The Mesmerizing Necklace of Tail Lights

Chapter One A necklace of tail lights arched across the skyline like a twisted rainbow. No two pairs were quite the same. Red was not always red, but perhaps a shade of orange, a garish green, or even blue. Here and there, the carnival spin of a twirling amusement flashed in a rear window to alleviate the boredom, colored lights bursting like tiny explosive charges. Many vehicles showed no lights at all, either because they were defective or because their drivers found them an unnecessary expense. Makana had had plenty of time to study the subject. Years, in fact, and tonight the Datsun had been stuck in traffic for what felt like hours but was probably only about forty-five minutes. They were now suspended in mid-air on the 6 October flyover in Abbassiya. Like upraised horns, the twinned minarets of the Al Nour Mosque rose up alongside them. The whirling carnival lights around the rear window of the minibus ahead of them were a distraction that ticked away in the back of Makana's head, as was Sindbad's constant stream of earthy comments and philosophical insights. The real focus of his attention was a black car just ahead of them on the right. It was quite a distinctive-looking vehicle. Old, Makana guessed, a testament to its enduring charm and character. (Note: The content above is just a sample and may not be factually accurate or complete. Please adjust and modify as needed.)