Chapter III

"You see, Your Majesty," explained Thorny, pointing to a spot on the ground, "how the soil has eroded here around the Sheltering Stones. You have to expect some erosion after a long period of time."

"Bah," sputtered Cornelius, smacking his cane on the ground. "This ground's as firm now as it was before I was born. That's why the Main Tunnel was dug under these stones - because they'll always hold up."

"Well Atta, what do you think?"

Atta glanced at her mother, who smiled. "You have to make a decision, dear," the Queen told her. "Thorny wants to take workers away from waterproofing the Anthill to reinforce the Sheltering Stones. Cornelius says it's a waste of time and workers. As the Queen you'll have to make decisions like this all the time."

"I know." Atta frowned. This was a tough call to make, and she knew no one was going to help her. She looked at the spot Thorny had indicated. "So..." she began, "...so, the workers would have to pack more soil in here around the Sheltering Stones?"

Thorny shook his head. "It's not that simple, Your Highness," he tried to explain. "The addition of soil would have to take place inside the tunnel, in the ceiling, which means the floor would have to be lowered so the passage wouldn't become too narrow - "

"A waste of time!" shouted Cornelius angrily. "Your Highness, those workers need to concentrate on waterproofing the ground around the Anthill and sealing up the back exits, not lollygaging around in the Main Tunnel digging! Spring is for digging!"

"But if the ground becomes waterlogged it will be impossible to reinforce the ceiling then," argued Thorny. "If it does collapse - "

"It will not collapse," Cornelius spat back with another smack of his cane. "The Sheltering Stones protect the Main Tunnel, and they always will!"

"Atta?" prompted the Queen.

Atta sighed. "All right," she said at last. "I...I think that maybe Thorny's right. Thorny, take as many workers as you need to reinforce the Main Tunnel."

"Thank you, Your Highness," said Thorny as Cornelius grumbled. The Head of the Engineering Department started off towards the Anthill, closely followed by Cornelius, who was still grumbling and muttering to himself about 'blasted progress'.

"Well that was a fairly...prompt decision." The Queen put a hand on Atta's shoulder.

"I just hope it was the right decision."

"You worry too much dear."

"Well I knew that." Atta frowned at the sky. The sun, so warm and bright that morning, had since disappeared behind a barrier of steel-grey clouds, and the wind had begun to return with a chill as if to remind everyone that it was, indeed, the start of winter.

"It will rain soon," the Queen voiced Atta's silent concern. "I hope the workers get the back exits sealed up in time. You shouldn't get so worked up," she added, nudging her daughter. "You need to laugh everything off, like me." And the Queen laughed for demonstration.

Atta laughed too, but it was forced. "I'll have to write that one down," she said.

"Don't worry," said the Queen, giving her daughter's shoulder a pat. "You'll get the hang of it. Just...be natural. Come here, Aphie!"

Aphie yapped and scurried to his owner obediently. The Queen scooped him up. "Go back to your friends, dear," she said over her shoulder. "Just remember: Everything will be fine." And she walked away.

Atta watched her go, then went to look for Flik. When she found him, he was showing an odd-looking gadget made of twigs and dry leaves to Dot. Dot looked vaguely amused. The circus bugs were nowhere to be seen.

"Here," said Flik to Dot when he noticed Atta approaching. "Why don't you go see if you can make it work."

"But I don't - "

"Go on," smiled Atta, stepping up to Flik. Dot grudgingly took the contraption and ran off with it.

"So," said Flik. "I trust you attended to your Royal Duties?" He arched an eyeridge.

Atta exhaled. "I sure did," she said. "Flik, remind me to retire early."

"It's a deal." Flik frowned. "Is there something the matter?" he asked.

"Well, it's - " Atta considered. "It's just that...Why are all these complicated things happening now, while I'm training to be Queen? Why couldn't they have happened before, or...after, when I knew what I was doing?"

"Atta," said Flik, surprised. "You should be glad! Under circumstances like these, you're going to turn into a fabulous Queen!"

"Either that or the worst Queen this Island has ever seen."

"Not in a million years." Flik smiled. "As a matter of fact, I think you're fabulous right now." And he boldly gave her a peck on the cheek. "It's going to be a great Winter. It might even be the best Winter we've ever had, who knows?"

Atta smiled. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see."

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

"Oops - I bent one'a the cards."

"Butterfingers," replied Blip. "You should oughta be more careful with them cards, they's Francis'. You know how he gets."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Flash examined his hand. "Um...I'll hit," he said.

Ymri passed the firefly a card.

"D'oh!" exclaimed Flash.

"Hah!" taunted the other firefly. "You busted. Hit me too, Ymri."

The spider passed Blip a card.

"Heh heh - D'oh!"

"Twenty," announced Ymri quietly, laying down his hand.

"Yeah, yeah," grunted Flash as the wolf spider gathered up the pot of grain. "You're the big winner. Is it my turn to deal yet or what?"

Ymri quietly collected cards from the fireflies and passed the deck to Flash.

"Now," said Flash smugly. "I'll show yous how a real classy dealer shuffles. Watch this."

Blip rolled his eyes. "Just don't hurt yourself."

"Me? Ha!" Flash began shuffling the cards quickly. "I never - Ow! I hurt myself!"

Ymri sighed and Blip grinned.

"What're ya grinnin' at, ya feeb?" demanded Flash sorely. "I'm bleedin' over here!"

"Well don't bleed on Francis' cards!" cried Blip, snatching the deck away.

"Thanks for your support," grumbled Flash, putting his cut finger into his mouth and sucking on it.

"Perhaps we should find our friend some first aid," said Ymri, standing up.

Blip put the deck down and stood up too. "Yeah, where's that lady doctor at? I'm sure she can kiss your boo-boo and make it all better."

Flash scowled but did not remove his finger from his mouth.

The spider and fireflies walked down the hallway to the door of the Infirmary, which was being guarded by two ants holding twigs.

"Excuse me please."

One of the two ants looked up. "Yes?"

"I wish to see the doctor," Ymri said.

"Yeah, us too," piped up Flash. He elbowed Blip.

"Oh uh, yeah," said Blip.

The other guard shook her head. "You can't," she monotoned. "No one's allowed in but the doctor and her assistant. There's a dangerous prisoner in there."

The first guard frowned. "But Quick," he said. "Isn't this is the guy who captured that grasshopper in the first place?"

Quick didn't look impressed. "So?"

The other ant shrugged. "So...doesn't that give him a right to go in and gloat, or something?"

Quick gave him a cold stare. "Flip, lay off of the detective comics. The prisoner is too dangerous to let just anyone stroll in."

"But look at him!" went on Flip urgently, gesturing at Ymri. "He could take on a swarm of grasshoppers!"

"Oh, you bet!" intercepted Flash quickly. "Why just last week, there was this uh...cloud of gnats, see, and - "

Quick, who sensed a long and absurd farcical tale coming on, rolled her eyes. "All right," she interrupted the firefly. "If we let you in, will you shut up?"

Flash closed his mouth with a snap and nodded eagerly.

"Get in there, then." Quick pulled aside the leaf which covered the doorway. "Make it snappy."

The wolf spider and two fireflies stepped inside the Infirmary, taking a moment to let their eyes adjust to the dimmer light.

Blip elbowed Flash. "You gonna watch yourself?" he hissed.

"What're you babblin' about?" frowned Flash.

"This guy's brother just got offed," explained Blip. "Try to show a little...consideration. Don't go shootin' off yer mouth."

"All right, all done," Dr. Flora was saying, stepping back to examine her handiwork. "Now that splint needs to stay there for about two weeks, and no flying after that for about one week more. Cora," she called to her sister and assistant. "Will you get our patient some water?"

Cora put away the leftover first aid supplies and brought Molt a bead of dew, which he numbly accepted.

Dr. Flora looked across the room at Ymri, Blip, and Flash, who were still hovering near the door. "Are you staying here?" she mouthed. Ymri nodded wordlessly at her.

"All right well," went on the doctor, touching Molt on the shoulder, "I'll send Cora in with some food later. You just rest now, and I'll check on you tonight." And with that, Dr. Flora and Cora left.

When the ants had gone, Ymri approached Molt, who did not look up. "Please," the spider began quietly, "forgive me."

Now the grasshopper looked up, confused. "For what?"

"The web was mine," Ymri explained. "I apologize."

Molt shook his head. "The web don't matter."

"But you were injured."

"That don't matter either."

"Hey, look," said Blip, taking a seat next to Molt. "That was real rough, what happened to your brother."

"Yeah," agreed Flash, who sat next to Blip, his little cut forgotten. "We're real sorry. I'd be upset too, if one of my brothers got offed. Unless it was Sputter, I hate that guy - Ow!" Flash cried as Blip elbowed him. "...But he owes me money!"

Molt, oblivious to the fireflies, just stared down at the bead of dew he was holding. "I just can't believe this happened," he said. "Hop was the greatest. He could take on anybody, anytime, anyplace. I even saw him climb right out of a bird's mouth before."

"Sounds like he was a lucky guy," commented Blip.

Ymri spread out his arms. "Unfortunately luck is like river," he remarked. "It can run dry."

"And how," grunted Flash. Blip elbowed him again. "Hey," said Flash to Molt, shoving Blip back, "what're ya gonna do now?"

The grasshopper shook his head. "I dunno," he said. "I guess I'm like...a prisoner of war or somethin'."

Flash's eyes widened. "Gee, do ya think they'll execu - "

Ymri hastily rapped the firefly on the head to silence him. "These ants are peaceful people," the spider said. "I am sure they will not harm you." He shot Flash a cold look. Flash smiled apologetically.

"I'm sure everythin' will be fine," said Blip firmly. "Hey," he said after a moment's thought. "You ever play Hornet's Revenge, buddy?"

Molt was confused. "Huh?"

"Yeah!" enthused Flash excitedly. "That game requires four players! We ain't never been able to play it before!"

"It'll be a snap to teach ya the rules," went on Blip. "And..." he continued, leaning towards Molt conspiratorially, "don't choose Flash as a partner. He always botches team games."

Flash made a face.

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Flik and Atta went for a walk, circling the Tree once, and then watching Mr. Soil orchestrate the sealing of the back exits, which involved the combined effort of very nearly every ant in the Colony. But it got done, and Atta finally began to relax.

"There, see? The big job is done."

Atta allowed Flik to lead her partway up the Tree so they could watch the sinking sun reflect on the River, but before the sun could touch upon the horizon the rain returned. Quickly, all the ants descended into the Anthill, and the Main Entrance was sealed for the Winter.