The AlchemistPaulo CoelhoTranslated by Alan R. Clarke. Published 1992. ISBN 0-722-!29!-".PART ONEThe b#y$s na%e &as Santia'#. (usk &as )allin' as the b#y arri*ed &ith his herd(A large group of animals that live together or are kept together as livestock) at an aband#ned( unused) +hur+h. The r##) had )allen in l#n' a'#, and an en#r%#us(Very largein size) sy+a%#re(American plane tree) had 'r#&n #n the s-#t &here the sa+risty(A room in a church where a priest prepares for a service had once )st##d..e de+ided t# s-end the ni'ht there. .e sa& t# it that all the shee- entered thr#u'h theruined 'ate, and then laid s#%e -lanks( long, thin, flat piece of timber,) a+r#ss it t# -re*ent the )l#+k )r#% &anderin' a&ay durin' the ni'ht. There &ere n# l*es in the re'i#n, but #n+e an ani%al had strayed(Move without a specific purpose or by mistake) durin' the ni'ht, and the b#y had had t# s-end the entire ne/t day sear+hin' )#r it. .e s&e-t the )l##r &ith his 0a+ket and lay d#&n, usin' the b##k he had 0ust )inished readin' as a -ill#&. .e t#ld hi%sel) that he uld ha*e t# start readin' thi+ker b##ks1they lasted l#n'er, and %ade %#re +#%)#rtable -ill#&s. It &as still dark &hen he ake, and, l##kin' u-, he +#uld see the stars thr#u'h the hal)-destr#yed r##). I &anted t# slee- a little l#n'er, he th#u'ht. .e had had the sa%e drea% that ni'ht as a &eek a'#, and #n+e a'ain he had a&akened be)#re it ended. .e ar#se and, takin' u- his +r##k(The hooked staff of a shepherd), be'an t# a&aken the shee- that still sle-t. .e had n#ti+ed that, as s##n as he ake, %#st #) his ani%als als# be'an t# stir(A slight physical movement). It &as as i) s#%e %ysteri#us ener'y b#und his li)e t# that #) the shee-, &ith &h#% he had s-ent the -ast t years, leadin' the% thr#u'h the +#untryside in sear+h #) )##d and &ater. 2They are s# used t# %e that they kn#& %y s+hedule,2 he %uttered(Say something in a low or barely audible voice,). Thinkin' ab#ut that )#r a %#%ent, he reali3ed that it +#uld be the #ther &ay ar#und1 that it &as he &h# had be+#%e a++ust#%ed(ustomary or usual! habitual) t# their s+hedule.But there &ere +ertain #) the% &h# t##k a bit l#n'er t# a&aken. The b#y -r#dded("oke #someone) with a finger, foot, or pointed ob$ect) the%,#ne by #ne, &ith his +r##k, +allin' ea+h by na%e. .e had al&ays belie*ed that the shee-&ere able t# understand &hat he said. S# there &ere ti%es &hen he read the% -arts #) hisb##ks that had %ade an i%-ressi#n #n hi%, #r &hen he uld tell the% #) the l#neliness#r the ha--iness #) a she-herd in the )ields. S#%eti%es he uld +#%%ent t# the% #n thethin's he had seen in the *illa'es they -assed.But )#r the -ast )e& days he had s-#ken t# the% ab#ut #nly #ne thin'1 the 'irl, thedau'hter #) a %er+hant &h# li*ed in the *illa'e they uld rea+h in ab#ut )#ur days. .ehad been t# the *illa'e #nly #n+e, the year be)#re. The %er+hant &as the -r#-riet#r #) adry '##ds sh#-, and he al&ays de%anded that the shee- be sheared in his -resen+e, s#that he uld n#t be +heated. A )riend had t#ld the b#y ab#ut the sh#-, and he had takenhis shee- there.2I need t# sell s#%e #l,2 the b#y t#ld the %er+hant.The sh#- &as busy, and the %an asked the she-herd t# &ait until the a)tern##n. S# theb#y sat #n the ste-s #) the sh#- and t##k a b##k )r#% his ba'.2I didn$t kn#& she-herds kne& h#& t# read,2 said a 'irl$s *#i+e behind hi%.The 'irl &as ty-i+al #) the re'i#n #) Andalusia(is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities in Spain,)&ith )l#&in' bla+k hair, and eyes that4a'uely(in a vague way) re+alled the 5##rish(a style of architecture common in Spain) +#n6uer#rs(someone who is victorious by force of arms).27ell, usually I learn %#re )r#% %y shee- than )r#% b##ks,2 he ans&ered. (urin' thet h#urs that they talked, she t#ld hi% she &as the %er+hant$s dau'hter, and s-#ke #)li)e in the *illa'e, &here ea+h day &as like all the #thers. The she-herd t#ld her #) theAndalusian +#untryside, and related the ne&s )r#% the #ther t#&ns &here he had st#--ed.It &as a -leasant +han'e )r#% talkin' t# his shee-.2.#& did y#u learn t# read82 the 'irl asked at #ne -#int.29ike e*eryb#dy learns,2 he said. 2In s+h##l.227ell, i) y#u kn#& h#& t# read, &hy are y#u 0ust a she-herd82The b#y %u%bled(Say something indistinctly and %uietly, making it difficult for others to hear) an ans&er that all#&ed hi% t# a*#id res-#ndin' t# her 6uesti#n. .e&as sure the 'irl uld ne*er understand. .e &ent #n tellin' st#ries ab#ut his tra*els, andher bri'ht, 5##rish eyes &ent &ide &ith )ear and sur-rise. As the ti%e -assed, the b#y)#und hi%sel) &ishin' that the day uld ne*er end, that her )ather uld stay busy andkee- hi% &aitin' )#r three days. .e re+#'ni3ed that he &as )eelin' s#%ethin' he hadne*er e/-erien+ed be)#re1 the desire t# li*e in #ne -la+e )#re*er. 7ith the 'irl &ith thera*en( &f a glossy black color) hair, his days uld ne*er be the sa%e a'ain.But )inally the %er+hant a--eared, and asked the b#y t# shear )#ur shee-. .e -aid )#r the#l and asked the she-herd t# +#%e ba+k the )#ll#&in' year.And n#& it &as #nly )#ur days be)#re he uld be ba+k in that sa%e *illa'e. .e &ase/+ited, and at the sa%e ti%e uneasy1 %aybe the 'irl had already )#r'#tten hi%. 9#ts #)she-herds -assed thr#u'h, sellin' their #l.2It d#esn$t %atter,2 he said t# his shee-. 2I kn#& #ther 'irls in #ther -la+es.2But in his heart he kne& that it did %atter. And he kne& that she-herds, like sea%en andlike tra*elin' sales%en, al&ays )#und a t#&n &here there &as s#%e#ne &h# +#uld %akethe% )#r'et the 0#ys #) +are)ree &anderin'.The day &as da&nin':The beginning or first appearance of something), and the she-herd ur'ed(to persuade #someone) to do something) his shee- in the dire+ti#n #) the sun. Theyne*er ha*e t# %ake any de+isi#ns, he th#u'ht. 5aybe that$s &hy they al&ays stay +l#se t#%e.The #nly thin's that +#n+erned the shee- &ere )##d and &ater. As l#n' as the b#y kne&h#& t# )ind the best -astures in Andalusia, they uld be his )riends. ;es, their days&ere all the sa%e, &ith the see%in'ly endless h#urs bet&een sunrise and dusk< and theyhad ne*er read a b##k in their y#un' li*es, and didn$t understand &hen the b#y t#ld the%ab#ut the si'hts #) the +ities. They &ere +#ntent &ith 0ust )##d and &ater, and, ine/+han'e, they 'ener#usly 'a*e #) their #l, their +#%-any, and=#n+e in a &hile=their %eat.I) I be+a%e a %#nster t#day, and de+ided t# kill the%, #ne by #ne, they uld be+#%ea&are #nly a)ter %#st #) the )l#+k had been slau'htered, th#u'ht the b#y. They trust %e,and they$*e )#r'#tten h#& t# rely #n their #&n instin+ts, be+ause I lead the% t#'( n#urish%ent(The substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition(food).The b#y &as sur-rised at his th#u'hts. 5aybe the +hur+h, &ith the sy+a%#re 'r#&in')r#% &ithin, had been haunted. It had +aused hi% t# ha*e the sa%e drea% )#r a se+#ndti%e, and it &as +ausin' hi% t# )eel an'er t#&ard his )aith)ul +#%-ani#ns. .e drank a bit)r#% the &ine that re%ained )r#% his dinner #) the ni'ht be)#re, and he 'athered his1. 0a+ket +l#ser t# his b#dy. .e kne& that a )e& h#urs )r#% n#&, &ith the sun at its 3enith(The highest point reached any ob$ect) the heat uld be s# 'reat that he uld n#tbe able t# lead his )l#+k a+r#ss the )ields. It &as the ti%e #) day &hen all #) S-ain sle-t durin' the su%%er. The heat lasted until ni'ht)all, and all that ti%e he had t# +arry his 0a+ket. But &hen he th#u'ht t# +#%-lain ab#ut the burden #) its &ei'ht, he re%e%bered that, be+ause he had the 0a+ket, he had'( &ithst##d(&ffer strong resistance or opposition to #someone or something)() the +#ld #) the da&n.7e ha*e t# be -re-ared )#r +han'e, he th#u'ht, and he &as 'rate)ul )#r the0a+ket$s &ei'ht and &ar%th.The 0a+ket had a -ur-#se, and s# did the b#y. .is -ur-#se in li)e &as t# tra*el, and, a)tert years #) &alkin' the Andalusian terrain, he kne& all the +ities #) the re'i#n. .e &as-lannin', #n this *isit, t# e/-lain t# the 'irl h#& it &as that a si%-le she-herd kne& h#&t# read. That he had attended a se%inary until he &as si/teen. .is -arents had &antedhi% t# be+#%e a -riest, and thereby a s#ur+e #) -ride )#r a si%-le )ar% )a%ily. Theyrked hard 0ust t# ha*e )##d and &ater, like the shee-. .e had studied 9atin, S-anish,and the#l#'y. But e*er sin+e he had been a +hild, he had &anted t# kn#& the rld, andthis &as %u+h %#re i%-#rtant t# hi% than kn#&in' >#d and learnin' ab#ut %an$s sins.?ne a)tern##n, #n a *isit t# his )a%ily, he had su%%#ned u- the +#ura'e t# tell his )atherthat he didn$t &ant t# be+#%e a -riest. That he &anted t# tra*el.2Pe#-le )r#% all #*er the rld ha*e -assed thr#u'h this *illa'e, s#n,2 said his )ather.2They +#%e in sear+h #) ne& thin's, but &hen they lea*e they are basi+ally the sa%e-e#-le they &ere &hen they arri*ed. They +li%b the %#untain t# see the +astle, and they&ind u- thinkin' that the -ast &as better than &hat &e ha*e n#&. They ha*e bl#nd hair,#r dark skin, but basi+ally they$re the sa%e as the -e#-le &h# li*e ri'ht here.22But I$d like t# see the +astles in the t#&ns &here they li*e,2 the b#y e/-lained.2Th#se -e#-le, &hen they see #ur land, say that they uld like t# li*e here )#re*er,2 his)ather +#ntinued.27ell, I$d like t# see their land, and see h#& they li*e,2 said his s#n.2The -e#-le &h# +#%e here ha*e a l#t #) %#ney t# s-end, s# they +an a))#rd t# tra*el,2his )ather said. 2A%#n'st us, the #nly #nes &h# tra*el are the she-herds.227ell, then I$ll be a she-herd@2.is )ather said n# %#re. The ne/t day, he 'a*e his s#n a -#u+h that held three an+ientS-anish '#ld +#ins.2I )#und these #ne day in the )ields. I &anted the% t# be a -art #) y#ur inheritan+e. Butuse the% t# buy y#ur )l#+k. Take t# the )ields, and s#%eday y#u$ll learn that #ur+#untryside is the best, and #ur %en the %#st beauti)ul.2And he 'a*e the b#y his blessin'. The b#y +#uld see in his )ather$s 'a3e a desire t# beable, hi%sel), t# tra*el the rld=a desire that &as still ali*e, des-ite his )ather$s ha*in'had t# bury it, #*er d#3ens #) years, under the burden #) stru''lin' )#r &ater t# drink,)##d t# eat, and the sa%e -la+e t# slee- e*ery ni'ht #) his li)e.The h#ri3#n &as tin'ed(To apply a trace of color to) tint.) &ith red, and suddenly the sun a--eared. The b#y th#u'ht ba+k t# that +#n*ersati#n &ith his )ather, and )elt ha--y< he had already seen %any +astles and %et %any %en :but n#ne the e6ual #) the #ne &h# a&aited hi%se*eral days hen+eA..e #&ned a 0a+ket, a b##k that he +#uld trade )#r an#ther, and a )l#+k #) shee-. But, %#sti%-#rtant, he &as able e*ery day t# li*e #ut his drea%. I) he &ere t# tire #) theAndalusian )ields, he +#uld sell his shee- and '# t# sea. By the ti%e he had had en#u'h#) the sea, he uld already ha*e kn#&n #ther +ities, #ther %en, and #ther +han+es t#be ha--y. I +#uldn$t ha*e )#und >#d in the se%inary, he th#u'ht, as he l##ked at thesunrise.7hene*er he +#uld, he s#u'ht(Attempt to find #something)) #ut a ne& r#ad t# tra*el. .e had ne*er been t# that ruined +hur+h be)#re, in s-ite #) ha*in' tra*eled thr#u'h th#se -arts %any ti%es. The rld &as hu'e and ine/haustible(*nable to be used up because e+isting in abundance)< he had #nly t# all#& his shee- t# set the r#ute )#r a &hile, and heuld dis+#*er #ther interestin' thin's. The -r#ble% is that they d#n$t e*en reali3e thatthey$re &alkin' a ne& r#ad e*ery day. They d#n$t see that the )ields are ne& and theseas#ns +han'e. All they think ab#ut is )##d and &ater.5aybe &e$re all that &ay, the b#y %used(Say to oneself in a thoughtful manner). B*en %e=I ha*en$t th#u'ht #) #ther %en sin+e I %et the %er+hant$s dau'hter. 9##kin' at the sun, he +al+ulated that he uld rea+h Tari)a (Tarifa is a small town in the province of ,diz, Andalusia, on the southernmost coast of Spain) be)#re %idday. There, he +#uld e/+han'e his b##k )#r a thi+ker #ne, )ill his &ine b#ttle, sha*e, and ha*e a hair+ut< he had t# -re-are hi%sel) )#r his %eetin' &ith the 'irl, and he didn$t &ant t# think ab#ut the -#ssibility thats#%e #ther she-herd, &ith a lar'er )l#+k #) shee-, had arri*ed there be)#re hi% and asked )#r herhand.It$s the -#ssibility #) ha*in' a drea% +#%e true that %akes li)e interestin', he th#u'ht, ashe l##ked a'ain at the -#siti#n #) the sun, and hurried his -a+e. .e had suddenlyre%e%bered that, in Tari)a, there &as an #ld %an &h# inter-reted drea%s.The #ld %an led the b#y t# a r##% at the ba+k #) her h#use< it &as se-arated )r#% herli*in' r##% by a +urtain #) +#l#red beads. The r##%$s )urnishin's +#nsisted #) a table, ani%a'e #) the Sa+red .eart #) Cesus, and t +hairs .The %an sat d#&n, and t#ld hi% t# be seated as &ell. Then she t##k b#th #) his hands in hers, and be'an 6uietly t# -ray.It s#unded like a >y-sy(A member of a traveling people with dark skin and hair) -rayer. The b#y had already had e/-erien+e #n the r#ad &ith >y-sies< they als# tra*eled, but they had n# )l#+ks #) shee-. Pe#-le said that >y-sies s-ent their li*es tri+kin' #thers. It &as als# said that they had a -a+t &ith the de*il, and that they kidna--ed +hildren and, takin' the% a&ay t# their %ysteri#us +a%-s, %ade the% their sla*es. As a +hild, the b#y had al&ays been )ri'htened t# death that he uld be +a-tured by >y-sies, and this +hildh##d )ear returned &hen the #ld %an t##k his hands in hers.But she has the Sa+red .eart #) Cesus there, he th#u'ht, tryin' t# reassure hi%sel). .e didn$t &ant his hand t# be'in tre%blin', sh#&in' the #ld %an that he &as)ear)ul. .e re+ited an ?ur Dather silently.24ery interestin',2 said the %an, ne*er takin' her eyes )r#% the b#y$s hands, and thenshe )ell silent.The b#y &as be+#%in' ner*#us. .is hands be'an t# tre%ble, and the %an sensed it..e 6ui+kly -ulled his hands a&ay.2I didn$t +#%e here t# ha*e y#u read %y -al%,2 he said, already re'rettin' ha*in' +#%e..e th#u'ht )#r a %#%ent that it uld be better t# -ay her )ee and lea*e &ith#ut learnin'a thin', that he &as 'i*in' t## %u+h i%-#rtan+e t# his re+urrent drea%.2;#u +a%e s# that y#u +#uld learn ab#ut y#ur drea%s,2 said the #ld %an. 2Anddrea%s are the lan'ua'e #) >#d. 7hen he s-eaks in #ur lan'ua'e, I +an inter-ret &hat hehas said. But i) he s-eaks in the lan'ua'e #) the s#ul, it is #nly y#u &h# +an understand.But, &hi+he*er it is, I$% '#in' t# +har'e y#u )#r the +#nsultati#n.2An#ther tri+k, the b#y th#u'ht. But he de+ided t# take a +han+e. A she-herd al&ays takeshis +han+es &ith l*es and &ith dr#u'ht, and that$s &hat %akes a she-herd$s li)ee/+itin'.2I ha*e had the sa%e drea% t&i+e,2 he said. 2I drea%ed that I &as in a )ield &ith %yshee-, &hen a +hild a--eared and be'an t# -lay &ith the ani%als. I d#n$t like -e#-le t# d#that, be+ause the shee- are a)raid #) stran'ers. But +hildren al&ays see% t# be able t#-lay &ith the% &ith#ut )ri'htenin' the%. I d#n$t kn#& &hy. I d#n$t kn#& h#& ani%alskn#& the a'e #) hu%an bein's.22Tell %e %#re ab#ut y#ur drea%,2 said the %an. 2I ha*e t# 'et ba+k t# %y +##kin',and, sin+e y#u d#n$t ha*e %u+h %#ney, I +an$t 'i*e y#u a l#t #) ti%e.22The +hild &ent #n -layin' &ith %y shee- )#r 6uite a &hile,2 +#ntinued the b#y, a bitu-set. 2And suddenly, the +hild t##k %e by b#th hands and trans-#rted %e t# theB'y-tian -yra%ids.2.e -aused )#r a %#%ent t# see i) the %an kne& &hat the B'y-tian -yra%ids &ere. Butshe said n#thin'.2Then, at the B'y-tian -yra%ids,2=he said the last three rds sl#&ly, s# that the #ld%an uld understand=2the +hild said t# %e, I) y#u +#%e here, y#u &ill )ind ahidden treasure.$ And, 0ust as she &as ab#ut t# sh#& %e the e/a+t l#+ati#n, I ke u-.B#th ti%es.2The %an &as silent )#r s#%e ti%e. Then she a'ain t##k his hands and studied the%+are)ully.2I$% n#t '#in' t# +har'e y#u anythin' n#&,2 she said. 2But I &ant #ne-tenth #) thetreasure, i) y#u )ind it.2The b#y lau'hed=#ut #) ha--iness. .e &as '#in' t# be able t# sa*e the little %#ney he had be+ause #) a drea% ab#ut hidden treasure@27ell, inter-ret the drea%,2 he said.2Dirst, s&ear t# %e. S&ear that y#u &ill 'i*e %e #ne-tenth #) y#ur treasure in e/+han'e)#r &hat I a% '#in' t# tell y#u.2The she-herd sre that he uld. The #ld %an asked hi% t# s&ear a'ain &hilel##kin' at the i%a'e #) the Sa+red .eart #) Cesus.2It$s a drea% in the lan'ua'e #) the rld,2 she said. 2I +an inter-ret it, but theinter-retati#n is *ery di))i+ult. That$s &hy I )eel that I deser*e a -art #) &hat y#u )ind.2And this is %y inter-retati#n1 y#u %ust '# t# the Pyra%ids in B'y-t. I ha*e ne*er heard#) the%, but, i) it &as a +hild &h# sh#&ed the% t# y#u, they e/ist. There y#u &ill )ind atreasure that &ill %ake y#u a ri+h %an.2The b#y &as sur-rised, and then irritated. .e didn$t need t# seek #ut the #ld %an )#rthis@ But then he re%e%bered that he &asn$t '#in' t# ha*e t# -ay anythin'.2I didn$t need t# &aste %y ti%e 0ust )#r this,2 he said.2I t#ld y#u that y#ur drea% &as a di))i+ult #ne. It$s the si%-le thin's in li)e that are the%#st e/tra#rdinary< #nly &ise %en are able t# understand the%. And sin+e I a% n#t &ise,I ha*e had t# learn #ther arts, su+h as the readin' #) -al%s.227ell, h#& a% I '#in' t# 'et t# B'y-t822I #nly inter-ret drea%s. I d#n$t kn#& h#& t# turn the% int# reality. That$s &hy I ha*e t#li*e #)) &hat %y dau'hters -r#*ide %e &ith.22And &hat i) I ne*er 'et t# B'y-t822Then I d#n$t 'et -aid. It uldn$t be the )irst ti%e.2And the %an t#ld the b#y t# lea*e, sayin' she had already &asted t## %u+h ti%e &ithhi%.S# the b#y &as disa--#inted< he de+ided that he uld ne*er a'ain belie*e in drea%s. .ere%e%bered that he had a nu%ber #) thin's he had t# take +are #)1 he &ent t# the %arket)#r s#%ethin' t# eat, he traded his b##k )#r #ne that &as thi+ker, and he )#und a ben+h inthe -la3a &here he +#uld sa%-le the ne& &ine he had b#u'ht. The day &as h#t, and the&ine &as re)reshin'. The shee- &ere at the 'ates #) the +ity, in a stable that bel#n'ed t# a)riend. The b#y kne& a l#t #) -e#-le in the +ity. That &as &hat %ade tra*elin' a--eal t#hi%=he al&ays %ade ne& )riends, and he didn$t need t# s-end all #) his ti%e &ith the%.7hen s#%e#ne sees the sa%e -e#-le e*ery day, as had ha--ened &ith hi% at the se%inary, they &ind u- be+#%in' a -art #) that -ers#n$s li)e. And then they &ant the -ers#n t# +han'e. I) s#%e#ne isn$t &hat #thers &ant the% t# be, the #thers be+#%e an'ry.B*ery#ne see%s t# ha*e a +lear idea #) h#& #ther -e#-le sh#uld lead their li*es, but n#neab#ut his #r her #&n..e de+ided t# &ait until the sun had sunk a bit l#&er in the sky be)#re )#ll#&in' his )l#+kba+k thr#u'h the )ields. Three days )r#% n#&, he uld be &ith the %er+hant$s dau'hter..e started t# read the b##k he had b#u'ht. ?n the *ery )irst -a'e it des+ribed a burial(The action or practice of interring a dead body) +ere%#ny. And the na%es #) the -e#-le in*#l*ed &ere *ery di))i+ult t# -r#n#un+e. I) he e*er &r#te a b##k, he th#u'ht, he uld -resent #ne -ers#n at a ti%e, s# that the reader uldn$t ha*e t# rry ab#ut %e%#ri3in' a l#t #) na%es.7hen he &as )inally able t# +#n+entrate #n &hat he &as readin', he liked the b##k betteri*e %e %y b##k,2 the b#y said. 2I ha*e t# '# and 'ather %y shee- and 'et '#in'.22>i*e %e #ne-tenth #) y#ur shee-,2 said the #ld %an, 2and I$ll tell y#u h#& t# )ind thehidden treasure.2 The b#y re%e%bered his drea%, and suddenly e*erythin' &as +lear t# hi%. The#ld %an hadn$t +har'ed hi% anythin', but the #ld %an=%aybe he &as her husband=&as'#in' t# )ind a &ay t# 'et %u+h %#re %#ney in e/+han'e )#r in)#r%ati#n ab#uts#%ethin' that didn$t e*en e/ist. The #ld %an &as -r#bably a >y-sy, t##.But be)#re the b#y +#uld say anythin', the #ld %an leaned #*er, -i+ked u- a sti+k, andbe'an t# &rite in the sand #) the -la3a. S#%ethin' bri'ht re)le+ted )r#% his +hest &ith1. su+h intensity that the b#y &as %#%entarily:2or a very short time() blinded. 7ith a %#*e%ent that &as t## 6ui+k )#r s#%e#ne his a'e, the %an +#*ered &hate*er it &as &ith his +a-e. 7hen his *isi#n returned t# n#r%al, the b#y &as able t# read &hat the #ld %an had &ritten in the sand.There, in the sand #) the -la3a #) that s%all +ity, the b#y read the na%es #) his )ather andhis %#ther and the na%e #) the se%inary he had attended. .e read the na%e #) the%er+hant$s dau'hter, &hi+h he hadn$t e*en kn#&n, and he read thin's he had ne*er t#ld 2I$% the kin' #) Sale%,2 the #ld %an had said.27hy uld a kin' be talkin' &ith a she-herd82 the b#y asked, a&ed:A feeling of reverential respect mi+ed with fear or wonder) and e%barrassed. 2D#r se*eral reas#ns. But let$s say that the %#st i%-#rtant is that y#u ha*e su++eeded in dis+#*erin' y#ur destiny.2The b#y didn$t kn#& &hat a -ers#n$s 2destiny2 &as. 2It$s &hat y#u ha*e al&ays &anted t# a++#%-lish. B*ery#ne, &hen they are y#un', kn#&s &hat their destiny is.2At that -#int in their li*es, e*erythin' is +lear and e*erythin' is -#ssible. They are n#ta)raid t# drea%, and t# yearn:Be filled with compassion or warm feeling) )#r e*erythin' they uld like t# see ha--en t# the% in their li*es. But, as ti%e -asses, a %ysteri#us )#r+e be'ins t# +#n*in+e the% that it &ill be i%-#ssible )#r the% t# reali3e their destiny.2N#ne #) &hat the #ld %an &as sayin' %ade %u+h sense t# the b#y. But he &anted t#kn#& &hat the 2%ysteri#us )#r+e2 &as< the %er+hant$s dau'hter uld be i%-ressed&hen he t#ld her ab#ut that@ 2It$s a )#r+e that a--ears t# be ne'ati*e, but a+tually sh#&s y#u h#& t# reali3e y#ur destiny. It -re-ares y#ur s-irit and y#ur &ill, be+ause there is #ne 'reat truth #n this -lanet1 &h#e*er y#u are, #r &hate*er it is that y#u d#, &hen y#u really &ant s#%ethin',it$s be+ause that desire #ri'inated in the s#ul #) the uni*erse. It$s y#ur %issi#n #n earth.22B*en &hen all y#u &ant t# d# is tra*el8 ?r %arry the dau'hter #) a te/tile %er+hant822;es, #r e*en sear+h )#r treasure. The S#ul #) the 7#rld is n#urished by -e#-le$sha--iness. And als# by unha--iness, en*y, and 0eal#usy. T# reali3e #ne$s destiny is a-ers#n$s #nly real #bli'ati#n. All thin's are #ne.2And, &hen y#u &ant s#%ethin', all the uni*erse +#ns-ires in hel-in' y#u t# a+hie*e it.2They &ere b#th silent )#r a ti%e, #bser*in' the -la3a and the t#&ns-e#-le. It &as the #ld%an &h# s-#ke )irst.27hy d# y#u tend a )l#+k #) shee-822Be+ause I like t# tra*el.2The #ld %an -#inted t# a baker standin' in his sh#- &ind#& at #ne +#rner #) the -la3a.27hen he &as a +hild, that %an &anted t# tra*el, t##. But he de+ided )irst t# buy hisbakery and -ut s#%e %#ney aside. 7hen he$s an #ld %an, he$s '#in' t# s-end a %#nth inA)ri+a. .e ne*er reali3ed that -e#-le are +a-able, at any ti%e in their li*es, #) d#in' &hatthey drea% #).2 2.e sh#uld ha*e de+ided t# be+#%e a she-herd,2 the b#y said.27ell, he th#u'ht ab#ut that,2 the #ld %an said. 2But bakers are %#re i%-#rtant -e#-lethan she-herds. Bakers ha*e h#%es, &hile she-herds slee- #ut in the #-en. Parents uldrather see their +hildren %arry bakers than she-herds.2The b#y )elt a -an'(A sudden sharp pain) in his heart, thinkin' ab#ut the %er+hant$s dau'hter. There &as surely a baker in her t#&n. The #ld %an +#ntinued, 2In the l#n' run, &hat -e#-le think ab#ut she-herds and bakers be+#%es %#re i%-#rtant )#r the% than their #&n destinies.2The #ld %an lea)ed thr#u'h the b##k, and )ell t# readin' a -a'e he +a%e t#. The b#y&aited, and then interru-ted the #ld %an 0ust as he hi%sel) had been interru-ted. 27hyare y#u tellin' %e all this82 2 Be+ause y#u are tryin' t# reali3e y#ur destiny. And y#u are at the -#int &here y#u$re ab#ut t# 'i*e it all u-.2 2And that$s &hen y#u al&ays a--ear #n the s+ene822N#t al&ays in this &ay, but I al&ays a--ear in #ne )#r% #r an#ther. S#%eti%es I a--earin the )#r% #) a s#luti#n, #r a '##d idea. At #ther ti%es, at a +ru+ial %#%ent, I %ake iteasier )#r thin's t# ha--en. There are #ther thin's I d#, t##, but %#st #) the ti%e -e#-led#n$t reali3e I$*e d#ne the%.2The #ld %an related that, the &eek be)#re, he had been )#r+ed t# a--ear be)#re a %iner,and had taken the )#r% #) a st#ne. The %iner had aband#ned e*erythin' t# '# %inin' )#re%eralds. D#r )i*e years he had been rkin' a +ertain ri*er, and had e/a%ined hundreds#) th#usands #) st#nes l##kin' )#r an e%erald. The %iner &as ab#ut t# 'i*e it all u-, ri'htat the -#int &hen, i) he &ere t# e/a%ine 0ust #ne %#re st#ne=0ust one more=he uld)ind his e%erald. Sin+e the %iner had sa+ri)i+ed e*erythin' t# his destiny, the #ld %ande+ided t# be+#%e in*#l*ed. .e trans)#r%ed hi%sel) int# a st#ne that r#lled u- t# the%iner$s )##t. The %iner, &ith all the an'er and )rustrati#n #) his )i*e )ruitless years,-i+ked u- the st#ne and thre& it aside. But he had thr#&n it &ith su+h )#r+e that it br#kethe st#ne it )ell u-#n, and there, e%bedded in the br#ken st#ne, &as the %#st beauti)ule%erald in the rld.2Pe#-le learn, early in their li*es, &hat is their reas#n )#r bein',2 said the #ld %an, &ith a+ertain bitterness. 25aybe that$s &hy they 'i*e u- #n it s# early, t##. But that$s the &ay itis.2The b#y re%inded the #ld %an that he had said s#%ethin' ab#ut hidden treasure.2Treasure is un+#*ered by the )#r+e #) )l#&in' &ater, and it is buried by the sa%e+urrents,2 said the #ld %an. 2I) y#u &ant t# learn ab#ut y#ur #&n treasure, y#u &ill ha*et# 'i*e %e #ne-tenth #) y#ur )l#+k.227hat ab#ut #ne-tenth #) %y treasure82The #ld %an l##ked disa--#inted. 2I) y#u start #ut by -r#%isin' &hat y#u d#n$t e*enha*e yet, y#u$ll l#se y#ur desire t# rk t#&ard 'ettin' it.2The b#y t#ld hi% that he had already -r#%ised t# 'i*e #ne-tenth #) his treasure t# the>y-sy.2>y-sies are e/-erts at 'ettin' -e#-le t# d# that,2 si'hed the #ld %an. 2In any +ase, it$s'##d that y#u$*e learned that e*erythin' in li)e has its -ri+e. This is &hat the 7arri#rs #)the 9i'ht try t# tea+h.2The #ld %an returned the b##k t# the b#y.2T#%#rr#&, at this sa%e ti%e, brin' %e a tenth #) y#ur )l#+k. And I &ill tell y#u h#& t#)ind the hidden treasure. >##d a)tern##n.2And he *anished ar#und the +#rner #) the -la3a. The b#y be'an a'ain t# read his b##k, but he &as n# l#n'er able t# +#n+entrate. .e &astense and u-set, be+ause he kne& that the #ld %an &as ri'ht. .e &ent #*er t# the bakeryand b#u'ht a l#a):A %uantity of bread that is shaped and baked in one piece and usually sliced before being eaten() #) bread, thinkin' ab#ut &hether #r n#t he sh#uld tell the baker &hat the #ld %an had said ab#ut hi%. S#%eti%es it$s better t# lea*e thin's as they are, heth#u'ht t# hi%sel), and de+ided t# say n#thin'. I) he &ere t# say anythin', the bakeruld s-end three days thinkin' ab#ut 'i*in' it all u-, e*en th#u'h he had '#tten used t#the &ay thin's &ere. The b#y +#uld +ertainly resist +ausin' that kind #) an/iety )#r thebaker. S# he be'an t# &ander thr#u'h the +ity, and )#und hi%sel) at the 'ates. There &asa s%all buildin' there, &ith a &ind#& at &hi+h -e#-le b#u'ht ti+kets t# A)ri+a. And hekne& that B'y-t &as in A)ri+a.2Can I hel- y#u82 asked the %an behind the &ind#&.25aybe t#%#rr#&,2 said the b#y, %#*in' a&ay. I) he s#ld 0ust #ne #) his shee-, he$d ha*een#u'h t# 'et t# the #ther sh#re #) the strait. The idea )ri'htened hi%.2An#ther drea%er,2 said the ti+ket seller t# his assistant, &at+hin' the b#y &alk a&ay.2.e d#esn$t ha*e en#u'h %#ney t# tra*el.27hile standin' at the ti+ket &ind#&, the b#y had re%e%bered his )l#+k, and de+ided hesh#uld '# ba+k t# bein' a she-herd. In t years he had learned e*erythin' ab#utshe-herdin'1 he kne& h#& t# shear shee-, h#& t# +are )#r -re'nant e&es:A female sheep(), andh#& t# -r#te+t the shee- )r#% l*es. .e kne& all the )ields and -astures #) Andalusia. And hekne& &hat &as the )air -ri+e )#r e*ery #ne #) his ani%als..e de+ided t# return t# his )riend$s stable:A building for keeping animals ) by the l#n'est r#ute-#ssible. As he &alked -ast the +ity$s +astle, he interru-ted his return, and +li%bed the st#ne ra%- that led t# the t#- #) the &all. Dr#% there, he +#uld see A)ri+a in the distan+e. S#%e#ne had#n+e t#ld hi% that it &as )r#% there that the 5##rs had +#%e, t# #++u-y all #) S-ain..e +#uld see al%#st the entire +ity )r#% &here he sat, in+ludin' the -la3a &here he hadtalked &ith the #ld %an. Curse the %#%ent I %et that #ld %an, he th#u'ht. .e had +#%et# the t#&n #nly t# )ind a %an &h# +#uld inter-ret his drea%. Neither the %an n#rthe #ld %an &ere at all i%-ressed by the )a+t that he &as a she-herd. They &ere s#litaryA(3+isting, living)indi*iduals &h# n# l#n'er belie*ed in thin's, and didn$t understand that she-herds be+#%e atta+hed t# their shee-. .e kne& e*erythin' ab#ut ea+h %e%ber #) his )l#+k1 he kne& &hi+h #nes &ere la%e, &hi+h #ne &as t# 'i*e birth t %#nths )r#% n#&, and&hi+h &ere the la3iest. .e kne& h#& t# shear the%, and h#& t# slau'hter the%. I) hee*er de+ided t# lea*e the%, they uld su))er.The &ind be'an t# -i+k u-. .e kne& that &ind1 -e#-le +alled it the le*anter, be+ause #nit the 5##rs had +#%e )r#% the 9e*ant at the eastern end #) the 5editerranean.The le*anter in+reased in intensity. .ere I a%, bet&een %y )l#+k and %y treasure, theb#y th#u'ht. .e had t# +h##se bet&een s#%ethin' he had be+#%e a++ust#%ed(To familiarize, as by constant practice, ) t# and s#%ethin' he &anted t# ha*e. There &as als# the %er+hant$s dau'hter, but she &asn$t as i%-#rtant as his )l#+k, be+ause she didn$t de-end #n hi%. 5aybe she didn$t e*en re%e%ber hi%. .e &as sure that it %ade n# di))eren+e t# her #n &hi+h day he a--eared1)#r her, e*ery day &as the sa%e, and &hen ea+h day is the sa%e as the ne/t, it$s be+ause-e#-le )ail t# re+#'ni3e the '##d thin's that ha--en in their li*es e*ery day that the sunrises. I le)t %y )ather, %y %#ther, and the t#&n +astle behind. They ha*e '#tten used t# %ybein' a&ay, and s# ha*e I. The shee- &ill 'et used t# %y n#t bein' there, t##, the b#yth#u'ht.Dr#% &here he sat, he +#uld #bser*e the -la3a. Pe#-le +#ntinued t# +#%e and '# )r#% thebaker$s sh#-. A y#un' +#u-le sat #n the ben+h &here he had talked &ith the #ld %an, andthey kissed.2That bakerE2 he said t# hi%sel), &ith#ut +#%-letin' the th#u'ht. The le*anter &as still'ettin' str#n'er, and he )elt its )#r+e #n his )a+e. That &ind had br#u'ht the 5##rs, yes,but it had als# br#u'ht the s%ell #) the desert and #) *eiled %en. It had br#u'ht &ith itthe s&eat and the drea%s #) %en &h# had #n+e le)t t# sear+h )#r the unkn#&n, and )#r'#ld and ad*enture=and )#r the Pyra%ids. The b#y )elt 0eal#us #) the )reed#% #) the&ind, and sa& that he +#uld ha*e the sa%e )reed#%. There &as n#thin' t# h#ld hi% ba+ke/+e-t hi%sel). The shee-, the %er+hant$s dau'hter, and the )ields #) Andalusia &ere #nlyste-s al#n' the &ay t# his destiny.The ne/t day, the b#y %et the #ld %an at n##n. .e br#u'ht si/ shee- &ith hi%.2I$% sur-rised,2 the b#y said. 25y )riend b#u'ht all the #ther shee- i%%ediately. .e saidthat he had al&ays drea%ed #) bein' a she-herd, and that it &as a '##d #%en( A phenomenon supposed to 0ndicate good or evil) ).22That$s the &ay it al&ays is,2 said the #ld %an. 2It$s +alled the -rin+i-le #) )a*#rability.7hen y#u -lay +ards the )irst ti%e, y#u are al%#st sure t# &in. Be'inner$s lu+k.227hy is that822Be+ause there is a )#r+e that &ants y#u t# reali3e y#ur destiny< it &hets y#ur a--etite(An instinctive physical desire, especially one for food or drink)&ith a taste #) su++ess.2 Then the #ld %an be'an t# ins-e+t the shee-, and he sa& that #ne &as la%e. The b#y e/-lained that it &asn$t i%-#rtant, sin+e that shee- &as the %#st intelli'ent #) the )l#+k, and -r#du+ed the %#st #l.27here is the treasure82 he asked.2It$s in B'y-t, near the Pyra%ids.2The b#y &as startled( To cause to make a %uick involuntary movement or start). The #ld %an had said the sa%e thin'. But she hadn$t +har'ed hi% anythin'.