The Stone Camels

Polly hopped along the wall beside the little channel. Suddenly she stopped. There were shapes in the rock.

Camels, carved into the wall, as large as real camels. Beside them walked carved men, the merchants of long ago. Wind and rain had worn their faces away, but the legs of the camels were still clear.

Polly stood next to a carved camel foot. It was bigger than she was. She imagined the real caravans passing here, loaded with spices and sweet incense.

The wind moved through the canyon and sounded like slow footsteps. Polly listened for a long time. Then she followed the water channel on.