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The deserts of the Arabian peninsula are home to some fantastic stories. Which stories are true and which are myths? George Fox is a young archeologist who has travelled to Oman on a quest to find the lost city of Uram. A hopeless quest, some would say, as the city was lost in the desert sands over six hundred years ago.
The colourful central market is
crowded
with local people. In a small
cafe near the main square,
George is
negotiating
with an old Omani
gentleman. 'I'm willing to pay over
two hundred Omani rials
for a guide
to take me into the desert,' he
says to
the bemused
looking gentleman.
'My young friend, the city you seek
is lost, and the desert storms will
grind
you into dust. It is suicide to attempt to find the city.'
'What if I offered five hundred rials, and told you that I have a map
that was recently discovered that shows the location of the city?'
'If you offer me one thousand rials then perhaps I can say goodbye to
my wife, sons and grandchildren forever. I am an old man, they need the
money.'
'Then I think we have a deal,' George replies, 'and we leave at sunset.'
'I have one condition,'
the old Omani adds, 'You must tell no one about
our trip.'
'That's fine. I accept. I shall return at seven o'clock
tonight.' The
two men
shake hands.
Across the desert, two bright
lights and a trail
of dust. A
Toyota
Landcruiser speeds on through
the clear night;
bumping
and rocking
on
the old road. Inside are the two men: George and his guide, Hamed. 'How
long?' asks the Englishman. 'Another two kilometres,
but don't be so impatient
my young
friend. Uram is not going anywhere. The city has been here for three
thousand years and lost for six hundred! But I believe we will find
nothing, many people have looked, but none have found the gem
that
they seek, and none have ever returned.'
Suddenly, a strong wind begins to blow and there is a great noise from
the north: a desert storm
is coming. Within seconds the car
is
engulfed
in a gigantic
sandstorm.
They can see nothing out of the windows. 'Hamed, we have to keep
driving, we are almost there!'
'My young friend, if we do not find the city, we will die. I hope your
map is correct!'
But the storm is too strong and the Toyota slowly stops. The men sit
and wait.
The storm blows for hours
until, just as the sun is
rising in the east, the wind suddenly stops and, in seconds, the sky
clears. In front
of the car are the city gates of Uram. 'Wow!... I can't believe it!
We've found it! It's Uram!' George shouts with joy.
'The storm has uncovered the city. My friend you are a lucky man.
Praise
be to Allah.'
They step out of their Toyota and walk towards the gates. Hamed pushes
one of the heavy wooden gates open and walks in, but George takes a
moment to look back across the desert. In the distance he sees six
riders on camels. They are heading for the city. George
runs through the gate and grabs Hamed's sleeve, 'There are riders
coming!
Six of them on camels. They will be here in maybe twenty minutes.'
'You saw nothing my young friend, only the sand blowing up in circles.
Your eyes deceive
you. Maybe the sandstorm has blinded you,
eh?'
'No. I saw them, I tell you, and they'll be here soon.'
My young friend, no one ever comes here, there is no water for camels,
not for four hundred kilometres. We are the first people in this place
for over six
hundred years.
You are
mistaken.
I fear you are going crazy in my desert' the guide
laughs.
'Maybe they are nomads
or bandits.
we'd better get the rifle,
just in
case.'
'There is no one out there, I promise you. Only desert
ghosts.'
Six riders on camels are using the stars to navigate across the never-ending sands. The broad flat feet of their camels making no noise as they walk on and on towards their goal. In the silver moonlight, their destination appears: the ancient city of Uram. Once a place of riches and wonders, but now lost in the shifting sands. A place where memories blow like whispers around empty buildings and silent courtyards. They ride on through a sudden storm, and as the sun rises, they reach the city.
The two men stand at the city
wall and watch as six riders on
camels silently approach. They stop and dismount.
Their leader
walks up to George and throws back his ghutra.
George stares
into his
face. The white's of his eyes are completely black, and seem to be full
of stars. The young archeologist
panics
and looks at his guide Hamed. But Hamed's face has changed, and
in place of his eyes, George can see the night sky and stars, so many
stars.
The old man's voice is like the wind whispering, 'My young friend, the
secrets of the desert and the riches of Uram must
remain secrets forever. I am sorry.'
Suddenly, the wind begins to blow from the north and the city goes dark
as it is
engulfed in another desert storm. Then, after many hours, the storm subsides,
and
the city has gone. But, there is something colourful in the sand: the
roof of a car. However, slowly and silently, sand covers the
roof,
and it too is gone.
Seven ancient riders on camels are using the stars to navigate across the desert. They move silently across the featureless sands, keeping watch, and protecting their city from anyone who would discover its secrets. Their task is eternal.
Adjectives
Omani:
From the country of Oman, south of Saudi Arabia.
hopeless:
Without hope. In this case meaning 'without a chance of success'.
bemused:
Looking like you are confused, sometimes because of something funny .
impatient:
Unhappy because you have to wait for something'.
gigantic:
Very big.
broad: Wide.
shifting:
Moving, not staying in the same place.
featureless:
With no interesting places or big differences.
ancient:
Very old.
eternal:
For ever.
Verbs
negotiate:
To discuss something and try to make an agreement or deal.
seek:
=To look for.
grind:
In this case meaning 'to rub something hard, until it breaks into small
pieces' .
rock:
To move from side to side.
be engulfed:
To be completely covered or surrounded by something big.
deceive
sb.:
To make someone believe something that is not true, for a bad reason.
be mistaken:
To be wrong about something.
navigate:
To know exactly where you are, and find your way to another place.
dismount:
To get off a
horse, bicycle or other things you can ride.
stare:
To look at something for a long time, and not move your eyes.
panic: To
be unable to think clearly or behave normally because of a sudden
feeling of fear or nervousness.
subside:
To gradually decrease in amount.
keep watch:
To guard a place by looking around all the time.
Nouns
a myth:
An interesting old story that is probably not true.
a square:
In this case meaning 'a wide and open area in a town'.
an archeologist:
Someone who studies old history by looking at ruins.
a quest:
A long search for something important.
a rial:
The name of the money in Oman. Like a dollar or euro.
a guide:
In this case meaning 'someone who shows you places you want to see'.
a condition:
In this case meaning 'something that must be done before another thing
can happen'.
a trail of dust:
In this case meaning 'a line of dust in the air made by a moving car'.
a Toyota Landcruiser:
A type of car that is good in the countryside.
a gem:
A jewel. But in this case meaning 'a very valuable thing'.
= the city of Uram.
a sandstorm:
A dry storm made when the wind blows sand into the air.
a nomad:
A member of a tribe who does not have a permanent home, but moves
around, especially with their animals.
a bandit:
Someone who robs people, especially people who are travelling.
a rifle:
A long gun that you hold with two hands.
your destination:
The place where you are going.
riches and wonders:
Expensive, beautiful, wonderful, amazing things.
a courtyard:
An open space like a garden, inside a building.
Expressions
'Praise
be to Allah':
Muslims can say this to thank God and say how great he is.
Arabic words
a ghutra:
A
head-scarf worn by arabic men.
er does well in life'.
Expressions