The Horse at the Gates (55 page)

He watched the setting sun a while longer then turned away, trudging between the long rows of graves until he reached the last sun-blistered marker. He swatted away the flies and nuzzled the donkey’s neck for a few moments, then climbed up on the cart and released the brake.

With a gentle slap of the reins, Danny headed across the desert floor, back towards the sprawling encampment that shimmered in the distant haze.