Lion, Tiger, Bear | 85 Gawfa looked to his boots, part of one sole was coming apart. There is a Tuareg caravan camped two kilometers south of town a man told me, but they are known for being shrewd traders and unforgiving slavers. Good warriors, oui, but tough negotiators. They dig fine wells. I dont know why they are this far to the east, but they are. Looking for extra good quality salt is my opinion. They are known to have the best camels. She laughed again. Tuaregs? As in bloody Beau Geste? The wild riders in the blue robes? Oui, madame. But they are known to be opportunists as well. They guard the trans-Saharan trade routes jealously and like to steal and raid. Language is Tamasheq, close to Berber. Sunni Muslims. As a child in Timbuktu they were much feared and respected, but always had the most exotic goods. Their music and poetry are legendary. He smiled at the memories, face flickering with the candlelight. They gave me expensive sugar once in a trade with my father, hard brown sugar, a lump as big as my fist. I remember the taste well, my first of it. She smiled in kind. My kind of nomads. Can we bargain for a ride east? He laughed in his deep voice. Madame, we are unarmed, and you would be a valuable commodity as a femme blanche. A fine pale slave for a Sheik or noble chieftain with a taste for such. The fisherman and I could sell you to them for much gold! She rolled over and put her arm under her head. Thats just lovely. Its either the Germans or the ravaging nomads. Not much of a choice. Then lets pinch a tank, mum. Furious, she sat up abruptly as if to slap him silly. She went face-to-face, eyes wide. Are you genuinely certifiable, Corporal Pineapple? Hmm? Bit risky, that. Can either of you operate one? I cant, dont know the first thing about em. Pilot, yes, bulldozer driver, no. Wed be shot to bits just getting near one let alone firing it up and performing any kind of action. Im for bolting out of here,fast as possible, or at least as fast as a camel can trot after we feed him a bag of cocaine-powdered coffee beans. No more hero stuff for me. And if the Allies come here? They will be slaughtered while we escape. Gwafa rubbed the insignia on his blood-stained kepi. I dont have much, non, but I am a proud soldier of France and Mali. That is something, everything to me. Tout. Im a Maori, mum. We prefer to fight when the odds are rubbish. She rolled over. Not on your lives.