THE SPIDER AND ITS YOUNG ONES
The spider was in its secret place. It was guarding its young ones.
A CHAT
Ayman was chatting with an internet friend. He told the friend about his uncle who was a successful businessman.
A PROFESSOR ON HIS WAY TO HAMDAYYA
Ayman noticed an e-mail sent the evening before. It was from Dr Fakhry in Oxford. She said she had discussed the Spider's affair with Professor Malcolm Jones, a well-known arachnologist. He was interested in the matter and believed the spider was an unknown species and might be dangerous. He was on his way to Hamdayya and would arrive there the next morning. Thus, he was about to arrive at any moment. He printed out the e-mail and hurried downstairs.
SHOULD AYMAN TELL THE POLICE?
Ayman went downstairs and met his Uncle Walid. He heard the story of the spider and that Dr Shereen wanted Ayman to tell the police. He looked serious and said he had better not tell the police if he was not completely sure of the matter. It was no good for business in the town. Hotels, restaurants, food products would lose money as this story would worry people. He advised Ayman not to tell anyone outside the family.
AYMAN'S REGRET
Ayman understood his uncle's point of view. He regretted what he had done. However, it was too late. A professor was about to arrive. The spider's story would get into newspapers and business would be harmed. He believed he was a fool.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE PROFESSOR
Ayman showed his family Dr Fakhry's e-mail. They were shocked. At that moment the Professor arrived. They welcomed him. Ayman didn't know what to do.
A SUDDEN CHANGE
Two lorries carrying ten armed police officers in each stopped near the police station. Mohamed came out from the police station and told the family that the two lorries were going to an archaeological site in the desert to stop anyone going near it. It was a dangerous place as the archaeologists at the site were killed by spiders early that morning.
A PHONE TO THE POLICE HEAD
Uncle Walid phoned his friend, Colonel Mikhail, the police chief and became sure of the news. He told the Colonel that there might be danger in their town. He asked him to listen to Ayman who told him everything about the spider. An expert from Oxford University was with him. The Colonel asked to meet Ayman and the expert in his office at the police station.
PROTECTION CLOTHING
The police got protection clothing from the Fire Department. They were used when firemen fought chemical fires. The police would wear them to keep out spiders until the right antivenom could be found.
MEETING THE COLONEL
An officer took Ayman and the Professor to the Colonel's office. With his quick intelligent eyes, the Colonel was judging the usefulness of the two men. He asked if the professor could try to find one of these spiders and identify it, as sending for an expert would take time. The Colonel asked Ayman to go with them to tell if the spider the Professor would find was the same as the one he had seen. They would leave in thirty minutes.
GOING TO THE SITE
When Ayman went home, he found an e-mail from Dr Shereen. As he was in a hurry, he printed it out and took it with him. Three vehicles left the town and were on their way to the archaeological site. Ayman, the Professor, Captain Ahmed and another officer were in the first car. Behind it were the two lorries carrying twenty officers each. Captain Ahmed asked the Professor to tell him everything about spiders
الخميس أبريل 10, 2008 8:36 pm