“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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