Babylon’s Camel Trader

The hungrier one becomes the clearer one’s mind works, also the more sensitive one becomes to the odors of food.

The hungrier you get, the more clearly your mind works. You also become more sensitive to the smell of food.

For two days Tarkad, the son of Azur, had tasted no food except two small figs purloined from over the wall of a garden before an angry Babylonian housekeeper chased him down the street. The woman’s cries still rang in his ears and restrained his restless fingers from snatching tempting fruits from the baskets of the market women between whom he strolled.

For two days, Tarkad, the son of Azur, had eaten nothing except two small figs. He had stolen them by reaching over a garden wall before an angry Babylonian housekeeper chased him down the street. The woman’s cries still rang in his ears. Those cries kept his restless fingers from grabbing tempting fruit from the market women’s baskets as he wandered among them.

He paced back and forth before the eating house hoping to meet someone he knew; someone from whom he could borrow a bit of copper that would gain him a friendly smile and a liberal helping from the fat keeper. Without the copper he knew how unwelcome he would be.

He paced back and forth outside the restaurant, hoping to meet someone he knew. He hoped to borrow a little copper money from them. The money would get him a friendly smile and a generous serving from the fat owner. Without the copper, he knew how unwelcome he would be.

In his abstraction he unexpectedly found himself face to face with the tall bony figure of Dabasir, the camel trader.

Lost in thought, he suddenly found himself face to face with Dabasir, the tall, bony camel trader.

“Ha! ’Tis Tarkad, whom I have been seeking that he might repay to me the two pieces of copper which I loaned to him a moon ago and the piece of silver which I loaned to him before that. We are well met. I can make good use of the coin this very day. What say, boy? What say?”

“Ha! It’s Tarkad! I’ve been looking for you so you could repay the two copper coins I lent you a month ago. You also owe me a silver coin I lent you before that. Good to run into you. I could put that money to good use today. What do you say, boy? What do you say?”

Tarkad stuttered and his face flushed. He had little desire to encounter the outspoken Dabasir. “I am sorry, very sorry, but this day I have not the copper nor the silver with which I could repay.”

Tarkad stuttered, and his face turned red. He had little desire to face the outspoken Dabasir. “I’m sorry, very sorry, but today I have no copper or silver to pay you back.”

“But get it then! Surely thou can’st get a few coppers and a few pieces of silver to repay the generosity of an old friend of thy father who aided thee when thou wast in need.”

“But get it then! Surely you can get a few copper coins and a few silver coins to repay your father’s old friend. He generously helped you when you were in need.”

“ ’Tis because ill fortune does pursue me that I cannot repay.”

“It's because bad luck keeps following me that I can't repay.”

“Ill fortune! Wouldst blame the gods for thy own weakness. Ill fortune pursues every man who thinks more of borrowing than of repaying. Come with me, boy, while I eat. I am hungry and I would tell thee a tale.”

“Bad luck! Would you blame the gods for your own weakness? Bad luck follows every man who thinks more about borrowing than repaying. Come with me, boy, while I eat. I am hungry, and I want to tell you a story.”

Tarkad flinched from the brutal frankness of Dabasir, but here at least was an invitation to enter the coveted doorway of the eating house.

Tarkad flinched at Dabasir’s brutally honest words. But at least he had an invitation to enter the restaurant he so longed to visit.

Dabasir pushed him to a far corner of the room where they seated themselves upon small rugs.

Dabasir pushed him to a far corner of the room, where they sat down on small rugs.

When Kauskor the proprietor appeared smiling, Dabasir addressed him with his usual freedom. “Fat lizard of the desert, bring to me a leg of the goat, very brown with much juice and bread and all of the vegetables for I am hungry and want much food. Do not forget my friend here. Bring to him a jug of water. Have it cooled, for the day is hot.”

When Kauskor, the owner, appeared with a smile, Dabasir spoke to him in his usual easy manner. “Fat lizard of the desert, bring me a well-browned, juicy leg of goat, bread, and all the vegetables. I’m hungry and want plenty of food. Don’t forget my friend here. Bring him a jug of water. Make sure the water is chilled, because the day is hot.”

Tarkad’s heart sank. Must he sit here and drink water while be watched this man devour an entire goat leg. He said nothing. He thought of nothing he could say.

Tarkad’s heart sank. Did he have to sit here drinking water while he watched this man devour an entire goat leg? He said nothing. He couldn’t think of anything to say.

Dabasir, however, knew no such thing as silence. Smiling and waving his hand good-naturedly to the other customers all of whom knew him, he continued, “I did hear from a traveller just returned from Urfa of a certain rich man who has a piece of stone cut so thin that one can look through it. He put it in the window of his house to keep out the rains. It is yellow so this traveller does relate and he was permitted to look through it and all the outside world looked strange and not like it really is. What say you to that, Tarkad? Thinkest all the world could look to a man a different color from what it is?”

Dabasir, however, never stayed silent. He smiled and waved good-naturedly to the other customers, all of whom knew him. He continued, “I heard from a traveler who just returned from Urfa about a certain rich man. He has a piece of stone cut so thin that you can see through it. He put the stone in his window to keep out the rain. The stone is yellow, according to the traveler. The traveler was allowed to look through it, and the whole outside world looked strange, unlike how it really is. What do you say to that, Tarkad? Do you think the whole world could look to a man like a different color than it really is?”

“I dare say,” responded the youth, much more interested in the fat leg of goat placed before Dabasir.

“I suppose so,” the young man replied. He was much more interested in the plump leg of goat placed before Dabasir.

“Well, I know it for I myself have seen the world all a different color from what it really is and the tale I am about to tell relates how I came to see it in its right color once more.”

“Well, I know because I myself once saw the world in a completely different color from its true color. And the story I’m about to tell explains how I came to see the world’s true color again.”

“Dabasir will tell a tale,” whispered a neighboring diner to his neighbor, and dragged his rug close. Other diners brought their food and crowded in a semi-circle. They crunched noisily in the ears of Tarkad and brushed him with their meaty bones. He alone was without food. Dabasir did not offer to share with him nor even motion him to a small corner of the hard bread that was broken off and fell from the platter to the floor.

“Dabasir is going to tell a story,” one diner whispered to the diner beside him, pulling his rug closer. Other diners brought their food and crowded into a semicircle. They crunched loudly beside Tarkad’s ears and brushed against him with their meaty bones. He was the only one without food. Dabasir did not offer to share with him. He did not even gesture toward a small piece of hard bread that broke off and fell from the platter to the floor.

“The tale that I am about to tell,” began Dabasir, pausing to bite a goodly chunk from the goat leg, “relates to my early life and how I came to be a camel trader. Didst anyone know that I was once a slave in Syria?”

“The story I’m about to tell,” Dabasir began, pausing to take a big bite from the goat leg, “is about my early life. It tells how I became a camel trader. Did anyone know I was once a slave in Syria?”

A murmur of surprise ran through the audience, to which Dabasir listened with satisfaction.

A murmur of surprise spread through the audience. Dabasir listened with satisfaction.

“When I was a young man,” continued Dabasir after another vicious onslaught on the goat leg, “I learned the trade of my father, the making of saddles. I worked with him in his shop and took to myself a wife. Being young and not greatly skilled, I could earn but little, just enough to support my excellent wife in a modest way. I craved good things, which I could not afford. Soon I found that the shop keepers would trust me to pay later even though I could not pay at the time. So I indulged my desires and wore fine raiment and bought many things for my wife and my home beyond the reach of my earnings. I paid as I could and for a while all went well. But in time I discovered I could not use my earnings both to live upon and to pay my debts. Creditors began to pursue me to pay for my extravagant purchases and my life became miserable. I borrowed from my friends, but could not repay them either. Things went from bad to worse. My wife returned to her father and I decided to leave Babylon and seek another city where as I thought a young man might have a chance to succeed.

“When I was a young man,” Dabasir continued after another fierce attack on the goat leg, “I learned my father’s trade, making saddles. I worked with him in his shop and married. I was young and not very skilled, so I earned little. It was just enough to give my wonderful wife a modest living. I wanted fine things I could not afford. Soon I found that shopkeepers would trust me to pay later, even though I could not pay right away. So I gave in to my desires and wore fine clothes. I bought many things for my wife and home that cost more than I earned. I paid what I could, and for a while all went well. But in time I realized I could not cover both my living expenses and my debts with my earnings. Creditors began chasing me for payment for my extravagant purchases, and my life became miserable. I borrowed from my friends, but could not repay them either. Things went from bad to worse. My wife returned to her father, and I decided to leave Babylon and look for another city. I thought a young man might have a chance to succeed there.

For two years I led a restless and unsuccessful life working for caravan traders. From this I fell in with a set of likeable robbers who scoured the desert for unarmed caravans. Such deeds were unworthy of the son of my father, but I was seeing the world through a colored stone and did not realize to what degradation I had fallen.

For two years I lived a restless, unsuccessful life working for caravan traders. Then I fell in with a group of likable robbers who searched the desert for unarmed caravans. Such acts were unworthy of my father's son. But I saw the world as if through a colored stone and did not realize how low I had sunk.

We met with success on our first trip capturing a rich haul of gold and silks and valuable merchandise. This loot we took to Ginir and squandered.

Our first trip was a success. We captured a rich haul of gold, silks, and valuable goods. We took the loot to Ginir and wasted it all.

The second time we were not so fortunate. Just after we had made our capture, we were attacked by the spearsmen of a native chief to whom the caravans paid for protection. Our two leaders were killed and the rest of us were taken to Damascus where we were stript of our clothing and sold as slaves.

The second time, we were not so lucky. Just after we had made our capture, we were attacked by a native chief’s spearmen. The caravans paid this chief for protection. Our two leaders were killed, and the rest of us were taken to Damascus. There, we were stripped of our clothing and sold as slaves.

I was purchased for two pieces of silver by a Syrian desert chief. With my hair shorn and but a loin cloth to wear, I was not so different from the other slaves. Being a reckless youth, I thought it merely an adventure until my master took me before his four wives and told them they could have me for a eunuch.

A Syrian desert chief bought me for two pieces of silver. With my hair cut short and only a loincloth to wear, I looked much like the other slaves. I was a reckless youth, so I thought it was just an adventure. But then my master brought me before his four wives and told them they could have me as a eunuch.

Then indeed did I realize the hopelessness of my situation. These men of the desert were fierce and warlike. I was subject to their will without weapons or means of escape.

Only then did I truly realize how hopeless my situation was. These desert men were fierce and warlike. I was under their control, with no weapons and no way to escape.

Fearful I stood, as those four women looked me over. I wondered if I could expect pity from them. Sira the first wife was older than the others. Her face was impassive as she looked upon me. I turned from her with little consolation. The next was a contemptuous beauty who gazed at me as indifferently as if I had been a worm of the earth. The two younger ones tittered as though it were all an exciting joke.

I stood in fear as the four women looked me over. I wondered if I could expect pity from them. Sira, the first wife, was older than the others. Her face showed no emotion as she looked at me. I turned away from her with little comfort. The next woman was beautiful but scornful. She looked at me with as little interest as if I were a worm in the dirt. The two younger women giggled as though it were all an exciting joke.

It seemed an age that I stood waiting sentence. Each woman appeared willing for the others to decide. Finally Sira spoke up in a cold voice.

It felt like forever as I stood waiting for my sentence. Each woman seemed willing to let the others decide. Finally, Sira spoke up in a cold voice.

‘Of eunuchs we have plenty, but of camel tenders we have few and they are a worthless lot. Even this day I would visit my mother who is sick with the fever and there is no slave I would trust to lead my camel. Ask this slave can he lead a camel?’

‘We have plenty of eunuchs, but few camel tenders, and those camel tenders are a worthless lot. Today I want to visit my mother, who is sick with a fever. But there is no slave I would trust to lead my camel. Ask this slave if he can lead a camel.’

My master thereupon questioned me. ‘What know you of camels?’

My master then asked me, ‘What do you know about camels?’

Striving to conceal my eagerness, I replied, ‘I can make them kneel, I can load them, I can lead them on long trips without tiring. If need be, I can repair their trappings.’

Trying to hide my eagerness, I replied, ‘I can make them kneel. I can load them and lead them on long trips without getting tired. If necessary, I can repair their gear.’

‘The slave speaks forward enough,’ observed my master. ‘If thou so desire, Sira, take this man for thy camel tender.’

‘The slave speaks boldly enough,’ my master observed. ‘If you wish, Sira, take this man to care for your camels.’

So I was turned over to Sira and that day I led her camel upon a long journey to her sick mother. I took the occasion to thank her for her intercession and also to tell her that I was not a slave by birth, but the son of a freeman and an honorable saddle maker of Babylon. I also told her much of my story. Her comments were disconcerting to me and I pondered much afterwards on what she said.

So I was handed over to Sira. That day I led her camel on a long journey to visit her sick mother. I took the chance to thank her for speaking on my behalf. I also told her I was not born a slave. I was the son of a free man, an honorable saddle maker in Babylon. I told her much of my story as well. Her comments unsettled me, and afterward I thought a great deal about what she had said.

‘How can you call yourself a free man when your weakness has brought you to this? If a man has in himself the soul of a slave will he not become one no matter what his birth, even as water seeks its level? If a man has within him the soul of a free man, will he not become respected and honored in his own city in spite of his misfortune?’

‘How can you call yourself a free man when your weakness has brought you to this? If a man has the soul of a slave, won’t he become one, no matter his birth? Isn’t that just like water finding its own level? If a man has the soul of a free man, won’t he earn respect and honor in his own city, despite his misfortune?’

For over a year I was a slave and lived with the slaves, but I could not become as one of them. One day Sira asked me, ‘In the eventime when the other slaves can mingle and enjoy the society of each other, why dost sit in thy tent alone?’

For over a year I was a slave and lived with the other slaves. But I could not become one of them. One day Sira asked me, ‘In the evening, when the other slaves can gather and enjoy each other’s company, why do you sit alone in your tent?’

To which I responded, ‘I am pondering what you have said to me. I wonder if I have the soul of a slave. I cannot join them, so I must sit apart.’

I replied, ‘I’m thinking about what you said to me. I wonder if I have the soul of a slave. I can’t join them, so I must sit apart.’

‘I too must sit apart,’ she confided. ‘My dowry was large and my lord married me because of it. Yet he does not desire me. What every woman longs for is to be desired. Because of this and because I am barren and have neither son nor daughter, must I sit apart. Were I a man I would rather die than be such a slave, but the conventions of our tribe make slaves of women.’

‘I too must sit apart,’ she confided. ‘My dowry was large, and my husband married me because of it. Yet he does not desire me. Every woman longs to be desired. I must sit apart because he does not desire me and because I cannot have children, neither son nor daughter. If I were a man, I would rather die than be such a slave. But our tribe’s customs make slaves of women.’

‘Have I the soul of a man or have I the soul of a slave? What think you?’ I asked.

‘Do I have the soul of a man or the soul of a slave? What do you think?’ I asked.

‘Have you a desire to repay the just debts you owe in Babylon?’

‘Do you want to repay the debts you rightfully owe in Babylon?’

‘Yes, I have the desire, but I see no way.’

‘Yes, I want to, but I don’t see a way.’

‘If thou contentedly let the years slip by and make no effort to repay, then thou hast but the contemptible soul of a slave. No man is otherwise who cannot respect himself and no man can respect himself who does not repay honest debts.’

‘If you happily let the years slip by without trying to repay, you have only the contemptible soul of a slave. Any man who cannot respect himself has the soul of a slave. And no man can respect himself if he does not repay honest debts.’

‘But what can I do who am a slave in Syria?’

‘But what can I do as a slave in Syria?’

‘Stay a slave in Syria, thou weakling.’

‘Stay a slave in Syria, you weakling.’

‘I am not a weakling,’ I denied hotly.

‘I’m not a weakling,’ I said angrily.

‘Then prove it.’

‘Then prove it.’

‘How?’

‘How?’

‘Does not thy great king fight his enemies in every way he can and with every force he has? Thy debts are thy enemies that have run thee out of Babylon. You left them alone and they grew too strong for thee. Had’st fought them as a man, thou couldst have conquered them and been one honored among thy townspeople. But thou had not the soul to fight them and behold thou hast gone down until thou art a slave in Syria.’

‘Doesn’t your great king fight his enemies in every way he can and with every force he has? Your debts are your enemies that drove you out of Babylon. You left them alone, and they grew too strong for you. If you had fought them like a man, you could have conquered them and earned your townspeople’s respect. But you lacked the courage to fight them. And look how far you have fallen: you are now a slave in Syria.’

Much I thought over her unkind accusations and many defensive phrases I worded to prove myself not a slave at heart, but I was not to have the chance to use them. Three days later the maid of Sira took me to her mistress.

I thought a lot about her unkind accusations. I prepared many arguments to defend myself and prove I was not a slave at heart. But I would not get the chance to use them. Three days later, Sira's maid took me to her mistress.

‘My mother is again very sick,’ she said. ‘Saddle the two best camels in my husband’s herd. Tie on water skins and saddle bags for a long journey. The maid will give thee food at the kitchen tent.’ I packed the camels wondering much at the quantity of provisions the maid provided, for the mother dwelt less than a day’s journey away. The maid rode the rear camel which followed and I led the camel of my mistress. When we reached her mother’s house, it was just dark. Sira dismissed the maid and said to me:

‘My mother is very sick again,’ she said. ‘Saddle the two best camels in my husband’s herd. Tie on water skins and saddlebags for a long journey. The maid will give you food at the kitchen tent.’ I packed the camels, puzzled by how much food the maid provided, since her mother lived less than a day’s journey away. The maid rode the camel behind us, and I led my mistress’s camel. When we reached her mother’s house, it was just getting dark. Sira sent the maid away and said to me:

‘Hast thou the soul of a free man or the soul of a slave?’

‘Do you have the soul of a free man or the soul of a slave?’

‘The soul of a free man,’ I responded.

‘The soul of a free man,’ I replied.

‘Now is thy chance to prove it. Thy master hath imbibed deeply and his chiefs are in a stupor. Take then these camels and make thy escape. Here in this bag is raiment of thy master’s to disguise thee. I will say thou stole the camels and ran away while I visited my sick mother.’

‘Now is your chance to prove it. Your master has drunk heavily, and his chiefs are in a stupor. Take these camels, then, and escape. Here in this bag are some of your master’s clothes to disguise you. I will say you stole the camels and ran away while I was visiting my sick mother.’

‘Thou hast the soul of a queen,’ I told her. ‘Much do I wish that I might lead thee to happiness.’

‘You have the soul of a queen,’ I told her. ‘I wish so much that I could lead you to happiness.’

‘Happiness,’ she responded, ‘awaits not the runaway wife who seeks it in far lands among strange people. Go thy own way and may the gods of the desert protect thee for the way is far and barren of food or water.’

‘Happiness,’ she replied, ‘does not await a runaway wife who seeks it in distant lands among unfamiliar people. Go your own way, and may the gods of the desert protect you. For the journey is long, with no food or water along the way.’

I needed no further urging, but thanked her warmly and was away into the night. I knew not this strange country and had only a dim idea of the direction in which lay Babylon, but struck out bravely across the desert toward the hills. One camel I rode and the other I led. All that night I traveled and all the next day, urged on by the knowledge of the terrible fate that was meted out to slaves who stole their master’s property and tried to escape.

I needed no more encouragement, but thanked her warmly and set off into the night. I did not know this strange country and had only a vague idea of the direction of Babylon. But I headed bravely across the desert toward the hills. I rode one camel and led the other. I traveled all that night and all the next day. I kept going because I knew the terrible fate of slaves who stole their master’s property and tried to escape.

Late that afternoon, I reached a rough country as uninhabitable as the desert. The sharp rocks bruised the feet of my faithful camels and soon they were picking their way slowly and painfully along. I met neither man nor beast and could well understand why they shunned this inhospitable land.

Late that afternoon, I reached a rugged region as unfit for living as the desert. Sharp rocks bruised my faithful camels’ feet, and soon the camels were moving slowly and painfully, choosing each step carefully. I saw neither people nor animals and could easily understand why both avoided this harsh land.

It was such a journey from then on as few men live to tell. Day after day we plodded along. Food and water gave out. The heat of the sun was merciless. At the end of the ninth day, I slid from the back of my mount with the feeling that I was too weak to ever remount and I would surely die, lost in this abandoned country.

From then on, the journey was one few men survive to tell about. Day after day, we trudged on. Our food and water ran out. The sun’s heat was merciless. At the end of the ninth day, I slid off the animal I was riding. I felt too weak to ever get back on. I felt certain I would die, lost in this deserted land.

I stretched out upon the ground and slept, not waking until the first gleam of daylight.

I stretched out on the ground and slept until the first light of dawn.

I sat up and looked about me. There was a coolness in the morning air. My camels lay dejected not far away. About me was a waste of broken country covered with rock and sand and thorny things, no sign of water, naught to eat for man or camel.

I sat up and looked around. The morning air was cool. My camels lay nearby, looking miserable. Around me stretched barren, uneven land covered with rocks, sand, and thorny plants. There was no sign of water and nothing for a person or camel to eat.

Could it be that in this peaceful quiet I faced my end? My mind was clearer than it had ever been before. My body now seemed of little importance. My parched and bleeding lips, my dry and swollen tongue, my empty stomach, all had lost their supreme importance of the day before.

Could I be facing death in this peaceful quiet? My mind was clearer than it had ever been. My body now seemed to matter very little. My dry, bleeding lips, my dry, swollen tongue, and my empty stomach had all seemed so important the day before. Now they no longer did.

I looked across into the uninviting distance and once again came to me the question, ‘Have I the soul of a slave or the soul of a free man?’ Then with clearness I realized that if I had the soul of a slave, I should give up, lie down in the desert and die, a fitting end for a runaway slave.

I looked out at the uninviting distance, and once again the question came to me, ‘Do I have the soul of a slave or the soul of a free man?’ Then I clearly realized that if I had the soul of a slave, I should give up. I should lie down in the desert and die, a fitting end for a runaway slave.

But if I had the soul of a free man, what then? Surely I would force my way back to Babylon, repay the people who had trusted me, bring happiness to my wife who had cared for me, bring peace and contentment to my parents.

But if I had the soul of a free man, what would I do? Surely I would fight my way back to Babylon and repay the people who had trusted me. I would bring happiness to my wife, who had cared for me. I would bring peace and contentment to my parents.

‘Thy debts are thy enemies who have run thee out of Babylon,’ Sira had said. Yes, it was so. Why had I refused to stand my ground like a man? Why had I permitted my wife to go back to her father? Why had I been weak like a slave if I had not the soul of one?

‘Your debts are your enemies who have driven you out of Babylon,’ Sira had said. Yes, she was right. Why had I refused to stand my ground like a man? Why had I let my wife go back to her father? Why had I been weak like a slave if I did not have the soul of one?

Then a strange thing happened. All the world seemed to be of a different color as though I had been looking at it through a colored stone which had suddenly been removed. At last I saw the true values in life.

Then something strange happened. The whole world seemed to change color. It was as if I had been looking through a colored stone that had suddenly been removed. At last, I saw what truly mattered in life.

Die in the desert! Not I. With a new vision, I saw the things that I must do. First I would go back to Babylon and face every man to whom I owed an unpaid debt. I should tell them that after years of wandering and misfortune, I had come back to pay my debts as fast as the gods would permit. Next I should make a home for my wife and become a citizen of whom my parents should be proud.

Die in the desert! Not me. With a new sense of purpose, I saw what I had to do. First, I would return to Babylon and face every man I still owed money to. I would tell them I had returned after years of wandering and misfortune. I had come back to pay my debts as fast as the gods would allow. Next, I would make a home for my wife and become a citizen my parents could be proud of.

My debts were my enemies, but the men I owed were my friends for they had trusted me and believed in me.

My debts were my enemies. But the men I owed money to were my friends because they had trusted me and believed in me.

I staggered weakly to my feet. What mattered hunger. What mattered thirst. They were but incidents on the road to Babylon. Within me surged the soul of a free man going back to conquer his enemies and reward his friends. I thrilled with the great resolve.

I staggered weakly to my feet. What did hunger matter? What did thirst matter? Hunger and thirst were just minor troubles on the road to Babylon. The spirit of a free man surged within me. I was going back to conquer my enemies and reward my friends. I felt a thrill at my strong resolve.

The glazed eyes of my camels brightened at the new note in my husky voice. With great effort, after many attempts, they gained their feet. With pitiful perseverance, they pushed on toward the north where something within me said we would find Babylon.

My camels’ glazed eyes brightened at the new tone in my hoarse voice. After many attempts and with great effort, they got to their feet. They struggled bravely on toward the north, where something inside me said we would find Babylon.

We found water. We passed into a more fertile country where were grass and fruit. We found the trail to Babylon, because the soul of a free man looks at life as a series of problems to be solved and solves them, while the soul of a slave whines, ‘What can I do who am but a slave?’

We found water. We entered more fertile land with grass and fruit. We found the trail to Babylon, because a free man’s soul sees life as problems to solve and solves them, while a slave’s soul whines, ‘What can I do when I am only a slave?’

“How about thee, Tarkad? Dost thy empty stomach make thy head exceedingly clear? Art ready to take the road that leads back to Babylon?”

“How about you, Tarkad? Does your empty stomach make your head especially clear? Are you ready to take the road that leads back to Babylon?”

Moisture came to the eyes of the youth. He rose eagerly to his knees. “Thou hast shown me a vision; already I feel the soul of a free man surge within me.”

Tears came to the young man's eyes. He eagerly rose to his knees. “You have shown me a vision. Already I feel the soul of a free man surge within me.”

“But what did you upon your return?” queried a listener. “Tell us how you repaid your debts.”

“But what did you do when you returned?” asked a listener. “Tell us how you repaid your debts.”

“Where the determination is, the way can be found. I visited every man to whom I was indebted and begged his indulgence until I could earn that with which to repay. Not one but met me gladly and wished me well. Several offered to help me. One indeed did give the very help I needed. It was Mathon, the gold lender, who enquired what I had been doing and when I told him I had been a camel tender, sent me to old Nebatur, the camel trader, who was commissioned by our good king to secure camels for the great expedition. My knowledge of camels was put to profitable use. I prospered and later became a partner unto Nebatur and was enabled to repay every copper and every piece of silver I had borrowed and every debt that I had incurred. Then indeed could I hold my head high and feel that I was an honorable man among men.”

“Where there is determination, a way can be found. I visited every man I owed money to. I begged each man to be patient until I could earn enough to repay him. Every one welcomed me gladly and wished me well. Several offered to help me. One actually gave me the very help I needed. Mathon, the gold lender, asked what work I had been doing. When I told him I had been a camel tender, he sent me to old Nebatur, the camel trader. Our good king had hired Nebatur to gather camels for the great expedition. I put my knowledge of camels to profitable use. I prospered and later became Nebatur’s partner. This success allowed me to repay every copper and every piece of silver I had borrowed, and every debt I owed. Then I could truly hold my head high and feel that I was an honorable man among men.”

Again Dabasir turned to his food. “Kauskor, thou snail,” he called loudly to be heard in the kitchen, “the food is cold. Bring me more meat fresh from the roasting. Bring thou also a portion for Tarkad the son of my old friend who is hungry and shall eat with me.”

Dabasir turned back to his food. “Kauskor, you snail,” he called loudly enough to be heard in the kitchen, “the food is cold. Bring me more meat fresh from the roast. Also bring a portion for Tarkad, the son of my old friend. He is hungry and will eat with me.”

So ended the tale of Dabasir the camel trader of old Babylon. He found his own soul when he realized a great truth, a truth that had been known and used by wise men long before his time.

So ended the story of Dabasir, the camel trader of ancient Babylon. He found his own soul when he understood a great truth. Wise men had known and used that truth long before his time.

It has led men of all ages out of difficulties and into success and it will continue to do so for those who have the wisdom to understand its magic power. It is for any man to use who reads these lines.

It has helped men of all ages overcome difficulties and achieve success. And it will continue to do so for those wise enough to understand its magic power. Any man who reads these lines can use it.

“WHERE THE DETERMINATION IS, THE WAY CAN BE FOUND.”

“WHERE THERE IS DETERMINATION, A WAY CAN BE FOUND.”