Monday, February 28, 2011

Mosquito, Repellent

In San Zancudo, from the shade of a cantina, one can watch a colorful parade in honor of the national “bird”--the mosquito.

San Zancudo straddles the treacherous strait between the northern New World continent of Septentrion and the southern Asciana. The way through is difficult due rocks and a peculiarity of geology which causes the depth of the passage to change--the volcanic rock pushed up periodically by subterranean pockets of steam. Only the San Zancudan pilots know the timing of these movements, and the way through, from the Meropic Ocean to the Tranquil.


The strait isn’t the only unusual thing in San Zancudo. In previous times, it’s jungles were home to a speices of mosquito that could grow to the size of a small dog. These creatures were never numerous when compared to their smaller cousins, but dangerous due their voracious hunger for blood. A eradication campaign earlier in the century was thought to have wiped them out entirely, though there is some evidence this may not be the case.

The celebration of mosquitos San Zancudo may not be innocent frivolity.  There are rumors that the pagan cult which once worshipped an obscene, vampiric mosquito goddess still exists in the deep jungles. The old temples may still hold orgiastic rites where victims are sacrificed to the god-thing, manifest in a monstrous cloud of mundane (but ravenous) mosquitos. The giant insects are held to be the goddess' prize servitors and the enforcers of her will.

7 comments:

Needles said...

Trey that is cool & creepy at the same time. So many kinds of wrong. Where do I get my plane ticket for a visit. Regards,Eric

Trey said...

Thanks. Eric. Glad you liked it.

Harald said...

You know, those look like the kind of mosquitoes we had back when I grew up way north of the Arctic Circle. My grandma used to kill one each summer, dry it, and then use it as a milking-stool during the winter.

Trey said...

Now Harald, that wouldn't be one of your Nordic tall-tales you folk use to hoodwink the rubes, would it? ;)

Harald said...

I must say I find your lack of faith disturbing.

Trey said...

Maybe those Canadian mosquitos are no bother, but the Georgia variety I contended with growing up could carry off a small dog. ;)

Canageek said...

Yeah, ours are just the normal size, you just get more and more the further north you go. I remember once looking out and noticing a swarm so thick it looked like smoke.