“My name is Alu. How should I address you?” Alu asked, adjusting the camel’s reins with practiced ease. The guide trailed behind, unnecessary—Alu navigated the dunes effortlessly, his posture relaxed as they drifted ahead of the group.
Renny caught a soothing scent—smoky and resinous, like aged cedar and burnt amber—drifting from Alu. "My name is Renny Smith. What perfume are you wearing?" she asked.
Alu's hand froze on the rope for a brief moment before he resumed his actions. "It's not a perfume. It's an incense called Egungun. Most people in my family use it,"
"Oh," Renny nodded in understanding although that was her very first time learning of such an incense.
"Renny Smith. That doesn’t sound like a Ghanaian name. Your accent is also different," Alu observed.
"It's not. I’m American. Your accent also differs," Renny replied.
"Hm. You’re right," Alu said with a chuckle. As he pulled the rope, Renny felt his broad shoulders close to her and caught another whiff of his scent.
"I noticed you already have friends. That’s good. I hope they’re treating you well," Alu remarked.
"They’re very nice," Renny replied.
"That’s good." The conversation naturally faded into silence. Renny had always struggled with small talk, and Alu seemed to be a man of few words. They remained quiet, letting Aden’s voice occasionally break through as he explained their location, warning them about areas not to cross.
However, Renny couldn't help but notice the covert glances from the students on the ground and those riding camels. Ewe’s gaze was particularly obvious.
"Your friends are...interesting," Alu suddenly noted with a small smile.
"How so?" Renny asked, intrigued. When it came to the three people who had made her life worthwhile, she cared about their well-being.
"Nothing much. From their expressions, they seem innocent and genuinely care about you," Alu said.
"How can you tell?" Renny inquired.
Alu smirked. "I’m a prince. I have the power to read minds."
Renny had heard stories of supernatural abilities used by certain royal families in Ghana and other African regions. Hearing Alu say this startled her slightly, but she was also intrigued.
"Really?" she asked.
Alu chuckled. The deep vibration of his laughter resonated through Renny’s back. "You’re really easy to deceive. A sharp eye notices details—nothing more."
Renny immediately realized she had been teased and stopped talking to him altogether.
"Are you annoyed? I didn’t mean to lie," Alu said, his voice light. "I just like joking with easygoing people, and you are easy to talk to."
Renny had never been described that way before. Back home, people called her ‘stuck-up,’ ‘entitled,’ and worse. She? Easy going?
"You find me easy to talk to?" she asked.
"Yes." Alu replied
Renny nodded, looking ahead. As the group reached the other side, they were surprised to see their camp in the distance.
"Wow, this wasn’t the way we took earlier!" Ewe exclaimed.
"You’re right. I know different routes in and out of this place, so it’s easy to return from any direction," Aden replied.
"Impressive!" Chedi said as the camels slowly approached the station. The students dismounted with the help of the tour guides.
Alu helped Renny off the camel, and she politely thanked him.
"It’s alright. I had a great time on this journey," he said.
Renny smiled politely and walked toward Ewe and Nandi, who had also dismounted.
"What were you talking about with Prince Alu? He hugged you!" Ewe immediately grabbed her hand, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Renny could only smile helplessly. She knew Ewe would interrogate her.
"He said you were good people," Renny replied.
Ewe narrowed her eyes, studying her. "Really? How could he say that when he doesn’t know us?"
"Really. He asked if we were friends, and I said yes. Then he said you treat me well and that you’re good people."
"So he noticed us! Do you know what that means?" Ewe whispered excitedly.
"What does it mean?" Nandi asked, puzzled.
"We are special. We carry a certain energy that attracts important people. From the looks of it, we could even become important ourselves in the future!" Ewe declared.
"Oh," Renny replied.
"‘Oh’? Do you think catching a prince’s eye is easy?" Ewe shook Renny’s hand, exasperated.
"You’re right. We’re going to be important in the future. But what if he just noticed everyone individually? After all, he’s one of the sponsors of this trip. It’s his duty to know the people he’s sponsoring," Nandi reasoned, causing Ewe to wilt.
"Let’s go freshen up and rest. There’s a campfire tonight. Better to warm up for it," a voice called. It was Edi, followed by Chedi and Olami.
"A campfire? Great!" Ewe perked up immediately.
"I know, right? The Sahara gets cold at night. It’ll be a great evening," Chedi added. The group walked toward the camp, discussing the day's events and speculating about Aden’s identity.
As evening approached, an announcement about the campfire sparked excitement. The students and staff gathered, joined by archaeologists from another team, making the event livelier.
"Hello, everyone. Welcome to this evening’s gathering. I suggest we keep this tradition until we leave the Sahara. Let’s share our experiences under the stars," Prince Alu addressed the group, earning enthusiastic applause before taking a seat.
The stars glittered above, and the students bundled up in sweaters and jackets against the cold. Drinks were passed around—alcohol limited to two servings per person. To Renny’s surprise, she found herself sipping a simple mango smoothie. She had given up drinking after a past incident that had landed her in the hospital. Nandi and Ewe opted for juice, while Edi had a beer.
"Let’s introduce ourselves," Alu suggested. "Let’s start with the new group."
Myiline, the lead archaeologist, introduced her team of five people. “We’ve studied Sahara whale fossils for two months. This desert was once an ocean—storms exposed 20-million-year-old teeth and bones. When the royal Prince extended an invite to make today's campfire merrier, We were happy to join everyone today," she said. A wow and claps ehoed from the students at this excellent and high rate team.
The students then also proceeded to also introduce themselves.
Chedi pushed forward. “How’d whales end up here?”
“The Sahara was the Tethys Sea 150 million years ago,” Myiline explained. “When continents shifted, the water vanished. Fossils surfaced in 2025 due to sandstorms eroding dunes. Our job is to document them before they’re lost again.”
“But why now?” Chedi pressed.
“Climate change? Luck?” Myiline shrugged as she sipped on her beer.
Renny’s gaze drifted beyond the fire’s glow. The darkness yawned—a vast void where the desert swallowed the light.
Something moved.
A small figure, childlike, stood at the edge of the firelight. Its silhouette wavered, as though woven from smoke. Renny squinted. Am I hallucinating? She had skipped her meds.
The figure raised a hand, pointing at her—then dissolved into the night.
Renny’s pulse raced. She glanced at her drink—half-full, harmless and shook her head to shake off any kind of illusions she might be having.
The fire dwindled to embers, and laughter softened to murmurs. Students stretched and yawned, drifting toward their tents in pairs. Ewe linked arms with Nandi, recounting the day’s highlights.
Renny lingered, watching the archaeologists pack their fossils. Myiline caught her eye and nodded—a silent acknowledgment—before turning away.
“Coming?” Nandi called.
Renny stood, brushing sand from her pants. The desert stretched endlessly under the stars, silent and still. She cast one last glance at the fire’s ashes, now cold, and followed the others.
In her tent, she fumbled for her pills and quickly swallowed them. She sighed, sliding into her sleeping bag. Outside, the wind whispered across the dunes, a lullaby for the weary.
Tomorrow awaited—new dunes, new mysteries. But for now, the Sahara slept.
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