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A MILD ATTACK OF LOCUSTS…1
｛小｝｛说｝｛网｝
the new yorker fiction by doris lessing february 26； 1955
the rains that year were good； they were ing nicely just as the crops needed them—or so margaret gathered when the men said they were not too bad。 she never had an opinion of her own on matters like the weather； because even to know about a simple thing like the weather needs experience； which margaret； born and brought up in johannesburg； had not got。 the men were her husband； richard； and old stephen； richard’s father； who was a farmer from way back； and these two might argue for hours over whether the rains were ruinous or just ordinarily exasperating。 margaret had been on the farm for three years now。 she still did not understand why they did not go bankrupt altogether； when the men never had a good word for the weather； or the soil； or the government。 but she was getting to learn the language。 farmers’ language。 and she noticed that for all richard’s and stephen’s plaints； they did not go bankrupt。 nor did they get very rich； they jogged along； doing fortably。
their crop was maize。 their farm was three thousand acres on the ridges that rise up toward the zambezi escarpment—high； dry； wind…swept country； cold and dusty in winter； but now； in the wet months； steamy with the heat that rose in wet； soft waves off miles of green foliage。 beautiful it was； with the sky on fair days like blue and brilliant halls of air； and the bright…green folds and hollows of country beneath； and the mountains lying sharp and bare twenty miles off； beyond the rivers。 the sky made her eyes ache； she was not used to it。 one does not look so much at the sky in the city。 so that evening； when richard said； “the government is sending out warnings that locusts are expected； ing down from the breeding grounds up north；” her instinct was to look about her at the trees。 insects； swarms of them—horrible！ but richard and the old man had raised their eyes and were looking up over the nearest mountaintop。 “we haven’t had locusts in seven years；” one said； and the other； “they go in cycles； locusts do。” and then： “there goes our crop for this season！”
but they went on with the work of the farm just as usual； until one day； when they were ing up the road to the homestead for the midday break； old stephen stopped； raised his finger； and pointed。 “look； look！” he shouted。 “there they are！”
margaret heard him and she ran out to join them； looking at the hills。 out came the servants from the kitchen。 they all stood and gazed。 over the rocky levels of the mountain was a streak of rust…colored air。 locusts。 there they came。
at once； richard shouted at the cookboy。 old stephen yelled at the houseboy。 the cookboy ran to beat the rusty plowshare； banging from a tree branch； that was used to summon the laborers at moments of crisis。 the houseboy ran off to the store to collect tin cans—any old bits of metal。 the farm was ringing with the clamor of the gong； and the laborers came pouring out of the pound； pointing at the hills and shouting excitedly。 soon they had all e up to the house； and richard and old stephen were giving them orders： hurry； hurry； hurry。
and off they ran again； the two white men with them； and in a few minutes margaret could see the smoke of fires rising from all around the farmlands。 when the government warnings came； piles of wood and grass had been prepared in every cultivated field。 there were seven patches of bared； cultivated soil； where the new mealies were just showing； making a film of bright green over the rich dark red； and around each patch now drifted up thick clouds of smoke。 the men were throwing wet leaves onto the fires to make the smoke acrid and black。 margaret was watching the hills。 now there was a long； low cloud advancing； rust…colored still； swelling forward and out as she looked。 the telephone was ringing—neighbors to say； quick； quick； here e the locusts！ old smith had already had his crop eaten to the ground。 quick； get your fires started！ for； of course； while every farmer hoped the locusts would overlook his farm and go on to the next； it was only fair to warn the others； one must play fair。 everywhere； fifty miles over the countryside； the smoke was rising from a myriad of fires。 margaret answered the telephone calls and； between them； stood watching the locusts。 the air was darkening—a strange darkness； for the sun was blazing。 it was like the darkness of a veldt fire； when the air gets thick with smoke and the sunlight es down distorted—a thick； hot orange。 it was oppressive； too； with the heaviness of a storm。 the locusts were ing fast。 now half the sky was darkened。 behind the reddish veils in front； which were the advance guard of the swarm； the main swarm showed in dense black clouds； reaching almost to the sun itself。
margaret was wondering what she could do to help。 she did not know。 then up came old stephen from the lands。 “we’re finished； margaret； finished！” he said。 “those beggars can eat every leaf and blade off the farm in half an hour！ but it’s only early afternoon。 if we can make enough smoke； make enough noise till the sun goes down； they’ll settle somewhere else； perhaps。” and then： “get the kettle going。 it’s thirsty work； this。”
so margaret went to the kitchen and stoked up the fire and boiled the water。 now on the tin roof of the kitchen she could hear the thuds and bangs of falling locusts； or a scratching slither as one skidded down the tin slope。 here were the first of them。 from down on the lands came the beating and banging and clanging of a hundred petrol tins and bits of metal。 stephen impatiently waited while margaret filled one petrol tin with tea—hot； sweet； and orange…colored—and another with water。 in the meantime； he told her about how； twenty years back； he had been eaten out； made bankrupt by the locust armies。 and then； still talking； he lifted the heavy petrol cans； one in each hand； holding them by the wooden pieces set cornerwise across the tops； and jogged off down to the road to the thirsty laborers。
by now； the locusts were falling like hail on the roof of the kitchen。 it sounded like a heavy sto