By David Allsopp.

It felt like days since Sam’s water had run out, and now the desert just seemed endless. In the beginning, logic dictated that if he just kept going in the same direction he would eventually find something, but time seemed to stretch out until the only certainties were the sun, the moon and the sand.

Dehydrated and exhausted, Sam was now having trouble keeping his focus. All extraneous thought had to be ignored – it was just too tiring. His only objective was to make it over the next sand dune, and then keep repeating that process for as long as he could manage. The sun kept burning away what strength he had left, and he was reduced to an ambling shuffle with just enough momentum to keep him moving forward.

“Come on, Sam,” he thought to himself. “Just one more dune……”

Willing himself across the sand, he made in to the top of the dune and collapsed – rolling forwards down the other side until he lay sprawled on the sand.

Sam knew if he stopped for too long to rest he might not get going again. Opening his eyes, he looked out at the desert in front of him. In the distance he could see something that seemed to defy all logic. On the edge of the next big dune stood a mobile food cart with a big red umbrella.

Sam’s mind fought through the haze to take it in. “…. be a mirage or something…. finally losing my mind…”

His closed his eyes tightly, took a few deep breaths, then took another look.

It was still there. A food cart with a red umbrella – only now he could see a man in a crisp white shirt sitting behind the cart, reading a magazine.

Sam decided that – mirage or no mirage – the food cart was his oasis, and since he had nothing better to do today, he was going to make sure he got there. He summoned whatever strength he had left and pulled himself up. Sam shuffled his way across the sand, with each step the food cart coming into focus more clearly, its existence becoming more solidified as his pace quickened. Finally he reached the food cart and almost collapsed again, but this time he could support himself on the very real and solid counter.

The food cart vendor put his magazine down and looked at Sam. He didn’t seem pleased to be interrupted.

“Good morning. What would you like?”

Sam fought his exhaustion to get the words out. “Water…… I need… water…”

“Still or sparkling?”

“…. just…. water….”

The vendor rolled his eyes before reaching into the cold storage cabinet under the counter and pulling out an ice-cold bottle of water. He placed it on the counter in front of Sam.

“That’ll be $6.50.”

Sam couldn’t believe it. “$6.50….. for water?”

“That’s right, sir.”

“….But I’ve been lost in the desert…. for days…”

“This cart doesn’t just pay for itself, you know. I’ve got supply chain costs to think about.”

Sam just stared at the vendor, dumbfounded. It was too hot to think, let alone argue any further. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, finding inside a crisp $100 note.

The vendor shook his head. “I haven’t got the change for that. Do you have anything smaller?”

Sam sighed and looked in his wallet once more. Not finding anything smaller, he pulled out his credit card. “Do you have EFTPOS?”

“Of course”. The vendor almost smiled. Reaching under the counter once more, he retrieved his EFTPOS machine and placed it on the counter. “Do you have your Loyalty Rewards card?”

“….my what card?”

“Loyalty Rewards card. It’s our program where we…”

Sam cut him off. “No. This is my first time here.”

“Very well, Sir. Just insert or swipe your card.”

Sam swiped his credit card through the machine, which emitted a short sequence of beeps.

The vendor looked at the display on the machine. “Sorry, mate. It looks like the line is down.” He pointed towards a cable running away into the desert sands and shrugged his shoulders, then returned to his magazine.

Sam searched his mind for options. “Could I give you an I.O.U.? I’m really thirsty here.”

The vendor didn’t even look up from his magazine. “Sorry sir, we only do that for Loyalty Rewards members.”

Sam opened his mouth to complain but just couldn’t seem to find the words. Turning away, he recommenced his shuffle across the sand. “Come on, Sam,” he thought to himself. “Just one more dune……”