At the end of the dirt road, Joey veered into the woods to their left, and Lou followed several paces behind. The cart’s bicycle-like tires were designed to traverse difficult terrain, making it fairly easy for him to maneuver over the ground’s exposed roots and rocks. The two of them bushwhacked their way another quarter mile or so. Although Joey seemed confident, Lou, now grimy and soaked in sweat, was beginning to have doubts. Gratefully, his ankle was not aching badly.

“Bingo!” the young chef cried out from some distance ahead.

Lou took a moment to settle down the burning in his chest, then headed toward Joey’s voice. The packed-mud bellicosus castle rose from the forest floor like a rocket on its launching pad. There were hundreds of large termites scattered along its length, and dozens more of them flying around like an air force fighter squadron.

“Whoa!” he whispered, marveling at the staggering height and geometry of the thing. “It’s awesome.”

“Don’t I know it!” Joey said. “Awesome is the word.”

The jagged, conical tower, two or three feet taller than Lou, was peppered with impressively large termites. It looked like a decaying tree trunk, sculpted with spires and crevices.

From about two feet away, Lou cautiously circumvented the spectacular construction. “Amazing,” was all he could say. “Absolutely amazing.”

“Well, I’ve got to go,” Joey said with singsong nonchalance.

“Go? What are you talking about? Where are you going?” Concern crept into Lou’s voice.

“Why, back to work, of course,” Joey said. “I did tell you I had to work a double, didn’t I?”

“Actually, no, you didn’t,” Lou replied, laughing nervously. “Joey, what if I can’t find my way out of here?”

“Oh, the trail behind us is pretty well marked now. You can follow the dirt road back there, and skip the cornfields entirely. It’ll only add two or three miles to your return trip.”

“Two or three miles? Joey, I don’t even know where this gizmo is going to take me, let alone how to get back from there.” The notion of being back in these fields in the dark of night was not the least bit appealing.

One look at Joey, and Lou’s distress quickly began to ebb. The kid had done his best.

Lou had read two historical accounts of the Louis and Clark expedition. If they could accomplish their remarkable, uncharted journey, he could find his way back to the restaurant. Still somewhat apprehensive, he thanked his young guide.

“If you find a queen, let me know,” Joey said. “Even though they can make a new one, the colony is struggling without a leader. They need a purpose.”

“Will do,” Lou said, holding up one of the specimen jars he had brought. “And thanks for sacrificing your lady to the greater good.”