Dyment tains. Soon, the sky fades. The mountains be- come darker. It is easy now to distingvish a craggy outline that borders the sky. On the ridge, tangential telephone lines are silhouetted against the early morning sky. These mountains are not exactly high. Yet, despite their stunted elevation, they They form Precipitous. are formidable. an awesome range of mountains that stretches for miles and miles. This rugged range shelters a large, seemingly lifeless bowl. bowl, lt is the this vast country, that is ruled by an endless expanse of sagebrush and an occasional tree. This silent country listens to the which rocks, rise above the once white, are desert floor in hovering, grotesque shapes. A nomad roams this barren land. He walks, stooped under the weight of a large, leather pack he carries on his back. His clothes now soiled and torn. A strand of long black hair falls in his face. He tucks it behind his ear. He continues. A bulky, spacious butte is the nomad's destination. It stands -- alone in the still, gray morning. It rises stately above the tangled, interwined brush. Quickly, now, the nomad approaches. He ascends the mount deftly. He lowers his pack to the ground. He rests it against one of the numerous rocks. He spots a flat rock -- perfect for his purpose. He nears the rock, and he proceeds to wipe the dust from it with the palm his of hand. Finically, he The nomad continues his meal. delicacy is simple. It is bread. Moist, TONE ETN TET Te ITE TE TET ER Then, tugs at ig soft 4 The movement, Vely, i ' beat whi becomes ee he pirouettes. Once. casing, ite i. felax. fad. Around ents the and are nomad around. offers Fast. surprisingly one Twice cheek, : Unexpectedly, on A a the dance the strange observes His entire the nomad frame : e descends again. icra western sweat. and the mountains. sun il ee his violent- Outstretched, dust settles and of e sleeps to trembles, rests on his hands. The falls aoe his He breathes adheres to tra oe . af his Fasteasy, iste eams brightly. It warms the "Ss raise on the nomad's feet Muscles ripple. Dro Th ey tense. They plets of sweat T ey trickle down form on his forehis all h eave The Part Ill The nomad awakens . Hisi back d Lvope with pain. He stands. The ne at raised tender, watery welts ie - The skin is taut and swoll on his en He sin yet he does not speak € begins to clothe himself . Cauti ou sl ce his | robe ‘over his sensitive _ ers. He ties it loosely at the waist ie slips into his baggy pants. He pulls € soft leather boots over the blist ed ee of his feet. A The nomad blows out th € stron g, ne of the candle. He lifts thie orale € grasps the monogrammed cloth. He wraps the candle and places it in the t of his pack. oe He looks to the West ee:i tat ot tarries above the western 4 sky becomes a kaleidoscope nen of pasJi colors, constantly changing from azure nies i aye orange to fiery red. A reeze disturbs the sti ee oe il its loulies oe € nomad firmly stands, leas ee on hips. He slowly lose Rerces oe and desolate country ere, many miles ahead. loo ne Ahab quite similiar to the auch Ge a oe ee eae the butte € never-endin brush. It stands sta tel Boliden nci Hie lanai: evening fae ee € nomad smiles and hoists th : o shoulders. Like the rovin g Gene fi he begins his journey. Proud and magnificent, is his The butte destination. Again, h e will speak and the world wil! ian. tse. to the right. Then, rd the ae on the butte rises in iS muscles tighten. . Agai Again, he i tl eee around. The butte oe Sagebrush, Inst a background of sky and : ee And breathes. event. sain beads in- i : stops. ee small Sy They — leather left. inves. eavily. nomad smiles. He folds hj his chest. Again, he bose. First, aie Then, to the left. Slowly he ps his arms and reach a gn electrifying blue. Ma tee With his arms outstretched and hi raised to the sky, he begins. The ae speaks. Softly, then excitedly, his words rise and fall. As he speaks, his hands eagerly reach to touch the sky. He traces intricate designs in the brilliant : a voice is low and gutteral. blue His vocaary IS primitive. Yet, from his € speaks and all listen intentlymount He he and all observe him closely. e ee rently, he completes his oration . ands fall limply to his sides. Before a oncle, he bows his head. 4 :° candle remains ignited. The noeo ete his ritual. au. his the gulping ent ; tense. The nomad abruptly jerks his head ai and forth. His long hair, with the Il become | shorter. to Aish drop to his chest endures. : His chest nose " 33 YreTe 4 TN shadows now noon. The nomad 32 enn, ate e nomad lon ee Solemnly, he snaps his fin ers, sways to the rhythm. First, to he nau The across ne disappear. The sun blazes. The heat rises — in searing, burning waves from the desert — The nomad nods knowingly. It is — floor. leans He robe. It slides off his shoulders. Th robe falls in the dust. ; Beil. Tall, nal naked, the nomad ad stands before ein. Part The pla ces the eg folds them and sets them He unties the belt of his stings his eyes. white. He chews it thoughtfully. The nomad patiently waits. over and gently blows the remaining dust He steps back and apto the ground. praises his work. The rock is ready for ERE His flat, wears. He his boots. udden shines brightly and warms the earth. The desert awakens. Sage hens fly from their low perches in the brush. Lizards run freely. A snake slithers across a pile of rocks. The nomad again reaches for his pack. He begins to rummage through the worn, He delves. His hands leather bundle. pass the varied objects. He produces a homely meal. Cautiously he cradles another of his precious treasures -- an earth-baked ceramic jug. He uncorks the jug and raises it to his lips. His wrists begin to shake. The jug is heavy. Very heavy. He drinks unsteadily. The water is warm, Each meticulous swallow loosens the tight knot in his throat. Quenched, he places the jug back in his pack. desolate and Seg i Elan The sky is dark. The mountains that stretch to touch this sky are dark. Only a faint outline separates sky from moun- wo ase A eo) his treasure. He pulls the cylindrical object from his pack. His treasure has been wrapped in a dirtied, monogrammed cloth. The nomad unveils a short, stocky sand candle. ; nomad spreads the cloth , the Neatly across the rock and smoothes out the He places the candle in the wrinkles. very center of the cloth. The nomad again He He admires his work. steps back. ignites the wick with a nimble blow of flint on steel. He cups his hands around it and shields the flame. The blaze becomes bright and strong. The.morning has also ignited. The sun | closest Sanaa he by ce ae A a . Part the inci Lynn near and slips off the baggy, light cotton pants et By NOMAD Sea THE He pulls them off and ————————_—_- boots. neatly, rere reer eames In ean ne