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Back The Nest Save as PDF
Chapters (82)
  1. Cover
  2. Copyright page
  3. Introduction by Will Errickson
  4. Acknowledgements
  5. TREMORS
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. SUSPICIONS
  13. 1
  14. 2
  15. 3
  16. 4
  17. 5
  18. DREAD
  19. 1
  20. 2
  21. 3
  22. 4
  23. 5
  24. 6
  25. WITNESS
  26. 1
  27. 2
  28. 3
  29. ALERT
  30. 1
  31. 2
  32. 3
  33. 4
  34. 5
  35. ENCOUNTER
  36. 1
  37. 2
  38. 3
  39. 4
  40. 5
  41. 6
  42. HAVOC
  43. 1
  44. 2
  45. 3
  46. 4
  47. 5
  48. 6
  49. SEARCH
  50. 1
  51. 2
  52. 3
  53. 4
  54. 5
  55. CLASH
  56. 1
  57. 2
  58. 3
  59. 4
  60. 5
  61. 6
  62. 7
  63. COUNTERATTACK
  64. 1
  65. 2
  66. 3
  67. 4
  68. 5
  69. 6
  70. 7
  71. VICTORY
  72. 1
  73. 2
  74. 3
  75. 4
  76. 5
  77. 6
  78. 7
  79. 8
  80. 9
  81. EPILOGUE
  82. About the Author

Christ, the sheriff thought, if those buzzards ever fly at us we’re gone no matter what we’re wearing! He turned his dry-­ice nozzle cautiously in their direction.

Hubbard clamped his arm. “No, Amos! If they’re disturbed, we may lose the whole nest again! These are obviously sentries. Let’s get out of here!” The scientist tread softly away, trying to set up the least possible vibration.

4

FOUR

The final strategy of the human counterattack against the Yarkie invaders evolved naturally enough, Hubbard considered. Now that he grasped the basic structure of the roaches’ retreat, he could calculate tactics with some assurance. He had the two objectives, plainly: For Yarkie, to wipe out the threat of this mutated species. For science, to study the colony, its organization, and to preserve the leaders he was convinced he would discover at the heart of the cave, as a queen bee is the heart of a hive.

Back in Elias Johnson’s living room, Hubbard told the group how he planned to accomplish both purposes. They had enough gasoline and flares to destroy the vermin in the end, but his necessary scientific investigation required the carbon dioxide strategy first. His plan called for piping auto engine exhaust into the Nest. It would quiet the roaches without killing them. After his studies and photos, the Nest could be fired. In any case, there was no hurry—they still wanted time for strays to get back.

Bonnie wanted to know why the colony would not attack them again, the way it had assaulted the lighthouse.

Hubbard answered with absolute conviction. “For one thing, they’re no longer receiving the alarm signals they were getting from the roaches in our laboratory. For another, they are scared, if we can use the word. They certainly sense something has gone wrong. The fighter corps hasn’t come back, and they ‘know’ it. I am assuming the colony right now is like a turtle pulling in its head until it feels it’s safe to reconnoiter again.”

“Suppose you’re wrong, Hubbard?” It was Stephen Scott. “My advice is to get right on out there now and burn their unholy guts out! Right now! Let’s vote on that!”

Peter Hubbard was quick as a sword. “Nobody touches that nest until I study it and give permission!”

Scott argued back, “On this island we do things by vote, young man!”

Hubbard’s eyes went stormy. “Don’t lecture me, Mr. Scott! You will not interfere with my doing my job as a biologist!”

“At our expense . . . ?” Scott flashed.

Elias Johnson thundered, “Oh, shut up, Scott! You know what we owe Dr. Hubbard! I wouldn’t blame him if he turned his back and let us sweat in our own juice, the way you’re going on!”

Amos Tarbell said firmly to the important islander, “We will do this Dr. Hubbard’s way!” The scientists had certainly paid their dues—including a life.