
HALIMA AND THE SCORPIONS - By Robert Hichens
In the sun‑baked oasis of Touggourt, a humble dancing girl named Halima discovers a curious relic—a hedgehog’s foot set in silver, once blessed by a famed desert marabout for its healing powers. The talisman, once a tribute exchanged among wealthy Aghas and mystics, now hangs from Halima’s jeweled girdle, drawing awe and envy from every quarter of the bustling city, from the market’s Jewish merchants to the foreign traders and the freed locals.
Word of the enchanted foot spreads like a desert storm, sparking scandal and fascination. Halima, proud and defiant, boasts that her modest treasure outweighs rubies and silk, while the city’s elite and the colorful Ouled Naïl dancers watch with hungry eyes. Amid the swirling sands and music of hashish‑smoke cafés, a quiet singer named Ben‑Abid observes the drama, hinting that the foot’s fate may soon ripple beyond the oasis.
Full title
Halima And The Scorpions 1905 1905
Language
en
Duration
~21 minutes (20K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Widger
Release date
Nov 8, 2007
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1864–1950
Best known for stylish, atmospheric novels such as The Green Carnation and The Garden of Allah, this English writer moved easily between satire, travel, romance, and the supernatural. His books often drew on vivid settings in North Africa and on a sharp eye for society and human desire.
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