Patrolling soldiers moved, slamming their boots and sending dust in the air as they marched through the road at the eastern side of the city, where women sat behind staircase-style tables stacked with fresh vegetables and cuts of meats. There were no steams, yet sweet fragrances drifted softly, from that of peppers, herbs, and raw onions. Some of the soldiers passing by slowed their steps, inhaling the scents before moving on.
Four women draped in aprons huddled together, whispering over their baskets instead of calling or attending to customers. Their gossip carried in the small burst of people vanishing without tracks and threw blames on the leadership of the military for recruiting the boy with dual eyes three years ago, concluding that he was the cause of those disappearances.
