CURSE OF THE RED ANTS

Some days are just not our usual "run of the mill"days Instead they seem to be controlled by a mysterious power intent on following an agenda of its own. Those days have the particularity to signal their difference as soon as we, innocent human get out of bed. You may, for instance, unavoidably  hit a corner for every piece of furniture in the house; or find that door handles are determined to catch your sleeve, all for no apparent reason. In my case, it also happens to be the time when most ordinary objects I reach for will rather attempt defying gravity and risk shattering to pieces upon landing on the floor rather than letting me grab them. Go and figure?  I call those "serial days" and today has been one of them with a particular theme: it has been an "insects day".

It all started this morning (it always does). As I was walking through our car porch I almost stepped over a huge rhinoceros that had crawled in there to end its insect life (what did you imagine?) right in front of my black WV beetle. The coincidence did strike me! I picked up the little desperate fellow and placed it on a table top where I knew it would be safe from ants’ attack and find peace to die.

 

                                               "I almost stepped over a huge rhinoceros (beetle!)"
                                                                                     
Just as I was making my way back towards the door that leads to our laundry room I noticed yet another casualty: a large leaf insect that was lying on the concrete path where a column of red scavenger ants was already forming. I often make a point to save ants, simply by ignoring them until they finish whatever task they came to do in my house before they disappear once more; yet I must say that I am often overwhelmed by the absolute cruelty of what they do; when they attack and reap to shreds  injured, yet very much alive creatures.                                                                                     I picked up the martyr by its wings which were closed and gathered above its back; it was still alive. There was nothing I could do to change the fate of my unlikely protégé and yet I wanted to make its passing more humane than that of being eaten alive. I thought of throwing it into the river. I had done that with a small bat that had broken a wing on a ventilator blade (radar error); the red ants had found it within seconds of its fall, and attacked their terrified pray without mercy. This time however I lacked courage and instead I laid the insect on a large tree leaf well above the ground, a safe enough place it seemed to me for it to surrender its little soul to the great universe.
                                                    
                                                            "I picked up the martyr by its wings"


A few minutes later, back inside the laundry room and as the washing-machine had completed its cycle I walked out again with a bucket load of clean laundry in hand. That's when I almost stumbled at the sight of a snake awkwardly rolled up at the bottom of the steps. I ventured to check it out. The reptile appeared bizarrely twisted and inert. It was dead. Probably one of the dogs had dealt with it?I’d have to check them for any symptoms of poisoning. I once, at another address, lost a Cocker Spaniel that had prevented a cobra from entering our kitchen. Malaysia does not authorize the use of anti-venom for pets that sacrifice their life for their mistress.                                                                  Armed with a long metal clip I turned the 45cm long body around. The scales were a beautiful bluish-black with alternate orange markings along both sides all the way from its tail and up to its eyes. I have no idea whether that snake was venomous or not, however I couldn’t help finding it exquisite and likely to inspire a master jeweler.                                                                                                       I disposed of the body by throwing it over the fence and into thick wild bushes.                             When, again, I passed by where I had left the leaf insect, I noticed that at last, it had surrendered its tiny little soul and that it had been able to do so undisturbed. I felt relieved to have been of help.

                                                        
                                                         "The reptile appeared bizarrely twisted and inert."

                                                       
                                                               "I couldn’t help finding it exquisite                                                                                                          and likely to inspire a master jeweler"

                                                                                     
Once I finished hanging the laundry, I went back inside the house still lost in my thoughts over those serial deaths. As I was crossing the living-room I found yet another victim, its amber color wings spread out on the silky fabric of the white sofa. It was a giant dragonfly as they often happen to be here. I turned to look at Caramel, my toy poodle; I needed advice and he seemed as intrigued as I was.”Want to poke it with your nose?”  He gave me a blank look. As I grabbed the dragonfly by one of its wings it suddenly jumped out of its slumber and darted off and out of the open doors, leaving Caramel and I perplexed yet relieved; end of the curse?

                                                         

                                         "amber color wings spread out on the silky fabric of the white sofa"

A familiar ring tone finally called me back to the ordinary world. I hurried towards the console by the window and stopped short of picking up the phone when I realized that a few hundreds of those red ants (my nemesis?) had taken over the receptor, the phone book next to it and even a bouquet of artificial roses! What were they after? Sadly, they left me no other choice than to use the ultimate weapon on them. With a few well aimed sprayed, I decimated a whole army of those mean carnivorous scavengers, at once avenging the unfortunate bat and the leaf insect. All I had left to do was to clean up before returning the call.

I would have liked to find some clever words to end my account of an unusual morning (even by Borneo standards) yet I have to conclude rather in a hurry if I want to avoid being hit on the head, or worse in the eye, by an air ported black bomber bent on attacking me; so ciao for now!