loads about ancient treasures so I might come in handy. And you, it’s your quest! So we’d be the
perfecto trio!” Sandy smiled hopefully and asked, “How are you here, Emma? It seems you aren’t
the type for archaeology.”
“Well… my camel went berserk whilst I was with my family, and someone found and brought
me here.” Melissa grinned. “That happens a lot here with camels.” I rolled my eyes. “That’s quite
obvious, Mels.”
“Now, we have no time to waste! The sandstorm season is due in five days, we must hurry!”
Our trio ran to search corners of the village, looking for clues.
About 15 minutes later, we heard Sandy cry out. “Look! Over here, there’s a map!” Melissa was
first over, helping Sandy yank a torn, crinkled piece of rolled-up paper out of the side of a falling-
down ger. I picked up a curved piece of metal, and used it to pull a few bricks out of the way, so
the paper fell at our feet. Melissa snatched it up and uncurled the piece of paper. It had yellowed,
been dampened, and torn over the years in that ger’s side. I looked closely at it, but I knew better,
my father being an archaeologist, I could easily identify that the map was fake. I sighed and
explained to the girls that the map was a fake. Melancholy and disappointed, we walked away for
the night.
We searched a lot, dawn till dusk, but we found no treasure. 5 days into our adventure, I
found my cell, hesitantly tapped it, and to my joy it started up. To my surprise, I actually found
signal and dialled home immediately. As usual, the housemaid Bianca picked up the phone, I had a
quick chat with her and in 3 hours a helicopter came hovering above the tiny village of Katukanu.
After saying my goodbyes, I got in, prepared for home.
Only now do I understand what the voice meant. I didn’t leave with any real-gold treasure, but
Sandy and Melissa’s friendships remain treasured in my heart. Hey, friendships are treasures too!
