largest, open and apparently clear tunnel leading upward would be the right choice and were correct except to their surprise it was now blocked by several large creatures in its entranceway. Ants: giant aggressive, mutant red ants were barring their continuation. The insects totaled three in number and stood easily at one-half the height of the average expeditionary member. The team leader stood firm, in control and barked, "Four to each ant! Take its legs out and smother it. Move quickly before they attack. Now!" However, the ants were faster and struck first but the team members had their assignments, didn't panic and dealt efficiently with the creatures' assault. All the ants were subdued, controlled and slain. One team member was bitten and suffered a massive dose of poisonous venom. It was certain death. They surrounded their mortally wounded comrade and provided comfort as best they could until he died. At least it was quick. Although saddened, they had to move on. Hard reality hit home in their hearts, forcing them to consider: "I may not return to a hero's welcome as I expected." Then each resolved anew to themselves in their own way, "I made a pledge and my word's my bond. There's no turning back now!"
The climb became easier, apparently the ants had used this tunnel often which was a plus at the moment, except in reverse it also increased the probability of encountering more of them and if the insects attacked en mass the entire expeditionary force would be killed... quickly, yet most painfully. They noted the toxic gas seemed to be increasing but the most pressing thing on their minds was suffering another assault by the ants. Were the bugs trying to escape the deadly fumes also? Did they attack in a survival frenzy? Not that the creatures' thinking was negotiable or could be changed - they were carnivorous killers.
After many more hours the team came upon a second air chamber which was larger than the first. This one was unique in that it had elongated scratch marks as if they were created by large claws, ranging from top to bottom, within and in addition the entrance on the far side loomed three times greater than what they or the ants could have dug. "No ant made this cavern," remarked a fellow member.
"Just the same," agreed the leader. "I'm certain this large tunnel leads to the surface. We'll need to eat and sleep for a few hours then continue. I know in my gut we are close." They were all tired and fell asleep, including the appointed look-out. The team awoke to screams. They could actually hear flesh being ripped away and eaten. A giant beetle had one of their members pinned down - straddling on top and tearing him to shreds. The insect was massive - four times larger than their own leader. The team had two escape routes available and staying to fight in an attempt to kill the beetle was not an option. They would need a hundred more comrades to maybe have a chance. So, fall back or go forward?
They knew they could withdraw and survive because the tunnel they came from was much smaller than the beetle's girth. Should they escape the immediate threat and retreat back to the Colonies with a failed mission... knowing a slow, lingering death by poisonous gas of all inhabitants followed them? Without their stopping the threat, there would certainly be no hero's praise, only panic. Everyone in the team realized if the ultimate sacrifice had to be made it would have to be going forward not in retreat!
They charged into the far-side, larger tunnel... hoping to finally reach their destination, the unknown. Fortunately, the team quickly exited the final portal, bursting into the mystical Above and halted just beyond the exit point. They found themselves out in the open, surrounded by towering green foliage and a unfathomable starry expanse overhead. "What a strange world!" followed by: "What is this place? Where are we? What's next?"
"We do what we came for," reminded the leader. "Find the poisonous source and plug it." He surveyed their surroundings and saw a flat, black ridge not too far away which they could climb and get better bearings. They also noticed the heavenly expanse was becoming lighter.
The expeditionary unit made good time to the plateau's bluff and ascended to its top in under an hour. The team had a good vantage point from its edge and saw that the tops of the green foliage below seemingly stretched forever. They also noticed the immediate surface under them had the same pungent smell as the deadly gas. "We must be close to the source," declared the leader. "We'll fan out in a search pattern and locate it." They snaked across the hard, flat, black terrain to the far- side and discovered basically the same greenery layout they found at their initial entry point to the plateau. Looking toward the other directions, both black surfaces also appeared to extend indefinitely. The light above had brightened and the temperature risen to a level of discomfort. "We'll have to split up into teams of five and search the other two directions," instructed the leader. "Meet back here in three hours and report your findings unless you are confident you have found the source then return immediately." Just after they separated and began moving toward their assigned areas the team heard a Whoosh and soon learned the member closest to the edge had disappeared. "Continue on," ordered the leader. "He must have fallen over. He'll be alright and will rejoin us shortly."
It was warming at an accelerated pace and after another hour they were wandering about in no defined pattern. Most could not see due to the now blinding light and all were being drained of their strength. They collapsed, gasping for breath and soon began dying one by one. None could find the plateau's edge to perhaps fall down into the foliage below seeking cool relief or locate the escape tunnel.
Two contracted workmen were walking and inspecting, one on each side of the asphalt exercise trail built a week ago in the newly developed public park. "The path looks pretty good. I haven't seen any cracks and it appears level to me," one remarked after the first quarter mile.
"Hey, check it out. There's another batch of dead slugs ahead," noted the second man. "Or is it?" He picked one up. "These are smaller and brown. What's the story here?"
His partner responded, "They're subterranean slugs. They live deeper in the ground than the more familiar grey ones. Every time we lay asphalt it drives them to the surface. It must have something to do with the petroleum based odor seeping downward. They come up, wander around and get cooked in the sun. We'll find more I'm sure," and tossed the little, dead body behind them. They heard a Whoosh, turned and saw a blackbird flying away with a slug breakfast in its beak. "Circle of life, Dude. Circle of life."
The(ir) end
Thanks for reading my stories, hope you enjoyed them, J.E. Moore (John)
[email protected] Next up... a novel: The Omega Seed, in the fall of 2014.
After several thousand years of visiting and abducting humans, an alien fleet is sent from another star system to invade Earth and built within all the conflict lies a love story.
And following that, another novel: The Time Doctor's Chronicles which depict two scientist/doctors exploits when they travel back in Time to hopefully correct horrific present day situations caused during The American Revolution, The Civil War, World War Two and finally Armageddon.
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