Patriot
Active Member
In honor of current events at my house I penned this little dodad this morning about 3 hours after the concept was first conceived. I call it Eternal Struggle (because that is what it feels like to me) or Chemical Warfare (because that is what it is).
It's pretty much a yearly battle between me and the ants. Unfortunately, it feels like they are winning this year. We are assaulted on three sides with very little results from my efforts. We're moving out in a month so hopefully we can leave these mute warriors to the next tenants.
Eternal Struggle
or
Chemical Warfare
"Forward, men!" 1247 shouted encouragement to his men, "the waterfall is just over the next rise." He stopped to survey the long column advancing past him and down the hillside. They were good men, some of the best he had ever worked with. 1330 dropped out of line as he came to where 1247 stood.
"You think the scouts got it right?" 1330 was glancing around nervously. "We are a bit further out from the compound than I thought we would venture. If something happens out here..."
"They got it right." 1247 scowled. He didn't mention to 1330 about how the 247th was wiped out by chemical weapons just the other day. The enemy was becoming more ruthless, more desperate. "We need water..." Original reports had spoken of an unimaginable supply of clean water flowing over a falls. It sounded almost too good to be true. He waited another couple minutes watching his men until one came rushing toward them.
"Sir!" The messenger struggled to catch his breath before giving the formal greeting. "The Queen be blessed."
"And all her children," 1247 gave the formal answer. "Report!"
"We reached the falls!"
"And?"
"It appears they have stopped flowing. There appears to be a recent blockage upstream." The messenger pointed at some men just coming up behind him carrying bundles of water with them. "We've begun collecting what remnants we could find and I have men examining the blockage. Initial reports are not favorable."
"Thank you, soldier." 1247 allowed the messenger to head back before he took off at top speed over the edge of the hill with 1330 struggling to keep up. They would have to find a way to unblock the falls if their troop was to survive. As he dropped over the edge he caught a glimpse of the falls in the distance with his line of men streaming to and from it. He pulled up slightly and dropped to one side of the line so he could better survey the situation.
He sensed the danger a split-second before he heard the whooshing of air and chemical rain poured down on his line of men. Noxious fumes filled the air as he desperately raced away from the burning drops feeling it scalding his legs and back. His men choked and gagged behind him trapped directly in the line of fire. Then, as quickly as it had started, the assault was over. He stopped and looked back at the scene of wanton destruction behind him. The entire column had been ravaged by the chemical weapon. He ignored the pain in his body as he ran back to the bodies of his fallen comrades. 1330 lay near the outside of the line and was wheezing. His legs were unusable and he was not long for this world.
"1330!" 1247 stooped down to lift his friend. "C'mon, let's get you out of here!"
1330 shook his head weakly, attempted to say something and then collapsed. 1247 grabbed his body and began to stagger away from the line of death, stopping briefly to look to the sky, "Curse you! Curse you and your chemical weapons!"
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"Lousy ants," muttered Ben, "get out of MY house!" He lowered the can of ant spray and leaned over the tub to examine the dotted line coming from the window. Most of the ants were no longer moving. Satisfied, he was in the process of turning around when he noticed an imperceptibly larger ant to one side of the line struggling to carry one of its fallen comrades upward to the window. "How touching...," Ben exclaimed raising his hand, "HOW FUTILE!" His finger mashed down on lone survivor. "DIEEEE!"
It's pretty much a yearly battle between me and the ants. Unfortunately, it feels like they are winning this year. We are assaulted on three sides with very little results from my efforts. We're moving out in a month so hopefully we can leave these mute warriors to the next tenants.