“These boys have been bitten by serpents! They are dying! Please, can you do something?”
Damascus, 17th Century
Achmed and his brother Hassan ran across the dry, sun-scorched ground. Laughing and leaping in excitement, they ran toward one of their favorite attractions on long, hot summer days: the snake pit. The snakes were venomous and could kill a full-grown cow within minutes, but these Arab boys had grown up accustomed to such danger. They could outsmart the hissing snakes and kill them quite easily with a sharpened stick or pointy dagger. The snakes were dangerous, but not so much for them.
“Look, they’re moving around a lot today, Achmed!” Hassan stood above the pit and peered down. “Let’s have some fun!”
Achmed passed Hassan his pointed spear and they both twirled their weapons with glee, sizing up their prey.
“Let’s go for the big one over there, Hassan!” Achmed pointed at a particularly large snake. “First let’s get it out and then see how fast it is!”
Create a free account to keep reading.
