by Taylor Kole
He snatched the torch off the ground and held it before him. The queen waited six feet away, as still as a statue.
Josh’s heart thumped with enough force to shatter the breastbone of his old body. Through the shocked fear, he realized if he survived facing down this maternal evil, he would never forget it.
As god and demon faced off, a shape shot from the dark and smashed into Josh’s side, rocking him. One of the mad medics clamped its powerful jaws around Josh’s mid section. Small spikes stabbed him. His flesh ripped upward and blood flowed as the beast tried to lift him.
On the second failed deadlock, Josh swung the fist holding his sword onto his adversary’s head. He smashed down again and again then finally the fourth blow brought a smashing crunch. The fifth freed him from its grasp and without hesitation, he brought the blade down, splitting the ant.
The queen had backed into the void. The mortally wounded ant stumbled away and dropped. Josh heard its breathing slow. Fearing more ants, Josh spun to the unconscious Flavius. By the light of the torch he could see the slight rise and fall of his chest and he breathed a sigh of relief.
Before he could sing “Kum Ba Yah”, bass-laden stomps warned of the hulky mass of the queen charging.
At the same instant, another ant flanked him.
Instinctively he tossed the torch at the queen and, using its fading light, sought the charging ant. A lunge, a swing, and he split its body like a peeled banana.
Turning back, he found the torch’s distraction far more fortuitous than envisioned. The queen stood paralyzed, staring at the light sailing past her face.
In this thousandth of a second, he accepted another inevitable truth: he would execute his initiated swing. It would connect with the center mass of the queen’s head, killing her. At the same moment, the dwindling torch would roll along the soil and extinguish. Flavius would wake to being eaten alive. In the darkness that followed, Josh would succumb to the onslaught of ant medics and be devoured.
The queen’s eyes remained placid but Josh felt they shared the knowledge of what would come. They both knew their lives ended today.
Josh’s ivory-handled scimitar struck the center of the queen’s head. The snapping of exoskeleton boomed as steel crunched from top to bottom.
From a mile away, Josh heard himself screaming in triumph as the flakes of bone and warm fluid pelted him.
Soon the death scent of the three dead ants would mark him and Flavius, transforming them into beacons for aggression.
Killing this queen comforted Josh. Junea’s odds of a safe life had increased. That young boy who saluted him might live to die an old man. Josh breathed deep, powerful, satisfied breaths as he pushed the blade deeper.
The expelled blood and brain rained on the torch, snuffing out its flame, bringing the final horror—darkness.
Blind, Josh freed his blade. He heard the hiss of the first ant’s death spray but stayed still. Swinging his scimitar indiscriminately would do no good. Also, he didn’t want his last thoughts to be rocked with despair at the realization that he had chopped Flavius in half.
Feeling his torso, he detected two quarter-sized punctures dotting each of his sides below the rib. Blood mixed with the death spray.
As he went to one knee, accepting his fate, he focused on happy thoughts. A particularly vivid smile on Karen’s face as she watched her favorite comedy show. Junea telling him she considered making love special, sacred. Flavius’ triumphant look as he thrust a spear in the air over a dead spider and shouted, "JoshRidley". Junea telling him he would be the greatest god ever.
“JoshRidley?” Flavius said, followed by a series of coughs.
“Here,” Josh knew it was pointless, but he still searched the darkness for him.
The boy was close, as were other things.
“I’m here,” Josh said, surprised by the need in his voice.
Josh heard the boy crawling to him.
“I’m right here, son,” Josh said. What did it matter if they screamed together as ants ripped them apart? “I’m here.”
A distant chitter answered him. The sound seemed to come from the main hall. Followed by another, and another farther still. The sound of converging ants grew louder.
Something brushed Josh’s arm. It was Flavius.
“I’ve got the torch,” the boy said.
Lots of good an extinguished torch will do us, thought Josh, but stayed silent.
He listened for the charge.
Heard silence, then patters. Flavius’ breathing.
An ant chittered so close it had to be in the chamber with them, then another and another chittered. Josh understood: they were gathering for the attack.
He stepped in front of Flavius and raised his sword.
They would die, but not by the first ant. He would split that one from head to rear.
Something exploded behind them. The force of wind knocked Josh off-balance. Liquid splashed Josh’s back. His stomach dropped as he realized he was coated with the queen’s death spray.
Moments later, warm oil rained down.
The queen’s grease differed from the alarm flavor of common ants. It smelled like honey dripped into a warm tea.
The abnormality distracted him momentarily. At any moment the ants would attack.
An entire minute passed. The mist continued to drizzle. Josh heard ants, idle, but in close proximity. Yet nothing else happened.
Flavius shuffled away and Josh gathered the courage to break the silence. “What are you doing?”
What did it matter? They were trapped in a black labyrinth under the earth, surrounded by demons not hampered by a lack of vision.
Another whoosh sounded. This one was soft, and friendly. The amber glow of light followed, awakening his hope, and softening his fear.
Flavius extended the burning torch.
Josh’s stomach knotted at the scene.
The ants were there. They were everywhere. Three dozen huffing beasts surrounded them. Stationary. Hulking. Packed in like zombies. Heads swiveling. Antennae twitching. Legs lifting and planting. One stepped forward, backward… yet none attacked
“You’ve done it, JoshRidley. You have cut off their control.” Flavius wiped the honey-scented sludge across his chest and pressed his hand out to Josh. “Now we are their leaders.” Flavius boldly stepped past him. Stopping one foot from the jaws of the nearest ant, he turned back. “Are you coming?”
Moments ago, death seemed like a sweet release. Now, the thought was comical.
Surveying the placid troops, he said, “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
X
Ants must have a remarkable sense of smell, for every one Josh and Flavius passed as they made their way out of the underground lair stood docile.
There had even been a spot where two ants had halted side by side in the tunnel, blocking their exit. With youthful confidence, Flavius spiked his torch into the ground, slid between the comatose demons, and by shoving one, swiveling and shoving the other, he created a narrow lane for them to pass between.
Outside, Josh learned two things. First, judging by the dimming sunshine, more time had passed than he expected. Second, every ant in the colony had been swarming to the stronghold.
At the top of the mound, he rotated slowly to marvel at the number of inactive beasts in all directions and distances. The furthest looked like breathing shadows, which frightened Josh as much as the defined ants near him. Walking through the collection of living displays had been the most eerie experience of his life.
During the trek to camp, the feeling that those beasts were paused and at any moment could reanimate kept him looking over his shoulder.
By the time they reunited with the men at camp, Josh’s adrenaline was draining. He sucked down half of a serving of warm soup without comment.
They eyed him, and also the goop on his body. He knew they waited for answers.
Their first few questions were simple and directed at Flavius. “How dangerous is the ter
rain?” “Did you see the queen?” “How did Artemis die?”
Josh answered more and more until they were answering evenly.
When they reached the part where they waited outside the mound, scouting for a chance to rush, a hunter interrupted.
“Before you continue, what coats your body. What is that smell?”
“It’s the queen’s blood,” Flavius said. “With this on us, no ant will attack.”
“May I wipe some on myself?” The man asked.
Flavius extended his cloth on his tunic and the men scooped. The rest did the same.
Josh allowed himself to be excavated.
Once everyone mined goo from Josh and Flavius, and coated their face and arms, the story continued.
Flavius took the lead. He hopped on a stump and told about how he snipped the soldiers ant’s antenna. Josh couldn’t help but laugh when he said he was never scared.
The suns set. The fire raged. Excitement kept everyone awake and talking until dawn.
While others packed for the return hike, the medic inspected their injuries. He took his time inspecting the punctures Josh sustained but finally pronounced Josh would be okay. He then said Flavius had two broken ribs—though the young man didn’t seem to be suffering. He embraced the discomfort as proof of his involvement.
The four holes down each of Josh’s sides and the one near his ankle burned with the tenderness of deep bruising. The lingering injuries turned the walk back to Reysona into a march of wounded warriors.
Josh had this quick vision of ordering the men to build a litter and carry him to town. He then pictured the effort it would take to carry him and felt guilty. The vision was the most pretentious and selfish thought he’d ever had.
It seemed being a god carried the unadvertised side-effect of increased ego.
They reached Reysona’s aged outer wall as the day warmed. The sight of the village renewed his energy. Junea would be in there, and she’d be proud of him. Reaching the inner gates and seeing them swing inward brought Josh to his childhood, to feelings of joy at the sight of his grandmother’s driveway on Christmas Eve, of her stepping outside on cold winter mornings to greet him.
The citizens, whose numbers seemed to have swelled, waited somberly. Their eyes scanned each member as if seeking signs of the outcome. Noticing the canvas bandages wrapped around both Flavius and Josh silenced the few whispers, and for those paying attention, Artemis’ absence must have raised red flags.
Josh realized his fellow hunters were savoring the confusion. They nodded stoically as the people passed, as if the horrid outcome that the people of Reysona feared, was a reality too raw to voice.
Perhaps his group’s motives were altruistic; an attempt to save Josh from an onslaught of fans? Somehow he doubted that, for as members of the team dropped back and began speaking to loved ones, eager crowds gathered around them.
A bite nipped at Josh’s ankle with each step, and each deep breath he took made his canvas bandages feel like boa constrictors. All of the sensations worked to elevate his senses and make this moment more rewarding.
Cronin, Junea’s father and mayor of Reysona, met the team near the center of the town and stopped. He allowed a few seconds to pass, then asked, “Was it a success, is the queen dead?”
“JoshRidley killed the queen as easy as squishing a tick,” Flavius said. “I’ve brought jars of her extract as proof for all.” He held up a jar. with the sun shining on it, the queen extract looked like dirty honey.
“JoshRidley be praised,” Cronin said louder.
The following cheers drowned out Josh’s attempt to give an accurate account of the danger, and their losses. Seeing all of the joy and relief his actions caused, and placed a smile on his face.
Cronin and his escorts parted the crowd and led Josh to his temple, where a trio of healers waited.
A weight left him as he stepped into his chamber. Comfort followed as he noticed Junea was already inside.
She and her people now lived in a safer world.
She rose on her toes at his sight and ran to him. He doubled his pace to meet her.
They kissed, and she stepped back, wiped away tears, and motioned for the healers to examine him.
The brief kiss was so sweet he wondered if she’d coated her lips with sugar. He couldn’t remember ever feeling so appreciated, nor appreciating a reunion as much as this.
As the healers prodded and poked and questioned, he kept a watchful eye on his beautiful ambassador. She instructed other servants to specific duties, all of which were no doubt intended to help him relax.
He was excited, but being near the bed brought his fatigue to new heights. During his hike from camp, through town, and into the temple, he had kept exhaustion at bay. Now it was like a monsoon, and each drop of rain like a fast-acting sleeping pill.
Josh appreciated the healers working to clean his wounds, but couldn’t stop thinking about why they couldn’t do that while he slept. When he couldn’y stay awake any longer, he lumbered to the mattress, flopped down, and was asleep in seconds.
Days passed in sleep, interrupted only by sips of a concoction called the Nectar of the Gods, the tending of his injuries, and possibly some inappropriate contact from his maidens.
On day four he woke groggy, but could tell he was free from the sleep effects of the healer’s drink.
Sensations registered slowly. First, the smell of lantern oil; then the contours of his mattress, then the scent of Junea.
He found her in a chair next to the bed, holding a large wooden tablet, reading from its surface.
Bellora noticed his rousing, and, with a gasp, rushed to a nearby pitcher of water and then to his side. Sipping from its edge, he felt invaded by her closeness, and minimal clothing.
“Thank you,” he said as he returned the half-empty pitcher.
Bellora kept a hand on his shoulder until the sound of Junea’s wooden tablet being set down drew her attention. “I guess I’ll go?” After no reply from either Josh or Junea, she backed away and exited.
Junea dragged the chair to the side of the bed and sat. “Shall I send for breakfast?”
Josh’s stomach grumbled in anticipation. He nodded.
Remembering the bite-marks that dotted his torso, he moved the blanket draped over his waist to inspect his wounds. He was naked, and quickly covered himself. The memories of being fondled returned more vividly. These included multiple whispers, hushed laughter, and him lashing out to chase off harassment.
Junea placed a hand on each thigh and leaned forward to inspect the holes. “Lift your arms.”
As Josh held his arms skyward, the definition of his shoulders captured his attention. It looked as if he had taut cables under his skin.
Junea’s proximity and his nudity made him lean his head back and focus on an overhead chandelier to combat the physical draw of her touch.
“You heal magnificently,” she said.
Looking down, he saw that the jaundiced coloring around the wound had faded, and the holes themselves were scabbed over.
Junea pressed the edges with her fingertips.
Faint pain spread from the source, but not enough to make him wince. The residue of a long sleep seemed to be the worst of his ill effects.
Unaware of the frequency, he only knew the healers attended him regularly. Each time, they applied a muddy salve and had him sip the Nectar of the Gods. He traced his fingers over the scabs and pressed down to find that even with extra force, he experienced minimal discomfort.
Junea returned to her chair. Her soft hands slipping from the edge of his knees sent a ripple through him.
She wore a maroon dress that enhanced her cleavage and hugged her midsection. It flowed out at her waist, stopping above her knees.
He frowned at how much she meant to him in such a short time.
Smiling as if reading his mind, she had the voice of a caring wife when she said, “You seem all better.”
He swallowed the lump in his throat. “T
his is the first time I’ve opened my eyes and felt like keeping them that way.”
She watched him for a moment, and then, as if reaching a conclusion, approached and used her legs to push his knees further apart. “Perhaps you should lay back, allow me to check your injuries one more time.”
Something in her eyes turned the edges of his lips upward, and slowly, faking pangs of tenderness, he obliged.
His heart beat faster with the promise of her touching him. Having a girlfriend at home tempered his excitement. He would allow her to examine him momentarily. He would enjoy the feel of her looking him over, maybe brushing herself against him, and then end it. Possibly excuse himself to regain his composure.
Junea tossed the cover off of him.
Sitting up to object, he found her face near his.
After a beat, she kissed him. They kissed lightly at first, then with more passion. Her hands traced his body. The sensation built until he embraced her and tried to pull her close.
Instead, she guided his hand away, stepped back, and took off her maroon dress.
Surrendering fully, he flopped his arms out to his sides, closed his eyes, and lost himself.
Detectable movement no longer existed. It was as if his entire essence had been wrapped by petals and pulled into a dimension devoted to the senses.
She leaned onto him, rocking. She buried them in her hair. Their lips stayed connected, unleashing a deep appreciation of her, of this moment, for all of life.
Minutes later, a crackling sensation signaled his impending release. Euphoria rushed through him. He’d never felt this happy, this in love. Energy left him and he lay depleted.
Junea covered his face with soft kisses, returning him to the slumber he thought to avoid.
As his world dimmed, he appreciated every point of contact between their bodies. His last lucid thought was, I’ve never been this happy.
XI
The smell of cooked vegetables woke Josh from his dreamless sleep.
Bellora placed the last of the dishware on his dining table when she noticed him stirring, and came to him with the pitcher of water.
