When Bull Elephants Fight: An American Surgeon’s Chronicle of Congo

"When bull elephants fight, the grass gets trampled" is a Bantu proverb known in many of the languages of Congo. The "elephants" refer to the leaders and chiefs while the "grass" refers to the ordinary Congolese villagers and workers. I did not go to Congo to fight with the elephants; I went to Congo to help some of the grass survive." --Roger L. Youmans, MD We drove all afternoon and for an hour in the dark before we saw a faint light ahead of us. We slowed and found two kerosene lanterns and two large logs blocking the road. Emanuel and I got out and stood in front of the headlights so that we were visible. There was no moon, and the forest was silent except for the cicada. A deep voice boomed out of the darkness very near us. Emanuel answered in Lingala, and I recognized a few words. "American" and "Docteur." I heard a rifle bolt open and shut. Several voices whispered in the dark. Then there was silence. I said softly to Emanuel, "We almost made it." --from When Bull Elephants Fight "With compassion, intelligence, and unflinching honesty, Roger Youmans tells his story of one man's quest to bring hope to a troubled land." --Tom Barbash, author of The Last Good Chance and On Top of the World, a New York Times Bestseller