Raïhanyat,

Moroccan Writer Mohamed Saïd Raïhani’s Website

WAITING FOR THE MORNING

(A Collection of Short Stories)

(Stories versus Songs)

TEXT 8:

MONSTER-LAND

Tell all the people that you see
Follow me
Follow me down
Tell all the people that you see
Set them free
Follow me down

(…)

Can't you see the wonder at your feet
Your life's complete
Follow me down

Can't you see me growing, get your guns
The time has come
To follow me down

Follow me across the sea
Where milky babies seem to be
Molded, flowing revelry
With the one that set them free
Tell all the people that you see
It's just me
Follow me down

" Follow me", a song by The Doors

-O brothers! Come and gather around the leader…

-O brothers! The leader’s speech.

- Quiet, please!

The leader’s speech :

"O people! In your raising idols there abides Danger. So, take care of their falling down on you (…). This is my advice to you: Take your distance from me and be prudent in your attachment to me. Be ashamed of your belonging to me as I may be for you a deceiver …"

Excitement :

-What kind of deception is the leader talking about while we are in such a miserable state?

-We have to be a shamed of ourselves…

-We still feel fear from monsters…

-And think only of what can’t provoke them…

-Monsters have extinguished in other peoples' lands, long time ago…

-Why can’t they do the same here?! What’s the difference?!

-That’s our responsibility!

The speech, once more :

O, people! Where to flee, with the sea behind you and the enemy before you? You have nothing left but truth and endurance (…). Be brave and defeat this despot who is thrown to you by his fortified town. It is our chance to do it if you allow yourselves to die for a legitimate cause (…) And take into account that if you endure the little difficulty, you will enjoy life-long pleasures (…) So, do not leave me all alone, you have no more chance than I have (…) And do in mind that I am the first to fulfil what I have invited you to do.. And I am going to fight the despot(…) and kill him(…) If I die after him, you are free(…) And if I pass away before coming to him, you should carry on my will and achieve the most important target: conquering this island and killing the despot.