Haggana | Novel

Darkness began to descend upon the Grand Camp in Chambéry, so the workers lit many torches, welcoming the Haggana band, which carried the smells of the absent soil of their country. They were a mixture of the Hagganas of the East, Upper Egypt, and craftsmen from the city of Rosetta. The workers received them with great warmth and welcomed them intimately, so they embraced without knowing each other before. They smelled from their reddening sweat the fragrant scent of nostalgia to return. Everyone was busy preparing dinner for those arriving who were tired from traveling. Bitter and without waiting for orders from the English or French commanders, they prepared their places to stay, and “Ghallab” wandered among them carrying hills of distress and feeling defeated and not knowing what to do. Smith destroyed the glimmer of hope for a return, so any desire to exchange words with one of the visitors was erased from him. He walked pretending to check on their conditions while his heart played the tunes of despair.