Hilal answered calmly but firmly.
Hilal:
If the soldier at the door smells the cigarette after the lights went out, he'll come in and hang you.
Hanish smiled faintly, put out the cigarette, buried his head in the pillow, and pulled his blanket over his reclining body, surrendering to the darkness that enveloped the place.
Hilal was in his mid-thirties. He was of average height and had a strong body; the muscles stood out, evidence of the heavy lifting he had endured in prison for years. He had short black hair, a medium-length black mustache, and no beard, and fair skin. Hilal settled into his bed, leaning back, and memories of solitary confinement began to creep into his mind, as if the cell itself were reminding him of the past.
A flashback played through his mind, bringing back the
