Bzzzz.... The phone on the white table vibrated. A calloused hand, its first knuckle hardened from use, set down a teacup next to the phone. Steam gently rose from the cup.

"Thank you for serving tea as well."

"The situation outside is quite noisy. Shouldn't you attend to it?" 

A man in a white coat peered through the blinds, pulling them back slightly with his fingers. White ash was falling outside. A firm yet wrinkled hand gripped the teacup.

"It must be a call for reinforcements. For whatever reason, the snake has coiled up and refuses to move."

"But still, …