Bug Island

by R. G. Cordiner

  "You know what I mean. It's getting dark. We need to find somewhere safe for the night."

  "I don't want to go back to the beach where that thing was," Sarah shuddered.

  "... and we have no idea what else is out here," Melanie added.

  Mary stopped.

  "What about this?"

  Sarah looked at her with a withering stare. "It's a tree!"

  "Yes. It is. But it has very broad branches and looks easy to climb. Even for me. It may provide some safety," Mary argued.

  "Well we can't all fit in the tree trunk that I was hiding in," Melanie attempted a weak smile.

  Fiona started to climb the tree. She turned back to look at the other three, "Well, we could talk all evening." She quickly climbed up to a larger branch and lay down. The others looked at each other and then slowly made their way up to join her.

  They grabbed some of the larger leaves and used them with a large jacket that they had found on the beach. Melanie started climbing higher.

  "Where are you going?" asked Sarah.

  "I think we are still too close to the ground. I want to be as far away as possible from those things."

  RRR

  "Shh. It's another one of those things," Sarah trembled.

  Mary frowned, "Sounds like a helicopter."

  "Hang on, I'll check," Melanie called down.

  RRRRR

  "I think it is a helicopter!" she yelled, "It's ..."

  TU TU TU

  "AAAGHH"

  The assassin bug flew towards her and let off a rapid spray of spit that arced over a metre through the air and splattered into her face.

  TU TU TU

  Melanie started to lose her grip on the tree branch.

  "AAGH"

  She screamed as she fell out of the tree and straight past her horrified companions.

  The assassin bug swooped down towards her.

  ...

  The plane had almost completed its sweep of the island. Anne Marie was peering out the side window.

  SHPPLT

  SHPPLT

  SHPPLT

  The plane jolted as a forest of assassin bugs splattered into it. Green and red gunge slowly slid down the windscreen, making it impossible to see. Anne Marie struggled with the controls. The plane started to dive.

  SHCLOOMP

  A sharp proboscis pierced the roof of the cockpit.

  "AAGH!" Anne Marie screamed.

  There were skittering sounds across the roof of the plane as the surviving assassin bugs looked for a way in. Large cracks began to appear in the windscreen.

  SHPPLSSH

  The plane smacked into the water and smashed into two pieces.

  The remains of the plane began to slowly sink. The assassin bugs that had survived the impact flew around the wreckage. They landed on the sinking metal and started scrambling across it.

  The assassin bugs were so intent on getting inside they did not notice six bugs scuttling across the water. They were pond skaters and they soundlessly walked across the water towards the wreckage.

  The assassin bugs were scrambling towards the cockpit.

  The pond skaters quickly closed the distance.

  STNCH

  Several pond skaters stabbed the nearest assassin bug in its body. Fluid oozed out as the bug collapsed. The other assassin bugs turned their attention away from the cockpit. It was too confined for them to fly away.

  TU TU TU

  They spat at the pond skaters in a rapid fire splatter. The skaters started to edge back out towards the water which was rapidly starting to enter the sinking wreckage.

  "UNNGH," Anne Marie groaned. Her head ached. She reached up and felt blood. She heard noise outside the cockpit. She unstrapped herself and gingerly got out of her seat. Water sloshed around her feet. The door to the cockpit was hanging from its hinges and there were wires hanging out everywhere. Blood dripped from her leg and head.

  Anne Marie stepped around the door and stared.

  The eyes of the assassin bugs swivelled around in their sockets to face her.

  Two of them turned around and started towards her. The others slowly advanced as they continued their barrage against the pond skaters.

  A couple of skaters had climbed on top of the stricken vessel and dropped on top of the emerging assassin bugs.

  Anne Marie slowly backed into the cabin.

  The nose of the plane suddenly dipped into the ocean.

  The tangled mess of bugs fell into the cabin with Anne Marie.

  SHMMP

  "AAGH"

  The windscreen finally gave way and the water gushed into the cabin.

  In a matter of seconds, the ocean closed over the rapidly sinking wreckage of the plane. A pair of bright pink sunglasses floated to the surface.

  ...

  Henry and Tracy finally emerged on the beach, just in time to see the last remnants of the plane disappear beneath the waves in the distance.

  "Drat!" Henry screamed.

  "Now, now. Let's look at the positives ... ," Tracy paused. "Actually, I think I agree. Drat! I can't believe it! That was a chance of getting off this awful island! Now what? Do we just wait until ... that's us?"

  "Look, Tracy ..." Henry began.

  "No, no! Don't look Tracy me. I've been "look Tracy'd" all my life. I'm tired of being stepped on, trodded on and poked! Enough! I'm over it." She noticed Henry's wide eyes. "Look Henry, we are stuck on this island. Potentially our only form of escape has just crashed into the ocean because of those bug things. Now, we can either stand here on this beach and wait to die, or we can start to find a way to survive. And I'm not talking about making shelter - we need to start making weapons. We need to find a way to kill these things."

  Henry kept staring at her.

  "Quit staring ok - let's just go," Tracy turned to move but Henry grabbed her shoulder.

  "Hey, what the...," She saw that he was pointing behind her.

  "Look, Tracy."

  Tracy turned slowly and stared.

  "Oh ..."

  ...

  Wayne heard the whine of the plane's engines and slowed his running down. When the loud splash reverberated through the forest he stopped. It didn't take a genius to guess what had happened. He turned. There didn't seem to be any point going towards the plane which would surely be a smouldering wreck by now. He stopped to think. Wayne considered the possibility of setting traps for the creatures but he couldn't be sure that he was the only one left alive on the island. The last thing he wanted to do was kill another survivor. Really he needed to get to higher ground to try and work out how big the island was, other sources of water and food, and where the bugs were most likely to be. He sighed. That meant going back to the cave where those centipede things were. He noticed that the cave was in the side of a large hill. That seemed the most likely spot to survey the island. Wayne started to jog.

  ...

  Melanie screamed as she fell.

  On the ground the bug heard her yelling.

  The giant centipede quickly reared up on its multitude of legs and opened its pincers.

  Melanie looked down in horror.

  She kicked her feet in a desperate attempt to avoid the snapping jaws.

  The assassin bug was rapidly gaining behind her.

  Its proboscis was out.

  It started to spit.

  TU TU

  The rapid fire spits smacked into her back and pushed her body forward and over the pincers.

  The centipede arched backwards to catch its prey.

  SHHNIP

  It closed its pincers.

  CRRK

  ... and missed as Melanie landed on the smooth scaled back of the creature, slid for a bit and then landed with a thump on the ground.

  SHLLP

  The bee assassin bug stabbed the giant centipede.

  KRRT

  The centipede let out a high pitched squeal as brown fluid began to gush out of its neck.

  Melanie groaned as she began to drag herself
along the ground.

  The assassin bug used its sharp claws to stay clinging onto the centipede's neck as it thrashed from side to side.

  SHHNIP

  SHHNIP

  The centipede's pincers snapped in a vain attempt to crush the bug.

  SHHLP

  The assassin bug stabbed it again.

  The centipede collapsed forward...

  SQQUSH

  ... and crushed the assassin bug.

  Brown and green fluid oozed from the dead centipede's neck. The legs of the assassin bug twitched.

  Melanie continued to back away.

  Sarah, Mary and Fiona were peering down from high up in the tree, straining to make out what was going on.

  "M-M-Melanie?" Fiona called out. "Are you ok?"

  Silence.

  "Should we go down?" Sarah asked.

  Mary grabbed her arm, "No dear, it's not safe."

  "But she could be hurt - we should help her!"

  Mary looked at both girls, "I agree the right thing to do is to help her. But going down there and getting ourselves killed is not helping her, is it?"

  Fiona frowned, "So how is sitting here safely in a tree helping her?"

  "Enough people have died today. There's nothing we can do against those creatures - you saw them girls!"

  "We can at least try," Fiona replied as she started to climb down the tree.

  "Fiona - wait!" Mary cried out but the girl was already several branches lower.

  "It's ok guys!" Melanie screamed out from below, "I'm fine."

  She stood up and hobbled over towards the two giant carcasses.

  Mary called down, "Glad to hear you're ok. Fiona you can come back now! And Melanie - get up here as quickly as you can!"

  "I'll just give her a hand!" Fiona yelled as she continued to make her way down the giant tree.

  Melanie stood for a short while marvelling at the giant centipede. It was hideous, with its giant black scales, long whip like tail and hundreds of sharp red legs, but it was also strangely captivating - how ... complete it was. She took another tentative step closer and reached out her hand.

  Fiona was low enough in the tree to see the oozing giant centipede at its base, and the spindly legs poking out from under it - that were the only reminder of the bee assassin bug. She saw Melanie.

  "Melanie, don't touch it!"

  Melanie looked up.

  "It's dead though."

  BOOMP!

  The nearby tree shook, leaves scattering everywhere.

  The peanut bug hit the tree with the large, oval shaped protuberance sticking out of its head.

  BOOMP!

  It jumped out and landed on the ground.

  Mary covered Sarah's mouth before she could scream.

  Fiona shrank back against the tree trunk.

  Melanie froze.

  The bug had its back to her.

  She could see the spots all over its enormous wings, and a part of her admired the beautiful mottled fluorescent blue and green colours. She took a step back and flinched as her back rested against the smooth, hard armour of the dead centipede.

  The peanut bug turned its giant body around and faced Melanie. It took a step back.

  PMMF

  ... and released a cloud of gas from its rear end.

  Melanie clenched her nose to try and stop the smoky stink waves from invading her nostrils but it was too late. She could barely stop herself from vomiting, the stench was that bad. What was worse, she now could barely see anything as the gas obscured everything.

  Fiona peered down from her vantage point several metres up but, although she could smell the noxious gas, she could no longer see the forest floor.

  "AAGH"

  She heard Melanie scream and hesitated.

  Fiona slowly made her way down the tree as the gas cleared.

  Finally she reached the bottom.

  She crouched behind the body of the centipede and peered over its scaly back to survey the forest.

  Nothing.

  No peanut bug.

  No Melanie.

  Nothing.

  Chapter 9

  No Longer a Survivor

  A normal toe biter is about fifteen centimetres in length and resembles a large beetle with a large hook near its mouth.

  This would not scare Henry.

  A normal toe biter spends most of its time in water and has oversized bulbous eyes to help it see underwater.

  This also would not have bothered Henry.

  Toe biters can fly, will pretend to be dead when threatened and will even occasionally eat each other.

  Still - Henry would not have been phased by this one bit.

  The toe biter that was behind Tracy was three metres long.

  Now that - that scared, bothered and definitely phased Henry.

  He gaped.

  "Look, Tracy."

  Tracy turned slowly and stared.

  "Oh ...," she said.

  The toe biter inclined its head to one side, as if not sure what to make of the two humans.

  It raised the giant curved proboscis up in the air.

  Clearly it had not decided that it wanted to make friends.

  Tracy screamed, "RUN!"

  She turned and sprinted into the forest with Henry following closely on her heels. The toe biter swiped at their retreating figures and missed. It quickly unfurled its wings and was soon airborne.

  BZZZZ

  In no time at all it made up the distance and it swooped down upon the sprinting duo.

  Tracy heard the creature approaching so she turned and quickly shoved Henry.

  "UGH"

  He flew into the bush.

  She spied a long pointed stick lying on the ground just ahead.

  The toe biter came lower.

  Tracy leapt for the stick.

  The bug raised its curved proboscis...

  ...

  Wayne slowed down. He knew he was close to that cave. He wasn't sure if there would be any more of those giant centipedes hanging around but he certainly wouldn't be taking any chances. Wayne leant with his back against the tree, his muddy body blending in with the bark. He gripped the sharp stick and peered around at the clearing.

  It was empty. The long grass waved in the breeze.

  Wayne was about to move when he paused.

  He looked up.

  Just ahead was a harvestman. Its squat body was just visible in the canopy. Its six metre long spindly legs were virtually invisible.

  Wayne stayed pressed against the tree trunk. He felt something brush past his arm. He stiffened and tried to stay as still as possible. The sergeant risked a look up and saw the harvestman pass over the top of him, its eyes on the end of long stalks, weaving this way and that, searching for its next victim.

  Wayne gripped the stick tighter. He realised that he couldn't stay here forever. Sooner or later, the harvestmen could spot him. He thought that the distance to the clearing didn't look insurmountable and the grass there was high enough to obscure him. The two harvestmen seemed to just be standing at the edge of the clearing, waiting for something.

  Wayne crouched low and began to crawl towards the clearing.

  He paused. The ferns were obscuring his vision. He had lost track of the harvestmen.

  Stuff this! he thought. Sergeant Alter stood up and started to sprint towards the clearing.

  The harvestmen moved quickly, their long spindly legs quickly covering the distance.

  TCCHT

  They squirted a liquid as Wayne weaved from side to side

  SSSSS

  "AAGH"

  It hissed as it quickly burnt through the nearest plant. Unfortunately for Wayne, although the majority of the toxic spray missed him, a small part splattered on his shirt. A sizzling hole quickly appeared in the material and the sergeant yelled as it started burning his arm.

  TCCHT

  Another lethal squirt sprayed out of the harvestman.

  Wayne finally reached the clearing and dived into
the grasses.

  The chemical spray missed him and started creating a hole in a nearby tree.

  He lay still in the grass for a second to catch his breath. The two harvestmen entered the clearing.

  The nearest one suddenly bent its legs and dropped like a stone into the grass. Two eyes appeared on their stalks, surveying the swaying grass. Its bent legs slowly moved as it shuffled through the grass. The other harvestman strode around the edge of the clearing.

  Sergeant Alter waited. He probably wouldn't survive a run to the cave. He dare not poke his head up out of the grass, lest the other harvestman spot him. He stayed crouched down low, listening intently.

  RSSTL

  The long grass swayed in the breeze.

  Wayne kept looking around as quickly as he could. He guessed that the harvestman would come from the direction of the opening to the clearing, but he had no way of knowing its movements.

  RSSTL

  Wayne kept looking up, hoping to spot the bent legs of the harvestman.

  RSSTL

  All of a sudden, the harvestman's squat body appeared in front of him.

  Wayne threw the stick like a spear.

  WHW

  It bounced harmlessly off the large spikes around the harvestman's body. It quickly zoomed forward.

  Wayne rolled into the wavy grass and reached into his pack and grabbed another sharpened stick. He knew that he didn't have long until the other harvestman heard the commotion and came over.

  The harvestman turned and sprayed.

  TCCHT

  Wayne dived out of the way.

  SSSSS

  The grass smoked as it slowly melted.

  Sergeant Alter threw the stick ...

  ... and missed.

  He grabbed his last sharpened stick. He had no choice. Wayne stood up and sprinted towards the harvestman and leaped...

  ...

  "She's gone!" Fiona called up.

  "What do you mean - she's gone?" Mary yelled from the tree branches.

  "Melanie - there's no sign of her. Or that bug."

  "She can't just disappear like that," Sarah explained, "where is she? This is stupid. I'm going down."

  "Sarah, it's not safe!" Mary frowned.

  "You're not my mum! I can do whatever I want!"

  Sarah began to climb down the tree. At its base Fiona looked around for any sign of Melanie or the peanut bug but, apart from a lingering foul odour, nothing remained.