A Sting in the Tail
Page 2
Far from the disordered rush to escape, the bee patrol led the wasp swarm on towards the hive’s narrow entrance. The wasps, stronger and bigger as they were, began to close the gap on the bees with every wing beat. Encouraged by the apparent weakness of the bee resistance the wasps drove themselves on even faster. Already two of the squadron had been grabbed from the air and brutally dispatched.
Nothing it seemed could save the remainder of the small squadron, their courageous charge had served only to anger an already ruthless enemy force. Suddenly, at an order barked out by Bumbler, Tallis and his friends flitted vertically upwards over the hive and a row of vicious spikes were instantly rammed upwards from concealed positions within the colony as the wasps, because of their extra bulk and speed, drove themselves onto the barbed wall.
Exhausted from the flight and fight tactics they had employed to lure the wasps onwards, the remaining members of the Tallis squadron could only watch as the would be invaders impaled themselves upon the merciless thorns. Under Bumbler’s direction the deadly spikes were rammed again and again into the mass of bodies crashing about in the fight.
Even though great numbers of wasps had perished in their charge at the deadly wall, the sheer force of the attack began to tire the defenders and several gaps began to appear in the line of prickles as members of the home force fell. Just at the moment of balance in the fight, when the defenders seemed on the point of being overwhelmed by the number of wasps, Stinger led in the guards.
Fearlessly Stinger showed why he was commander of the Royal Guard and just why the guards were the elite force they were. He plunged into the fight hacking and sawing at any enemy foolish enough to expose themselves to his attack.
No one bothered to count how few wasps escaped the trap to limp away, but many of their number had met his end. Wings torn, legs broken and bodies pierced, they lay in heaped masses at the foot of the spiked wall.
True, there had been several casualties amongst the defenders, but no one, not even old Bumbler, could remember such a one sided victory.
Amongst the wounded, commander Stinger nursed a broken arm, which had been placed in a sling. He had led his small force with great courage and skill and all agreed without his timely intervention the colony might have been lost. His arm had apparently been damaged in a personal fight with the same wasp leader already injured by Tallis at the start of hostilities. “Well Tallis, my boy, it seems I was right about you all along. You see I told you fresh air and exercise would make a man of you.”
Before Tallis could reply, every head was bowed as Queen Beetrix, escorted by Bumbler appeared to inspect the scene. “Well young man was this your doing?” she asked severely.
“If you please, your Highness, it was a united effort, the workers, guided by Commander Bumbler, combined forces with your Royal Guards and the wasps were defeated. Some escaped the carnage you see before you, many did not.”
Looking at the mass of corpses the Queen frowned, “And our own losses?” It was Stinger who fielded the question.
“Seven dead and ten injured Highness. It could have been much worse. Indeed it would have been except for Tallis, his scheme put paid to the enemy plan.”
“As you say, indeed it did Commander Stinger. Tallis your quick thinking, determination and courage has saved the colony and served it well, claim any reward and if it is in my power, I’ll grant it.”
“I thank your Majesty, but I can’t think of any higher honour than serving the hive.”
“You are too modest, however, I feel your particular talents could be better employed. Commander Stinger, meet your latest recruit to the Royal Guard, train him well, you see he is like yourself, a bee to be reckoned with.”