Dense and saturated, the air made laborious every breath, every movement in its crushing heft.  Thick with ill intent, the humidity seemed to conspire with gravity, dragging us down into the quick sand of early Summer.  Wilted and withered, nightfall…

I had no real idea what a gnat was, other than an utter and complete nuisance.  I had no real idea what they do, other than swarm about my face, or what, if anything, they bring to the evolutionary table, so I did a…