Karim was twelve, and he was crossing the desert with his grandfather Idris and four camels. On the first day he said, "The wind draws on the sand. Keep the wind on your left cheek, and you will walk to the water."
On the second day a sandstorm came. The sand hid the sun. Idris had a fever, and he fell from his camel. "Karim," he whispered, "now you must lead us. You cannot see the stars. Read the sand."
Karim tied the camels in a line and tied his grandfather on the first one. He walked all night with the wind on his left cheek. Before dawn the wind stopped, and he saw palm trees. It was the oasis! Idris opened his eyes. "Who taught you to walk in a storm?" "You did, Grandfather," said Karim. "You said I never listened. I listened."
