As you pass the windswept sandhill on the left, swing around to the left and venture further to a distant oasis where you will find a happy commune.

Enter the oasis and you will notice, inhabiting a place near a lagoon, a handful of tents. Near these tents are a few camels happily standing about, doing what camels love doing, chewing their cuds.

Move closer. Here you will hear music and, if you are certain your eyes are not playing tricks, you will be sure the camels are toe-tapping, presenting a scene of peace, harmony and goodwill to all.

In the centre of this happy little commune is a large imposing tent. If you listen carefully, or with not too much effort, whichever is easier, you will notice a stream of happy sounds emanating from within.  This is the abode of Yosef Cameldunk, a much-loved, honoured and valued member of this little gathering.

If you didn't know better, you would think these people were the original party animals.

But believe me when I tell you, this happy scene was not always so.

Born during a time of much social upheaval, Yosef soon learned to live by his wits, his cunning reaching that of near genius.

Alas, his lifestyle soon became alike that of debauchery and greed, gathering possessions and slaves, accumulating wealth and building his own mini-empire, without any concern for the misery of the poor wretches left in his wake. His reputation for callousness toward others and disregard for human life always seemed to precede him wherever he went.

As a wealthy and highly influential merchant, he travelled many lands, witnessing often stranger events than he had ever imagined.

Having influence, and being versed in many a custom of these lands, he soon controlled much, but not without price. Many enemies had he made, so much so, that he had a constant bodyguard, a powerful, evil afrite, the fierce nature of whom struck fear into the hearts of any who should attract his gaze.

It came to pass one day that his bodyguard was set upon by a genie who, in the employ of mysterious beings, banished this afrite to the extremes of this world, to spend an eternity confined within an icy cave far beneath a southern polar region.

As for Yosef, he was stripped of his luxurious attire, down to his under garments, and paraded in front of these mysterious beings.

Here it was decreed the hapless merchant had much to atone for.

Many in this collective believed his very existence should be denied him, others cautioned against such extreme measures, saying perhaps an eternity of humiliation should be more befitting.

These beings, though swift with their judgement, were not entirely without compassion.

There emerged from within the multitude a being, one of such beauty, with tone of voice as if of an angel singing.

At first sight of her Yosef was smitten senseless, such was her overwhelming countenance. Taking pity on him, she removed his humiliation, covering him with a simple cloak.

Then, to the awe of the witnessing collective, she softly kissed Yosef on the cheek. Gasps of amazement, many of disapproval, brought on much murmuring within the multitude.

This kind member of the collective then placed her hand on the bewildered merchant's left shoulder, momentarily paused in reflection, then with unshakable conviction, addressed the puzzled onlookers.

"Hear me, oh noble members. Is there any here who would dispute the fact that, in a time that once was, a creature of the most hideous of countenance was revealed to be such a beautiful creature that kings of many nations would bow down to her?"

"Furthermore, was not this revelation brought about by a simple act of compassion?"

"I plead for merciful compassion for this man and against the sentence you would bestow upon him. Could it be that this creature is of heart that could yet be proven pure?"

From one within the multitude came a response:
"It is true as you relate, fairest of the fair, but was not the creature hideous of countenance yet one purest of heart who had befallen foul of a demon?"

The fair one, known as Seræ, not to be shaken by the response, with soft of voice, yet with eyes of steely resolve, replied::
"But is it also true that one born of a street whore sired by a convicted camel thief is not destined to be favoured by royalty?"

The multitude mumbled among themselves, many appearing to be nodding in agreement with the words of Seræ.

Then the genie spoke:
"I believe the noble defender's intentions to be that of justice, but, by the customs of my nation of which the defendant is a citizen, he must be given punishment."

"I will consent to waver the forfeiture of his existence, but I cannot deny that punishment should still be delivered."

Continuing, he added:
"It is then decreed he will walk the gauntlet of the one-hundred-and-one jeering demons."

Yosef cringed when he heard the sentence, pondering:
"Surely this would be a fate worse than death, walking the line, between all those demons, their horrible haunting thunder-like jeers invading one's mind has sent much stronger men totally insane."

Henceforth Yosef was carried to a distant place not of a land he could call his own, but of one where existed many strange beings. Here he was set down upon the earth, near barren of all but toxic vegetation and without shelter.

Looking around at this inhospitable land, often referred to as the place of the eternal darkness, devoid of all things pleasant, even jokingly referred to by the travel-wise as the land even colour would not dare venture.

Seræ came to him.

Without consent, nor knowledge of the collective or the judging genie, she fetched him a cloak of concealment, not one to deny sight of him, but of such that no sound other than her voice could reach him.

Gladly, he accepted the cloak, pulling it tight around him.

The demons came gliding down from far above, encircling him, screeching and taunting him, glaring him in the eye and feigning assault upon his person.

Then they formed two lines of the gauntlet, daring him to proceed.

Just the sight of them alone, struck terror into his heart, but with resolve, he stood strong and proud, then slowly walked on, determined to move further along, beyond the gauntlet.

Relentlessly they continued taunting Yosef, befouling his name, calling him, among many other nasty names, the offspring of a buttboil. Fortunately he could not hear, as the cloak protected his ears from their obscene noises.

During one curious moment he loosened the cloak, only to have his ears assaulted by the most horrid, evil mind-wrenching sounds he could have ever imagined. Quickly he again secured the cloak.

After what appeared as an eternity, such was the torment, Yosef reached the end of the line. The demons dissolved back into the elements. The merchant removed his cloak of concealment and stood still, breathing out a sigh of relief.

Seræ carried him back to the the land of the collective, placing him before them.

One within the collective approached Yosef, informing him he was free to go.

"Be ye aware, Yosef, your dealings will be more severe should you stray back to your former over-indulgent, repulsive self."

As evening approached, Seræ returned Yosef whence the genie had first abducted him, wished him good fortune, strongly urging him to rethink his future. With a final gesture of concern for his welfare, she softly placed another kiss on his cheek, turned and drifted away into the night, leaving him bewildered.

Regaining his senses, Yosef did something he had not done for a long, long time, not since, when he was a child, his uncle Fesoy and aunt Esyof gave him a pet camel for his birthday . . . . . he smiled.

As Seræ faded away, Yosef, still partially dazed by all that had taken place, made a silent vow that the welfare of his fellow man would be utmost in his mind.

Upon returning to his castle, the centre of his empire in his land, he freed all his slaves, many of whom he kept on as paid servants, sold a good deal of his possessions, gave most of his riches to the less fortunate and started a guild of like-minded merchants.

Thus Yosef become a prominent leader of the community where he lived. Young mothers often presented their babies to him for a kiss.

Today he resides in his modest commune, surrounded by an entourage of men and women striving for truth and justice in the most honourable way.

He is quite inventive, and one day while watching his animals at play, he came up with a design for a super lock.

He named it the dog knot.