Editing Hassan (section)

===Napoleon's Field Diary Excerpts===

Napoleon's Field Diary (Interestingly, this would make the 2nd find of such a field diary, whose entries form an interesting contrast to the one kept under lock and key beneath the Louvre)

1st Entry - The sun bakes the sand beneath my feet, and I can't help but feel that the shade of Alexander and his generals watch my every move, judging me from beyond death.

2nd Entry - The March has been long and arduous, my Cavalry are close to exhaustion and the horses of Europe are not used to the desert heat. I have sent several messengers to local settlements, in hopes that they will send us the animals we need.

3rd Entry - I have been repeatedly told that my need for military animals may be met by one single man. Amazing, that the armies of France are to ride on due to the services of one man! I must find him, and hope he does not sell his wares to the Mamelukes before he sells them to me...

4th Entry - I have met with him. Under the shade of palm trees, he met my skepticism with unrelenting enthusiasm. He is like a force of nature, a dealer in promises and camels. I cannot remember the specifics of our agreement but I find myself 100 camels richer tonight.

5th Entry - Another 1000 camels arrived this morning. Truly this man is a god send!

6th Entry - The quarter master complains. Another 5000 camels arrived today and our stock houses are stretched to limit.

7th Entry - I find myself with a conundrum. With all these camels, I am easily the richest man in all of Africa and Egypt. I could sell them now and give myself and all the men under my command lives of luxury. With my camels easily reaching into the tens of thousands now, I could also mount the men on desert ships, and sail towards ancient byzantine on their graceful backs.

8th Entry - Lord Above, he has sent us more camels. Perhaps I misspoke when I said we could use all the camels we could get.

9th Entry - I officially have more camels than men under my command.

10th Entry - I officially have more camels than the men under my command have testicles.

11th Entry - I... may have more camels than the entire human population of the Ottoman Empire. Moving them is an impossible task by itself and my momentum is virtually non-existent. Even my enemies are not free to move, so thick is my herd of camels. I feel I have been outfoxed here somewhere...

(The rest is a sordid tale that describes the fall of the area to camel worship and sadism. Even Napoleon falls prey to the 'charm of camels'. Of the merchant, I have found only scattered details. I will continue to look into it and send any relevant reports back to you. I hear there is a merchant not far from here who fits the description and I find myself in need of a great many camels...)