Bactrian

When a friend developed an interest in Scythian culture, McKenna handed over her library’s entire section of ancient Central Asian design books — not a book, mind you, but close to a dozen academic works on Bactrian and Thracian art, dress and culture.

He traded our pack mule for a Bactrian camel to help us cross the desert ahead.

Behind him marched the limp Bactrian camel, already packed and ready.

I hugged my Bactrian camel’s limp neck and frantically searched for Mara’s jade sash.

I must have given him a devil’s glare because he raised his hands in surrender and went back to rousing the fainted Bactrian camel.