Unknown Story

FIRST ENCOUNTERS WITH THE ENGLISHMAN

JOURNEY TO EAST

TRIBAL WARS AHEAD

ONE NIGHT UNDER A FULL MOON

SANTIAGO READING MORE BOOKS

SANTIAGO RETURNS THE BOOKS

Santiago encounters the Englishman whose head is buried in a book while waiting for a caravan to cross the Sahara Dessert.The Englishmanis on his way to the desert oasis of Al-Fayoum in Egypt to find a 200-year-old master alchemist rumored to know the secret of turning lead to gold.

As the caravan and its mix of animals and 200 passengers start the journey east, the Englishman is preoccupied by a book, hardly noticing the commotion around him. Santiago tries to read but cannot concentrate. With eyes wide open, he soaks up every inch of the expansive desert landscape while observing and getting to know his camel and the travel companions around him.

A camel driver warns of tribal wars ahead, and a sense of fear overtakes the caravan as it trudges through the desert sands. Santiago tries to persuade the Englishman to pay more attention to his surroundings, while the Englishman tells Santiago that he ought to read more about the world.

One night, the Englishman awakens Santiago, who then walks with him along the dunes. Under a full moon, Santiago recounts the story of his journey, which fascinates the Englishman and leads him to compare the boy's experience with a principle in alchemy called the Soul of the World, which works to bring success to all living entities. He says that all entities are part of that soul, so we rarely recognize that it is working for us. The Englishman explains that the Soul of the World was assisting Santiago in the crystal shop, where even the glasses were collaborating in your success.

Santiago takes up the Englishman's suggestion to read more books, starting with a strange collection of stories about mercury, salt, dragons, and kings—essentially, about alchemy. From these books, Santiago learns about the Elixir of Life, the liquid component in alchemy, which cures all illnesses and keeps the alchemist from growing old. He also learns about the solid component, the Philosopher's Stone, which turns base metals to gold.

Frustrated by the complicated drawings and descriptions, however, Santiago returns the books to his friend, and the disappointed Englishman quips that he learned nothing from watching the caravan.