The Desert Drum: 1905

"The Desert Drum" by Robert Hichens is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story takes place in the Sahara Desert, revolving around themes of superstition, fate, and the clash between civilization and primal instincts. It explores the profoundly impactful and mystical nature of the desert, particularly focusing on the local belief in the foreboding "desert drum," which signals impending death. The narrative follows a European traveler as he journeys through the harsh landscape of the Sahara, encountering a Spahi (a French soldier) and a prisoner, M'hammed Bouaziz, who was convicted of murder. After a suspenseful evening marked by the haunting sound of a drum that foreshadows death, the traveler wakes to find the Spahi murdered. M'hammed Bouaziz, the prisoner, has escaped, leaving behind chilling evidence of a crime felt throughout the desert. The story emphasizes the inescapability of fate as Bouaziz's journey ultimately leads him back to the consequences of his actions while intertwining themes of love, desire, and the cultural weight of both the Sahara and its people.