the men climbed the hill, and they were tired when they reached the top. but there they saw a crystal shop that offered refreshing mint tea. they went in to drink the tea, which was served in beautiful crystal glasses.

"my wife never thought of this," said one, and he bought some crystal—he was entertaining guests that night, and the guests would be impressed by the beauty of the glassware. the other man remarked that tea was always more delicious when it was served in crystal, because the aroma was retained. the third said that it was a tradition in the orient to use crystal glasses for tea because it had magical powers.

before long, the news spread, and a great many people began to climb the hill to see the shop that was doing something new in a trade that was so old. other shops were opened that served tea in crystal, but they weren't at the top of a hill, and they had little business.

eventually, the merchant had to hire two more employees. he began to import enormous quantities of tea, along with his crystal, and his shop was sought out by men and women with a thirst for things new.

and, in that way, the months passed.

the boy awoke before dawn. it had been eleven months and nine days since he had first set foot on the african continent.

he dressed in his arabian clothing of white linen, bought especially for this day. he put his headcloth in place and secured it with a ring made of camel skin. wearing his new sandals, he descended the stairs silently.

the city was still sleeping. he prepared himself a sandwich and drank some hot tea from a crystal glass. then he sat in the sun-filled doorway, smoking the hookah.

he smoked in silence, thinking of nothing, and listening to the sound of the wind that brought the scent of the desert. when he had finished his smoke, he reached into one of his pockets, and sat there for a few moments, regarding what he had withdrawn.

it was a bundle of money. enough to buy himself a hundred and twenty sheep, a return ticket, and a license to import products from africa into his own country.

he waited patiently for the merchant to awaken and open the shop. then the two went off to have some more tea.

"i'm leaving today," said the boy. "i have the money i need to buy my sheep. and you have the money you need to go to mecca."

the old man said nothing.

"will you give me your blessing?" asked the boy. "you have helped me." the man continued to prepare his tea, saying nothing. then he turned to the boy.

"i am proud of you," he said. "you brought a new feeling into my crystal shop. but you know that i'm not going to go to mecca. just as you know that you're not going to buy your sheep."

"who told you that?" asked the boy, startled.

"maktub" said the old crystal merchant.

and he gave the boy his blessing.