In the final phase of his work, Karl May ventured into unfamiliar literary territories. The colorful adventure world of travel narratives gradually transformed into a mysterious cosmos full of reflections and symbolic puzzles. All characters and events now took on a profound philosophical, psychological, or historical significance, which often can only be deciphered after thorough engagement with the material. At the same time, increasingly, individuals from May's real life—sometimes more, sometimes less disguised—appeared in the stories and novels. This current volume of collected works is dedicated specifically to the smaller writings from this late phase. The title novella and four additional texts ("Merhameh," "Schamah," "A Christmas Celebration in Damascus," and "The Magic Carpet") lead into the Orient. Here, May captured the images and impressions of his great experiences.