon knows exactly how Moussa died: because its nose ring for steering has been ripped, he knows that Moussa must’ve died on this camel’s back, then been launched off when the beast freed itself of his control. For the time being, Djon’s team uses the camel to transport goods, but none ride it. Approaching a small town with a precious well, the team’s intent was to ravage the place and take control of it; instead, they find that it has already been claimed by enemy soldiers. Brainstorming, Djon decides that he will ride the camel near the site to lead them away. With the help of his mighty camel, Djon manages to escape the soldiers, but then the dangerous environment sets in. Separated from his team, Djon wanders the desert hoping he knows the direction of the closest well. After falling asleep, he is disoriented. Trusting the camel’s natural instinct, he lets it lead, believing that he will be saved. Within a few days, Djon dies of dehydration. The camel rides until it finds a familiar site, littered with a familiar body: Moussa, still clinging to the steer attached to the ripped nose ring. The camel flings Djon off its back and continues searching for a master worthy of it, seeing as neither Djon nor Moussa were.
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