Day 256: 21 July 2026

 Short story -- The Oasis

They pulled into the oasis as the sun was rising. The water glistened a clean, sparkling blue. The green fronds of the trees swayed gently in the wind. And the whole group, camels included, seemed to heave a collective sigh of relief and contentment.

Isa dismounted. She was not a morning person. And yet the freshness of the oasis had even her, if not happy, at least not grumbling either. She walked over to one of the smaller side pools, pulling her camel behind her. She got some water for Magnus, her camel, and then she sipped the cool water herself.

Of was then that she noticed a cat watching her.

‘What are you looking at?’ she asked the cat fiercely.

And to her surprise, it answered. ‘You’re the scrawniest human to come this way in a long time,’ it said. After a pause, it continued, ‘How would you like a job? Just a one and done sort of thing. I’ll reward you handsomely.’

‘You insult me. Offer me a job. Tell me you can pay… and you’re a cat!’

‘The offer still stands,’ it replied starting to turn. ‘Think about it.’

‘Wait!’ Isa said. ‘What’s the job and how will I find you?’

The cat looked at her, ‘I require assistance attaining an object. And I will find you when you’re ready.’ And the cat disappeared.

‘I must have slept worse than I thought,’ Isa grumbled. ‘Talking cats hiring people to… to what? … steal?’