The Queen was listening closely, apparently very amused. When the Scout got to the part where the gigantic creature turned and ran away, her entire body twitched in an attempt to jump with joy.
But MedaM0075 cried instantly, “My Queen! I beg you, no!”
A few spots on her belly were bleeding. Her oversized body was so fragile that even the smallest movement caused it to crack, and the Head Page buzzed straight to her and start pressing her wounds with some kind of salve.
“You have to restrain yourself, my Queen. You know that stirring is dangerous for you.”
“Certainly, Me,” she murmured in a grumbling tone. “Always the same. My body cracks so easily, sometimes even spontaneously… no help there. That’s the trait of us Queens and the reason why the Pages panicked with the Supremes’ relocation plan in the first place, Commander. They knew I couldn’t go. No way would I survive the transfer to the caves as any attempt to move me would kill me.”
She shrugged. “The Swarm wouldn’t stand a chance either. Although my daughters over there in the Royal Room are able to travel, they don’t have these yet.” She gently turned aside the upper part of her puffed body and patted her chest. “The Song generator.”
Being this close, the Swarm-binding Song was actually hearable, and Xe perceived it as a soft burbling hum, mysterious and obscure.
“My daughters are way too young to emit the Song, and you would all turn Rogue before they would mature.” Then she laughed. “On the other hand, even Rogues aren’t what they used to be these days. That one you brought from the desolate lands is indeed the most curious fellow, Commander. I have never heard of such case in my whole life!”
Finishing up with nursing the Queen, MedaM0075 quietly went back to his corner. There were some wax structures along the luminous wall he was standing by and more of them across the chamber itself with various seating pieces, roughly crafted tables and alike, but the Scout wasn’t paying much attention to it.
“Really, there has been lots of odd stuff recently. How is it possible for a Hive to survive the Evil of the Maya Flower? That simply can’t happen, everybody always claimed so. My mother… she was so afraid of the Evil and lived in constant fear of it.”
She noticed Xe’s vacant look.
“Oh, my mother. You probably haven’t heard about her. Abarella Dita 1, that was her name; the founder of our Hive. I’m the second Queen to rule it, and thanks to you, Commander XeraM6697, I won’t be the last. I haven’t actually talked to her as we’ve never met, but the Pages told me everything. She had a difficult life. A dreadful disease plagued the Hive when she was born, and it was transferred to the new one she set up as well. So the first years were harsh, bringing the new community close to perishing. My mother had to produce a huge number of eggs to offset the high mortality caused by the disease, plus all the usual losses… but she somehow endured it. The young Swarm recovered fully recouping its health and becoming large and strong at last.”
The Queen sighed.
“Unfortunately, the price of success was high. The huge effort caused by excessive egg laying exhausted my mother before her time, and although she wasn’t yet old, her egg-producing ability began to wane. The mother knew what the Queen has to do in such case, and she would never forsake her duty. At that time, I was growing in the Royal Room, and she struggled with all her diminishing strength until my maturation. Immediately after I returned from the Wedding Flight and was ready to take over, my mother destroyed herself.”
Xe shuddered.
“She ordered the Pages to wax-seal the room with her inside. Did you note a defective wall at the end of the main corridor, Commander? That used to be the entrance to her Chamber. Nobody dares to touch the dire seal ever again, and her remains are still there, behind that gray overaged wax. It had to be like that because the Swarm can’t have more than one Queen, and the Swarm comes first. Not the Queen, Commander, but the Swarm.”
The Scout was silent, and she quickly changed the subject.
“Would you guess that I often think about my Wedding Flight, Commander? That was my first and the last time I left the Hive. …ooop.” A gentle jolt went down her body. “Me, would you please pick up that egg for me?”
MedaM0075 came promptly, pulling an elongated gray egg with yellow markings beneath the heavy folds of the Queen’s body. He then exited in the corridor where he handed over the egg to some other Page. He returned straight away to retake his watch in the corner.
“My Wedding Flight was a long time ago,” she continued in a dreamy voice, “but I can still recall every part like it was yesterday. I flew out a gorgeous spring morning. I’ll never forget that clear blue sky overhead and the warm rays of sun or the fragrant spring breeze caressing my face. The great meadows were all around me, lush and loveable in their splendor and teeming with beautiful flowers of all colors. It was such a fantastic feeling to fly free in the open air; something special indeed. It overpowered me so much that my Eeols had a lot of trouble following me around. Luckily, a Troop of Kings appeared quickly. And one among them…” the Queen giggled, “well, he was cute.”
Then she sighed. “But this fabulous day passed in a heartbeat. With the first twilight, I returned to the Hive and the Pages took me down here to my Chamber where I have stayed ever since.”
An indistinct mutter came out of her mouth. Xe couldn’t determine if it was a word or a moan.
“We Queens live for many years, Commander. Twelve, fifteen, sometimes even more. Not that I’m discontent with my role, I’m happy and proud to be a mother of a Swarm. But sometimes the days here in the Chamber can get a little… difficult. Naturally, my good Pages are continuously around, serving me and assisting in every way they can, yet there are times when their support is not enough. Fortunately, there’s one thing that can always cheer me up; the Sugar-dew from the mighty Bushes. Do you remember, Commander, your unit fetched me a fine stash early in the year? I’m very thankful for that.”
Xe winced with a sudden flash of a memory from the past and faces of friends long gone. It has also reminded him that there were issues he wanted to discuss. While he had been so keen to speak before, now he didn’t know what to say. Since the early days he had loads of complaints, but were they justified? The Queen and the Supremes were just doing their duty the whole time, struggling to preserve the community. The more he was thinking about it, the more he understood that the Swarm rules were set to fight this harsh and unrelenting world in which occasional victims simply couldn’t be avoided.
But perhaps…
“My Queen, if you allow, I would like to make some points.”
The black head inclined a bit. “Will you say my decisions were often objected? I know that, Commander, and likewise, I’m aware of the fact that you resent me for requesting the Wedding Flight for my daughter during the Dragonfly swarming. Yes, it claimed a terrible cost in the lives of my children, and I feel the deepest sorrow for those who fell. But I had no choice as my daughter was late and the season of Kings was closing. No matter the cost, the next generation must be ensured.”
“It’s the way of things, I know. I’m no longer a foolish youngster, and I don’t resent anyone, but regarding the Wedding Flight, it’s not the timing that I object to but a joyful atmosphere which followed and the lack of mourning for the dead. That was wrong, my Queen.”
“True, we got carried away. I was so happy with my daughter’s success I forgot about everything else, and some issues simply slip my attention. You are right. We should show more respect for the fallen.”
“I don’t dislike our ways, my Queen, but I believe there’s room for improvement in many cases. Hasn’t this horrid event with the Evil proved that?”
“Maybe there is. I guess we rely too much on our traditions. I’ll order the Supremes to consult with you and the other Commanders more often. And now,” she said quietly, “you’ll have to go, Commander XeraM6697. I’m tired, very tired. Take my greetings to all my children. I thank everybody for their
loyalty and diligence and patience. You are my joy.”
Xe nodded, wondering how it was possible such messages once sounded like a mocking.
MedaM0075 led him out. Five other Pages waited in the corridor by the entrance gate, hailing and lowering their heads before the Head Page, and went into the chamber immediately after them. Somebody had to be at the Queen’s disposal at all times.
They passed the long empty corridor of Level 7 in silence. It was late in the night and all activities died away until tomorrow. Just before Xe entered the spacious hollow of the Main Tunnel to fly back to the upper levels, the Head Page eyed him firmly.
“Commander, don’t forget what you promised.”
The Scout didn’t reply. He only nodded.
35.
The Call of the Swarm
Xe stood in the meadow clearing before the Hive.
It was spring again. The sun was shining warm and golden, and the cloudless sky was blue behind the proudly-erecting waxy dome. Awake after the long winter sleep, the metal-fortified vegetation grew rapidly, and once more the great meadows got dressed in the brassy and green hues. At the western horizon, far in the distance, one lone but jolly Hep was bolting around making loops and dives like there was not a care in the world.
The First Flight for a new generation of Starters was currently underway, and thousands of fresh youngsters stirred impatiently in the clearing while enjoying the outer world for the very first time. The merry clamor was rising out of the excited youthful crowd, while mature Eeols positioned themselves around in a protective ring with their wary eyes combing the burgeoning vegetation on the clearing edges.
Matures were waiting for the restless Starters to settle down a bit. In the meantime, Xe was engaged in small talk with good old Te who was high-spirited and cheerful as always. They were commenting on the winter time and how it has gone peacefully for Eeols. Te shook out of hibernation quite early while Xe didn’t wake up until the very beginning of the new season.
But inevitably, with the warm days, the carnage returned also.
Their rebellious Go was gone. Only a short while after the missions recommenced, a Green Grabbing Fly killed her in the Spring Weed grove that scouting company two has tried to secure. Xe wasn’t there when it happened, and her body was taken promptly to the Gorge without him seeing it, which was for the best. The day before yesterday, another Eeoless he knew, Gatherer Ve, perished in an attack by a hungry Millipede.
Fortunately, unit 84 was still buzzing around in full numbers. Se and Se have just darted past, inseparable as usual and waving causally to them. Fe had the time of his life as he was just promoted to a Green; he was barely able to walk and staggered around glowing with pride and vanity. On the other hand, Jo found himself totally confused and miserable after waking up without the yellow marking on his helmet. Such changes in coloration sometimes happened without a reason. It was a great blow to Jo’s self-esteem as that yellow star in the middle of the forehead made him feel special.
A large crowd of Starters could be observed gathering in one particular spot of the clearing. That was Rogue, whose marvelous tales were a permanent attraction for them, and he talked gladly after having the Queen’s permission. Youngsters particularly liked to listen to stories about the strange highlands beyond the meadows border; the home of the dreadful Anteaters. At present, however, he looked annoyed, and Xe smiled while watching him wrestle with his overenthusiastic listeners.
Sometime soon, them two were planning to visit their abandoned dwelling at the Galahas cave. Partly for the old days, partly for the honey that remained stashed over there, and it would be a pity to let it go to waste. This time they were to travel safely escorted by a large Eeol party and adventurous Jo had already volunteered. As the Queen had sent her approval through the Pages, they were good to go any time they wished.
Xe kept his promise to MedaM0075. He said nothing about the things he had seen and heard in the Queen’s Chamber, resisting countless attempts from his curious friends to extract some piece of information. Meanwhile, there were important changes. Breaking the ancient practice, the Queen sent out messengers to contact other Hives and spread the news about the miraculous Tula plant, the bane of Anteaters. Responses have been favorable, and the foreign Swarms were endorsing this invaluable knowledge.
Mature Eeols began arranging Starters for their traditional flight over the Hive, and red crowds dinged and clattered with dull metallic tones as youngsters pushed each other around for the best spot. Smooth like new wax, their sound armors sparkled brightly red in the morning sun; being it helmets, air-screws or battery-laden belts, every part of their young healthy bodies glistened. Xe knew all too well that things wouldn’t stay that way. While Rogue’s presence reduced the death toll by a great deal, he couldn’t be everywhere at once. Many of the Starters would be gone before the next winter; such was the Eeol fate.
In spite of it, Xe managed to obtain an inner peace. No doubts tortured him any longer as he now comprehended a deeper understanding of the Swarm rules. And, although it was the Queen’s Song binding Eeols and turning the multitude of individuals into a Swarm, what pulled their kind to the collective wasn’t just the song. A call of the Swarm could be sensed in the sweet tune of their buzzing, the very redness of Eeol masses, and comforting views of the Hive and many other things Xe learnt to appreciate with a passion.
A small party of the most respectful Eeols came marching; the Supremes with their usual escort, several Queen’s Servants, and about a dozen of the First Class Commanders. BeraX7719 was giving last instructions to Supreme LegaP9308 which was to run the Hive overflying for the current generation. Taking his position among the assembling rows, Xe contemplated that one day he might be in their place. He was advancing fast and was expecting to become a Mission Commander for scouting company number two, and with time, even the highest positions would be in his reach. He was going to miss scouting, but it was too demanding for an Eeol of the older age anyway.
Youngsters were finally arranged with the Matures into a flying formation, and with all Commanders in position LegaP9308 was about to signal the start.
It is such a nice day, thought Xe. Just perfect for a flight, just perfect for us.
We are Eeols.
WE ARE THE SWARM.
THE END
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About the Author
Melani Gray is an Irish author with Eastern European roots. She writes indie books in several fantasy subgenres, and has a great passion for creating strange complex worlds and then diving head-first into them. Her debut novel, The Call of the Swarm, can be regarded as a perfect example of this approach. She currently lives in Ireland with her partner and two lovely cats.
The Call of the Swarm Page 36