Partway to the border, as the desert descended into the great southern flats, the Belgians took a wrong turn. When they understood their mistake, they still had plenty of gas, and they set out to retrace their route. This was not easy, since the ground was hard-packed and rocky. But getting lost was part of the adventure, a memorable game for carefree Europeans. We know this because the woman later wrote it down.
People dying of thirst in the desert often leave a written record.
They have time to think. Writing denies the incredible isolation. The Peugeot broke down. The Belgians rationed their water and lay in the shade of a tarpaulin. The Belgians hoped a truck would come along.