“The Dust That Was Barren” is a strange tale of a peculiar incident in the French Foreign Legion. Commandant Le Sage comes across a legionnaire who has fallen behind his comrades and has laid himself down in the sand, saying he is dying. But when the commandant’s back is turned, the legionnaire attempts to shoot him in the head. He misses, and Le Sage whips out his pistol and shoots the treacherous man dead.
Shortly after this, a tombstone appears on the spot on which is written: “On this spot on the 1st of December, 19—, Le Légionnaire Barren was murdered by Captain Le Sage.”
Outraged at the lie, the commandant orders the stone removed and destroyed. But before long a replica stone is erected. This too is removed, and a third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh stone appear to replace the destroyed one. Nobody knows where the stones come from, who makes them, or why they say what they do. And then, one day, the solution to the mystery is explained—and it is a very peculiar tale indeed.
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Percival Christopher Wren (1875–1941) was an English author of thirty-three novels and short stories of adventure fiction, mostly written about colonial soldiers in Africa. He is best know for Beau Geste, written in 1924 about the French Foreign Legion, which was adapted for the screen several times. He was born in Deptford, England. After graduating with an MA from Oxford, he traveled the world for five years before joining the British Cavalry. From there it is believed that he joined the French Foreign Legion, though he kept his membership secret. He worked for ten years in India for the Bombay government before retiring to England to concentrate on his literary career. The success of Beau Geste led to his publication of a series of Foreign Legion novels.
Cathy Dobson is the author of Planet Germany and a narrator of audiobooks.