Bug Island

by R. G. Cordiner

  Fiona started climbing the tree. She had only travelled a little way when she met Sarah.

  "Sarah, go back. There's nothing to see and it's getting dark."

  "So what. I want to look. Besides, you're not the boss of me. You are only a couple of years older than me so why should I care what you have to say!" Sarah pouted.

  "Look, I don't care what you do. I'm just saying that it's getting dark and all that is down there are two large dead bugs and a bad smell. I've looked for Melanie but I can't find her. If you think you can do better - be my guest. But if there are other bugs out there Mary and I can't help you because I'm climbing up there to try and get some sleep," Fiona replied.

  "Whatever. I'm going down." Sarah continued to climb the tree from branch to branch.

  Fiona hesitated and watched Sarah descending. Then she began to climb back up. When she reached the top Mary frowned.

  "Where's Sarah?" she asked.

  "I met her on the way but she was determined to go down to the base and look around. She almost had another temper tantrum over it so I came back."

  "Fiona, she's too young to be left on her own!"

  Fiona frowned, "Why? I was always left alone at her age. I'm still here."

  "That's different ..." Mary began.

  "How? How is it different? My mum never really cared what I was doing, so long as it wasn't near her. I survived. In fact, I know I'm a lot better than most kids my age at doing a lot of things - I can cook, clean, I can survive on my own."

  "Yes dear, that's all good and well - but this is not a shopping mall or a cruise ship - we are stranded on an island. We have no idea how long it will take people to come and rescue us and there are those supersized bugs roaming around. Not to mention Melanie has disappeared and it's getting dark. So I do think it's different. I'm going down there to get her." Mary wiped her brow.

  "No, don't worry - I'll do it!" Fiona sighed and went back down the tree.

  Sarah pouted as she heard Fiona descending.

  "I thought I told you I wasn't coming up yet! I only want a couple of minutes to look for myself - I never get to do anything!"

  Fiona called down, "Just stay there Sarah, I'll be down in a sec."

  "GRR! I can get up myself, I'm not a kid!" Sarah stomped the ground with her feet.

  Thmp!

  Thmp!

  A louder, ground shaking bump responded.

  BMP

  BMP

  Sarah froze.

  "Sarah climb!" Fiona and Mary shouted.

  Sarah started scrabbling up the tree.

  Fiona and Mary both started climbing down.

  BMP

  BMP

  Sarah's hands started to bleed as she madly ripped her body up the tree.

  The peanut bug flew past their tree and landed on one nearby.

  BMP

  BMP

  It smashed the oversized, peanut shaped "nose" against the trunk of the tree.

  The three females paused in the tree.

  Silence.

  After an interminable wait the peanut bug finally took flight and continued its way through the forest.

  Sarah, Fiona and Mary climbed back into the large juncture of branches.

  No one said anything as Mary started wrapping Sarah's hands in some cloth. Fiona leaned against the trunk and silently watched.

  After she had finished, Mary laid out some clothes that they had found across the fat branches. She pulled out the tattered blanket from their little treasure trove. The three of them lay down in the dim light.

  "Night," Sarah called out.

  "Night," Mary and Fiona replied.

  Silence.

  "Thanks," the young girl said quietly.

  ...

  The toe biter stabbed at Tracy as she ducked to one side and thrust the stick upwards.

  It snapped on the bug's hard shell. Tracy started to get up but a spiked leg pinned her back down on the ground. She struggled but was no match for the strength of the creature. It raised its proboscis to strike.

  "AAAAA"

  Henry ran and leaped at the bug and landed on its hard, shell covered back. He scrambled to get a grip.

  The three metre long bug was jolted with the shock of Henry's impact and it temporarily released its grip on Tracy as it readjusted.

  Tracy took advantage and rolled out to one side.

  Henry was sliding around on the bug's back like it was oil covered jelly. The toe biter twisted around, throwing him to the ground next to Tracy. They both started to get up but the bug leapt at them with its strong front legs outstretched. They smacked back into the ground, pinned.

  The toe biter looked at the two survivors as if contemplating which to eat first.

  Henry and Tracy struggled but couldn't get free.

  It raised its proboscis...

  They closed their eyes.

  ... and it struck.

  PCHWW

  "UNNGH"

  Everything went black.

  ...

  The harvestman looked up as Wayne leaped through the air. Before it could react he landed on top of it. He grimaced as the sharp spikes from its side ripped into him. The bug quickly shot out its burning chemical spray.

  TCCHT

  SSSSS

  The spray missed Wayne and sizzled harmlessly in the grass. He raised the stick and struck at the harvestman.

  SHPPLOOSH

  Fluid oozed from its head. It staggered around and flopped to the ground, knocking Wayne off. He rolled in the grass and got up. The injured bug started crawling through the grass. Wayne raised his spear. The bug moved suddenly and one of its legs fell off and promptly lay kicking in the grass. Wayne smiled. Such simple distractions wouldn't work with him. He threw the spear.

  PLLT

  It hit the harvestman in the middle, a great gush of fluid sprayed out and the bug was still.

  Wayne smiled. Only good bug was a dead bug he always said. Unfortunately for Wayne he had forgotten to mention his theory to the second harvestman that was currently standing above him. It wasn't the type of bug to argue with Wayne over his good bug = dead bug theory. It simply opened its mouth and dropped down on him.

  "AAGH"

  Sergeant Wayne Alter would not be making any more theories again.

  ...

  Mary was the first to awaken. The sunlight dappled through the leaves and cast speckled shadows on the two sleeping girls. Mary watched them cuddled together for a while. They looked so peaceful and calm. She looked out across the forest. Mary could make out a hill that appeared to emerge above the canopy not far away in the distance. That seemed like a logical place to go. At least they might be able to see more of the island. She grimaced as she started to move. Her body ached in places it hadn't hurt for ages and she was very tired. Mary was glad that at least exhaustion had finally claimed the girls and they had managed to get a decent night's sleep but for some reason she had barely had an hour's rest. The slightest noise or movement and she was awake, fearing the worst. She rummaged through the tattered backpack at their meagre possessions. There was little left in terms of food. Mary had seen a couple of berries that could possibly be edible but it wasn't worth the risk. They would have trouble surviving on just coconuts.

  "Mary, I'm hungry," Sarah complained.

  "Good morning to you too, dear. I know that you're hungry - but we need to get moving and see if we can find anything to eat."

  "Well I'll tell you now, I'm not eating bug guts!"

  Mary grinned.

  She woke Fiona and shortly the three of them had packed up their possessions, descended the tree and soon were trudging through the forest towards the hill. Mary noticed that Sarah was unusually quiet, but they had all been through so much, and were dealing with it in different ways. Fiona seemed the most settled. She was always alert and keen to be the first to try something. Very little seemed to faze her. Mary suspected that it might have had something to do with her being an only child, but who knew what it was? Mary's thou
ghts drifted to her grandson but the wound was still raw, so she forced herself to focus on the plants around her, looking for something that may be edible.

  "Hey," Fiona cried out, "it looks like a clearing over there."

  Sure enough, in the distance was a clearing filled with tall swaying grass.

  They reached the edge and were just about to enter when Sarah, who was looking around constantly, suddenly stopped.

  "Shh, you guys. Stop," she whispered.

  They all froze.

  Sarah pointed, "What's that?"

  Further into the clearing they could make out, above the tall grass, two long thin black twigs that seemed unaffected by the breeze.

  Fiona squinted, "They're just sticks or something. Don't worry about it." She started to move into the swaying grass but Mary grabbed her shoulder.

  "Hang on, Sarah might have something there. Shh, no one speak."

  crrnch, crrk

  The sound was very faint, but it was definitely there.

  "What's that?" Sarah whispered, her voice shaking.

  Mary frowned. "I don't know - let's just go around the clearing towards that cave over there."

  They crept along the edge of the clearing as silently as they could - all trying desperately to ignore the faint sounds coming from deep within the swaying grass.

  They came towards the edge of the cave. Mary noticed that it was cut into the hill. The jungle seemed to start up the ascent but then peter out further up. They would be exposed if they tried to walk up to the top. On the other hand, they could go into the cave and see if there was a way through there.

  Her decision was made easier when the harvestman, having finished its meal, stood up and started striding across the clearing towards the cave. She pushed the girls down low and they crouched behind a bush near the mouth of the cave. Mary signalled to the others to be quiet.

  The harvestman came close to the cave entrance and paused, its eyes waving around on their long stalks.

  Suddenly, from the roof of the cave, a giant centipede swung out. Its sharp pincers quickly grabbed the harvestman and dragged it into the cave. Loud crunching sounds echoed through the clearing.

  Sarah tugged at Mary's shirt.

  "Can we go now?" she whispered.

  Mary nodded. They made their way to the rise and started the steep climb to the top. It was hard going and all three were drenched with sweat when they finally reached the summit. They noticed the clearing far below them and could see most of the island. Mary could just make out through the clear water a darker patch in the distance which she assumed was the wreckage of the cruise ship. She could see the beach dotted with debris, the thick jungle and she shuddered as she watched some large flying bugs drifting lazily near the beach. Fiona tugged at her shirt.

  "What is ..." she turned around and her jaw dropped.

  In the middle of the small ridge, obscured with vines was ...

  ... a building.

  Chapter 10

  Hidden Away

  Tracy groaned. Her chest and her back ached. She felt as if an elephant had been sitting on her. Her eyes flickered. She looked over and saw Henry. She reached over and shook him. He winced and opened his eyes. It was then that they both looked around in alarm. Where were they?

  Tracy frowned. They seemed to be inside some sort of giant, hollowed out tree. The entrance looked like a spiked gate that was covered with vines. The 'room' was fairly small and had a musty odour about it. They were both lying on a long wooden bed, covered with woven palm fronds and what looked like an old parachute for a blanket. There were wooden shelves along one wall, covered with shells and assorted bric-a-brac - a toy plane, stones, tin cans and a skull. Along another part of the wall hung a variety of weapons - spears, two handguns, a shotgun and some black scuba diving equipment. Further along the wall lay a pile of kindling and logs, above which hung some pots and pans. In the centre of the ground was a timber hatch which, as they watched in astonishment, rose up and out walked a man.

  His hair was curly and blond and he had a beard that was tied in a pigtail. The man was thin but athletic in build. He was wearing nothing apart from a neck chain made of what appeared to be teeth and a sarong of palm fronds. His eyes were tiny and he kept blinking as if they hurt. Tracy and Henry stared.

  He looked back at them in surprise.

  ...

  Sarah, Fiona and Mary walked cautiously towards the vine encrusted building. Oddly there was nothing covering the door. As they got closer they could see that the vines had been cut away from the entrance. Apart from the building, a scattering of ferns and trees, there was little else on the hilltop. They reached the door and stood there for a moment in an awkward silence.

  Fiona reached for the rusted handle.

  "Hang on," Sarah interjected, "Do we even know, like, what's in there? It could be more of those things."

  Fiona turned back towards Sarah.

  "But maybe it's a room full of food? Only way to know is to open it."

  "I don't like surprises," said Sarah, slowly backing away.

  Mary frowned, "I don't like it either dear. Look, if it makes you feel any better there are some branches over there next to the building. Why don't we all grab one so at least we are prepared and I think I might do the door opening. That way if there is anything not nice inside I can quickly close the door or hit it with a branch."

  This seemed to partially satisfy Sarah and the three of them walked over and grabbed or snapped off a stick to arm themselves. Fiona was a little irritated at this turn of events but she followed the others.

  Mary's hand trembled as she reached for the handle. It creaked as it turned. She slowly opened the door and, stick in front of her, peered inside.

  ...

  The strange man recovered his composure.

  "Oh, you wakey?" he said.

  There was an awkward silence before Henry replied, "Um, yes. We are awake. What happened? Where are we?"

  The man smiled, "Sorry, me no talk fast. No speak ... English for long, long time." He paused, "Youse in my place. I shoot bug. Use last um... youse know - thing in gun."

  "Oh, a bullet?" Tracy offered.

  He grinned. "Yeh, a bullet. I use last bullet to kill bug. It fell on youse and ... put youse to sleep. I bring you here."

  There was a pause as Henry and Tracy tried to understand the man's halting English.

  Henry frowned. "How long since you spoke English?"

  The man scratched his beard, "Too long. Me think ... twenty year. I was young man."

  "Hang on," Tracy interjected, "Do you mean to say that you have been on this island for twenty years? Twenty?"

  The man nodded, "I was young man when we first get here. Now, not as young." He grinned again. "Oh. I called Zosimo." He patted his chest. "You?"

  Henry stood up and reached out his hand, "Henry and this is Tracy."

  Zosimo shook their hands, blinking all the time.

  "Nice meet you."

  They all sat down.

  "Thanks for saving us. I seriously thought we were goners," Tracy added.

  "No problem, I watch all of you after the big ... crash."

  "What do you mean - all of us?" she asked.

  "You two and the others," Zosimo replied.

  "Others?" Henry asked eagerly, "You mean there are other survivors?"

  "Yes, I see them. After crash there were quite a few who survive. But creatures wake and many die."

  "Hang on," Tracy interjected, "What do you mean wake up?"

  "And how have you managed to survive against those bugs for twenty years?" Henry asked.

  Zosimo sighed. "There much to tell."

  ...

  Mary looked into the room. It was very dusty and covered in cobwebs and vines that had managed to poke their way in. Fiona nudged her.

  "Well, can I see? What's in there?" She leaned her head around each side of Mary in an attempt to see around or through her. Sarah stayed behind both of them, nervously twiddling her thumb
s.

  Mary walked inside.

  "It's ok. Come inside girls."

  Fiona dashed inside.

  "Wow, Sarah you gotta see this!"

  Sarah reluctantly walked to the edge of the door and peeked inside.

  Fiona reached out, grabbed her arm and dragged her inside.

  "See - nothing to worry about!"

  Sarah opened her eyes. The building looked like it would fall down at any minute. There were long benches all around the walls, covered with broken glass and what looked like test tubes. Half of the benches were cracked or collapsed on the floor. The ground was covered in dead leaves, mud and old faded paper. A long table sat in the middle of the room. The top of it was a mess of papers and different tube things that Sarah did not recognise. She looked under the table.

  "Eeew!" she squealed.

  "What? What is it?" Mary came over, looked under the table and covered her mouth in horror.

  Fiona dashed over and she glanced under, "Oh, is that a leg?"

  "Was, dear. Yes I think so."

  Sarah recovered her composure a little. "But it still has a shoe and sock on. Isn't that weird? I wonder how...."

  She paused as realisation dawned.

  "Oh gross. Does that mean the bugs did it? Could they still be here?" She started to back out of the room.

  Mary went over to her. "Look at me. They have gone. That leg has been there for a very long time by the look of it. There's nothing here for them."

  "Except us," Fiona added.

  Sarah's eyes widened.

  "Thanks Fiona. Thanks a lot. Real helpful." Mary glared at her.

  "Sorry," Fiona bowed her head, then looked at Sarah, "Sarah don't worry we're fine."

  "Wh - What happened here? What is this place?" she asked.

  "My guess is that it's some kind of scientific research station. Or at least it was a long time ago. Most of the paper is too old or destroyed to read, but from what I can see this was here over twenty years ago. Looks like they were studying the bugs," Mary surmised.

  "What happened to them?" Sarah asked.