``` [August 23, Lost Era 1001, Wind Sand Islet. Clear.
Our first day out of the city.
Damon was generous, giving us enough supplies that we would not have to worry about going hungry on the road to the Great Wall. I even thought he was a little too generous, as though Wind Sand Islet had no need for all this food.
Perhaps he thought this would demonstrate his complete trust and support, but since I already suspected him, it only made me feel that he was hiding some further, unspeakable scheme.
So I told Kandelian and Shedskin to keep a closer watch, especially on any movements within the city. There was no need to tell Uha about my suspicions. His smooth brain would easily give something away and arouse unnecessary suspicion in our traitorous governor.
Whatever the case, I could only leave matters here to them. I had to set out eventually.
The desert was as difficult to cross as ever, but fortunately, nothing happened. Hopefully, this peace would last—]
[The 24th. Sandstorm.
Damn it. A gale blew away my dream of a peaceful journey.
Shalti said I had jinxed us. Dawn said she was used to it.
I supposed there was no point in trying to prove my innocence at a time like this. But as far as I was concerned, I had only made a reasonable analysis of our current circumstances.
This was a desert, after all, and a coastal desert at that! The land was already scorching under the daytime sun. Once cold air from the sea swept inland with the ocean currents, the resulting strong gusts could whip the sand straight off the ground.
So sandstorms were perfectly normal for Wind Sand Islet! But how could this bunch, who never bothered reading, possibly understand the