There was a smatter of laughter from the dinosaurs. Dodomi pointed a claw at the crystal platter. ‘You ants have issued this declaration dozens of times before. Haven’t you tired of it yet? Kachika, you would smother the great dinosaur civilisation. You can’t seriously imagine we’ll accept these absurd demands?’

Kachika dipped her antennae in affirmation. ‘We know, of course, that the dinosaurs will not accept these demands.’

‘Very well,’ said the secretary-general, rattling the bony plates on his back, ‘I think we can move on to the next item. Something more realistic.’

‘Please wait a moment. There is more to our declaration,’ said Kachika. She drew herself up to her full, frankly inconsiderable height. ‘If the aforementioned demands are not met, the Ant Federation will act to ensure the continuation of civilisation on Earth.’

The dinosaurs were stunned into silence, agog to hear what plan of action this minuscule critter could possibly have in mind. Their humongous jaws hung slack and malodorous.

‘If the dinosaur world does not immediately comply with the demands set forth in this declaration, all 38 billion ants working in the Gondwanan Empire and the Laurasian Republic will go on strike.’

Thin clouds had formed in the domed sky, floating like fine gauze, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow on the vast hall floor. For a long, long while, not a word was spoken.

Finally, Dodomi responded. ‘You are surely joking, Supreme Consul Kachika?’ he said.

‘This declaration was jointly drafted by all 1,145 member states of the Ant Federation. Our resolve is unshakeable.’

‘Supreme Consul, I trust that you and your fellow ants understand’ – Dadaeus paused to rub his left eye, which appeared to have been scratched in the fight with Dodomi – ‘that the dinosaur–ant alliance has lasted for three millennia. It is the cornerstone of civilisation on Earth. It is true that our two worlds have fought each other during our long history together, but our alliance has endured nonetheless.’

‘When the entire planet’s biosphere is at stake, the Ant Federation is left with no choice.’

‘Don’t play games. Remember the lesson of the First Dinosaur–Ant War!’ said Dodomi. ‘If you ants go on strike, the industrial output of the dinosaur world will grind to a halt, and many other fields, including the medical sector, will also be hard hit. We could be looking at the total economic collapse of not only the dinosaur world but the Ant Federation too. This course of action will affect the whole planet in ways we cannot predict.’

‘The First Dinosaur–Ant War was about religious differences, but this time we ants are withdrawing from the alliance to save civilisation on Earth. Given the extreme importance of what is at stake here, the Ant Federation is willing to brave the consequences.’

Dadaeus slammed his claws against the table. ‘We’ve been spoiling these bitsy bugs!’