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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

There were no outside disturbances to mar the quiet they needed for the resting and the development of their own world, now separate and separately driven.

The individuals in the New Colony were licking each other, as if the roaches were coated with some appetizing substance. Their antennae kept touching, and their bodies jostled softly together. In the effort to establish the necessary interconnections of the fresh society, some of the insects were even engaging in a form of anal trophallaxis, seen among certain termites. Nest-­mates exchanged chemical symbionts by eating droplets discharged from a neighbor’s anus.

The convergence was being directed by the Dome in the center of the new Nest. It was a smaller structure than its parent; as indeed, the members of this new branch of the roach colony tended to be smaller than their brothers in the pirate cave. Usually, with insects like bees, Nature sent the older group out to establish a new Nest. Here the development had been different—as with so many other aspects of the Yarkie Island mutation.

The Dome’s signals grew stronger and clearer with each passing hour. Soon it would be time to make known this Colony’s presence and assert its own, new territorial rights and appetites.

6

SIX

Elizabeth reached High Ridge Road just as the Hook & Ladder truck came along on its assigned precautionary patrol. It was a brand new vehicle, acquired by Yarkie as new homes rose on the island. In its red and gold majesty, the engine was the pride of the village and its crew. Its aluminum aerial ladder always shone brilliantly, polished by devoted and caring hands every day.

The volunteer firemen stood vigilantly on the running boards, at the ready, wearing their high boots, rubber coats and fire helmets. They looked like warrior heroes on some gleaming chariot, Elizabeth thought. And they were heroes. Elizabeth knew how long and faithfully the men trained, and how many perilous times they selflessly risked their own limbs and lives to save life and property on the island. She remembered her grandfather jumping into his clothes any hour of the night to answer a fire call. It was a canard that volunteers were mostly drinking beer and marching in parades.

With a sudden catch in her throat, Elizabeth made out Peter Hubbard sitting on the high front seat with the proud driver. He was dressed as a fireman, ready to help if they spotted a maverick burst of flame—or a patch of maverick roaches.

It came to the woman that the scientist fit right in with these fishermen, sailors, carpenters, boat builders. Character made its own brotherhood.