I was in the dunes one afternoon, about to head back to camp when along came a camel into my field of view.
It was all alone. Lord knows where it had come from. It has probably escaped some Bedouin herd and wandered off on it's own. I never saw one but other old timers recalled encountering camel trains crossing the desert.
I don't know where this one was going to find water but there was a well somewhere around here, guarded by three Libyan policemen. The Policemen would lay under a tarp shade all day, guarding the pump at the well. The didn't even have a vehicle. A patrol would come along every week or so bringing fresh food and changing out the guards. I really can't imagine that was a posting policemen were eager to receive.
We'd usually drop something off to them also in exchange for water – little things like evaporated milk and tea, or a Libyan coke, occasionally bread. I recall one visit and noticing they only seemed to have one gun, and it was caked in sand. I just can't imagine how bored they must have been.
In the distance you can see the escarpment. This is kind of the reverse angle from the sand dunes in my Life on Mars and On the Edge photos.
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