Umar had been keeping the maps all through their travels, but it was clear they would only be of general help in this case. He repeatedly consulted Jafar on the matter, and all the storyteller could do was explain patiently that the journal of Ali Maimun was not cooperating. They had no recourse but to travel northwest toward the Altai Mountains until such time as the book decided they needed the information it contained.
They stopped at the first large town they found beyond the northern border of Punjar and purchased a fifth horse so Leila could have her own. They also bought a third tent and restructured the formal sleeping arrangements: Umar and Prince Ahmad shared their tent, as before; Leila and Selima shared the second; and Jafar had the third to himself, along with the packs and s
