by Robin Hawdon
Having checked that all the defences were ready and all sentinels posted, and having toured the entrances to the mound itself and inspected the almost completed repairs to the damaged section, he requested a last meeting with the Queen of Queens for himself and the leaders of the various sections of the community.
The afternoon sun was sinking beyond the gorse clump, sending its shadow stretching across the parched grass towards the trees, as Black Sting, Great Head, Noble and Five Legs met solemnly and respectfully in the Great Mother's deep chamber. Despite his having served her for so long, it was Five Legs' first actual meeting with the Queen of Queens – indeed it was the first time any workerant had met her on this official basis – and the old ant was quite overcome with emotion at the magnitude of the occasion. When Black Sting presented him in the darkness of the chamber and the Queen of Queens welcomed him with her quiet, regal courtesy, he was so overawed that he could only stammer and stutter and back away until he came up against the chamber wall, where he stayed throughout the meeting in a state of complete reverential trance.
Black Sting informed the Great Mother of their reason for believing that The Spider's army was now approaching and he explained his plan to cut off the Royal Quarters from the rest of the mound and to seal off all the entrances to the mound itself. He told her of his soldiers' determination to fight the red ants for every blade of grass before they could reach the hillock and then Noble assured her that the Royal Guard would take up the battle to the last dying ant to prevent the enemy's entry into the mound itself. Even if every soldier and every worker in the colony were to perish in the struggle, there was still the chance that she, the young Queens and all the precious larvae might survive to build the settlement again.
The Queen of Queens listened in calm silence and when they had finished she touched both their antennae with her own in a gesture of royal blessing and said, 'I know I can trust you, my brave soldiers, to do all in your power. Do not fear for us here. If the Lord of the Stars wills that it must be so, we are not afraid to die.'
Then, as they were about to leave the chamber, Black Sting, almost as an afterthought, stopped and asked, 'Great Mother, what do you know of the Giant Two-Legs?'
'Why do you ask?' she said.
'There is a rumour from one of the outer mounds that a creature sounding like the traditional descriptions of the Giant Two-legs has been sighted. It is probably just a wild story, but is it possible? Does such a creature really exist?'
The Queen of Queens was silent for a moment before she answered. 'They are supposed to exist. I have never seen one myself but in the far colony where my own Great Mother, the Queen of All Queens was born, it was said that many ants knew of their existence. She often told me tales about them.'
'Would you tell us about them?' asked Black Sting.
The four ants listened with rapt attention as the Queen of Queens recounted what she knew.
'It is said that they are truly gigantic. They do not in fact have only two legs. They have four, like the other huge animals of the forest and the grassland, but they have learnt to walk upright on only two and this gives them a height that puts their heads up amongst the branches of the trees themselves, almost some say, to the sun. Because of this, it is said, they are able to steal some of the light from the sun and use it at night to make their own suns, which roar and flash and give them light and warmth. It is also said that they have made themselves masters of the other great beasts and keep them as slaves, doing their work for them; and that they have immensely long stings, which shoot their poison with a deafening sound and with which they can kill a creature such as the Tawny Killer-Bird from a whole tree-length away. All this, as I say, is just legend to me, but I have heard it told many times.'
After a moment Black Sting asked, 'And are these monsters said to be the enemies of ants?'
The Queen of Queens replied, 'It is said that they are so big that they do not even notice the existence of such as we upon the ground, but that they can crush whole colonies beneath their feet as they come without realizing it. It is said that they are concerned with such gigantic works upon the face of the world that we are as specks of dust to them.' Her voice carried a hint of amusement in the darkness. 'If such things are true, my splendid Black Sting, and one of these astounding creatures is indeed in the vicinity, then the problem of the red ants will be as a mere gust of wind in the grass.'
Black Sting saluted his Queen, and the little group took its leave of her.
That night the colony was to experience things which added a hundredfold to the legends about the Giant Two-Legs and which provided the source for stories which were told thereafter to generation after generation of ants.
It was the first really dark night for a long while, the moon and stars hidden for the most part by a wide blanket of cloud, which parted only intermittently to show brief glimpses of their still glimmering presence. The air was still relatively warm and dry for the time of year though, and the darkness provided good cover for an approaching force, so a constant guard was maintained outside in the forest and upon the barricades.
Not long after the darkness had fallen the lookout, whom Black Sting had placed upon the river bank came rushing back in a state of terrified excitement to report that some creature of gigantic size was indeed approaching up the stream. He had heard the sounds of its limbs splashing in the water, had glimpsed the flash of white spray in the current, and even claimed to have seen the beast's vast shadow silhouetted against the last gleam of twilight in the sky. The news spread like wildfire around the colony and every eye and every antenna was turned in the direction of the stream as often as towards the woods, whence the red ants were expected to come.
Black Sting immediately sent out further scouting parties along the stream bank and reports came back at frequent intervals verifying the first account. Whatever it was, however, did not seem to be making urgent progress, for it appeared to remain at one spot in the water for long periods, exploring the current with strange sweeping motions, before moving upstream again. None of the witnesses could give a satisfactory account of the creature, for it was right out in the deepest regions of the stream and the night was too dark for a clear sight, but all confirmed that it seemed to be a monster of colossal proportions.
The night was well progressed when the being finally arrived at their own stretch of water and then all talk of rumour and hallucination ceased. Every ant in the colony could hear and see and smell for himself that something of a size beyond comprehension was out there in the swirling currents. As it drew level with the mound at some distance out in the centre of the stream every tunnel mouth and vantage point, every grass clump, thicket and plant frond hid a myriad peering eyes and tensed antennae. All could hear the swish of angry water and see the white gleam of foam as the current came up against its great limbs; they could scent the strange, heavy odour hanging in the night air; and, most awe-inspiring of all, they caught glimpses, as the moonlight pierced the thin veil of cloud from time to time, of the towering silhouette, which seemed to be indulging in some weird personal ritual, waving and bowing above the waters and brandishing some immense antenna of its own, which hissed through the air with a fierce rhythmic sound, as if challenging the Lord of the Stars' own sovereignty over the ether.
Then the beast was past the mound and progressing round the curve of the stream to the other end of the clearing. And here a still more terrifying development took place, for the ants on guard at the barricades by the river bank and on the trail heading for the riverside mound, were forced to scatter and flee as the monster loomed out of the water and clambered up on to the bank itself. Every creature in the clearing could feel the heavy vibrations in the earth, as the great thing stomped ponderously about; they could hear the tearing of the undergrowth and the crash of breaking timber as it foraged around at the forest's edge; and they could see the vast shadow – a mere intensity of the blackness – moving against the trees' own dark background.
Then the shadow returned to the far side of the sombre mass where the gorse clump grew and here it disappeared from the immediate gaze of those on the mound itself. Watchers out in the clearing reported that it appeared to be settling for a rest, for it had lowered itself to a crouching position, and was busying itself with some relatively tranquil business amongst the grasses on the other side of the gorse. Then came the sight which seemed to verify the Queen of Queens' own stories of the Giant Two-Legs and caused a wave of awe and astonishment across the clearing. There was a harsh, rasping sound, a sudden flare of light through the fronds of the gorse bush, and then a steady glow, such as of a flickering earthbound sun, which grew and multiplied until it was a raging, crackling inferno, against which the monster's shadow was an unworldly silhouette, crouched as if in divine worship of its own miraculous creation.
Dreamer, out near the forest edge where he was commanding one of the advance defence-posts, gazed at the astonishing sight with a mixture of curiosity and wonder. Strangely he felt little fear, for the extraordinary vision seemed merely a culmination of the remarkable sequence of events that had swept him forward in their inexorable progress that spring; and, despite the drama of the occasion, he felt for some reason that there was no real threat in the arrival of this strange god of the river with his magical power of light. Not at any rate the sort of tangible threat that could be comprehended, such as that of the red ants. This was something far beyond the experience of any ant and beyond their power to react or defend themselves in any way, and therefore there was nothing to do but behold, and wonder and abandon oneself to whatever developments fate was contriving. Time passed, the light continued to leap and blaze and a pungent, choking scent filled the air, while the giant maintained his solitary watch at his creation's side. His strange rituals went on, seeming to involve dabblings in the very heart of the light itself, and resulting in further weird sounds and smells, but there never appeared any direct threat to the ants themselves or to their mound lurking beneath the branches of its beech tree at the end of the clearing.
Later in the night Dreamer was relieved and left his post under the command of another. He wandered across to the birch sapling, where he knew that Still One was spending the night, keeping watch over his precious herd. He climbed to the Story Teller's branch to find the latter amongst his aphid-bugs, quietly watching the vision by the river bank, which was very clear from this lofty viewpoint. The two ants stayed side by side for a long moment, staring at the scene.
Eventually Dreamer asked, 'What is it, Still One? This is no phenomenon of the real world. Is it some visitation sent to warn us or to help us or to tell us something?'
The other was silent for the habitual moment and then replied, 'I do not know. I only know that we know very little of the workings of the world, yet if we were able to understand them there is always a way they can be used for good somehow.' He paused and stared at the light, its reflection flickering in his limpid eyes. 'And if one fails to understand them, then it can mean destruction.'
Dreamer pondered this for a while. Then: 'How can this be of advantage to us? Perhaps to frighten off The Spider, do you think?'
'I know no more than you do, Quick Feelers,' replied the other. 'But you can be sure the way is there and you can be sure the brain can find it if used well enough.' He turned his calm gaze to Dreamer. 'There is one thing I have discovered. The power of thought is the greatest power there is. There is nothing it cannot achieve, ultimately.' He gazed back towards the light, and sighed. 'The trouble is, that word "ultimately" is such a long, long time.'
It was the first time Dreamer had ever seen a sign of uncertainty from Still One. He felt a great feeling of warmth for the gentle worker and touched his nearest antenna momentarily with his own. 'Are you afraid of meeting The Spider, Still One?' he asked. 'Do you wish it had not been you whom Black Sting chose?'
'Yes, I am afraid,' said Still One simply.
'What will you say to him?'
The pause. 'I do not know. The power of thought has not served me yet on that subject.' A further silence. Then, in a still quieter tone: 'The trouble is, I fear it might indeed be pure aggressive evil that we are up against – as in the story of the aphid-bugs and the rove beetles. And in that case my reason and my stories will be of no use against The Spider.' Again he turned his look towards Dreamer. 'Then it will be up to you soldiers to use your brains. It will require a different kind of thought power to mine.'
Dreamer thought a little longer. 'The power of thought,' he murmured, savouring the phrase. 'Is it greater than the power of the Lord of the Stars then, do you think?'
Still One did not answer. Dreamer went on: 'Do you believe in the Lord of the Stars, Still One?'
Pause. 'Why do you ask?'
'There is a red ant called Fleet, whom we got to know quite well whilst in captivity. Deep down one felt he is not unlike us. In different circumstances he could perhaps be a friend. There must be others like him. If the Lord of the Stars is really such a force for justice, how can he allow creatures like us to fight and wound and destroy each other?'
'Perhaps he wishes us to discover the futility of these things for ourselves.'
'Ah,' replied Dreamer, 'but if we are to discover them for ourselves, what need have we of him at all?' He looked at Still One.
The other was regarding him with a hint of amusement in his eyes, as if to say, 'You are learning. You are finding out.'
Dreamer looked back towards the light. 'There is a voice I hear in my dreams sometimes. A voice I seem to recognize, that constantly challenges and questions me. The Queen of Queens said she knew it. Do you know it, Still One? Is it the Lord of the Stars' voice?'
After a long moment Still One answered, 'I will tell you one last story.' He paused, as if remembering something from a long while ago. Then he went on:
'There was an ant who was plagued all his life by the Voice. It challenged him and worried him and questioned him, waking and sleeping. And at the end of his life, when he finally lay dying, he cried out to the Voice, "Tell me before I die: are you the voice of the Lord of the Stars? I must know before I go."
'And the Voice replied, "If you believe it, then that is what I am."
'And the ant cried, "Can you prove it? Can you show yourself to me?"
'The Voice said, "I can, but only if you believe in me."
'The ant cried, "Then show me! Reveal yourself!"
'The Voice said, "I can only reveal myself if you truly believe. Look into your heart and ask yourself if you truly know that I am the Lord of the Stars, or if you doubt it.'
'So the ant did this. He looked into his heart and asked himself whether he truly believed. And when he had the answer he shouted, "Yes! Yes, I know that you are the Lord of the Stars!"
'And the Voice came back, "That is good. In that case there is no need for me to show myself, is there?"
'And the ant replied. "No, there is no need." And he died, content at last.'
Silence, and the stillness of the forest, and the crackle of the dancing, magic light. Then Dreamer said, 'And if he had not truly believed?'
'Then the answer would still have to be found.'
Dreamer nodded and was silent. Then he said, 'If we survive this night of the Giant Two-Legs, Still One – and if we still have to face the red ants – then I shall ask Black Sting if I may take you to meet The Spider. You should not have to go on your own and I am the only one who has met him.'
'Thank you, Quick Feelers,' said the other quietly. 'I should be glad of that.'
They said no more as the night blackened around the island of light and the myriad watching eyes.
23
He was alone in the centre of the clearing, alone except for a little group of larvae huddled beneath a dandelion leaf, the last survivors of all his kin. He knew he had to save them, or all was finished. Yet he was assailed from all sides by the most terrible of dangers. On one side loomed a huge, seething mass of red ants, with the gigantic figure of The Spide
r at their head; on another side leaped and crackled the angry, dazzling light, with the even more gigantic shadow of the Giant Two-Legs in its midst; on another side roared and tumbled the waters of an endless, bottomless flood; and on the fourth side advanced an army of terrible monsters: spiders and toads and Tawny Killer-Birds and many others, all fighting and clawing to be the first to get at him. Every way he turned one of the dangers reared to destroy him.
As they came closer and closer, he shouted above the horrendous din: 'Have you left me then? Have you abandoned me at the last? What can I do now? Are we to perish after all?'
And the Voice came to him, rumbling through the tumult: 'It is up to you. Think. Are they all truly your enemies? Is there no way out? Think. Remember what was said: "The power of thought is the greatest power there is." Think!'
And the Voice faded away as the monstrous forces approached.
24
He awoke in a terror to find himself still on the birch branch and the dawn edging up, the palest glow behind the trees, and with Still One resting nearby, watching him with his calm, humorous gaze. He shook the awful images from his mind and turned to look towards the gorse clump. There was no sign of the giant or of the leaping light, but instead there was a strange red glow lying along the ground, to show that that part at least had not been just a figment of the night's dreams. He looked back at Still One, his antennae cocked curiously.
'The Giant Two-Legs left while you were asleep,' said Still One. 'He simply rose and went back along the river bank and disappeared into the forest. But he left his light – which as you can see is dying without him.'
Dreamer stared back at the strange glow. Though still weird and unearthly, there was a comforting warmth about it, which did not seem too threatening, from this distance at any rate.
Still One was speaking again. 'Did you have a very frightening dream?'
Dreamer looked back at him. 'Yes,' he answered. 'The most frightening of all.'