Terrorists
A terrorist: one who intentionally and violently destroys the balance of an area which is striving to achieve or has achieved its own internal balance.
Soft murmurings enter my consciousness … almost soothing … until I realize that this is just the way it would begin so long ago when we were regularly assaulted. Could it be beginning once again? The voices become louder and I’m horrified to realize that the assault begins anew. Cut! Whack! Chop! Oh no, not again! Not another descent into total imbalance, total chaos.
But what is this? Is the destruction moving only in one straight line? This is not like before when the whacking and whipping destroyed our entire bush. Are these the same terrorists?
This is how I imagine the land feeling when we first entered the bush of Shabuta. We were cutting bush to establish the boundaries of the site. After that, we were able to proceed in a more caring manner taking time to preserve as much balance in the environment as possible. Much of the work we do every day involves striving for balance.
When I was young, I don’t remember having to concentrate so steadily on seeking balance. Each day from morning through the night I have to make decisions about balance: Can I do one more chore? Can I skip this meal? Can I look up one more thing on the computer? Can we cut this tree down? Can we disturb this ants’ nest to put a building here? How much well water should we use for cleaning and watering plants? Will we throw the environment or ourselves out of balance if we do this one thing? It’s like walking across a “monkey bridge” – Kpawo.
Monkey Bridge
You must measure each step for balance. Now that we’ve achieved a small, but celebratory degree of balance in the bush, even before we can celebrate, we feel the pressure from, of all things, terrorists in the bush!
Bush chickens!! Yes, chickens can be terrorists. I can hear you reminding me, “But I thought you enjoyed the chickens sharing the cultural center and even giving birth in the meditation space.” Well, we didn’t realize that well-fed chickens have large numbers of chicks that grow quickly into demanding roosters and hens. They have a very definite language and while I’m trying hard to improve my Kpelle language skills, I understand more chickenese than Kpelle these days. They are always demanding! In the morning the big rooster comes under the bedroom window crowing so loudly we can’t hear each other speak. When you’re cooking they demand their share. When you’re composting, they take over the whole area leaving little to compost.
Chickens in the Compost
And the most devastating assault is on all the newly sown seed beds. Truly, these free-range chickens are ranging into every area of the farm even if it means the chicks are attacked by chicken predators in the bushiest areas. How do we bring these terrorists into balance?
In the interest of maintaining the balance, we’ve left an area of Shabuta undisturbed. We hoped the wildest of plant life and creatures that couldn’t find balance with us would find balance in that area. We know the foxes that often steal the chickens are there and at one time they declare there were leopards and deer there, but we haven’t seen any or any sign of them. However, wild or tame, the most invasive terrorists at Shabuta are the ants. Of course, here in the bush, there are ants of every size and even the minutest teeny, tiny specklets of ants can terrorize you all day and night. These tiny ones can bite like crazy! Everyone knows about the big driver ants and fire ants, but it takes great patience to figure out these teeny, tinies. One thing I know is that they don’t like water. That has been my guide in bringing some balance to our relationship. And now that you mention it, the steady rains are here and I think I’m bothered less by them than last month.
“It looks like rain, Baba. Can we still go to the ol’ man’s farm down the road? Let’s ask Muru at security if he thinks it will rain.”
“No, no.” You can still make it. It will not rain – only “katakatakata”, no real rain.”
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“Wow, there is a real ditch in the main road now. You go left and I’ll go right.”
“Look at the ol’ man’s farm road all grown up with grass. Looks worse than ours.”
“Kpo,kpo! ‘allo, is the ol’ man there?”
“Welcome! He’s gone to Bomi.”
“How’s the farm?”
“Thank God.”
“Well, let him know we came. We’re trying to go back.”
“Thank you. I’ll tell him you came. The rain is coming now.”
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“What do you say about rain now, Muru?”
“Katakatakata!”
“Hah! If we can just make it inside….”
The chickens have taken cover, the ants have taken cover, and it’s wonderful to watch the deluge from the inside looking out.
The Deluge
Everything’s in balance – for now.
Indigo Sky 