My best Camel.

Mali, December 2001 .

I was at the border between Mali and Burkina Faso, at a petrol station. I was shocked by his handcuffs and by his mental problems, as other people around explained; and a bit scared, I confess, when he came towards me. But he was calm when he approached me, with a quietl smile, then asking me with gestures for a cigarette and a photo. I gave and lighted him one of my Camels, getting his smile as a thank-you. Still in my memory and heart, poor man,

Done