Chapter 8, The Camel Trader of Babylon Summary

Tarkad has lost all his gold and no loner has enough money to buy even the simplest food for himself. Additionally he is in debt to several people and does not have the means to repay them. As he is wandering the streets of the market hoping to find a hand out of food, Tarkad meets Dabasir, one of his creditors. Dabasir invites Tarkad to accompany him to a local tavern so that they can discuss how Tarkad will repay his debt to Dabasir.

While Dabasir enjoys a whole goat leg, Tarkad sits hungrily by and listens as Dabasir relates the story of his own rise from slavery.

As a young man Dabasir took a beautiful wife and tried to provide her with all the things that she desired. For a while he...