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FacetoFacewithHurricaneCamille
JosephP.Blank
1JohnKoshak,Jr.,knewthatHurricaneCamillewouldbebad.
RadioandtelevisionwarningshadsoundedthroughoutthatSunday,last
August17,asCamillelashednorthwestwardacrosstheGulfofMexico.It
wascertaintopummelGulfport,Miss.,wheretheKosherslived.Alongthe
coastsofLouisiana,MississippiandAlabama,nearly150,000peoplefled
inlandtosafer8round.But,likethousandsofothersinthecoastal
communities,Johnwasreluctanttoabandonhishomeunlessthefamily-
hiswife,Janis,andtheirsevenchildren,abed3to11--wasclearly
endangered.
2Tryingtoreasonoutthebestcourseofaction,hetalkedwithhis
fatherandmother,whohadmovedintotheten-roomhousewiththe
KoshaksamonthearlierfromCalifornia.HealsoconsultedCharlesHill,a
longtimefriend,whohaddrivenfromLasVegasforavisit.
3John,37-whosebusinesswasrightthereinhishome(he
designedanddevelopededucationaltoysandsupplies,andallofMagna
Products'correspondence,engineeringdrawingsandartworkwerethere
onthefirstfloor)--wasfamiliarwiththepowerofahurricane.Fouryears
earlier,HurricaneBetsyhaddemolishedundefinedhisformerhomeafew
mileswestofGulfport(Koshakhadmovedhisfamilytoamotelforthe
night).Butthathousehadstoodonlyafewfeetabovesealevel."We1re
elevated2afeet,"hetoldhisfather,"andwe'reagood250yardsfromthe
sea.Theplacehasbeenheresince1915,andnohurricanehasever
botheredit.We'IIprobablybeassafehereasanyplaceelse."
4TheelderKoshak,agruff,warmheartedexpertmachinistof67,
agreed."Wecanbattendownandrideitout,"hesaid."Ifweseesignsof
danger,wecangetoutbeforedark."
5Themenmethodicallvpreparedforthehurricane.Sincewater
mainsmightbedamaged,theyfilledbathtubsandpails.Apowerfailure
waslikely,sotheycheckedoutbatteriesfortheportableradioand
flashlights,andfuelforthelantern.John'sfathermovedasmallgenerator
intothedownstairshallway,wiredseverallightbulbstoitandprepareda
connectiontotherefrigerator.
6Rainfellsteadilythatafternoon;graycloudsscuddedinfromthe
Gulfontherisingwind.Thefamilyhadanearlysupper.Aneighbor,whose
husbandwasinVietnam,askedifsheandhertwochildrencouldsitout
thestormwiththeKoshaks.Anotherneighborcamebyonhiswayin-land
—wouldtheKoshaksmindtakingcareofhisdog?
7Itgrewdarkbeforeseveno'clock.Windandrainnowwhippedthe
house.Johnsenthisoldestsonanddaughterupstairstobringdown
mattressesandpillowsfortheyoungerchildren.Hewantedtokeepthe
grouptogetherononefloor."Stayawayfromthewindows,"hewarned,
concernedaboutglassflyingfromstorm-shatteredcanes.Asthewind
mountedtoaroar,thehousebeganleaking-therainseeminglydriven
rightthroughthewalls.Withmops,towels,potsandbucketstheKoshaks
beganastruggleagainsttherapidlyspreadingwater.At8:30,power
failed,andPopKoshakturnedontheaenerator.
8Theroarofthehurricanenowwasoverwhelming.Thehouseshook,
andtheceilinginthelivingroomwasfallingpiecebypiece.TheFrench
doorsinanupstairsroomblewinwithanexplosivesound,andthegroup
heardgun-likereportsasotherupstairswindowsdisintearated.Water
roseabovetheirankles.
9Thenthefrontdoorstartedtobreakawayfromitsframe.Johnand
Charlieputtheirshouldersagainstit,butablastofwaterhitthehouse,
flingingopenthedoorandshovingthemdownthehall.Thegeneratorwas
doused,andthelightswentout.Charlielickedhislipsandshoutedto
John."Ithinkwe'reinrealtrouble.Thatwatertastedsalty."Theseahad
reachedthehouse,andthewaterwasrisingbytheminute!
10"Everybodyoutthebackdoortotheoars!"Johnyelled."We'II
passthechildrenalongbetweenus.Countthem!Nine!"
11Thechildrenwentfromadulttoadultlikebucketsinafirebriaade.
Butthecarswouldn'tstart;theelectricalsystemshadbeenkilledbywater.
ThewindwastooStrongandthewatertoodeeptofleeonfoot."Backto
thehouse!"johnyelled."Countthechildren!Countnine!"
12Astheyscrambledback,johnordered,"Every-bodyonthestairs!"
Frightened,breathlessandwet,thegroupsettledonthestairs,whichwere
protectedbytwointeriorwalls.Thechildrenputtheoat,Spooky,andabox
withherfourkittensonthelanding.Shepeerednervouslyatherlitter.The
neighbor'sdogcurledupandwenttosleep.
13Thewindsoundedliketheroarofatrainpassingafewyardsaway.
Thehouseshudderedandshiftedonitsfoundations.Waterincheditsway
upthestepsasfirst-flooroutsidewallscollapsed.Noonespoke.
Everyoneknewtherewasnoescape;theywouldliveordieinthehouse.
14CharlieHillhadmoreorlesstakenresponsibilityfortheneighbor
andhertwochildren.Themotherwasonthevergeofpanic.Sheclutched
hisarmandkeptrepeating,"Ican'tswim,Ican'tswim."
15"Youwon'thaveto,"hetoldher,withoutwardcalm."It'sboundto
endsoon."
16GrandmotherKoshakreachedanarmaroundherhusband's
shoulderandputhermouthclosetohisear."Pop,"shesaid,"Iloveyou."
Heturnedhisheadandanswered,"Iloveyou"-andhisvoicelackedits
usualgruffness.
17Johnwatchedthewaterlapatthesteps,andfeltacrushingguilt.
HehadunderestimatedtheferocitvofCamille.Hehadassumedthat
whathadneverhappenedcouldnothappen.Heheldhisheadbetweenhis
hands,andsilentlyprayed:"Getusthroughthismess,willYou?"
18Amomentlater,thehurricane,inonemightyswipe,liftedtheentire
roofoffthehouseandskimmedit40feetthroughtheair.Thebottomsteps
ofthestaircasebrokeapart.Onewallbegancrumblingonthemarooned
group.
19Dr.RobertH.Simpson,directoroftheNationalHurricaneCenterin
Miami,Fla.,gradedHurricaneCamilleas"thegreatestrecordedstorm
evertohitapopulatedareaintheWesternHemisphere."inits
concentratedbreadthofsome70milesitshotoutwindsofnearly200
m.p.h.andraisedtidesashighas30feet.AlongtheGulfCoastit
devastatedeverythinginitsswath:19,467homesand709small
businessesweredemolishedorseverelydamaged,itseizeda600,
000-gallonGulfportoiltankanddumpedit3-milesaway.Ittorethree
largecargoshipsfromtheirmoorinqsandbeachedthem.Telephone
polesand20-inch-thickpinescrackedlikegunsasthewindssnapped
them.
20TothewestofGulfport,thetownofPassChristianwasvirtually
wipedout.SeveralvacationersattheluxuriousRichelieuApartmentsthere
heldahurricanepartytowatchthestormfromtheirspectacularvantaae
point.RichelieuApartmentsweresmashedapartasifbyagiganticfist,
and26peopleperished.
21SecondsaftertheroofblewofftheKoshakhouse,johnyelled,"Up
thestairs-intoourbedroom!Countthekids."Thechildrenhuddledinthe
slashingrainwithinthecircleofadults.GrandmotherKoshakimulored.
"Children,let'ssing!"Thechildrenweretoofrightenedtorespond.She
carriedonaloneforafewbars;thenhervoicetrailedaway.
22Debrisflewastheliving-roomfireplaceanditschimneycollapsed.
Withtwowallsintheirbedroomsanctuarybeginningtodisintegrate,John
ordered,"Intothetelevisionroom!"Thiswastheroomfarthestfromthe
directionofthestorm.
23Foraninstant,Johnputhisarmaroundhiswife.Janisunderstood.
Shiveringfromthewindandrainandfear,clutchingtwochildrentoher,
shethought,DearLord,givemethestrengthtoendurewhatIhaveto.She
feltangeragainstthehurricane.Wewon'tletitwin.
24PopKoshakragedsilently,frustratedatnotbeingabletodo
anythingtofightCamille.Withoutreason,hedraggedacedarchestanda
doublemattressfromabed-roomintotheTVroom.Atthatmoment,the
windtoreoutonewallandextinguishedthelantern.Asecondwallmoved,
wavered.CharlieHilltriedtosupportit,butittoppledonhim,injuringhis
back.Thehouse,shudderingandrocking,hadmoved25feetfromits
foundations.Theworldseemedtobebreakingapart.
25"Let'sgetthatmattressup!"Johnshoutedtohisfather."Makeita
learvtoagainstthewind.Getthekidsunderit.Wecanpropitupwithour
headsandshoulders!"
26Thelargerchildrensprawledonthefloor,withthesmalleronesina
layerontopofthem,andtheadultsbentoverallnine.Thefloortilted.The
boxcontainingthelitterofkittensslidoffashelfandvanishedinthewind.
Spookyflewoffthetopofaslidingbookcaseandalsodisappeared.The
dogcoweredwitheyesclosed.Athirdwallgaveway.Waterlappedacross
theslantingfloor.Johngrabbedadoorwhichwasstillhingedtoonecloset
wall."Ifthefloorgoes,"heyelledathisfather,"let'sgetthekidsonthis."
27Inthatmoment,thewindslightlydiminished,andthewaterstopped
rising.Thenthewaterbeganreceding.ThemainthrustofCamillehad
passed.TheKoshaksandtheirfriendshadsurvived.
28Withthedawn,Gulfportpeoplestartedcomingbacktotheir
homes.Theysawhumanbodies-morethan130men,womenand
childrendiedalongtheMississippicoast-andpartsofthebeachand
highwaywerestrewnwithdeaddogs,cats,cattle.Stripsofclothing
festoonedthestandingtrees,andblowndownpowerlinescoiledlikeblack
spaqhettiovertheroads.
29Noneofthereturneesmovedquicklyorspokeloudly;theystood
shocked,tryingtoabsorbtheshatteringscenesbeforetheireyes."What
dowedot"theyasked."Wheredowego?"
30Bythistime,organizationswithintheareaand,ineffect,theentire
populationoftheUnitedStateshadcometotheaidofthedevastated
coast.Beforedawn,theMississippiNationalGuardandcivil-defense
unitsweremovingintohandletraffic,guardproperty,setup
communicationscenters,helpclearthedebrisandtakethehomelessby
truckandbustorefugeecenters.By10a.m..theSalvationArmv's
canteentrucksandRedCrossvolunteersandstaffersweregoing
whereverpossibletodistributehotdrinks,food,clothingandbedding.
31Fromhundredsoftownsandcitiesacrossthecountrycame
severalmilliondollarsindonations;householdandmedicalsupplies
streamedinbyplane,train,truckandcar.Thefederalgovernmentshipped
4,400,000poundsoffood,movedinmobilehomes,setupportable
classrooms,openedofficestoprovidelow-interest,long-termbusiness
loans.
32Camille,meanwhile,hadrakeditswaynorthwardacross
Mississippi,droppingmorethan28inchesofrainintoWestVirginiaand
southernVirginia,causingrampaqinqfloods,hugemountainslidesand
111additionaldeathsbeforebreakingupovertheAtlanticOcean.
33LikemanyotherGulfportfamilies,theKoshaksquicklybegan
reorganizingtheirlives,Johndividedhisfamilyinthehomesoftwofriends.
Theneighborwithhertwochildrenwenttoarefugeecenter.CharlieHill
foundaroomforrent.ByTuesday,Charlie'sbackhadimproved,andhe
pitchedinwithSeabeesintheworstvolunteerworkofall-searchingfor
bodies.Threedaysafterthestorm,hedecidednottoreturntoLasVegas,
butto"remaininGulfportandhelprebuildthecommunity."
34Neartheendofthefirstweek,afriendofferedtheKoshakshis
apartment,andthefamilywasreunited.Thechildrenappearedtosufferno
psychologicaldamagefromtheirexperience;theywerestillawedbythe
incomurehensibleoowerofthehurricane,butenjoyeddescribingwhat
theyhadseenandheardonthatfrightfulnight,Janishadjustonedelayed
reaction.Afewnightsafterthehurricane,sheawokesuddenlyat2a.m.
Shequietlygotupandwentoutside.Lookingupattheskyand,without
knowingshewasgoingtodoit,shebegantocrysoftly.
35Meanwhile,John,PopandCharliewerepickingthroughthe
wreckaqeofthehome.Itcouldhavebeendepressing,butitwasn't:each
salvageditemrepresentedalittlevictoryoverthewrathofthestorm.The
dogandcatsuddenlyappearedatthescene,aliveandhungry.
36Butthebluesdidoccasionallyafflictalltheadults.Once,inalow
mood,Johnsaidtohisparents,"Iwantedyouheresothatwewouldallbe
together,soyoucouldenjoythechildren,andlookwhathappened."
37Hisfather,whohadmadeuphismindtostartaweldingshoo
whenlivingwasnormalagain,said,"Let'snotcryaboutwhat'sgone.We'II
juststartallover."
38"You'regreat,"Johnsaid."Andthistownhasalotofgreatpeople
init.It'sgoingtobebetterherethaniteverwasbefore."
39Later,GrandmotherKoshakreflected:"Welostpracticallyallour
possessions,butthefamilycamethroughit.WhenIthinkofthat,Irealize
welostnothingimportant."
(fromRhetoricandLiteraturebyP.JosephCanavan)
NOTES
1.Josephp.Blank:Thewriterpublished"FacetoFacewithHurricane
Camille"intheReader'sDigest,March1970.
2.HurricaneCamille:IntheUnitedStateshurricanesarenamed
alphabeticallyandgiventhenamesofpeoplelikeHurricaneCamille,
HurricaneBetsy,andsoon;whereasinChinaTyphoonsaregivenserial
numberslikeTyphoonNo.1,TyphoonNo.2andsoon.
3.TheSalvationArmy:AProtestantreligiousbodydevotedtothe
conversionof,andsocialworkamongthepoor,andcharacterizedbyuse
ofmilitarytitles,uniforms,etc.Itwasfoundedin1878by"General"Booth
inLondon;nowworldwideinoperation.
4.RedCross:aninternationalorganization(infullInternationalRed
Cross),foundedin1864withheadquartersandbranchesinallcountries
signatorytotheGenevaConvention,forthereliefofsufferingintimeofwar
ordisaster
Marrakech
GeorgeOrwell
1Asthecorpsewentpasttheflieslefttherestauranttable
inacloudandrushedafterit,buttheycamebackafewminutes
later.
2Thelittlecrowdofmourners-allmenandboys,no
women-threadedtheirwayacrossthemarketplacebetweenthe
pilesofpomearanatesandthetaxisandthecamels,wallinga
shortchantoverandoveragain.Whatreallyappealstothefliesis
thatthecorpseshereareneverputintocoffins,theyaremerely
wrappedinapieceofragandcarriedonaroughwoodenbieron
theshouldersoffourfriends.Whenthefriendsgettothe
burying-groundtheyhackanoblongholeafootortwodeep,dump
thebodyinitandflingoveritalittleofthedried-up,lumpyearth,
whichislikebrokenbrick.Nogravestone,noname,noidentifying
markofanykind.Theburying-groundismerelyahugewasteof
hummockvearth,likeaderelictbuilding-lot.Afteramonthortwo
noonecanevenbecertainwherehisownrelativesareburied.
3Whenyouwalkthroughatownlikethis-twohundred
thousandinhabitantsofwhomatleasttwentythousandown
literallynothingexcepttheragstheystandupin--whenyousee
howthepeoplelive,andstillmorehoweasilytheydie,itisalways
difficulttobelievethatyouarewalkingamonghumanbeings.All
colonialempiresareinrealityfoundeduponthisfact.Thepeople
havebrownfaces-besides,therearesomanyofthem!Arethey
reallythesamefleshasyourself?Dotheyevenhavenames?Or
aretheymerelyakindofundifferentiatedbrownstuff,aboutas
individualasbeesorcoralinsects?Theyriseoutoftheearth,
theysweatandstarveforafewyears,andthentheysinkbackinto
thenamelessmoundsofthegraveyardandnobodynoticesthat
theyaregone.Andeventhegravesthemselvessoonfadeback
intothesoil.Sometimes,outforawalkasyoubreakyourway
throughthepricklypear,younoticethatitisratherbumpv
underfoot,andonlyacertainregularityinthebumpstellsyouthat
youarewalkingoverskeletons.
4Iwasfeedingoneofthegazellesinthepublicgardens.
5Gazellesarealmosttheonlyanimalsthatlookgoodtoeat
whentheyarestillalive,infact,onecanhardlylookattheir
hindquarterswithoutthinkingofamintsauce.ThegazelleIwas
feedingseemedtoknowthatthisthoughtwasinmymind,for
thoughittookthepieceofbreadIwasholdingoutitobviouslydid
notlikeme.Itnibblednibbledrapidlyatthebread,thenlowered
itsheadandtriedtobuttme,thentookanothernibbleandthen
buttedagain.Probablyitsideawasthatifitcoulddrivemeaway
thebreadwouldsomehowremainhanginginmid-air.
6AnArabnavvvworkingonthepathnearbyloweredhis
heavyhoeandsidledslowlytowardsus.Helookedfromthe
gazelletothebreadandfromthebreadtothegazelle,withasort
ofquietamazement,asthoughhehadneverseenanythingquite
likethisbefore.FinallyhesaidshylyinFrench:"1couldeatsome
ofthatbread."
7Itoreoffapieceandhestoweditgratefullyinsomesecret
placeunderhisrags.Thismanisanemployeeofthe
municipality.
8WhenyougothroughtheJewishQuartersyougathersome
ideaofwhatthemedievalghettoeswereprobablylike.Undertheir
MoorishMoorishrulerstheJewswereonlyallowedtoownlandin
certainrestrictedareas,andaftercenturiesofthiskindof
treatmenttheyhaveceasedtobotheraboutovercrowding.Many
ofthestreetsareagooddeallessthansixfeetwide,thehouses
arecompletelywindowless,andsore-eyedchildrencluster
everywhereinunbelievablenumbers,likecloudsofflies.Downthe
centreofthestreetthereisgenerallyrunningalittleriverofurine.
9InthebazaarhugefamiliesofJews,alldressedinthelong
blackrobeandlittleblackskull-cap,areworkingindark
fly-infestedboothsthatlooklikecaves.Acarpentersits
crossleggedataprehistoriclathe,turningchairlegsatlightning
speed.Heworksthelathewithabowinhisrighthandandguides
thechiselwithhisleftfoot,andthankstoalifetimeofsittinginthis
positionhisleftlegiswarpedoutofshape.Athissidehis
grandson,agedsix,isalreadystartingonthesimplerpartsofthe
job.
10Iwasjustpassingthecoppersmiths'boothswhen
somebodynoticedthatIwaslightingacigarette.Instantly,from
thedarkholesallround,therewasafrenziedrushofJews,many
ofthemoldgrandfatherswithflowinggreybeards,allclamouring
foracigarette.Evenablindmansomewhereatthebackofoneof
theboothsheardarumourofcigarettesandcamecrawlingout,
gropingintheairwithhishand.InaboutaminuteIhadusedup
thewholepacket.Noneofthesepeople,Isuppose,worksless
thantwelvehoursaday,andeveryoneofthemlooksona
cigaretteasamoreorlessimpossibleluxury.
11AstheJewsliveinself-containedcommunitiestheyfollow
thesametradesastheArabs,exceptforagriculture.Fruitsellers,
potters,silversmiths,blacksmiths,butchers,leather-workers,
tailors,water-carriers,beggars,porters--whicheverwayyoulook
youseenothingbutJews.Asamatteroffacttherearethirteen
thousandofthem,alllivinginthespaceofafewacres.Agoodjob
Hitletwasn'there.Perhapshewasonhisway,however.Youhear
theusualdarkrumoursaboutJews,notonlyfromtheArabsbut
fromthepoorerEuropeans.
12"Yesvieuxmonvieux,theytookmyjobawayfromme
andgaveittoaJew.TheJews!They'retherealrulersofthis
country,youknow.They'vegotallthemoney.Theycontrolthe
banks,finance-everything."
13"But",Isaid,"isn'titafactthattheaverageJewisa
labourerworkingforaboutapennyanhour?"
14"Ah,that'sonlyforshow!They'reallmoneylendersreally.
They'recunning,theJews."
15Injustthesameway,acoupleofhundredyearsago,poor
oldwomenusedtobeburnedforwitchcraftwhentheycouldnot
evenworkenoughmagictogetthemselvesasquaremeal.
squaremeal
16Allpeoplewhoworkwiththeirhandsarepartlyinvisible,
andthemoreimportanttheworktheydo,thelessvisibletheyare.
Still,awhiteskinisalwaysfairlyconspicuous.Innorthern
Europe,whenyouseealabourerploughingafield,youprobably
givehimasecondglance.Inahotcountry,anywheresouthof
GibraltaroreastofSuez,thechancesarethatyoudon'tevensee
him.Ihavenoticedthisagainandagain.Inatropicallandscape
one'seyetakesineverythingexceptthehumanbeings.Ittakesin
thedried-upsoil,thepricklypear,thepalmtreeandthedistant
mountain,butitalwaysmissesthepeasanthoeingathispatch.
Heisthesamecolourastheearth,andagreatdealless
interestingtolookat.
17ItisonlybecauseofthisthatthestarvedcountriesofAsia
andAfricaareacceptedastouristresorts.Noonewouldthinkof
runningcheaptripstotheDistressedAreasButwherethe
humanbeingshavebrownskinstheirpovertyissimplynot
noticed.WhatdoesMoroccomeantoaFrenchman?Anorange
groveorajobinGovernmentservice.OrtoanEnglishman?
Camels,castles,palmtrees,ForeianLeaionnaires,brasstrays,
andbandits.Onecouldprobablylivethereforyearswithout
noticingthatfornine-tenthsofthepeopletherealityoflifeisan
endlessback-breakingstruggletowringalittlefoodoutofan
erodedsoil.
18MostofMoroccoissodesolatethatnowildanimalbigger
thanaharecanliveonit.Hugeareaswhichwereoncecovered
withforesthaveturnedintoatreelesswastewherethesoilis
exactlylikebroken-upbrick.Neverthelessagooddealofitis
cultivated,withfrightfullabour.Everythingisdonebyhand.Long
linesofwomen,bentdoublelikeinvertedcapitalLs,worktheirway
slowlyacrossthefields,tearingupthepricklyweedswiththeir
hands,andthepeasantgatheringlucerneforfodderpullsitup
stalkbystalkinsteadofreapingit,thussavinganinchortwoon
eachstalk.Theploughisawretchedwoodenthing,sofrailthat
onecaneasilycarryitonone'sshoulder,andfittedunderneath
witharoughironspikewhichstirsthesoiltoadepthofaboutfour
inches.Thisisasmuchasthestrengthoftheanimalsisequalto.
Itisusualtoploughwithacowandadonkeyvokedtogether.Two
donkeyswouldnotbequitestrongenough,butontheotherhand
twocowswouldcostalittlemoretofeed.Thepeasantspossess
nonarrows,theymerelyploughthesoilseveraltimesoverin
differentdirections,finallyleavingitinroughfurrows,afterwhich
thewholefieldhastobeshapedwithhoesintosmalloblong
patchestoconservewater.Exceptforadayortwoaftertherare
rainstormsthereisneverenoughwater.Alongtheedgesofthe
fieldschannelsarehackedouttoadepthofthirtyorfortyfeetto
getatthetinytrickleswhichrunthroughthesubsoil.
19Everyafternoonafileofveryoldwomenpassesdownthe
roadoutsidemyhouse,eachcarryingaloadoffirewood.Allof
themaremummifiedwithageandthesun,andallofthemaretiny.
Itseemstobegenerallythecaseinprimitivecommunitiesthatthe
women,whentheygetbeyondacertainage,shrinktothesizeof
children.Onedaypoorcreaturewhocouldnothavebeenmore
thanfourfeettallcreptpastmeunderavastloadofwood.I
stoppedherandputafive-sousoupiece(alittlemorethana
farthinaintoherhand.Sheansweredwithashrillwail,almosta
scream,whichwaspartlygratitudebutmainlysurprise.Isuppose
thatfromherpointofview,bytakinganynoticeofher,Iseemed
almosttobeviolatingalawofnature.Sheaccept-edherstatusas
anoldwoman,thatistosayasabeastofburden.Whenafamily
istravellingitisquiteusualtoseeafatherandagrown-upson
ridingaheadondonkeys,andanoldwomanfollowingonfoot,
carryingthebaggage.
20Butwhatisstrangeaboutthesepeopleistheirinvisibility.
Forseveralweeks,alwaysataboutthesametimeofday,thefile
ofoldwomenhadhobbledpastthehousewiththeirfirewood,and
thoughtheyhadregisteredthemselvesonmyeyeballsIcannot
trulysaythatIhadseenthem.Firewoodwaspassing-thatwas
howIsawit.ItwasonlythatonedayIhappenedtobewalking
behindthem,andthecuriousup-and-downmotionofaloadof
wooddrewmyattentiontothehumanbeingbeneathit.Thenfor
thefirsttimeInoticedthepooroldearth-colouredbodies,bodies
reducedtobonesandleathervskin,bentdoubleunderthe
crushingweight.YetIsupposeIhadnotbeenfiveminuteson
MoroccansoilbeforeInoticedtheoverloadingofthedonkeysand
wasinfuriatedbyit.Thereisnoquestionthatthedonkeysare
damnablytreated.TheMoroccandonkeyishardlybiggerthana
St.Bernarddog,itcarriesaloadwhichintheBritishArmywould
beconsideredtoomuchforafifteen-handsmule,andveryoften
itspacksaddleisnottakenoffitsbackforweekstogether.But
whatispeculiarlypitifulisthatitisthemostwillingcreatureon
earth,itfollowsitsmasterlikeadoganddoesnotneedeither
bridleorhalter.Afteradozenyearsofdevotedworkitsuddenly
dropsdead,whereuponitsmastertipsitintotheditchandthe
villagedogshavetornitsautsoutbeforeitiscold.
21Thiskindofthingmakesone'sbloodboil,whereas-onthe
whole--theplightofthehumanbeingsdoesnot.Iamnot
commenting,merelypointingtoafact.Peoplewithbrownskins
arenextdoortoinvisible.Anyonecanbesorryforthedonkeywith
itsgalledback,butitisgenerallyowingtosomekindofaccidentif
oneevennoticestheoldwomanunderherloadofsticks.
22AsthestorksflewnorthwardtheNegroesweremarching
southward-along,dustycolumn,infantrv,screw-gunbatteries,
andthenmoreinfantry,fourorfivethousandmeninall,winding
uptheroadwithaclumpingofbootsandaclatterofironwheels.
23TheywereSeneaalese,theblackestNegroesinAfrica,so
blackthatsometimesitisdifficulttoseewhereaboutsontheir
necksthehairbegins.Theirsplendidbodieswerehiddenin
reach-me-downkhakiuniforms,theirfeetsquashedintoboots
thatlookedlikeblocksofwood,andeverytinhatseemedtobea
coupleofsizestoosmall.Itwasveryhotandthemenhad
marchedalongway.Theyslumpedundertheweightoftheir
packsandthecuriouslysensitiveblackfaceswereglisteningwith
sweat.
24Astheywentpast,atall,veryyoungNegroturnedand
caughtmyeye.Butthelookhegavemewasnotintheleastthe
kindoflookyoumightexpect.Nothostile,notcontemptuous,not
sullen,noteveninquisitive.Itwastheshy,wide-eyedNegrolook,
whichactuallyisalookof
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