04.09.04 - 19:38

A couple of people have asked about the locust situation, so here goes...

My first visit from locusts was invisible. I was sitting on my "front porch" (aka crumbling concrete slab) on a moonless night when I heard the sound of heavy rain. I was very puzzled, as I could not feel any drops, and I had been led to believe that my sanity was close to par. It was only after I explained the occurence to Yahya that I realized that the "raindrops" were in fact locusts landing in my trees and on my hangar to roost for the night. (I'm not sure that "roost" is the right word for insects, but heck, they ARE as big as birds.)

The locusts, fortunately, have not wreaked havoc on sweet Kankossa. Indeed, I have only seen one or two in the town. However, once out in brousse, they are absolutely everywhere. Locusts, when they are feeling randy, are bright yellow. And they are constantly having relations, the type that committed loving adults share, right there on the ground. Thus making it easier to squash them. (As evidenced by a pair of smashed cockroaches, one is always vulnerable during the act of love. Emotionally and literally.)

The swarms of locusts are actually quite lovely to watch. They hold mass migrations at a human's approach and at dawn and dusk. They literally fill the sky. All taxis brousse are now bespattered with their entrails, often making it difficult to see through the windshield. (Don't worry! The driver can always stick his head out the window to see! As often happens!) Whole fields of plants are shredded by their greed.

When the locusts have finished their mating period, they turn red, then brown. Soon, they'll be gone (inshallah.) Though I've heard they'll be worse next year.

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