The Monster Snake

passengers, moved steadily along this road, carrying the hustle and bustle of daily life and the diverse faces of each passenger. Behind the wheel sat the driver, a middle-aged man, his eyes fixed

ething within. Behind her, in the seat next to him, sat Hanish al-Ghul, mostly silent, his eyes gazing out at the world through the minibus window. Hanish felt a strange mixture of harmony and unease. The nature around him was enchanting;

athed in the sea air mingled with the scent of s

irely absorbed; his mind remained fixed o

ge sign that read "Marina," as if it

You have a bag up there." Hanish pointed to the blue suitcase fixed to the roof of the minibus. "Yes, the blue one up there." The driver moved quickly, opened the minibus door, got out from behind the wheel, and rose on his tiptoes. He grabbed the suitcase and skillfully lowered it to the ground before handing it to Hanish, who took it in his hands as if it were a

ounded by the enchanting scenery. The sun beat down mercilessly on his head, and his forehead began to beaded with sweat, but he paid it without mind. He slung his bag over his shoulder and crossed the asphalt road, passing cars and pedestrians who sometimes smiled or stared blankly. Hanish stopped in front of one of the tricycle drivers, a youn

d, patting the handl

n, "No, it's close, just ten minutes." He took a step back, then silently shrugged in acceptance. Hanish the Ghoul said, "Okay, then, take me there." The young man sat in the driver's seat, his grip on the handlebars, while Hanish the Ghoul nimbly jumped into the tricycle's cargo box, sitting on

otholes, then curved into another, narrower street where the tight

ad, taking in every detail of the neighborhood that passed before him. He pulled hi

ve arrived." Hamad responde

e bag in front of him, focusing on every movement of the tricycle, every bump, and every turn in the narrow streets. He felt the heat on his back, but this did not prevent him from observing everything aro

ust a space he was traversing, but a living entity, breathing with him, observ

seen, yet becoming more apparent as he drew closer to his destination. Hanish the Ghoul absorbed every movement on the road, every soun

lence between the tricycle's engines. They finally arrived at the street they were looking for, where people gathered at the corner of the café. The tricycle stopped on the street corner in front of the