Five Sahara Short Stories E-Book

Pieter Haasbroek

• Herausgeber: Pieter Haasbroek
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 155

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

The Sahara doesn’t just claim lives.

It forges legends in fire and blood.

For those who dare to face its wrath, survival is only the beginning.

In the heart of the blistering Sahara Desert, five epic tales of survival unfold. A seasoned guide must use an ancient trick to save his clients from a sandstorm powerful enough to strip flesh from bone. A desperate engineer, dying of thirst, stumbles into an abandoned fort and discovers not water, but a beautiful woman with a knife and a story of her own.

A small garrison of French Foreign Legionnaires, outnumbered thirty to one, prepares for a brutal last stand against an overwhelming horde. A pair of lovers, having just escaped one peril, find a mysterious camel carrying a priceless golden cross, drawing them into the path of cunning thieves and a lost city. Finally, an archaeologist and his daughter unlock a secret temple, only to be trapped inside with a colossal treasure and an escape route that demands a terrifying leap of faith.

This collection of five thrilling pulp adventures is a relentless ride through sun-scorched dunes and deadly oases. Perfect for fans of classic action, high-stakes adventure, and stories where heroes are pushed to their absolute limit.

Fans of pulp, action, and survival will love this thrilling collection, Five Sahara Short Stories. Start your Sahara adventure today!

Leseprobe

FIVE SAHARA SHORT STORIES

by

PIETER HAASBROEK

and

translated, proof-read and edited by

PIETER HAASBROEK

Published by:

TREASURE CHEST BOOKS - PUBLISHERS

Strand Mews Strand

2024

FIVE SAHARA SHORT STORIES

The cover sketch was designed using the AI-powered tool DALL-E 3 (openart.ai). This debut book in the Sahara Adventure Series is now available for the first time in ebook format and in the English language. The translation was completed with the help of AI tools such as ChatGPT (chatgpt.com).

The copyright for these stories is reserved and cannot be reprinted or distributed in whole or in part without the publisher’s written permission. Reprinting includes any electronic or mechanical form, such as e-books, photocopying, writing, recording on tape, or any other means of storing or accessing information. All characters and events in this story are purely fictional and have no connection to any living or deceased individuals.

FIVE SAHARA SHORT STORIES

by Pieter Haasbroek

ISBN 978-1-7764911-7-9

Published by:

Treasure Chest Books - Publishers, Strand Mews, Strand 7140

South Africa

Copyright @ Pieter Haasbroek (2024)

Online Store: https://panther-ebooks.com

Website: https://www.softcoverbooks.co.za

SUMMARY

The Sahara Desert - Tales of Survival, Treasure, and Battle.

Step into the scorching heart of the Sahara Desert with five thrilling stories that push human endurance to its absolute limits. From the harshest of sandstorms to legendary battles and hidden treasures, these gripping tales will keep you on the edge of your seat, turning pages late into the night.

In Sandstorm in the Sahara Desert, follow seasoned guide Dirk Lubbe as he faces the full fury of nature. When a sandstorm descends on his group of tourists, Dirk's expertise is the only thing standing between them and certain death. Will his knowledge of the desert's deadly tricks be enough to save them all?

Empty Fort in the Sahara Desert introduces Paul Le Roux, who stumbles upon an abandoned French fort, only to find himself trapped with a mysterious woman named Rochelle. Together, they must navigate the desert's unforgiving terrain in search of water and salvation. But even the fort’s walls can’t protect them from the dangers lurking in the sands.

In Surprise in the Sahara Desert, Paul and Rochelle's bond grows as they journey through the endless dunes. But when they encounter a dying camel bearing a priceless treasure, their survival instincts are tested like never before. Abducted by ruthless enemies, Paul must use every ounce of ingenuity to save Rochelle and himself from the desert's deadly grip.

The action intensifies in Attack on Fort Shepherd, where Captain Vevier and his small band of French Foreign Legionnaires prepare for a desperate battle against overwhelming odds. Surrounded by an army of rebellious Arab tribes, the legionnaires’ only hope is their sheer willpower and military training. Will they survive the siege and leave a mark on history?

Finally, in Secret Treasure of the Sahara Desert, Professor Martin Dubois and his daughter Luzaan uncover an ancient temple buried deep within the sands. Inside, they find a treasure of unimaginable wealth, but their joy is short-lived as betrayal and violence strike. As Luzaan faces unimaginable danger, Lieutenant Berger of the French Foreign Legion races against time to save her. Will they escape the wrath of their captors and uncover the desert’s final secrets?

This collection is a breathtaking journey through peril, courage, and discovery in the world’s most desolate yet enchanting landscape. Prepare for a heart-pounding adventure where survival is never guaranteed, and every day brings new, deadly challenges. Will you dare to venture into the Sahara?

FIVE SAHARA SHORT STORIES

Story One

SANDSTORM IN THE SAHARA DESERT

It is the year 1905 and eleven camels are walking neatly in line, one after the other, across the vast Sahara desert. On the back of the front camel sits Dirk Lubbe lazily daydreaming. This is the last time he will act as a guide for tourists who want to get to know the Sahara better. Over the past ten years, he has already made a tidy sum of money by acting as a guide for tourists. He rightly considers himself the best guide in the whole world to teach people about the Sahara, and there is probably nothing he does not know about the insects, animals, the desert itself and its history.

However, this all comes at a price, and therefore he asks double what his closest competition asks for the same work. Despite this, his diary remains full of bookings because his name is well known, and his clients know that they get value for every cent they pay. For now, he has had enough of the dangers and the terrible heat of the desert. After this last tour, he will take his money and buy himself a place somewhere in Switzerland, where it is at least much cooler than here.

Then he suddenly wakes up from his daydreams as a gust of wind almost blows his hat off his head. He looks around and notices here and there a whirlwind picking up loose grains of sand and then settling down again. One of the whirls catches his hot face for a brief moment and cools it down slightly. Since he got up this morning, he has observed that the air looks different from usual. The sun is not quite a bright, boiling ball of fire, and the air pressure is more than usual. The camels also seem restless, and it is as if the whole desert is waiting for something big to happen.

Dirk turns around in his saddle and looks back, where his ten clients are coming on their camels. There are five women and five men, and they still look relatively fresh at this time of the morning because it is still reasonably cool now. Soon, however, the sun will burn fiercely over the desert and the mercury can then climb quickly to fifty degrees Celsius and even more. Together with the extremely dry air, it seems to suck the moisture out of a person's body, and you have to drink water frequently to prevent dehydrating quickly. The scorching heat and extremely dry air will make it feel like an oven in which they are moving, but on their third day in the desert, the tourists already know what they can expect soon.

From experience, Dirk knows that in this desert one can survive at most one day without water and two days if you are very lucky. Due to the scarce vegetation and dry air, the night also cools down rapidly and temperatures can then turn very close to zero degrees. Strong winds can change the dunes that you see today in the blink of an eye so that you look out over an almost entirely new desert the next day. It is precisely one of the Sahara's properties that makes it so dangerous for inexperienced travelers. Many have already got lost and died after simply relying on the immediate surroundings. You must also use the sun, moon and stars as aids, along with years of experience and a kind of sixth sense to know which direction you need to move in. Daily water is critical here for human and animal survival, and if you miss an oasis, it can mean your end. The Sahara in all its splendor is therefore also full of dangers and only the smartest, strongest and bravest can survive here.

Dirk always makes sure in advance that he knows exactly who his clients are and what drives them to the desert, as this can prevent or later facilitate all kinds of problems. There is the male student, Stefan Bruwer, who just comes to take photos of the spectacularly beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Then there is Dorothy Snyman, an elderly lady who recently divorced from a filthy rich millionaire and decided she first had to recuperate by getting away from everyone and everything that had been intimately part of her life for years. Then there is also Peet Schutte, a freshly built bodybuilder, who regularly participates in competitions. He reckons he is strong and man enough to now also come and brave the desert. He sees potential in everything in life and wants to broaden his outlook a bit. So Dirk looks at the rest of his tour members and recalls in his mind the knowledge he has of each one. In this dangerous desert, you have to know exactly where you stand with everyone and what their strengths and weaknesses are. It may just make the difference between life and death later.

A strong gust of wind suddenly tugs at Dirk's clothes, and he struggles for a moment to get sand out of one eye. He realizes that for the last few minutes he has been finding it increasingly difficult to breathe. His clothes are almost completely soaked in sweat, despite the wind that is now gradually getting stronger and stronger. He feels slightly dizzy, and the next moment it feels again as if his head will burst open from the pressure in the air. Dirk holds his camel in and now looks around more carefully. What is happening strikes him like lightning. How could he not have realized it sooner? He should not have sat there daydreaming, he reproaches himself because they may have already lost too much time now, and it could cost them dearly. He jumps out of his camel's saddle as quick as lightning and lands neatly on his feet next to his camel. He puts his hand up in the air and calls out loudly.

"Stop your camels immediately and come to me at once!"

The power and seriousness of his words make everyone do as he says. Stefan, the student, gets such a fright because he was daydreaming, that when he tries to dismount from his camel, his one-foot gets caught on the saddle, and he tumbles properly off his camel's back. He falls head first almost cattywampus onto the sand. He stands up drunk and comes hobbling over while rubbing his head. The group of ten people now stand worriedly in front of Dirk, with their eyes wide open. They can feel that things are definitely not right.

"People," Dirk begins immediately, "our lives are in great danger. To tell the truth, mortal danger, and our chances of survival are very slim."

"What are you talking about now, Mr. Lubbe," Dorothy asks in shock, clearly visible in her eyes. "There is nothing and no one near us, and I don't see anything that poses a danger to us either. The strong wind that has picked up is troublesome indeed, but surely, it is not harmful to us?"

Dirk knows that time is short, and therefore he is not going to beat around the bush.

"A big sandstorm is on its way here. We may have half an hour before it hits us, an hour at most. No human can survive it if it is a strong sandstorm that catches you in the open like here. The strong winds that accompany such storms drive small pebbles and sand horizontally with the ground and due to the speed of it, it literally eats the clothes off your body. Where you have no protection, your skin is literally abraded layer by layer. As if that is not enough, the fine dust and sand enters your lungs and smothers you. The dry, hot air forces moisture out of your body at a high rate and once you are dehydrated, thirst can drive you insane. Such sandstorms usually last several hours, but can also continue for a few days, and the longer it lasts, the more dire your chance of survival."

It is as if the desert hears his words because the next moment a strong gust of wind hits them and almost blows them over.

"A sandstorm in the Sahara is the most feared and dangerous natural phenomenon and should not be taken lightly at all," Dirk continues quickly. "Eleven years ago I was caught in one of the Sahara's sandstorms in the middle of the desert with no shelter nearby. I was one of five out of twenty people who survived the sandstorm. That storm lasted four days, and our food and water simply ran out."

Another sudden gust of wind blows dust and sand into their eyes, and it is as if they now also become acutely aware of the change in air pressure and impending doom on its way.

"Our time is short, people," says Dirk. "Listen carefully to me now. You are going to carry out everything I tell you to the letter and there may not even be the slightest mistake made because it will cost all our lives. I hope it is clear to everyone!"

Dejected and shocked, they all just nod their heads. Not one of them, not even Dirk himself, expected misfortune to strike them now far away from the nearest oasis without any shelter. Here they are exposed and trapped in the desert, left at the mercy of nature.

"Peet," says Dirk, "go and quickly fetch me the pegs and tarpaulins that are in the rear two bags of my pack animal. I had special tarpaulins made that are tight and strong and can withstand the abrasive effect of the wind and sand, long enough, I hope. I always bring the pegs and tarpaulins with me on my tours, just in case a sandstorm hits us because maybe, just maybe, they might save our lives today. It is a tip, an old sheikh of the Tuaregs taught me after my last narrow escape in the desert sandstorm. Back then we did not have them and thus had almost nothing to protect us from the sandstorm."

While Peet goes to fetch the pegs, Dorothy asks, "Mr. Lubbe, what will become of the camels, they have no shelter at all?"

"Mrs. Snyman, camels are excellently adapted to the desert. Their thick hair protects them from the heat and cold of the desert. They also have thick eyelids and long eyelashes that provide protection against a sandstorm's blowing sand. Lastly, they can close their elongated nostrils at will to keep out sand and dust when it gets too bad. So I don't think we need to worry about them, they will take care of themselves."

When Peet puts the tarpaulins and pegs in front of Dirk, he orders them to have the camels lie down next to each other in a semicircle, with the center of the arc pointing north, as that is the direction from which the sandstorm will come. The long pegs are then buried in the ground at each camel's head, and each camel is tied to them with their halter ropes.

"This is to prevent one or more of the camels from deciding to get up and go for a walk during the storm," Dirk remarks jokingly. "Of course there is always the chance that the pegs will blow away and then mean nothing, but if the camels stay down, sand will build up against them rather than blowing away."

Dirk knows that as everyone here now works together to get everything done as quickly as possible, they are under great stress, and therefore he tries to encourage them in between the preparations. The wind has now started blowing so strongly, making it almost impossible to hear each other over a short distance. However, Dirk knows that the storm itself is not far off now and that their time is quickly running out. Once all the camels are nicely in their right places and Dirk has made sure everyone is properly tied to the pegs, he shows them what to do with the tarpaulins. He shows them in the finest detail where to place the tarpaulins, how deep to bury them and also what to do during the storm to get enough oxygen. The tarpaulins are set up on the camels' south side and almost right up against the camels because that is how the lying camels will protect them from the worst wind that will hit the camels themselves on their north side.

While everyone works on their tarpaulin shelters, Dirk yells over the wind's whistling, briefing them further on why sandstorms are so deadly and thus extremely dangerous.

"The sandstorms that last for hours and days are usually so strong that one cannot stand upright in them," says Dirk, while helping one of the women struggling to bury her tarpaulin correctly in the increasingly stronger wind.

"One big danger, if you can avoid the wind and sand, is the very fine dust that one inhales. A person's lungs simply cannot handle all the dust, and one literally suffocates within minutes in a cruel and horrible way."

"If we lie sheltered under the tarpaulins, then the dust and sand can't get to us, right?" the student Stefan says, his eyes wide, and another gust of wind almost knocks him off his feet.

"Quite right," Dirk agrees, "but you forget a few things. First, the fine dust along with the strong wind has a way of getting into almost the most impossible places and even under a sheltered tarpaulin it will make life very unpleasant for us. The dust and sand will make you cough and sputter continuously, and before long a kind of claustrophobia will build up in your body that can easily make you lose your mind. That is when many people usually lose their lives because they will spring up and want to run away, but the dust and sand will then quickly finish them off.

"Every breath you take and every second that passes is thus a struggle for survival. Your lungs will burn like fire, for example, you won't be able to see anything and all that will keep you alive is what they say in English "mind over matter". To make matters worse, the sandstorm can also quickly bury you under tons of sand, and then you suffocate again due to lack of oxygen. The secret is therefore to try to keep the sand and dust away from you as far as possible, but also make sure somewhere enough air comes in at times so that you do not suffer from lack of oxygen. If you feel the sand is starting to pile up heavily on top of your tarpaulin, you must try to gradually unwind yourself upwards as the sand blows onto you. However, that is easier said than done."

Dirk quickly crawls under a tarpaulin and demonstrates to them as quickly as he can exactly what they need to do.

"Mr. Lubbe, what must I do if I need to go to the bathroom?"