The red-stained western dunes were eating the sun, and the rasping tongue in the desert's hot mouth heralded an approaching sandstorm.

Dismounting from his camel, the traveller quickly set up camp.

The traveller entered his tent as the storm spat its first mouthful of sand at him. He lay back on silk cushions, lit a hookah, and listened to the sand scrabbling impotently on the outside of the tent - it was going to be a long storm.

The traveller felt safe as he puffed contentedly on the hookah, and with far-away eyes, he saw pictures in the fragrant smoke.

Suddenly, two quivering nostrils thrust themselves under the tent's flap, and the camel said, "Master, the storm is fierce, and I cannot breathe. May I please place my nostrils in the tent?"

"Yes, you may, camel."

Later, a pink mouth with a coy smile appeared under the nostrils, and the camel said, "Master, the storm worsens. My throat fills with sand, and I am choking. May I please place my mouth in the tent?"

"Yes, you may, camel."

Later, two shrewd and beady eyes appeared above the mouth, and the camel said, "Master, my tears are mixed with the stinging sand, and I am going blind. May I please place my eyes in the tent?"

"Yes, you may, camel."

Later, two large comical ears appeared behind the eyes, and the camel said, "Master, the wind tears at my ears, and I am going deaf. May I please place my ears in the tent?"

"Yes, you may, camel."

The camel continued his pleading and gradual ingress - next came shaggy shoulders and knobbly front legs. A rotund belly and floppy hump soon followed these. Finally, the only thing that was not in the tent was the camel's tail, which ended in a ridiculous tassel.

The camel grinned toothily at the traveller and gave a mischievous wink. He then flicked his tail into the tent and kicked the traveller out into the storm.

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