The Monster Snake

silently stepped aside to let them in, his gaze sharp yet c

brief smile, his voic

d, bowing his

w are you,

ace lightly, his eyes taking in the simple walls and the limited amount of furniture. The living room

nish, said in a firm

l be stayin

d and looke

omewhere else to live." He gestured

this

voice filled with

you, Mr

d re

s be t

d Daoud alone. Daoud approached the door and

ht

the first time. All the seats around him were filled with his new security

. Lights twinkled like earthly stars, nightclubs illuminated the horizon, small tourist towns, bridge

ped quietly at the entrance. The supervisor, Sharif, o

and said with

ou

e around the former general, a sixty-year-old with a serious expression and a sharp tone. The general walked past the me

ne

nd pay attention to their duties. The general a

is long. Shave it. S

nd he hasn't had time to shave. Th

of the general's assistants raised his phone camera, taking a group photo of the security personn

f: "Get off here." The bus stopped at one of the villas. A group got off, and the bus continued moving through the village. Sharif, the shift supervisor, continued giving signals and instructions; each group got off at their designated location. One group disembarks at brightly lit villas, another at glittering swimming pools and cheerful surroundings. Then suddenly, part of the road becomes dark, buildings under construction, an atmosphere of

ginning of his responsibility as a guardian, and that the night would reveal many secret

Night

buildings were visible, only shadows and a great deal of silence, broken only by the d

ou

Take Hanish

d Daoud w

called o

oked beh

co

large building from which the sound of heavy machinery and loud noise filled the air. In front of them was a small securit

ou

ed to enter or leave. The machinery inside is operated aut

t immediately using this device. They will send a mainten

he walkie-tal

sh n

ni

y,

he machinery gradually fades. Suddenly, a loud and frightening bark erupts, as if it were coming from inside the cabin itself. Hanish trembled and jumped up from his seat. He stepped out of the cabin and found the dog standing directly in front of him. Hanish inhaled deeply as he looked at the dog and said, "Walk." The dog stared for a moment, then turned and lef