In the ninth lesson of Book I of English 1st Year, titled “A Mild Attack of Locusts” by Doris Lessing, the story unfolds with an air of impending calamity. The narrative captures the frenzied atmosphere that engulfs a farm when a locust swarm approaches. As Margaret rushes outside to witness the ominous sight of locusts descending upon the hills, the entire household, including the servants, is drawn to the spectacle. Panic sets in as they realize the impending danger, and frantic commands are issued to prepare for battle.
The cookboy’s clang of an old ploughshare summons laborers, while the houseboy scours the store for tin cans and bits of metal to create noise. The farm echoes with the urgency of the situation as laborers assemble, and the two white men, Richard and old Stephen, take charge. Fires are hastily kindled, and Margaret observes the plumes of smoke rising from various parts of the farmlands, where piles of wood and grass are set ablaze.
The locusts draw closer, and Margaret watches the ominous, rust-colored cloud of locusts on the horizon. Neighbors sound the alarm over the telephone, and as fires continue to be lit across the countryside, the once-bright day turns eerie and dark. The locust swarm advances, and the narrative conveys a sense of foreboding as the farm and its inhabitants brace for the impending onslaught, reminding us of the unpredictable and destructive forces of nature.