It was well past dark when the boys snuck out of their tent, untied two camels, and rode off into the desert. The night was cool, but Zachary knew that when the sun rose in the morning, the heat would come with it. They would have to hurry.
“Did anyone see us?” Joshua said, as they led their camels forward. They had been taught how to ride them only yesterday, when the Bedouin men hoisted them on the saddles and guided them through the desert.
“No,” Zachary said. “They were still asleep.”
They could see a faint blue light shimmering at the horizon, despite the night and the darkness. There were still a few hours left until dawn, and Zachary and Joshua meant to use those hours well.
“Which one?” Zachary said.
He could see the shapes of dunes and hills etched in black. There were patches of weeds, too, which the camels trod over. That, and rocks, but nothing else. Zachary spotted a mountain in the distance. Joshua must have seen it too.
“There,” he said. “That’s where we’re going.”
“It’s too far,” Zachary objected.
“What, are you scared?”
Zachary looked at his brother. They were twins, but he was older, and he couldn’t show fear. “No. We just won’t make it back before dawn.”
“So Mom and Dad won’t find us when they get up. But we’ll be back soon. Before they eat breakfast, even. They won’t miss us at all.”
“Listen,” Zachary said, “I’ll go with you, but you have to tell me what you said to Hannah last night.”
“So you saw us,” Joshua said, grinning. “Okay, I’ll tell you, but...
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