PART TWO Summary (continued)

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Summary

Santiago goes to the huge white tent at the center of the oasis to see the tribal chieftains. The guard there brings out a young Arab dressed in white and gold. The boy tells this young man what he had seen and the man returns to the tent. They make him wait for hours during which he thinks about all that Fatima has told him, still not completely understanding what she means. Finally Santiago is brought before the eight chieftains. The most important chieftain asks him why the desert would reveal such things to a stranger and Santiago explains that he is unaccustomed to the desert and, therefore, sees things those who have always lived there might not notice.

He also thinks to himself that it was revealed to him, because he knows about the Soul of the World. At first, as the chieftains discuss the situation, Santiago feels as if the omens are beginning to turn bad, but then when the most important chieftain smiles, he begins to feel the vibrations of peace throughout the tent and he knows he is right in coming here.

The most important chieftain then speaks to Santiago about a young man who came to Egypt thousands of years before and was able to interpret dreams. His name was Joseph and he was a stranger in a strange land just like Santiago. Since the time when the Pharaoh believed Joseph's interpretation of his dreams, the people of the desert have observed The Tradition. This concept teaches men how to live and especially how to believe in the messages of the desert. So, the chieftains have decided that they will return weapons to everyone on the oasis for one day. If the tribes attack the oasis, Santiago will receive one piece of gold for every dead enemy soldier. However, if any of those weapons is not used by the end of the day, one will be used on Santiago.

At first, as he walks away from the center tent of the chieftains, Santiago is alarmed that he may have set up his own death. But then he thinks, Maktub, because he remembers how the camel driver had said that every day is there to be lived or to mark's one departure from the world. Santiago has no regrets. Suddenly, he hears a thundering sound and sees an enormous white horse with a horseman dressed all in black astride it. On his shoulder is perched a falcon and he draws an enormous curved sword from a scabbard mounted on his saddle.

He demands to know who dared to read the meaning of the flight of the hawks, so Santiago truthfully admits it is he. The horseman places his sword against Santiago's forehead until it draws a droplet of blood, but Santiago is unconcerned about dying. He knows the Soul of the World awaits him. When the horseman demands, Who are you to change what Allah has willed? Santiago explains that Allah also created armies and hawks and that He had taught Santiago the language of birds. Everything has been written by His Hand.

Then, the horseman admits that he was trying to test Santiago's personal courage, because it is the quality that is most essential to understanding the Language of the World. He tells him that if he is still alive after the warriors come to the oasis, he should come and find him. When Santiago asks where he lives, the man points to the south and the boy knows he has met the alchemist.

Notes

Santiago learns two important lessons in this section: one, he learns that The Tradition of the oasis tribes is very much like the concept of the Soul of the World. It teaches men how to live and is followed very strictly; second, he learns that courage is the most essential quality of the Language of the World. Each man who seeks his Personal Legend must have the courage to face failure or even death or he will never understand that Language. He also has a lesson he has already learned reinforced: death is a part of life and to die one day rather than another is unimportant. It is the here and now that has the greatest impact. So he faces death at the hands of the alchemist on his white horse and with his huge sword and he also faces death if his vision doesn't come to pass. Santiago, however, is unconcerned with either, because he knows he will become part of the Soul of the World.

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Summary

The next morning 500 tribal warriors enter the oasis with weapons hidden in their clothing. They find the center tent empty where they would have attacked the chieftains and then they are surrounded by 2000 men who lived on the oasis. Within a half hour, all but one of the enemy are dead. The one warrior allowed to live for awhile is the commander of the battalion who explains that he and his men had violated "The Tradition" that makes an oasis a neutral territory, because they were starving and thirsty. Unfortunately, violation of The Tradition means death without honor and the commander is hung from a dead palm tree. Santiago is then presented with 50 gold pieces and is asked to become the counselor of the oasis.

Notes

In this section, two lessons are presented: one involves the importance of following The Tradition, or the rules by which men live. It is never to be violated and the consequences of doing so are terrible; the second lesson involves the idea that when you do good things, good comes back to you. Santiago saved the oasis with his vision, even though he was himself in danger of losing his life if he had been wrong, and so he is rewarded with gold and a position of importance on the oasis.