Warfare

Although we were all exhausted, we didn’t have one of our better night’s sleep. I dozed only lightly for the first couple hours, until I was rudely awakened by a painful bite on the cheek. 

I lurched up out of bed slapping my face and just missing the low hanging shelf above my little twin bed. 

Up to this time we hadn’t seen any bugs anywhere at all, but this evening brought a light rain and with it mosquitos. 

I happen to be a mosquito magnet and I’ve often commented that if there was only one mosquito in town it’s going to find me. 

Before leaving the states, I read a news article about how there have been newly reported cases of West Nile Virus in Europe. I was very aware of the danger since I knew those pesky critters would find me as a gourmet delight. 

I sat in the dark, listening carefully, and soon I heard the unmistakable sound of one of those vile demons teasing me, watching me, contemplating me as their prey. 

I flipped on my phone flashlight and careful to not wake Bryan I searched every corner of the room. Fortunately the room was small and bare and had white walls. So if a mosquito landed anywhere then I was sure to find it.

I decided I would have to be tactical.  I laid back in bed and covered myself with a sheet. I breathed heavily under my sheet till the air warmed up and then pulled down the sheet allowing my captured breath to float out above me. I waited about 2 minutes and then quickly shined my phone flashlight at the white shelf above my head. 

It worked!! The pest was there! It was reveling in my exhaust, breathing it in deeply, using my breath to determine its upcoming attack. 

My chance had come. With the speed of a gazelle and the cunning of a fox I slapped the creature flat dead, leaving a fresh bloodstain of victory as a memorial to its well deserved termination.

I cleaned up the mess and then retreated to my bed. While I was still reveling in the grandeur of my sweet victory, I heard the ungodly buzz of yet another intruder near my ear.

With sheer speed unknown even to myself I leapt out of bed and grabbed the light and about gave poor Bryan a shock. It was too late, he was now a part of this battle. It was a matter of life and death. I would not allow a mere insect to bring about our demise. 

Over the course of the next 2 1/2 hours Bryan and I were in an all out war. We again set traps for them and again moved with stealth and speed for the kill. But they learned fast and managed to escape the attacks, retreating to the dark of the wooden ceiling, watching us, mocking us, and plotting their next move.

It was a battle of wits and endurance, a true test of perseverance and preservation, and one we could not afford to loose. One by one these despicable creatures of unending wickedness fell until in the end we were the victors, having defeated 4 evil foes and ridding our domain of these nocturnal beasts of terror. 

We were saved, the others were saved, and the whole of Venice was delivered from these evil beings and from the plaque which might have been. We did well even though we got almost no sleep. We went back to bed with the glorious feeling of victory. All was well again in the world.