The elder chief is the leader of the tribal people living in the oasis Al-Fayoum. Santiago goes to the chieftains with his vision of a future in which the oasis, a supposed neutral zone, is attacked by an enemy tribe. The elder chief makes the decision to believe Santiago and to arm his people, but he says that if the prophecy does not come true, Santiago will be killed. The prophecy is fulfilled, and the oasis people are able to hold off the potential invaders.