Ages ago, Alex, Allen and Alva arrived at Antibes, and Alva allowing all, allowing anyone, against Alex's admonition, against Allen's angry assertion: another African amusement... anyhow, as all argued, an awesome African army assembled and arduously advanced against an African anthill, assiduously annihilating ant after ant, and afterward, Alex astonishingly accuses Albert as also accepting Africa's antipodal ant annexation. Albert argumentatively answers at another apartment. Answers: ants are Ameisen. Ants are Ameisen? [...]

Before African adjournment, Alex, Allen and Alva arrive at Antibes, beginning a big bash, as August brings back a buoyancy, a belief, Ahhh, and believing all buy books about Angolan basins and about Burundi bathhouses, and a better, better, brotherhood, as both Alex and Allen bear Alvi’s anger ... against brotherhood. [...]

I haven't been here before. I had hoped I could hire a car, but I can't drive. I have been awfully busy finishing a book about Alva. First I contemplated doing a book about another character, and another country. Bit by bit I have assembled Africa. Although I hate hot climates I chose Africa. Desire is always alive in hot climates I have been informed. I brought a gun along, and a calendar. It is August here. Bright beautiful August. I used to draw Alva. Her face, her hands, her bi-casts. But I'm an amateur artist. I didn't bring any drawings along. I am alone. I have a bedroom facing famous Fabala Abyss. I had great hope at first. A great beginning. [...]

Zanzibar is clearly marked on the map. It is an unforgettable island with picturesque clusters of whitewashed houses surfacing here and there among the giant mangrove trees. The battered-looking fortification built by Arab slave traders on a hilltop overlooking the main port of the city of Zanzibar is also marked on the map. It is one of the few conspicuous landmarks that still remain. At sunset the view from up there can be breathtaking. In the hot summer evenings the whites used to drive up the narrow winding road in horsedrawn carriages, to relax on the ramparts of the fortification, where they would sip gin and tonic as they stared across at the mainland. Everyone is acutely aware that Zanzibar is an island [...].