Johan had woken up, snow outside covering the steps to the porch. The air was cool and refreshing. Johan missed that type of air for some reason. Going through the hallway, he had checked on Maria and made sure she didn't wet the bed again. She had a nasty habit of doing that. Johan's mother told him that it was still okay for a girl her age. As he stepped in the bathroom, brushed his teeth and finished his mourning routine. He called out his wife. Johan hoped she was done cooking the eggs for some reason he was especially hungry this morning. Walking to the kitchen he heard her yelling, "Giovanni wake up!"
With that he didn't hear his wife's gentle voice, but Proffesor Di Sora screaming at him. Johan wasn't in Oslo with his wife. Instead he was sixty kilometers south of Yefren with his expedition. water canisters empty, conditions were harsh and unbearable. The expedition however went on with Di Sora's promises. Getting up drenched with his sweat he walked towards the center of the camp. Where the rest of the expedition had gathered. There Di Sora started explaining what had happened in his talk-fast say-nothing style. After a full ten minutes of explaining Di Sora asked Johan to go back to the Oasis. There they had gotten water yesterday. The men wanted to make camp there but Di Sora insisted they went forward. Later on the men were so exhausted they disobeyed Di Sora and simply set camp. Johan realized it would take an hour to get there and another to get back. However Johan would take any chance to get away from Di Sora's rambling. He he took the canisters mounted the Camel and made his way back to the oasis.
After a long hour of camel-riding he had reached the oasis. Johan wasn't an expert when it came to the art of camel-riding but still managed somehow. He sat down and filled the dozen or so canisters and water tanks. He thought about the purpose of the expedition some more, what was the purpose of it? The last time the Sahara was fertile and ripe for farming was thousands of years. What possible trace of civilization could interest Di Sora so much? The war must of made him crazy, he sure talked about it a lot. After about ten minutes he had finished the task and headed back to his camel. As he got back on it he saw another man approach the Oasis. The man was covered in the traditional Arab robes. The robes though were covered with marks, symbols, letters. The man turned around and Johan saw what appeared to be a large symbol, larger than the rest. A series of what appeared to be circles covering the man's back. Johan bewildered and quite scared of the man rode back to camp. He didn't want to test fate by approaching the man. The desert was home to all sorts of terrifying legends and seasoned men.
When Johan returned to the camp he found Di Sora telling a story. Di Sora went on how he bravely led his men against the horrid Austrians. The fact that anyone was listening to Di Sora was surprising. In the desert nothing was there the keep them from going insane. Di Sora was all they had for entertainment. Di Sora got up and started yelling at him.
"Oh, Ave Maria, Giovanni, Giovanni my good man you have returned, I was telling the expedition on how I bravely led a charge during the Battle of the Isonzo. Regretfully for every Austrian Hound we killed ten more appeared to fight us back. Oh boy did I ever tell you this story. Surrounded by them I threw a grenade and managed to save my entire squadron, One of the men offered their daughters to me due to my bravery and devotion to Italia! Giovanni, Giovanni oh how we were forgotten after the war, however I will give great glory to Italia with this expedition!"
Di Sora turned around and told how he and his friend bravely fought a hundred gypsies after the war on their way to Rome. The men ran to Johan thirsty hoping that Di Sora might shut up seeing the men busy drinking. After a brief session of drinking and eating they had started to plan the next leg on their journey. The guide Ibrahim commented that the next Oasis would be a fourteen hour trip but that around it was a small hamlet with a few houses and farms. However he commented that it was not the one Di Sora wanted to set camp a. With this news the men were happy as they had been exploring for some seventeen days their journey was about to come to an end.
Before the expedition set off Johan took Ibrahim aside asked if Ibrahim knew who the man was, he explained what he saw at the Oasis. Ibrahim replied laughing, "The Cirlces are probably some divine protection, he's harmless Johan. I wouldn't think much of him, he was probably more scared of you than you were of him." Johan fears had been soothed for now. The rest of the expedition packed their bags and gathered around Di Sora. The Professor was calling out Johan to come to him, "Giovanni, Giovanni, Giovanni!"
"IT'S JOHAN YOU OLD FART." Johan screamed the words with everything he had. However the minute the words came out of his mouth he regretted them. Professor Di Sora stood there mouth agape at Johan. The short Italian man started charging at Johan cursing his name.
"Who are you to curse my name! I am the great! I am the great Lorenzo Mario Di Sora! Luogotenente di Reparti d'assalto!