The Turtle of Oman

As they drive back into the city, Sidi struggles to drive through the sand, and Aref gleefully wonders if they will get suck. Sidi notices that there are no car tracks in the sand and points out that people used to navigate with the sun and stars. Aref wishes that people still did this because it would be more difficult to move around. They stop at a small shop and purchase pumpkin seeds and tangerines, then get back on the road. They stop again the house of an old lady who has melons. Aref wonders if she has running water and is not sure how she waters the melon field. She tries to convince them to buy 10 melons, but they purchase two. Aref learns that she has a well.

On the road, they spot hikers, and Sidi points out that people come from all over the world to visit Oman because it is an exciting place. He thinks that Aref will find America exciting as well. Aref asks about an abandoned boat near the road, and Sidi weaves a story about how it got there, mentioning that the donkeys they see are really looking for a boat craftsman to repair it.