Heated
discussion broke out Tuesday morning (October 15) at the Khan on Hwy. 61
(commonly known as
Chamoun's Rest Haven) between several camel herders
and plow jockeys over recent news of a camel trade in Muscat, Oman (see related article).
As the first cups of java were being poured and sipped, and sluggish
minds struggled to regain control over the breaking day, wilderness guide
Willie Campassi expressed dismay at hearing about a camel
being sold for $390,000. It seems Mr. Willie was distraught over some bickering
he was having about buying a new pickup truck. He also expressed envy at some
extravagant "yatch-es"(as he called them) he saw floating down the
River.
Chafik "Akabah"Chamoun, owner of the khan,
then instigated a controversy by asking the question, "Which you think iz
faster? A camel? Or a horse?"
First to offer an opinion in firm
confidence was lettuce trader Bobby Huggins: "Why any
good American - specially a Southern American - knows a horse is faster."
"I
dun know...," mumbled the proprietor, puffing serenely on a brown wrapped
turkish cigarrette. " Them camels pretty fast, and they ken go long
ways...Ships of the desert, they're called."
"$390,000 fer a
camel..."grumbled Willie.
George Garst, a self-acknowledged expert of global
weather conditions, offered the assumption that probably, in the desert, the
camel would win since he could carry more water. His table companion, James
Masey affirmed George's input with a cooperative nod.
From the other end of the room, the feudal landlord, Buck
Falls quickly sided with the fruit peddler: "Now even in Arabia
they ride horses for speed; Arabian horses are highly favored around the world.
Camels are used to carry the baggage."
With another puff of smoke,
Chafik mumbled "I dunn know..." with hidden intent not to let this
discussion die. Willie muttered, "$32,000 for a Chevy?" and stared
deep into his half empty coffee mug while Diane Matthews, the khan
serftress queried, "What does Rush Limbaugh know anyway!"
The tension in the atmosphere was noticable enough to cause the
Preacher to look up from his sacred scrolls and compelled him
to interject what he assumed to be the deciding voice. "The horse is
faster!" he declared with ecclesiastical authority as if an angelic choir
echoed a difinative "Amen"behind him. "The Bible tells me so!"
The discussion might have faded into insignificance had not Red
Bradham at that moment entered to assume his daily seat among the town
elders. Akabah was quick to cry out, "Red! What you tink? Is the camel
faster than the horse?"
Without hesitation Red piped up, "Why, I've known the answer to
that since third grade in Midnight. Why a camel of course!" A gloating
smile broke on the Lebanese innkeeper's face as Bradham reinforced his position:
"A camel's legs are twice as long as a horses."
By now the Preacher had packed his books and was heading out the door.
The bell was tolling off in the distance beckoning him to his daily appointment.
But as he passed the innkeeper's register he replied: "What does an auto
parts dealer know about camels or horses? Hmmph!" With that he was out the
door, leaving the troubling issue still unsettled. Certainly this will be
continued...
