Page 19 - Fables volume 1

How Paradise was Glimpsed by the Camel

Abdullah shook his head, but it didn’t clear. “What you say is true—
I think. But maybe I’m dreaming all this. I was feeling ill just before I
fell asleep.”
The Old Camel of the Mountain chuckled raspily. “It doesn’t matter
what you think about this meeting in the morning. Just remember the
signal: two long camel hoots followed by two short ones. You got
that?”
“Oh, that’s easy enough to memorize. However, I’m not convinced
that I should follow you—although it would be wonderful to return to
Bactria. My lot is bad, whether by destiny or chance I cannot say; but
you would have me gamble it all on the basis of your promises. Only
the most wretched creature in the world has little or nothing to lose. I
suffer greatly, but my instinct is to survive, to hold onto a miserable
existence rather than face death.”
“Abdullah!” shouted the Old Camel. “Paradise is for those who are
willing to die! Do not be so selfish: other camels will benefit from
your contribution, even if it does not profit you in this world. If every
camel thought only of his own comfort, we would remain enslaved
forever. You must risk all to gain all.”
The moonlight played tricks on Abdullah’s perceptions. The Old
Camel seemed to be floating above the ground; terra firma had, in
turn, taken on the shimmering quality of water.
“Please,” begged the motive power of the oil press, “there are jobs
worse than mine, jobs which might even be worse than death. Can
you guarantee that I would not end up in one of those situations if the
rebellion fails?”
“The only answer to that,” replied the elder ungulate, “is to
concentrate on the vision of paradise I have shown you. Then, no
matter what consequences follow your actions, you will be prepared.”
“Prepared for what?”
“For death—or anything unpleasant. If you join the forces of
revolution and die in the struggle, the same paradise awaits you as we
shall build in Bactria for the living. If we fail and you are thrown into a
baser form of servitude, the memory of what you have seen tonight
will sustain your spirit until it can escape its mortal bondage. Does
that satisfy you?”

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