A British soldier agrees to fight the Sultan in a duel after becoming enamored with a dancing slave girl. He requests that if he loses, his head be given to the girl rather than one of the Sultan's women. During the duel, winds suddenly shift the fire towards the Sultan. The soldier and girl then escape into the desert as the Sultan's men pursue them. Despite running through shifting sands, the two are able to escape unharmed while their pursuers sink, having secured their freedom.

1. The fire was crawlingunderherpassion.Iwatchedherburning,asherhands were shatteringthe
emptyskiesabove.A prayertoGod. A litanytome. Her tawnyeyesthrusta spearintomy soul.She
knewwhoI was.I knewnothing.
SultanMurad stoodfrom hisplace.The great vizirwaswatchinghiseverystepacrossthe ringof
men,surroundingthe fire underthe nightlysky.Ididn’ttrusthim.Ididn’ttrust anybody.Excepther…
‘’ What isyour decisionEnglishman?‘’
I keptsilentfora while.Must’ve enjoyedmylast momentsinthe war.InHis war.
‘’ I’ll fightyou,yourHighness.’’
She lookedatme.Probablyheardmylast words…Isaw the fire inher eyes.A secretpromise.
‘’ Verywell,then.I’ll take yourheadtomorrow. Enjoy yourlastnight.‘’
‘’ No.Your Highness,please,take myheadtonight.Andgive ittoher…‘’
The sultansenda lookto the fire.He saw the dancingwomanand laughed…
‘’ Her ? I have thousandslike her.She isjustaslave. Youdeserve somethingbetter…
‘’ Your Majesty,please honormylastwill.It’sthe onlythingIwant…‘’ I answered,seeinghimthink.
‘’ Your headwill goto one of my women.Youare toonoble andthisis mywill!‘’screamedthe sultan.
I couldn’tsaynothingmore.The sultan’swill isthe law of the desert.Ilookedatthe fire.Whyisit
that hard forman to live inhisreality?Maybe,because people tendtouse the powerintheirhands.
Thisis the power,whichtheywill neverhave.Whyare theyusingsomething,whichtheydon’thave?
Because we letthem. No…
The deserthas nolaws.OnlyGod. Andto Himbelongseverything.Forgive me,fire,forIhave turned
my eyesaway.ButnowI see the truth youare tellingme,mydearone. Inthe middle of nothingness,
alongwithshiftingsandsyouare waiting.Isee it,butI do not know whatto do.I am justa mortal
person,dedicatedtohisownwill.Butwhoguidesit,youorGod?
‘’Whyare youstill dancing?Iam goingto die.Forwho are you dancing to? ‘’I was justwatching…she
understoodmyunsaidwords,fora sparkle inhereyesenflamedthe passioninmybody.Thatwas
the answer.I am nevergoingtodie.Norwill God.She promised…
The twistsof her waist…like alanguage,waitingtobe deciphered…patience,mylove.Afterone
moment,Iwill be yoursforever.
‘’ Murad ! ‘’ I screamedthroughthe ringof fire,throughthe visionof scaredmen,throughthe lookof
hereyes…‘’ I give myheadto the will of God,not the desire of a blindman! You lost,Murad...‘’
A momentof silence,followedbythe laughof cursedsouls.Excepther.She continueddancing.
A dance that was nevermeanttobe…
‘’ What will youdo,Englishman?‘’mockedthe sultan.Isaw a little shadow of uncertaintyinhis
eyes.We bothknew – he wasfollowedbysycophants.He didn’thave her.He couldn’thave God.
‘’ It isa secretpromise !‘’ I said.The windsstartedroaringwithburstflows,takingthe firesdirectly
to Murad’s sittingcarpet.He stoodup, as he triedto save himself.
She walkedtome and tookmy hand.‘’ Run ‘’whisperedinmyear.We escapedinthe endlessdesert,
as the sultan’smenwere tryingtoput outthe fire.Tokill myally…
A fewmomentsafter,they startedchasingusinthe darkestof sands. Arrowsstartedraining.
She laughedlike alittle child,runningfromherparents.She smiled,breakingfree fromthe torturous
chains.‘’Want to knowsomething?‘’askedme withArabicdialect.‘’Whatisit? ‘’I askedamused
fromher felicity.‘’We are runninginshiftingsands…yetwe donotsink.‘’
I stopped.She followed.We kissed.Hundredsof arrowspassedaway.Asmany,asthe people,who
were sinkinginthe shiftingsands.We escaped,nevertobe heardof again…