WEBVTT 1 00:00:07.639 --> 00:00:08.160 Escape. 2 00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:17.320 You are located on a remote plantation in the crawling 3 00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:21.679 Amazon jungle, and an immense army of ravenous ants is 4 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:25.079 closing in on you, swarming in to eat you alive, 5 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:31.640 A deadly black army from which there is no escape. 6 00:00:41.640 --> 00:00:45.159 Escape designed to free you from the four walls of today. 7 00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:47.479 For a half hour of high adventure. 8 00:00:53.399 --> 00:00:55.840 Tonight, at the request of many of our listeners, we 9 00:00:55.960 --> 00:00:58.799 bring you a repeat performance of one of the most 10 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:03.399 gripping escape stories. Tonight, we escaped to the Amazon Jungle 11 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:08.079 and to a creeping, crawling terror. As Carl Stephenson told 12 00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:12.799 it in his famous story Liningen Versus the Ants. 13 00:01:24.280 --> 00:01:28.359 I first met Liningen while performing my duty as district Commissioner. 14 00:01:29.079 --> 00:01:31.879 As my boat near his plantation landing, I saw him 15 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:35.560 upon the river bank, regarding me with mild interest. A 16 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:40.079 great hulk of a man with bristling gray hair, bulky nose, 17 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:45.519 and pale eyes. His entire appearance somehow suggested an aging 18 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:49.079 and shabby eager. He escorted me to the terrace and 19 00:01:49.159 --> 00:01:52.159 had drinks brought. I came quickly to the point of 20 00:01:52.200 --> 00:01:56.519 my visit and issued my warning. Liningen puffed placidly at 21 00:01:56.519 --> 00:02:00.439 a huge cigar and listened as I said. And unless 22 00:02:00.439 --> 00:02:03.079 they alter their course, and there's no reason why they should, 23 00:02:03.400 --> 00:02:06.200 they'll reach your plantation in two days at the latest. 24 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:11.319 Well, Commissioner, it was decent of Hill paddling all this 25 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:14.159 way just to give me the tip. But I heard 26 00:02:14.199 --> 00:02:17.080 of crocodiles. Couldn't drive me from this plantation of mine. 27 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:20.120 No, no, you do not understand at all. These aren't 28 00:02:20.199 --> 00:02:24.960 creatures you can fight. They're an elemental force, a gigantic catastrophe, 29 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:29.919 ten miles long, two miles wide, ants nothing but ants, 30 00:02:30.159 --> 00:02:33.159 and each one as big as your thumb. Unless you 31 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:35.319 clear out it once, there'll be nothing left to do 32 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:38.560 but a skeleton picked as clean as your own plantation 33 00:02:38.680 --> 00:02:39.039 will be. 34 00:02:40.280 --> 00:02:42.719 I'm not an old woman, Commissioner. I'm not going to 35 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:44.759 make a run for it just because trouble is on 36 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:45.039 the way. 37 00:02:45.080 --> 00:02:46.319 But it isn't just chap. 38 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:48.520 You don't think I'm the kind of fathead who tries 39 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:51.560 to beat off lightning with my fists either. I've got 40 00:02:51.560 --> 00:02:55.919 a better weapon, Commissioner intelligence with me. The brain isn't 41 00:02:55.960 --> 00:02:58.599 just a second appendix. I know what it's there for. 42 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:01.800 Can't I make you want to stamp the hideous Submissioner. 43 00:03:02.680 --> 00:03:05.560 All my life, I have lived by one motto. The 44 00:03:05.639 --> 00:03:08.800 human brain needs only to become fully aware of its 45 00:03:08.840 --> 00:03:11.680 power to conquer even the elements. 46 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:17.159 Line, you are a madman. I've done my best. Your 47 00:03:17.240 --> 00:03:20.360 obstinacy is endangering not only your own life, but the 48 00:03:20.439 --> 00:03:24.319 lives of your four hundred workers. You don't know these ants, 49 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:35.520 I tell you, you do not know these ants. Liningen merely 50 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:38.400 set a puffing at his cigar and regarding me with 51 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:46.639 a sardonic green And I knew it was hopeless. As 52 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:49.240 I bought it my launch and cast off. I turned 53 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:52.840 to look once more at this madman who calmly intended 54 00:03:52.840 --> 00:03:56.879 to defy one of the world's greatest scourgures. I felt 55 00:03:56.879 --> 00:04:01.439 a sudden resentment for him. Yet it was something else. 56 00:04:02.120 --> 00:04:05.000 I had never met a man like that, and I 57 00:04:05.080 --> 00:04:06.080 could not hit on. 58 00:04:05.960 --> 00:04:09.039 One bank of the river, watching the Commissioner's launch until 59 00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:12.319 it rounded a bend and was lost to sight. There 60 00:04:12.360 --> 00:04:14.520 was a strange look in the Commissioner's eyes as he 61 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:17.759 stood on the deck, steering back at me. Clearly he 62 00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:21.639 thought me insane. Well, he would not have been the 63 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:25.040 first to think so. But I Linejohn knew my own 64 00:04:25.079 --> 00:04:28.720 powers and was sure of myself. I knew that intelligence 65 00:04:28.759 --> 00:04:31.839 directed a right always makes man the master of his fate. 66 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:36.399 That night, I called my four hundred Indian workers together 67 00:04:36.439 --> 00:04:39.439 in the front of the plantation house. I saw their 68 00:04:39.480 --> 00:04:41.839 faces go ashen with terror as I told them the 69 00:04:41.879 --> 00:04:45.439 ants were coming. Watched them as they milled around, muttering. 70 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:49.560 I said nothing more to them. Finally one of the 71 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:51.839 men stepped forward, blast the foreman. 72 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:57.360 We we have worked hard here for these three years, 73 00:04:57.560 --> 00:05:01.279 all of us, we have built Why in this plantation, 74 00:05:01.399 --> 00:05:04.759 in this district, we all share in it. It has 75 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:07.120 been a home for all of us and our families. 76 00:05:08.439 --> 00:05:13.240 Now the ants cop those ditches we dug last year. 77 00:05:13.319 --> 00:05:16.240 The pipe we put in the ground that was for 78 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:16.720 the ants. 79 00:05:16.920 --> 00:05:18.240 That was for the ants. 80 00:05:18.360 --> 00:05:22.199 If we moved our families across the river, the ants 81 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:23.120 could not reach them. 82 00:05:23.480 --> 00:05:23.959 That's right. 83 00:05:25.160 --> 00:05:30.959 And you, the ants are mighty. We know what they 84 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:34.519 can do. All of us think that you are mormighty. 85 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:38.240 We will stay with you and fight against the ants. 86 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:41.279 I knew that the men would give me that answer 87 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:44.959 and counted on it. Suddenly I thought of the commissioner 88 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:48.800 and wondered what he would say at such unquestioning confidence. 89 00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:51.360 Would he still think I was insane. 90 00:05:52.839 --> 00:05:56.959 Please thank you Ncent out in my mind, one man 91 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:01.680 who calmly evaluated his chances against him deadly menace wholly 92 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:04.680 decided he could win, and was willing to stake his 93 00:06:04.759 --> 00:06:07.120 life on it, to risk our horrible death. 94 00:06:07.240 --> 00:06:13.040 For it was terrifying, and yet it was fascinating. When 95 00:06:13.079 --> 00:06:16.120 dawn came, I sent for my assistant. Together we went 96 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:18.680 to the huge map on the district, which hung from 97 00:06:18.680 --> 00:06:22.120 a wall of my office. What was the last reported 98 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:26.000 position of the ants appeared about seventy miles above this 99 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:32.000 fork in the river, traveling southeast, Yes, directly toward lion Engine. 100 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:35.360 To the homester, that plantation of the bend in the 101 00:06:35.480 --> 00:06:39.160 river belongs to a man named lin Engene. Oh when 102 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:41.399 would you say the ants will reach there? 103 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:44.240 I don't know it. I imagine about it. 104 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:49.000 Tomorrow noon, tomorrow noon, Still time, still time? 105 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:50.040 What do you mean? 106 00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:54.120 Nothing? Never mind. 107 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:00.519 What I mean? 108 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:05.000 Still time for what for liningdon to flee? Or still 109 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:08.399 time for me to Even as I rejected the thought 110 00:07:08.439 --> 00:07:10.720 with horror, I knew that the fascination of that man 111 00:07:10.839 --> 00:07:14.199 was more than I could resist. That Liningen's flight was 112 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:19.279 drawing my mind, drawing me back toward that plantation and death. 113 00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:22.800 I knew past all doubt that I was going back 114 00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:40.720 to Liningen's plantation. I had to. It was ten o'clock 115 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:42.959 in the morning when I rounded the bend and saw 116 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:46.680 Lynden's plantation before me. I put into the dark and 117 00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:49.240 tied up the launch. Then I saw him standing on 118 00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:51.839 the bank above me, arms fold and stopped his cigar 119 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:53.959 in his mouth, and I start down a green on 120 00:07:53.959 --> 00:07:54.439 his face. 121 00:07:54.879 --> 00:08:00.360 I made my way up to him, back for another warning. Commissioner, no, 122 00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:02.040 back to stay. 123 00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:07.600 Well, yes, no, you you don't seem very surprised. 124 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:08.399 I'm not. 125 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:11.120 You expected me. 126 00:08:11.399 --> 00:08:14.720 I thought you'd be back. Come along, we'll get some horses. 127 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:16.959 You want to ride around the plantation. Take a look 128 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:18.120 at the defenses I've breaked up. 129 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:20.560 Yes, I will want to see the defenses. 130 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:22.399 And the ants will be getting a glimpse of them 131 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:27.160 before long. I should think yes, and the ant come along. 132 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:27.399 Then. 133 00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:41.720 The defences lining Gen had devised but quite impressive, surrounding 134 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:44.440 three sides of the plantation like a huge horseshoe with 135 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:47.639 a twelve foot wide ditch. The end of this horseshoe 136 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:50.720 shaped ditch ran into the river, which formed the fourth 137 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:53.679 side of the plantation, and at the up river entrance 138 00:08:53.720 --> 00:08:57.360 to the ditch, Lningen had constructed a dam by which 139 00:08:57.480 --> 00:09:00.759 river water could be diverted into the ditch. A large 140 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:04.679 handhel controlled the flood gate of the dam, and apparently 141 00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:08.480 Laningen had already opened immediately after my arrival. For as 142 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:11.279 we now approached the ditch and rolled along it, I 143 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:12.960 could see that was nearly full. 144 00:09:14.440 --> 00:09:17.360 How do you like my first line of defense, Commissioner. 145 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:21.279 When it's reassuring, like a moat around a castle. 146 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:24.679 Unless the ants know how to build rafts, they won't 147 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:27.919 reached the plantation. But this is only the automoat. That's 148 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:30.200 a better one than that. Come along, we'll go after 149 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:32.120 the high ground where the buildings are and get a 150 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:32.879 veil from man. 151 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:35.120 Langen. 152 00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:36.039 Ah. 153 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:39.480 I didn't see any women or children around the plantations, 154 00:09:39.559 --> 00:09:40.600 or any animals. 155 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:42.960 Yes, that's right, both of them across the river. 156 00:09:45.080 --> 00:09:46.080 I might have known. 157 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:52.399 Ah nothing, Ah, here we are here. 158 00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:55.039 You see the ditch much smaller than the other. 159 00:09:55.440 --> 00:09:57.519 You have noticed how all the buildings around this piece 160 00:09:57.559 --> 00:10:00.320 of high ground that's in a ditch, surround them lined 161 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:02.600 with concrete, but even filled with water. 162 00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:05.919 This is no barrier. It's not big enough. Why if 163 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:06.639 the ants get. 164 00:10:06.600 --> 00:10:09.320 This far, they would still get no farther. This ditch 165 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:12.480 wasn't built for water, Commissioner. See the pipes leading into it. 166 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:15.480 See those storage tanks up on the hill. Lamp petrol. 167 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:18.799 We can throw up a wall of flame. They aren't 168 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:19.200 like that. 169 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:23.720 I hope you are right. Look at the edge of 170 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:25.720 the jung All those animals. 171 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:29.639 Running like the wind, everything from the jaguars to monkeys, 172 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:32.759 hoo weapons. Remember they don't have any ditches. 173 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:34.679 Then they escape, they'll be. 174 00:10:34.679 --> 00:10:36.480 All right as long as they don't get caught between 175 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:38.919 the river and the ants. They cannot run the crawlers. 176 00:10:39.559 --> 00:10:41.879 But if they get trapped, it's either the ants or 177 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:47.799 the crocodiles. Look look, Commissioner, Look over there on the horizon, 178 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:50.159 there are your ants. 179 00:10:50.600 --> 00:11:07.240 Look at them. 180 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:10.519 It was a sight I will never forget. Over the 181 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:13.080 range of hills, as far as I could see, crept 182 00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:17.240 a darkening hem ever longer and broader, until the shadows 183 00:11:17.240 --> 00:11:22.360 spread across the entire slope, then downward downward, unkennely swift, 184 00:11:22.679 --> 00:11:25.039 and all the green herbage on the entire slope was 185 00:11:25.159 --> 00:11:28.519 being mown as by a giant sickle. Leaving only the 186 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:35.799 vast moving shadow, extending, deepening, and moving rapidly nears. We 187 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:38.320 can't last against that. Look at them, where they could 188 00:11:38.360 --> 00:11:41.080 fill your ditches with their corpses and still have enough 189 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:41.919 to destroy. 190 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:42.440 Every one of us. 191 00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:43.600 We've got to run. 192 00:11:45.080 --> 00:11:51.960 They haven't gotten those yet, they never will. 193 00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:05.879 The hostile army was approaching in perfect formation. No human battalions, 194 00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:09.000 however well drilled, could ever hope to rival the precision 195 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:12.240 of that advanced along the front had moved forward as 196 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:15.919 uniformly as a straight line. The ants drew nearer and 197 00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:19.279 nearer to the water ditch as they approached. Two outlying 198 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:22.440 wings of the army detached themselves from the main body 199 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:25.080 and started marching along the sides of the ditch, no 200 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:28.120 doubt expecting at some point to find a crossing. And 201 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:32.480 during this hour long flanking movement, the main army remained 202 00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:36.480 still across the scant twelve feet of ditch. I stared 203 00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:40.919 at him, and they stared back me, a solid mass, 204 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:44.399 every one as big as my thumb, with a reddish 205 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:48.399 black body and long legs. Suddenly, a sound so unearthly 206 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:50.679 as to freeze our blood, jerked our heads in the 207 00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:53.000 direction of the jungle on the far side of the ditch. 208 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:55.759 Coming toward the ditch in the stumbling gallop was a 209 00:12:55.919 --> 00:13:00.840 stag covered over and over were ants. Lin Engene threw 210 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:04.600 up his rifles and the stag fell lifeless to the ground. 211 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:07.799 Its eggon is at an end. Horrified as I was, 212 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:10.919 my curiosity impelled me to glance at my watch. I 213 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:26.600 had to know how long the ants would take. After 214 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:32.360 six minutes, only the white, polished bones of the stag remained. 215 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:42.600 The Linn and I exchanged glances, and I could see 216 00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:45.759 a change in him. Gone was the sporting zest of 217 00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:50.000 the novel contest. In its place was a cold, violent 218 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:53.039 purpose to send these vermin back to the hell where 219 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:56.600 they belonged. If he did not, we were both only 220 00:13:56.679 --> 00:13:59.679 too sure of the alternative, And now we even knew 221 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:02.519 how long it would take the ants once they got. 222 00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:02.879 To us. 223 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:11.720 Around four in the afternoon, the ants scouts having found 224 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:14.799 no crossing, there was a stirring among the main army, 225 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:19.320 and then an immense flood of bounds. A glimmering black 226 00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:22.679 cataract about a hundred yards in width commenced, pouring down 227 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:26.240 the fast slope of the ditch. Thousands drowned instantly, but 228 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:30.559 the rest began using the bodies as bridges. Lannington immediately 229 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:31.720 swung into action. 230 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:33.960 And I up, get to the dam up in the 231 00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:35.840 plant gate more to get the water in the ditch 232 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:40.360 moving fast. Senor, Oh, this looks like spot for action. 233 00:14:41.559 --> 00:14:44.679 The missioner, yes, beginning to say what I was talking about? 234 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:47.559 What do you mean about intelligence being more than a 235 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:50.639 match for anything it tackles? Take the ants. They've got 236 00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:53.480 no intelligence they had. They have attacked along the whole 237 00:14:53.559 --> 00:14:55.399 length of the ditch instead of an arrow front like 238 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:59.320 this with the better cross by. Now there so bad 239 00:14:59.320 --> 00:15:01.639 for them. I'm not running the campaign for them. 240 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:03.879 You can joke about it like that with the ants 241 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:07.000 halfway across the deeps all right, man visible the shovels now, 242 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:09.720 dump some sand and cloths on them, and see how 243 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:10.159 they like that. 244 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:13.879 You're the petrol strenklers start pumping. 245 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:16.519 Ah. 246 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:19.000 I don't like it, Commissioner, I don't like it. 247 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:20.759 A bed look at them, yes, but look at the 248 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:23.159 ones on the far side of the ditch, whole clumps 249 00:15:23.159 --> 00:15:25.639 of them rolling into the water. The rest are using 250 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:27.120 them for bridges, Commissioner. 251 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:30.240 Commissioner, the water is working faster than now denial, But 252 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:33.080 the flood gate op. Yes, look at the ants. They 253 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:35.440 can't hold there on against the carrot now and then 254 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:39.240 washed away. Ah, look at them, Commissioner, the water is 255 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:42.639 carrying them away. I beat them way what. 256 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:56.399 It was true, Linden had won at least the opening round. 257 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:59.840 The floodgates were left open to four stall any night crossing, 258 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:02.720 I suppose. I hoped that the ants would go on 259 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:06.720 pass us by. But when dawn came, the dark blanket 260 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:11.240 was still there, motionless across the ditch. Then we noticed 261 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:13.799 a feverish activity on the other side of the plantation. 262 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:17.240 Here a grove of tamline trees lying the far end 263 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:20.879 of the ditch, and every tree swarmed with the crawling insects. 264 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:24.279 But instead of eating the leaves, they were merely gnawing 265 00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:27.440 through the stems, so that a thick green shower fell 266 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:32.600 steadily to the ground. Well, it looks as if it's 267 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:37.799 feeding time for our friends, Eh and Blass. 268 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:40.799 Have all the petrol prompts brought here and get every 269 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:42.600 one of heir except to look us on the other side, 270 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:45.200 and that passed out the shovel. Yes, Senor, looks like 271 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:47.879 I underestimated them. When I said they didn't have intelligence, 272 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:50.360 What you mean, I said, if they wanted to get across, 273 00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:53.840 they'd have to have rats. That's just what they've got. 274 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:56.320 Those leaves are their rats. 275 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:02.840 Even as he spoke to leave, when tumbling down the 276 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:05.680 far bank by the thousands, the current drew them away 277 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:10.079 from the bank, and each leave carried several ants were as. 278 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:12.079 Long as you keep sprying them and shoveling down on 279 00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:13.359 the rafts the cat lands. 280 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:16.200 But their wealthy, Tonett, It's true you look more leaves 281 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:18.039 than the dias all the time. Why didn't have a 282 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:20.039 solid carpet to walk with? Cross in minutes? 283 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:22.640 Not so fast, commissioner. I've still got to trick up 284 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:23.440 my sleigh for them. 285 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:25.559 The water this is drying up. 286 00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:29.079 Of course it's drying up. That's the plan. Those are 287 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:31.480 the orders I said to the dam. Are you mad? 288 00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:32.559 As soon as he's empty? 289 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:34.039 What to prevent the ants? 290 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:37.400 Look, the water's way down, it's as dry. They'll be 291 00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:39.000 able to crawl across the bottom. 292 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:40.519 They'll not make it up. The man at the dam 293 00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:42.880 carries out his orders. He should have opened the gates again. 294 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:45.680 Man now to flood the ants? Right, But what a 295 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:50.200 chance to take if anything should happen, Ah, Commissioner, here 296 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:53.480 it comes here, come to the water. Now he'll get 297 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:56.359 the crawlers a ditch, a good ride out in the river. 298 00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:58.920 Look at him, look at him. 299 00:17:58.920 --> 00:17:59.000 Go. 300 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:09.519 Lin Engine's tactics were successful. At first, the violent flow 301 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:11.799 of water at the original get raced to the ditch, 302 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:16.039 overwhelming leaves and ants and sweeping them along. Three times 303 00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:19.079 the ditch was emptied, three times the ants raced across 304 00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:22.480 its bottom, and three times the rushing water, riding just 305 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:25.960 in time, carried them away. But the fourth time, as 306 00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:28.079 the water lowered nearly to the bottom of the ditch, 307 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:31.640 we waited in vain for the rusty waters, and then. 308 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:37.880 Senory, what's the matter? What's gone wrong to dam? 309 00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:41.640 Then just as they monitored them, Lord the water almost 310 00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:44.559 to the bottom, they answer attacked. Before he could open 311 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:48.480 the flood gate, he was almost surrounded, and he ran 312 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:50.920 after there across the ditch. 313 00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:58.720 Lin Engines stood motionless, absorbing the news of his defeat 314 00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:02.960 without a word. Then simply he raised his pistol and 315 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:08.680 fired three shots into the air, the pre arranged signal 316 00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:11.279 for all mental retreat instantly to the second line of defense, 317 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:13.759 the concrete ditches more than a mile from the point 318 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:17.240 of invasion. Soon after we arrived there, the natives commence 319 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:21.160 straggling in silently. Lionine waited until all of them had gathered. 320 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:22.799 Then he spoke to them. 321 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:27.319 Lads, we won the first round, last the second. But 322 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:28.519 we'll smash the crawlers. 323 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:28.720 Yet. 324 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:32.000 Anyone who thinks otherwise can draw us pain and push off. 325 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:33.880 There are wraps on up on the river, and plenty 326 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:34.319 of time. 327 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:35.759 Still arrange them. 328 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:41.039 You'll stay, then, Wood, your lads, and you, Commissioner. 329 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:43.880 I can't persuade you to give up the fight. 330 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:44.680 You cannot. 331 00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:46.519 Then I stay two. 332 00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:50.160 I knew if you have the answer. I reached the 333 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:53.400 ditch they're trying to get across. I didn't think they would. 334 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:56.920 There's plenty of food out there for them crops I've 335 00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:00.759 spent three years and raising, but the last until morning. 336 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:11.200 Anyway, Yes, we were safe for the moment, But the 337 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:14.519 next morning the black swarm was solid around us, and 338 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:16.240 their shot troops were hard at work. 339 00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:19.440 They were dropping shreds of bark and twigs and leaves 340 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:23.160 into the petrol filled ditches, forming a floating bridge across 341 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:27.640 the surface of the liquid. Linen stood silently watching this operation, 342 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:31.799 and I could see a grudging admiration on his face. Then, 343 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:49.119 after several hours, the attack came down the ditch. They poured, 344 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:52.319 millions of them, and across the bridge of twigs rapidly 345 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:57.519 approached the inner side. Liningen sat motionless watching them. Linen, 346 00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:59.559 for the love of God, don't sit like a statue. 347 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.599 I'll be honest. 348 00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:01.160 In a moment. 349 00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:06.039 Have them fell at first? Now, all right, everyone back 350 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:11.000 from the ditch. Last hand me the torch. Ah, we'll 351 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:13.880 see our friends like a little hayde around rum. 352 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:18.519 The flames from the ditch shot up into the air, 353 00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:21.880 devouring ants by the millions. But as they returned to 354 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:26.359 the assault time after time, a slow, sickening horror clipped 355 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:29.839 into my mind. I look quickly at Langen, then at 356 00:21:29.880 --> 00:21:33.119 the petrol tanks. He read my gaze and nodded slowly. 357 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:35.880 That's right, Commissioner. We could hold them up forever if 358 00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:39.000 our supply of petrol was unlimited. But it isn't. We've 359 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:41.039 got only enough to fill the ditch once more. 360 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:44.119 Linger. Isn't there any way any way at all? We've 361 00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:45.000 got to do something. 362 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:47.559 I know. I know there must be away, There must 363 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:50.079 be something on earth that will drive this devil spun 364 00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:55.759 back to the hell they came from. Yes them, yes, yes, yes, 365 00:21:56.119 --> 00:21:58.839 what is it? We'll flood the whole plantation. Flood but 366 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:01.400 now the rivers higher than any point except this high 367 00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:04.160 ground we're on. Now the river was damned all the way. 368 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:06.960 It would overflow that stone breakwater and flood the whole plantation. 369 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:09.160 We've got to close the flood gate at the dam. 370 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:09.720 That'll do it. 371 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:12.559 You're mad. The dam is nearly two miles away, two 372 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.519 miles of ants. 373 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:17.960 Lads, listen to me, lessen, lads, I'm proud of you. 374 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:21.880 Now there's still a chance. By shutting the flood gates 375 00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:24.200 and the dam and flooding the whole plantation from the 376 00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:28.200 river the moment I'm over the debts, set fire to it. 377 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:30.920 That'll allow time for the flood to wash away the ants. 378 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:33.400 Then all you have to do is wait for me. 379 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:36.480 It is impossible. You can't get to the dam, let 380 00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.400 alone get back. 381 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:40.240 That's why you're wrong, Commissioner. I'll get there and i'll 382 00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:43.279 get back. Take care of things while I'm gone. 383 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:53.400 I've watched him as he calmly pulled on high leather 384 00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:56.599 boots to gauntlet over his hands and stuff the spaces 385 00:22:56.640 --> 00:23:00.680 between breeches and boots, gauntlets and arms with peckful so raggs. 386 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:04.319 He shielded his eyes with close fitting mosquito goggles and 387 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:07.960 plugged his nostrils and ears with cotton. Then the nature 388 00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:11.039 was drenched his clothes with petrol blars, who acted his 389 00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:13.720 doctor to the men, smearede a sab over him. And 390 00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:18.359 finally Liningen was ready. And as he stood calmly surveying. 391 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:21.880 The run, and I realized this was as it should be. 392 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:25.480 High lin Engen would meet the ants and defeat them 393 00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:31.960 or be defeated by them. No Liningen versus the ants. Yes, 394 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:34.559 it was right that it should be like this. But 395 00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:37.200 now there was no more time for thought, only action. 396 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:41.079 I took a deep breath and then bounded across the 397 00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:42.240 ditch and among the ants. 398 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:46.279 I ran. 399 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:49.680 I ran on long, equal strides, with one thought, one 400 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:53.839 sensation in my being. I must get through. I dodged 401 00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:56.440