The whole Swarm held its breath.
Relentlessly, the Anteater was getting closer and closer. Its footsteps were crumbling dry vegetation into bits, and the land itself shook under the enormous creature. The noise of its approach started to resonate within the Hive; the waxy walls went vibrating with all its numerous chambers and hallways in a quiver.
But then, the creature stopped abruptly.
The colossal head rose and inclined slightly to the left. There was a deep rumbling puff, and the Anteater turned around with a nervous jiggle swinging its enormous tail. The gigantic beast started to scamper away and quickly disappeared back to the remote frozen ranges from where it came from.
34.
The Queen’s Chamber
A couple days passed before the frightened Eeols dared to peek out of the Hive to make sure the danger had passed. Once they realized the monster was truly gone and there was no nothing to fear, the entire Swarm celebrated. But to be completely sure it was gone, the Supreme Command sent several swarms to look for the Evil. The Scouts didn’t find the creature, only its tracks leading back to the Stream and along the frozen banks further and further away proving that the Anteater returned to its distant homeland in the north.
“Eeols of the Swarm,” said BeraX7719 as he stood on the verge of a waxy promontory, pausing for a few seconds after these words for a better effect. “We are safe at last. The horrid menace is gone and won’t threaten us again. I praise each of you for your contribution in getting rid of this nightmare, with special thanks going to Rogue who has our eternal gratitude. The Queen is absolutely thrilled and invited us all to celebrate. Time to rejoice is here!”
Truth be said, regardless of the good outcome, the encounter with Evil left many Eeols deeply shaken and needing time to recover emotionally. Yet everybody tried to be happy and did their best to make the grand celebration that was organized in the Hive as joyful as it could be.
All of the food gathering activities were finished by now. It snowed heavily and the Promenade was closed. There was nothing else left to do before starting their winter schedule except the merry-making which lasted for days.
But shortly before the proclamation came for the Swarm to go into hibernation, Xe and Rogue were called to the Supreme Command Quarters on the subject of their promotions.
BeraX7719 met with them in private, and both friends received ranks of First Class Commanders.
“This is a great honor for me as well,” said the Supreme. “For being in a position to give promotions to such outstanding Eeols.”
The Supreme wanted to reward Rogue with his own Scout unit, but the freshly appointed Commander declined it, claiming that the best thing for him was to remain in the same unit with his friend. The Supreme nodded and the matter was settled.
Xe was glad for it, recalling what happened with him, Te and Go after the trio was split into different units. It couldn’t be said that they lost contact entirely, but they definitely ceased to be as close as they had been before.
“This dreadful incident with Evil totally exhausted me,” admitted BeraX7719 when they were done with the official part. “I’m so pleased it’s over.”
He indeed appeared drained.
“When we in the Supreme Command make decisions, it usually isn’t that complicated. We just stick with tradition, and what our predecessors did in the past is our guidance for the present. But the situation we had to face here was extraordinary.” He shivered almost unnoticeably. “I had a lot of doubts concerning our initial relocation plan. Actually, to be honest, I was certain it would fail and went with it only because I had to do something. Even the mere implications of it were dire. We haven’t made it public, but our calculations showed that the space at the Ridge was so limited we would have to leave the brood behind. To leave all our young ones to die, that was the decision I was supposed to make.”
Second Class Commander PeraX5291 entered the room to announce the Head Page was here and waiting outside in the corridor. Xe stood up to leave, but the Supreme stopped him with a wave of his hand.
“No, Commander. Stay, as this concerns you too. Rogue, you’re dismissed.”
“Yes, Sir.” Rogue bowed his head and buzzed up loudly. “See you later, Scout.”
He hovered out of the room immediately after MedaM0075 stepped in. The Head Page looked weary but content, and hailed both of them kindly.
“You wanted to see me, Supreme?”
“Yes, Page. Take a seat.” He showed the rounded wax piece just opposite to him, and the Head Page slowly eased onto it.
“This was a very hard period for us all, Page.”
“Very nerve-racking, Sir. What we Pages have gone through… nobody knows.”
The Supreme looked at Xe. That was an invitation to get involved in conversation and the Scout took advantage of the opportunity.
“We don’t know, but we are wondering, Page. Why did Servants raise such a fuss? It wasn’t helping, and you were only inciting a panic.”
“There are things you can’t understand.” The Head Page gave a diplomatic answer.
“I did get something,” the Scout countered. “The Queen was reluctant to go, that much is clear. So what? You had to persuade her to leave. Our situation was terrible, and all you needed to do was explain to her that she’d die if she stayed here.”
The Servant glowered at him and snorted.
“Head Page,” said the Supreme plainly, leaning against the waxy back of his seat. “About the reason I called you. Some of the younger Pages have informed me the the Queen has one special wish, or is that not so?”
MedaM0075 jumped in his seat with astonishment.
“Yes, but…” he faltered, “the Queen still might reconsider… besides, my lower-ranked Pages shouldn’t discuss such an important subject behind my back,” he hissed angrily.
“Don’t cross the line, Page. Every Eeol has the right to come to the Supremes, and you know it. I was told that the Queen wishes to meet our Commander XeraM6697 in person and ordered him to be shown to her quarters.”
Xe raised his head. “What?”
MedaM0075’s hands gripped the soft wax they were resting on. “No.”
“You claim it’s not the Queen’s wish?” The Supreme scowled at him.
“I didn’t say that.”
“Or will you not abide by her will?”
Enraged, the Page gritted his teeth. “Supreme, my loyalty to the Queen is beyond any debate.”
“It’s settled, then. You are taking Commander XeraM76697 down right away. I’m sure he is looking forward to this meeting, aren’t you, Commander?”
“I want it more than anything, Sir,” said excited Xe. “In fact, I have been craving to talk with the Queen since I can remember.”
“That’s against protocol,” the Head Page continued. “It’s breaking customs and conventional practices…” But after BeraX7719 gave him a sharp look, he reluctantly signaled the Scout to follow him.
A party of the Queen’s Servants was waiting for MedaM0075 at the entrance of the Supreme Command Quarters. They were a little surprised when they saw their master in Xe’s company, and more than startled after he whispered to them where they were taking him. But it was the Queen’s wish, and nobody protested.
While the two of them buzzed at the head of the party, Xe overheard the Pages exchanging comments in voices too low to discern anything. He didn’t care for it. The idea of getting a face to face with the Queen made him absolutely ecstatic, and his mind was reeling with various issues to bring up, so numerous it was incredibly hard to decide which ones to pick.
MedaM0075 kept his mouth closed while leading the small party into Main Tunnel two. They swooped deeper into the belly of the Hive, and the Scout trembled with awe going down to the mysterious place he has never visited before; it was the way to Subterranean Level 7 where the Queen’s Chamber was located.
When the party finally exited the Main Tunnel, a long green-glowing corridor unrolled before them desc
ending slightly from the point where they were standing. It seemed rather empty by Eeol standards as only a few Pages could be seen running around. Unlike other floors in the Hive, which were always littered with some amount of wax rubble, this one was perfectly clean and tidy and literally spotless.
The small party halted, and the Pages gathered around MedaM0075 in one corner murmuring something between themselves. The Head Page turned to the Scout who was waiting impatiently next to the group.
“Commander, what you are about to see is something very few Eeols ever has a chance to see.”
“I’m fully aware of that, Page. It’s a great honor for me, and I’m deeply grateful to the Queen for granting me her audience. We are going down the main corridor?”
“Not so fast. First let’s make one thing clear, Commander. Whatever you see or hear on this level you must not reveal to anyone, ever.” MedaM0075 looked him right in the eyes. “Promise you’ll hold to this.”
“Page, is that necessary? Really?”
“Promise, Commander.”
Xe turned to the other Pages for support but received none. So he shrugged, submitting. “All right, Page, have it your way. I swear.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear. Follow me, Commander.”
The rest of party didn’t come along but remained behind at the beginning of the luminous corridor and continued to swap remarks.
“Let me guess, Page. This vow of silence was your idea, not the Queen’s order?”
“It’s customary for Pages, and under these circumstances, it applies to you too. As always, I act in the Queen’s best interest.”
“Her interest,” grunted Xe. “You know, Page, some actually believe that you are manipulating the Queen.”
“They are wrong. I’m a loyal and faithful servant to my Queen, and I would never betray her trust. All I ever did was protect her.”
“Like now when you tried to conceal her wish from the Supremes?”
“It was only stalling in case she might change her mind. I admit there were other instances when I was tempted to lie, but I always resisted. I would never disregard my duty, Commander.”
He shook his head as the Scout had slowed down near some round openings on both sides of the corridor. “We won’t be entering here. Those are our Servants’ quarters with a large common area and a number of sleeping chambers. Nothing of interest to you.”
“As you say, Page.”
“Commander,” said MedaM0075, proceeding down the corridor. “Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against you, and I’m actually quite fond of you. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here. However, you possess a baffling ability to irk me.”
“If that is so, it’s purely unintentional, Page.”
“I know. What’s worse is that in the end it usually turns out you were right. Anyway, we Pages are very grateful for everything you’ve done for the Swarm, and your part in saving it from the Evil is truly remarkable. Between you and me, I thought we were doomed, and I was on the brink of a nervous breakdown. Look, this is a Plate Depot.”
Xe peered curiously through the small round opening in the luminous wall. Inside, countless stacks of thin yellowish plates were resting on long wax constructions roughly fashioned into the shape of racks. On the opposite wall was a second opening leading to similar chamber.
“There are five chambers in total,” pointed MedaM0075 like he read Xe’s thoughts. “Loads and loads of plates. Many old and worn and written way before my time. But let’s keep moving.”
The next entrance they passed was opening to a large chamber containing ordinary-looking honeycombs.
“A Food Store. Just to have some within reach, nothing more. But look over there.” He pointed toward the wide gate lined with brand new and brightly-glowing wax. “The Egg Depository,” he said with reverence.
The roomy chamber had an odd plateau made of wax, similar to the regular wax combs but lying horizontally over the floor instead being erected vertical as normal. It was dotted with innumerable cells holding hundreds of gray-colored Eeol eggs.
“Here we keep the eggs before we take them to nurseries,” explained the Head Page. “Only for several days for initial maturation. Unfortunately, many perish in this early stage due to diseases or inborn defects.”
When they exited the Depository, MedaM0075 pointed toward opening across the corridor.
“That’s the Royal Room. We currently nurture two future Queens and a number of future Kings. The young ones should not be disturbed so we won’t be going in there.”
“Lots of different jobs,” acknowledged Xe. “I thought being a Page was rather boring.”
“Boring,” groused MedaM0075. “This duty comes with a great responsibility, Commander.”
That aggravated Xe a bit. “Scouting does too, Page.”
“Each duty bears its own burden, and each has its deserved place in the Swarm’s order. But over here, a bad decision could endanger not only an individual but the whole community.”
The Scout wanted to respond but then noticed that they were running out of corridor.
Ahead of them was a dead-end sealed by the strangest wall he has ever seen. Convex and all lumpy, it was made of gray and over-aged wax with an uneven, coarse surface possessing no glow at all and having almost a granular look. That relic needed to be torn down and rebuilt years ago, and it seemed illogical it could be ignored for so long here in the very heart of the Hive.
“What is this, Page?”
“Don’t mind that, Commander. That is… something old. But look.” He showed him a high and wide gate in the wall at their right. It was brand new and built with the finest wax, irradiating the healthy green shine. “This is it. The entrance to the Queen’s Chamber.”
Xe swallowed. The Queen!
“I’m going in first, to announce you,” said MedaM0075, landing on the smooth floor tenderly and without a sound. “You’ll wait here until I return. Wait, do you understand? Don’t enter before I come for you. That would be a breach of protocol and an insult to position of a Queen!”
“I’ll do as you wish, Page. Just hurry.”
MedaM0075 intended to say something else, but he changed his mind and disappeared into the entrance.
As he stood there alone, Xe repeated in his mind all the subjects he planned to bring up to the Queen. There was quite a few of them, and he knew every other Flyer in the Hive would have the same difficulty. It would be much better if the Queen would use other ways of communication beyond her Servants.
The Head Page returned.
“The Queen ordered me to bring you in,” he said reluctantly.
“Page, have you ever tried to persuade the Queen to come to the Rallies once in a while? It would do wonders for the Swarm morale.”
The Head Page heaved a sigh while leading him inside the high-ceiled chamber glowing in the usual green luminescence.
“Commander, why do you suppose the Queen never leaves her chamber?”
“Why? I don’t know. I have never thought about it.”
“It figures. Just like everybody else. First Class Commander XeraM6697, my Queen! Commander, bow to the Queen.”
“Abarella Dita 2.” She smiled. “We Queens also have names.”
Surprised, Xe took a step backward.
This whole time he had been stuck with a picture of the young Queen he had seen in the summer. What he remembered was a charming, golden figure full of grace and loveliness, and now as he had stepped into this chamber, Xe expected to find an identical image in it. The same elegant moves he had admired so much, the same golden shine and cuteness which adorned the young Eeol Queen.
But it was not the case.
A mature Eeol Queen didn’t resemble her younger form even remotely. In fact, she didn’t look like an Eeol at all.
The Queen had a huge, swollen, blemished body with no trace of armor whatsoever. The headpiece, visor, hand gears and air-screw and the belt with batteries, everything was missing, and her body was covered in heavily wrin
kled, rubbery skin of a dark-brown coloration instead. Practically unmovable, she lay on her grotesquely disfigured and enlarged abdomen which made her almost worm-like in appearance. Under its broad folds, no legs could be seen.
The naked black head inclined slightly, wearing no visible eyes but two cuts in the place where the eyes should be.
“Yes, I can see you, my child. I can hear you very well, but come closer nonetheless. I’m so curious to get your report.”
A thin gnarly hand lacking all fingers waved beckoning him to approach, and Xe exhaled and took a couple of steps forward, lowering his helmeted head.
“Excuse me, my Queen. I got a little… baffled.”
She giggled. There was still something Eeol-like in that distorted face.
“I expected you’ll be.”
Her voice wasn’t unpleasant. Somewhat deep but not harsh; words came out clear, distinct and well defined.
“Actually, I specifically instructed my Me to tell you nothing while bringing you here, Commander.” She winked in the direction of MedaM0075, who was standing quietly in one corner of the spacious chamber. Except for him, they were alone.
“Naturally,” she continued, “I was once swift in the air too, but that’s in the past now. In order to lay thousands of eggs a year, you have to grow a large body, and then it becomes too large for anything else besides laying eggs… but duty is a duty, and I’m not complaining. Better tell me, Commander, about that horrid Evil of the Maya Flower. I want to hear it in your own words as my Pages are so dreadfully official. They trim every good story to the core and spoil all the fun.”
Unwinding a little, Xe nodded and started talking.
He started with the awful shock and terror following the discovery of the beast. Then he talked about the initial plan they came up with involving the relocation and about his shock when Rogue vanished. He described in detail his friend’s stunning return, the laborious resin collecting, and finally the incredible sight of a deadly Anteater being driven away by the miraculous smelly substance.
The Call of the Swarm Page 35