المحارب من وادي النعامMuharib min Wadi al Na'am

In the novel *The Warrior of Ostrich Valley* (Al-Muharib min Wadi al-Na'am), novelist Ahmed Battah portrays the world of the Moroccan desert as a realm of existence founded upon the principle of "the struggle for survival." Deep within Ostrich Valley—which stretches across the vast desert—emerges a courageous warrior endowed with a supernatural power possessed by no other. He is "The Ostrich Man," whose family and tribe were annihilated by the "Masked Ones" when he was but a child. He would grow up to become "The Great Warrior"—a legendary figure who has traversed the deserts for centuries, whose arrival tribes eagerly await so they may rally around him; for he fears no foe and has never lost a battle. Yet, his ultimate objective remained his confrontation with his family's killers. However, vengeance could not be exacted until "The Prophecy" was fulfilled—a secret known only to "The Wise Elder." Upon finally reaching the Elder, "The Ostrich Man" was instantly recognized; and to confirm his identity beyond doubt, the Elder bade him drink of that boundless blue liquid. The moment the fluid coursed through his veins, he felt an infinite power surge within him—as if the entire desert had been laid bare before his very eyes. Everything became visible to him; he had, at last, discovered the secret of the gateway leading to the domain of the Masked Ones...