Le premier cycle d’El Niño s'est achevé au cinquième tome de la Série. Avec "Le vent des 120 jours", nous retrouvons l’infirmière humanitaire Véra Michaïlov en terre afghane.

Depuis août 2003, elle se dévoue dans une antenne médicale de Nouar, située entre Kaboul et Peshawar, pour soigner les tuberculeux et les miséreux; reprenant le flambeau de Soraya, une femme exemplaire, qui vient de périr dans un attentat. Son dévouement va la mettre, malgré elle, en contact avec des rebelles  moudjahidins...

Christian Perrissin nous propose donc une intrigue très réaliste dans l'Afghabnistan après l'assassinat de Massoud, jouant sur le contexte local aux multiples facettes politique, religieuse, ethnique. Surtout que la belle et sombre Véra n'a pas perdu son tempérament ! Le dessin de Boro Pavlovic contribue à rendre très crédibles ces tribulations qui s'annoncent d'emblée comme un dyptique riche et captivant.

 El Niño  ,Tome 6 " Le vent des 120 jours " (S : Christian Perrissin; D : Boro Pavlovic), Les Humanoïdes associés, avril 2008

These are photos that I have taken in and around Kabul over the past couple of years. Kabul is a bit dangerous. It's also a fun place. I have never had a bad experience in the city. Chicken Street is a riot even if it is a bit pricey these days. City Centre is a nice place to have a cup of coffee on the roof and survey the city. The Kabul Coffee House is a great place for an Ice Mocha with other ex-pats. Night time at Wazir Akhbar Khan Line 15 is a great place to dance the night away or have a few drinks and check out all of the femme ex-pats, Chinese hookers or Filipina gals. The Marco Polo Restaurant is good for excellent Italian cuisine. Some of the Chinese Restaurants actually serve chinese food. lol

I do know of people who have had terrible experiences there. One friend of mine was beaten badly in a roust of the local underground clubs. The "police" took him outside and beat him until his ribs were bruised black and blue. Then took him to their "police station" and kindly accepted a couple hundred dollars for his release. During this same raid, a group of Filipina girls were taken out and raped repeatedly. This set off a huge international incident. The Chinese "Restaurants" are raided about once every three months. Any place that sells alcohol is subject to being raided by one faction or another. Womens Beauty salons can be raided at any time if they are accused of being houses of prostitution. The accusation of prostitution can stem from an incident as simple as a local Mullah walking by and hearing loud laughter. Police at checkpoints will attempt to bribe you for a 20 spot to pass through their territory. This is easily defeated by stating loudly and aggressively that you are US Army and not backing down. This works as I've used it. The local police are scared to death of the US Army. Now that I train them and am on cheek kissing terms with the local Regional Commander, I'm pretty much untouchable. Not that I go off post alone these days. Since being hired by this new company and moving to the West, it's UAV MILCON or nothing. Can't go wrong in an armored vehicle.

This place wasn't always so terrifying and violent. Before the Taliban, before the War of the Warlords. Back when the King was attempting to enact liberal reforms. Kabul was a haven for dope smoking hippies. That was the 60s and 70s. Kabul was also a Euro holiday spot. Places like Mazar-e Sherif, Ghazni and Herat, even Q'andahar, were tourist spots as well. Of course, that all came to a screeching halt when the Soviets came crashing in to install peace and prosperity at the tip of the communist sword. Back in 2006. As I was driving around, I did see a few tourist running around. I saw a couple of backpackers in September of 2007 sneaking around Kabul and I've heard of the occasional tourist and backpacker passing through Herat since I've been here. It will be years before the tourists come back in any respectable numbers due to the terror element. Such a shame. There is much to be seen and much to experience in Afghanistan.