January 3rd – The last of the pack animals died during the night. Our guide, Mahmud, finally admits that he has been lost these past few days, but he insists that he now knows where we are. We shall see. This wilderness is a labyrinth of dry wadis and steep cliffs. I cannot comprehend how any man could find his path here.
January 5th – Thirst is our greatest foe now. Le Peu, our Belgian taskmaster has all he can do to keep the bearers from simply lying down and dying on the spot.
January 6th – Our party contains of some of the cruelest and most desperate men recruited from nameless places throughout Europe and Asia. Professor Gulagski, our zoologist, is too terrified to speak to most of them. Yet without their hardness, we would surely perish.
January 7th – Discovered a clearing with several large, deep holes in the ground, each about one meter in diameter. None of the Arabs would go near them nor would our black porters. Professor Gulagski collected stories about the hnoles from the men to add to his journal, q.v. His conclusion about what made the holes is incredible, yet I can see no alternative.
January 8th – The animals we have encountered up to this time have often been remarkable in their size and ferocity. They are unlike any creatures I have seen before in Africa. Again I refer the interested reader to Professor Gulagski’s journal for the details. What an amazing land we pass through.
January 9th – We began this expedition with 140 men. As of this morning, we now number no more than 35. More bearers disappeared during the night. What fools! As if they have any hope of retracing our path without water or weapons. Whatever our fate, it lies before us, not behind. Le Peu is frenzied, threatening the others constantly and whipping them for the slightest offense.
January 11th – At last! Just before sun dropped behind the cursed hills around us, Mahmud, with trembling hand, pointed out the distant walls of a city. Can it be Opra at last? Only the morrow will tell. I can hardly sleep despite my exhaustion.
January 12th – Our camp was attacked at dawn by raiders. Once the men roused from sleep, they beat off the attackers, but there were more casualties, including, I fear dear Professor Gulagski. The raiders were neither Arabs, Madhists, or sub-Saharan natives. I have examined the few bodies they left behind, yet I dare not trust what I saw. It is impossible. I withhold my conclusions until a later time. Perhaps it is the lack of water that is clouding my judgment?
January 13th – No raiders this morning. I assume that the guards were actually awake today. We reached the city wall in mid-afternoon. There is no longer any doubt, it is Opra, the legendary city! A lifetime of effort is rewarded! The men now waste time arguing about treasure, who has claim to what, and so forth. Since we have yet to enter the city itself and cannot be certain what treasures lie within, this is nonsense. I must assert my authority as expedition leader or else we will be standing here outside the gate until dark. What children men can be!.
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The jackal! … It is impossible! Mahmud, Le Peu, the others, all dead. Two bearers and I shall attempt escape. Tell my mother…