Alonzo sat with his back propped against the sand dune and fussed with the snorkel and goggles that were strapped to his face. "The coral in this place is rubbish."
Sitting next to him I looked at the endless sea of sand dunes that surrounded us like the spines of a pod of breaching whales. "Yeah well there isn't a whole lot of water around is there."
"There's loads of it just up there on the horizon."
"I think that's a mirage," I said.
"Mirage you say. Hmmm, I dunno. I think I can see a palm tree or something out there. Now why the hell would my brain make up a palm tree Jerry? It's not like I can eat one or anything," he scratched his beard. "Nope, there's definitely water out there."
I squinted off towards the horizon and tried to make out the up stretched arms of any palm tree silhouettes against the darkening sky.
"It’s a pity about the camels," said Alonzo.
"Yeah, who knew quicksand could drown two fully grown camels in three minutes flat,” I said as I re-wrapped my shirt around my head. “No wonder they were skittish about walking down into that gully. Poor bastards probably knew we were leading them straight to their doom.”
Alonzo threw up his hands and said, "Oh cruel fate. We are shipwrecked Jerry. We are marooned!"
“I knew taking the turn into that gully was a bad idea,” I murmured.
We walked on into the heat haze. After a while Alfonzo suddenly spun around and asked, "Do you have a bottle?"
I paused for a second before answering, "Al I don't think it's safe to drink your own piss."
"Who said anything about drinking our piss?"
"I just assumed–"
"Listen here man! You are a damned lucky fool. You have stuck gold in being stranded in these here dunes with the likes of me. You see I am an intrepid adventurer, a survivor, a true renegade. I am going to save your sorry arse Jerry. You must have faith in me.”
“Sorry Al it’s just that it’s so hot and I’m not thinking–”
“There shall be no apologies! I won’t stand for it man. We must stand together in this mess and we must support each other, prop ourselves up in times of despair. Now if you have a bottle I would very much like to have it. I would like to put a note in it. I will then leave this message in a bottle for someone to find and then they may rescue us."
“Sorry Al but I don’t have a bottle.” Alonzo stamped his foot and surveyed the dunes around us.
After a minute or two I said, “Maybe a note isn’t the best idea. Aren’t there pirates out here in the Western Desert?”
“Pirates you say.” It was Alonzo’s turn to squint towards the horizon through his plastic goggles. “Well if there are pirates here my friend our best chance of survival is to find a place that we can defend together.” Alonzo stood and pointed out over the sands. “Jerry we must walk to the oasis near the sun!”
“I still can’t see palm trees or–”
“Have faith man! Have faith in your old friend Alonzo. I shall save you. I shall lead you out. Follow close, I am your Moses!” Alonzo started marching up the rise of the dune next to us. I watched the trail of long and deep footprints forming in his wake. I adjusted my makeshift turban and started after him.
"What kind of crap is this?” Alonzo said, as he turned his massive goggle-eyes towards me. “There’s not a single bloody angelfish in sight. I tell you Jerry, I’m starting to wonder why the hell I packed my snorkel in the first place."
I kept my head low as we made our way towards the low hanging sun all the while keeping my eyes alert for any signs of fish.