Read Global Warming Fun 4: They Taste Like Chicken Page 20
Chapter 15: The Fly Mystery
"The flies are gone," Running Bear told announced to Ed, Mary, and Talking Owl. The trio was in the Council Chamber and had been actually discussing the fly problem when Running Bear burst in with his surprising information.
"You mean they've all been killed?" asked Mary.
"No, they all flew away," said Running Bear. "Tribe scouts report thousands of them have left Giants' Rest Mountain."
"That's wonderful news!" said Mary.
"Not necessarily," said Running Bear. "They all flew East."
"Towards Green Mountain," Ed noted. "Crap!"
"We have seen how they swarm when they find prey," said Running Bear. "I don't like it."
"I will send swift falcons to scout out what is happening," said Talking Owl.
They all rushed topside and gathered together with Mark's anxious parents on the Deck. Talking Owl met briefly with a pair of peregrine falcons that soon flew off swiftly towards Green Mountain. Though reassurances were repeatedly given to the parents, there was a growing dread among them all.
"I wish the damned helicopter was available!" said Ed.
"But using it would break the quest rules!" said Talking Owl.
"Screw the quest rules!" said Ed. "Pardon my French people, but we do need to know what's happening, quest or no quest."
"The falcons should return in less than an hour," said Talking Owl. "They are to report what they see but not interfere."
They all brooded while they waited. "The only thing we have found that induces fly swarming behavior is a feeding frenzy," noted Mark's father, Frank Gray Wolf. "On the other hand, perhaps we are mistaken; our study of them has just begun."
"No," said Talking Owl. "I have sensed their insane hate when they attack prey, and witnessed the response of their peers. A great feeding frenzy may be occurring at Green Mountain: an event of such magnitude that it attracts all flies for many miles around."
Such as might occur if hundreds of pounds of wolf and human flesh were made available to them, nobody added aloud.
"We should have delayed the spirit quest," said Ed. "This is my fault."
"None of us would have supported that," said Running Bear.
"My Grandson is far too smart to be consumed by flies," Talking Owl insisted, but it seemed to Ed that he saw a tear run down her cheek.
An hour went by, and the falcons still did not return. Had the swift birds been sent to their deaths? In great numbers the flies could overcome even the most swift and powerful raptors.
At last both Talking Owl and Ed broke into wide grins. "Humans and wolves live!" the Owl Clan Leader declared joyously. "They live!"
There were hugs and laughter throughout the group. Meanwhile the two falcons physically arrived to each perch upon the extended arm of Talking Owl where they were further interrogated.
"Many wolves were seen walking outside their den, and all flies seen were dead or dying," said Talking Owl.
"What killed them?" Mary asked.
"Unknown," said Talking Owl. "But a Stone-Coat was seen wallowing in a snow bank."
"Walking Stone wouldn't have been injured by flies anyway," said Running Bear. "On the up side, he would have broken his silence if the quest was over-with, so we can interpret his continued radio silence as good news about Mark."
"What about humans?" asked Mark's still worried mother, Morning Dove.
"They report seeing only one human outside the den," said Talking Owl.
"Mark or an intruder?" asked Mary.
"Unknown," said Talking Owl.
"Someone could be in the den where they would not be seen by the falcons," said Walking Bear. "That multiple wolves and at least one human remain alive is outstandingly good news. The worst case scenario of everyone being eaten by flies clearly has not happened."
"But what killed the flies?" Frank asked. "Further, we have seen that some fly victims are not immediately killed and eaten, but suffer an even worse fate."
"Maggots!" said Ed, with such disgust that he almost spit out the word. "The flies leave living victims that are infested with maggots!"
"Can we get any status information from the Green Mountain jants?" Running Bear asked.
"Well dah!" exclaimed Ed. Why hadn't they thought of that before?
A minute later, Ed breathed a deep sigh of relief. "It took my wrangling with several layers of jant hierarchy to get some answers but I managed. The jants report nine wolves, five being treated by ticks, and two humans, one being treated by a tick for a broken leg and the other one sleeping. They confirm that no wolves or humans have died today and none are seriously injured. They also happily report that the entire jant colony is busy consuming an abundance of dead flies and maggots."
"There should be twelve wolves," said Running Bear. "But the overwhelming flavor of the news is outstandingly good."
"And we can all go back to our normal summertime routine," said Ed. "Except that instead of trying to figure out how to kill the giant flies, we need to figure out what's already killing them. Or maybe simply wait for Mark to tell us."