A few spindly date palms, nine black tents, and a small water hole did not fulfill Donna’s expectations of a lush, romantic desert oasis. In the old movies she sometimes liked to watch, a respectable oasis flaunted silk curtains, gleaming jewels, lovely princesses, and transparent veils floating in the (presumably) jasmine-scented evening breeze. Most importantly, an impossibly handsome sheik invariably made an appearance, preferably on a silvery-white or charcoal-black horse. Nevertheless, she heartily welcomed this inappropriate oasis when the animals finally landed. Her body, unaccustomed to such rigorous exercise as the hike with the lizards, did not enjoy the second opportunity of flight on the backs of winged animals.

Instead of the expected handsome sheik, an old woman came out of a tent, carefully closing the f...

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