Anna crawled quietly from her sleeping spot between Akbar and Rahim. Most of the men were still snoring. Only Peter, Judas, and Solomon had woken and gone. Not wanting to wake the others, she slipped underneath the bottom of the tent and into the blush of early morning.

The land, it seemed to her, had changed overnight. Wherever she looked grew thick green trees. Some had broad leaves like flatbreads; others had bare trunks that curved high into the sky where their heads exploded in bursts of blade-like foliage. Between the trees wriggled vines and bushes of every kind. Even the air felt alive and moist. Anna had never seen so many different types of plants. The lush and elaborate display of life astonished her.

Peter arrived with a basket of freshly picked fruit. “Finally! You are awake,” he said. “I thought you might sleep your life away.” He handed her a small golden orb. “Try one,” he said. Anna bit into the skin and a syrupy juice flowed from its pink center. Her tongue stung with flavor. Peter jostled from leg to leg. “Here,” he said, handing her three broad-faced leaves. “They are good for cleaning yourself.”

Anna took the leaves. She marveled at their size. “Where are we?” she asked, her voice croaky from lack of use.

Peter’s eyes grew wide. “So you can talk!” A bright smile slashed across his face. “We are in the oasis, outside of Dara,” he answered. “Have you never been here?” Anna shook her head. Peter’s legs squeezed shut. “I cannot wait,” he said.

Anna followed him into the bushes. Hidden from the others, they lowered themselves and lifted the bottoms of their tunics. Whenever she had to relieve herself, Anna took care to keep folds of material bunched around her middle so as not to expose her sex.

While they waited for their sleepy bowels to move, Anna looked over at her fellow shepherd and noted again their shared features and coloring. They truly looked like siblings. And though Peter stood several inches taller, he was considerably thinner, his arms and legs nowhere near as thick as hers. His slighter build made Anna feel stronger. More sure of herself. More comfortable in the pelt of her disguise.

“So, brother,” Peter said, “now that you have found your voice, why do you not tell me something about yourself?”

The question knocked her fledgling confidence.

Peter waited, then shook his head at her silence. “Maybe you really did fall from the sky,” he said, punching her arm. He stood to readjust his tunic. “Do not be long,” he cautioned. “The others will expect their tea.” He gave her a second glance, as if he had seen something, then disappeared behind a streak of white.

After breakfast, Solomon announced that they would rest for an additional hour since the city was no more than half a day’s journey. Several of the men sat in the shade and began to pray.