There once lived a man in Basra who wanted to seek his fortune. He always travelled north and soon came to the desert. The journey was long, it was hot and he was thirsty. In front of him was desert, behind him was desert and there was no water anywhere. Suddenly he saw a cloud of dust, and soon he recognised a rider who was riding as fast as a bird flies through the air. He was so happy to see a human being that he called out to the rider and waved him over. The rider rode towards him and the horse stopped in front of him. "Please, can you take me north on your horse. You know, I am in search of happiness, but all around me is desert. I'm tired and thirsty and have no strength left."

"I'll gladly take you with me," said the rider. "But you must know that I am death."

When the man heard this, he was startled. He jumped up, backed away and shouted: "Death? No, then ride on alone and leave me alone!"

"As you wish. But remember, you called me to you." He rode off on his horse as fast as a bird, leaving only a cloud of dust in his wake. But the man continued through the desert, trembling and thirsty. There was no shade and the sun was blazing hot. His steps became slower, heavier and shorter until he fell exhausted into the sand towards evening. In the last light of the sun, the man saw a rider on a lightning-fast horse coming closer. But he was too weak to call out, so he just raised his hand quietly. The rider stopped the horse and came to him. He put his hand over his eyes and said: "Come, now you can find peace. And when he lifted him onto the horse and rode off with him, it seemed to the man that he had never been happier.

Fassung Djamila Jaenike, nach: C. Hassan. N. A. Mustafa, Aku Maku. 42 irakische Märchen, Hanau 2014, englische Fassung Lysander Jaenik ©Mutabor Märchenstiftung