Thoroughbred Bugs

Travel between Dakar, Senegal and points south in the Casamance Region happens in only a few ways. There are daily flights from the international airport in Dakar to the regional airport in Ziguinchor. That is too rich for our budget. There are half broken cars that run the road south from Dakar through The Gambia, and onward to Ziguinchor. That is a crap shoot at best, but certainly an option. Thirdly is the boat. The last boat I had the pleasure to ride on this route was called The Willis. The Willis was a floating open sewer with hard wooden slabs to sleep on. I know, I know, sounds charming...but lacked a certain hygiene and sophistication to which we've grown accustomed. This time around a shiny new boat offered the hope of a new day on the high seas, complete with private cabins, airplane style reclining seats, and huge flat screen televisions. Relaxed into our comfy seats, we settled in to watch some quality French educational programming.  Today's offering was, 'Built To Kill: Miniature'. It was a show about killer bugs with nasty crusher jaws, spiked pinchers, stingers, and lots of eyes and hairy arms.  Just the show you want to see traveling through Africa.  One bug in particular caught my eye. As the narrator described the speed at which this critter attacked its prey, a video of a horse running appeared below the disgusting fast bug in a split screen. The narrator declared in an export voice that this insect moved as fast as a running horse one inch at a time. One inch at a time? Does that count? Am I to understand this miniature Secretariat rules the one inch sprint? Does that make sense? I mean if I ran 10 feet, it would take him 120 seperate moves to reach me. I can walk faster than that. I guess I'll have to defer to the bug expert voice over guy though. I just hope I don't see that little guy. He seemed mean.