A Rustle in the Grass Page 5

  'But on the other side all the saplings had equal space and grew at the same speed; they matured and developed together, no one tree having domination over any other, and they stood together, proud, and varied, and independent.' The Story Teller paused and looked round at his audience, who had listened, rapt, from the first word. 'Which side would you say profited most from the oak tree's passing?'

  There was a doubtful silence, broken only by the soft sighing of the breeze amongst the newly awakened grasses all around. Inevitably it was Wind-Blow who broke it.

  'But you must . . . you must have a leader. I mean, every colony needs a leader, doesn't it?' He appealed round the circle. 'Everyone needs a leader!'

  Still One gazed at him in his steady, amused way. 'Do you need a leader?' he asked. 'Or do you need someone who will say, "You are your own leader, Wind-Blow. You are strong enough to stand without a leader."?'

  'But . . . but . . .' Wind-Blow stammered frantically, 'we can't all stand without a leader. Who will make the rules?'

  Still One stayed motionless, contemplating the speaker for several moments, as he invariably did before answering a question. No one thought to break the silence.

  'Why do you have need of rules, Wind-Blow?' he asked softly.

  Wind-Blow stared at him perplexed, at a loss how to answer. Then Never-Rest spoke.

  'Surely we must have rules – laws? Otherwise there'd be anarchy. Everyone would be fighting everyone else over how to do things.'

  Again the pause. Still One gazed into the distance. Then he said: 'There was a bank of stones beside a stream. A still, dead, forgotten bank, covered with the dust of ages. Then one year the stream rose and swept over the bank, bringing life to the stones, rolling them over, flinging them this way and that. And the stones battled amongst themselves, crashing to and fro, struggling for the best position – the large ones seeking to crush the small ones, the sharp ones trying to split the round ones. But gradually the stones changed as they each found the place that suited them best. The large ones sank to the bottom and found they could support the small ones; the jagged ones lost their sharp edges and learned to roll with the round ones. And all the stones were rubbed smooth and polished by the stream, and the colours within them came shining to the surface, and they found delight in rolling together backwards and forwards to the music of the waters. And when the stream receded again it left the bank a beautiful, harmonious, many-coloured place.'

  The quiet amonst his listeners when he had finished was again complete. They were lulled to a serene, reflective calm by the quality of his voice and the content of his tale, as the brain is lulled by honey-dew. Not many there were sure what the story meant, but somehow it left no further room for argument, no cause for doubt. It was a comforting, reassuring thing.

  'What is happening here?' The voice broke across the quiet, and the younger ants jumped respectfully to their feet.

  Snake's Tongue stood some little way off, surveying the gathering with curiosity. Behind him was Dreamer and a broad, powerful-looking character well known in the community, called Joker. So engrossed had everyone been in the story that none had noticed the approach of the small party. Snake's Tongue moved closer, and addressed Five Legs.

  'What's going on, old one?'

  Five Legs answered calmly, 'We'd finished our work quota. We were just relaxing for a moment.'

  Snake's Tongue studied him speculatively. 'Is that all you were doing? Relaxing?'

  'We were having a little discussion about the situation now that Thunderer's gone,' replied Five Legs. 'Just talking, that's all.'

  'Ah,' said Snake's Tongue. His eyes glinted wryly. 'I thought you'd had your say about that at the Council meeting.'

  Five Legs acknowledged the thrust with an amused nod. Snake's Tongue glanced across at the two soldier-ants who had been in attendance on the group. 'Everything all right here, soldiers?'

  'Yes, sir,' answered one of them. 'No problems.'

  Snake's Tongue nodded his head. The gathering began to break up, the worker-ants wandering back towards the mound. Snake's Tongue, however, stopped Five Legs with a wave of his feeler.

  'Just a moment, Five Legs. I need a word with you.'

  Dreamer stood a few paces off behind Snake's Tongue, watching as the rest of the ants moved off. He had noticed the strange, still quality of the group from afar, so unlike the gossiping, fidgeting little gathering that usually formed during rest-breaks, and he was pondering its significance. Beside bulked the heavy, comforting presence of Joker, who had evidently also noticed something strange, for he muttered to Dreamer, 'Looked more like another Long Sleep than a rest-break.'

  Dreamer nodded, amused. He was happy that Joker was the third ant chosen to join Snake's Tongue and himself on their mission. He was not personally well acquainted with the big soldier, but he knew well the other's reputation as a fighter and as a genial companion.

  Snake's Tongue was addressing Five Legs again. 'We need special rations for an expedition. Aphid-bug eggs, beetle larvae, some honey-dew. Can you arrange that?'

  Five Legs nodded. 'There is a good supply coming in now. We should be able to find you what you want.' He paused. 'Could one guess at the purpose of this expedition? Something to do with this story about the red ants perhaps?'

  Snake's Tongue nodded. 'You would not be far wrong.'

  'I wish you good fortune then,' said the old ant. 'It is disturbing news.'

  'Yes,' answered Snake's Tongue. He hesitated and looked quizzically at the other. 'That was no ordinary rest-break just now, Five Legs. What was happening here?'

  Five Legs twinkled. 'Still One was telling us a story,' he said, 'that was all.'

  Dreamer lifted his head curiously. He had never met the ant in question but he had heard rumours about the strange, elusive creature known as the Story Teller, who held his fellow workers spellbound with his fables. He had a solitary, reclusive occupation – that of tending aphid bugs – so rarely came into contact with the hierarchy of the colony. It was rumoured, whispered around the place, that he was an immigrant, a refugee from a previous year's mating brood – that weird hatch of winged ants who emerge from the royal brood chambers only once a year on hot midsummer nights, to fly off into the forest where they perform their mysterious, magical coupling rites, resulting in the formation of new broods, new colonies; a further extension across the earth of the great brotherhood of the species. It was said that Still One was a throwback from one such hatching, that he had shed his wings and crept back to the colony, and made his home there secretly – but no one knew for sure.

  'Where is the teller of strange tales?' asked Snake's Tongue.

  Five Legs lifted his head and pointed a feeler skywards. The three soldiers looked up. Above their heads a fragile figure was leisurely making its way along a branch of the birch sapling.

  'If you need honey-dew, he's the one to get it for you,' said Five Legs. 'Shall I call him down?'

  Snake's Tongue nodded and Five Legs limped over to the base of the young tree. He called up: 'Still One, we need your services. Will you come down again?'

  The figure on the tree stopped, looked down, then turned unhurriedly and began to descend. Snake's Tongue turned to the two soldier-ants on guard duty, who were still standing nearby.

  'Were you amongst this audience?'

  'Yes, sir,' replied one of them. Dreamer was still more curious. Soldiers deigning to listen to a humble worker-ant?

  'He seems to have a fascination, this Story Teller,' said Snake's Tongue, echoing the thought. 'What is his secret?'

  The soldier hesitated. 'I don't really know, sir,' he said. 'It's just that he . . .' He tailed off.

  'What?' commanded Snake's Tongue.

  'Makes you think.' The soldier looked puzzled as he spoke, as if he were not quite sure what he was trying to say.

  'Think?' queried Snake's Tongue. 'What about?'

  The other seemed even more at a loss. 'Things you don't usually think about,' he said finally.
<
br />   'This is getting us a long way,' whispered Joker at Dreamer's side.

  Old Five Legs was returning from the tree. 'Here he is,' he said, and stood aside to observe. Dreamer studied the ant who came towards them. There was nothing remarkable about his appearance except that, as he approached, Dreamer was struck by the open look of appraisal with which the other was, in return, examining them. It was as if there were no difference between their respective castes or callings: as if one of the highest ranking soldiers in the colony and the lowly aphid-bug tender were meeting on quite equal, friendly terms. He stopped in front of Snake's Tongue and waited with a quizzical expression on his face, and Dreamer noticed for the first time the strange, still quality about him, which explained his odd name.

  Five Legs was speaking. 'Snake's Tongue has need of honey-dew, Still One. A special ration for the members of a rather dangerous expedition. Is there some still in the winter supplies?'

  Still One nodded imperceptibly, then Dreamer heard his low, gentle voice for the first time. 'Your colleague Dew-Lover has seen to it that there is not much left. But there is a separate store kept for the Royal Quarters. I expect we can find you some.'

  Snake's Tongue nodded, and was about to speak when Still One added, 'You must use it cautiously though.'

  Snake's Tongue stared in surprise at this enjoinder.

  'It is wintered honey-dew and very powerful. Used wrongly or incautiously it can be dangerous.'

  Snake's Tongue showed an amused toleration at the warning. 'I know how to use it, Story Teller. You need not worry on our account.'

  The other nodded and then added, 'Then it will help you on your mission.' It was most strange for an ordinary worker-ant to address so lofty a being as Snake's Tongue with such familiarity, but it was done in such a calm, natural voice that somehow it did not seem an impertinence.

  Snake's Tongue looked at Five Legs. 'They tell me the Story Teller has a fable to suit every occasion,' he said. 'Do you suppose he has one for a small force about to venture into the heart of an enemy's domain?'

  Five Legs looked enquiringly at Still One, but the latter did not respond immediately. Instead he contemplated each of the three soldier-ants in turn. Dreamer felt disturbed by his intense gaze. Then Five Legs broke the silence with a chuckle, and said, 'Tell them how the ants fought the Giant Two-Legs. That might be of interest.'

  Still One nodded, 'Yes, you might find that story has some use for you.' And, after a moment's reflection, he began in his quiet, mellifluous tones.

  'A party of ants was out exploring for new territory, when, without knowing it, they strayed into the land of the Giant Two-Legs. As they travelled along they were spied by two of the Giant Two-Legs, who were as huge as trees and who could see as far as an ant can march in a day. And the two Giants came tearing after the ants as fast as the wind, making the ground tremble with the thunder of their four feet. And they bent down out of the sky and roared to the ants, "Your last moment has come, ants. Prepare to die!"

  'And the leader of the ants knew that there was no point in trying to fight the Giant Two-Legs, for ants' stings are useless against such monsters. But he was a brave, intelligent ant, and he thought quickly. As one of the Giant Two-Legs bent down to crush him, he called up, "I am not afraid of you."

  'And the Giant Two-Legs was so amazed at this that he paused, and bellowed, "Indeed! And why not?"

  'And the ant leader said, "Because I have heard your friend say what a coward you are."

  'And the Giant Two-Legs raised himself up and stared in fury at the other Giant. And then the ant leader ran across and called to the other Giant Two-Legs, "Come on and fight, Giant Two-Legs! We are not afraid of you."

  'And the other Giant bellowed. "Indeed! And why not?"

  'And the ant leader said, "Because your friend has told us how feeble you are in battle."

  'And the second Giant Two-Legs raised himself, and stared in fury at the other Giant. And the two Giant Two-Legs forgot about the ants, and flew at each other in their anger, and as the forest thundered with the noise of their battle the ants slipped away.

  'But the two Giants soon realized that they had been duped and they abandoned their fight and came roaring after the ants again. And the first Giant Two-Legs shouted to the ant leader, "So, you thought you could fool us with that story, did you? We are not as stupid as you think." And with that he lifted his great foot and crushed the ant leader to death.

  'Then the two Giants turned to the other ants and roared, "Prepare to die, ants."

  'But the next most senior ant was also a brave intelligent ant, and he thought quickly. As one of the Giant Two-Legs bent down to crush him, he called up, "I am not afraid of you."

  'And the Giant Two-Legs paused and bellowed, "Indeed! And why not?"

  'And the ant replied, "Because I have heard your friend say what a merciful, kind Giant you are at heart."

  'And the Giant Two-Legs raised himself up and stared in pleasure at the other Giant. And the ant ran across and called to the other Giant Two-legs, "We know we have nothing to fear from you."

  'And the other Giant bellowed, "Indeed! And why not?"

  'And the ant replied, "Because your friend has told us what a friendly, loving Giant you are at heart."

  'And the two Giants glowed with warmth for one another. And they forgot about the ants, and as they embraced each other in friendship, the ants slipped away.

  'But again the Giants realized that they had been duped, and once more they came roaring after the ants. And the first Giant Two-Legs shouted to the ant leader, "So, you thought you could fool us with that story, did you? We are not as stupid as you think." And he lifted his great foot and crushed the ant to death.

  'Then once more the two Giants turned to the other ants, and roared, "Now prepare to die, ants. Or do you also claim that you are not afraid of us?"

  'And the next most senior ant, who was the most brave and intelligent of all, said, "Certainly we are afraid of you."

  'And the two Giant Two-Legs roared with laughter to each other, and bent down to crush the ants. But then the third ant leader said, "Just as afraid as you are of us."

  'And the two Giants paused in amazement and said, "What do you mean – we afraid of you?"

  'And the ant replied, "It must be so, for what other reason can you have for wanting to kill us? We are not your enemies; we do you no harm; we are not food for you; we want nothing that is yours. Therefore the only reason you can possibly have to want to kill us is that, in some way, you are afraid of us."

  'And the two Giant Two-Legs stared at each other, puzzled. And then they stared back at the ant and said, "But why should we be afraid of you?"

  'And the ant replied, "That I do not know. That only you can say."

  'And again the two Giants stared at each other, and again they stared back at the ant and said, "But we are not afraid of you."

  'And the ant replied, "Then you can have no reason for killing us."

  'And the two Giant Two-Legs thought about it some more, and scratched their heads, and looked still more puzzled and finally said, "You are right. We do have no reason for killing you."

  'And they went away again, leaving the ants to return to their home.'

  Still One stopped speaking and waited in his calm, passive way. Dreamer was fascinated. Never before had he heard such a story, told in such a compelling manner. He regarded the strange worker-ant with curiosity. Five Legs was watching the reaction of the listeners with amusement. Then Snake's Tongue spoke.

  'Thank you, Story Teller. That was a most interesting tale. We shall remember it.'

  He turned to Joker and Dreamer. 'Well now, we have much to do. Joker, go with Five Legs to the food stores. Dreamer, you and Story Teller will come with me to get the honey-dew. You will need my authority to enter the Royal Quarters. Let us go.' And he turned and headed for the mound.

  Dreamer found himself running alongside Still One as they followed Snake's Tongue, surreptitiously observing the othe
r out of the corner of his eye as they went. The worker-ant showed no sign of his thoughts but merely seemed intent on keeping up with the long, loping stride of the big ant in front. But then he spoke quietly, taking Dreamer by surprise.

  'Why do they call you Dreamer?'

  Dreamer answered simply, 'Because I have dreams.'

  'Powerful dreams?'

  'Sometimes.'

  Still One nodded. 'And do you understand your dreams?'

  'Not always.'

  They ran in silence for a moment. Then Still One observed, 'Dreams are like stories. There is always a meaning within them if you listen. And always a truth to the meaning if you can find it.'

  No more was said until they reached the store chambers of the Royal Quarters, deep down in the earth in the lowest regions of the colony.

  8

  He dreamed that he stood in the centre of a great space. And in a wide circle around him were crowded rank upon rank of ants stretching back to the infinite depths of the darkness, to the farthermost ends of a limitless Council chamber. And he was speaking. He was speaking with such passion, such conviction, such feeling. He was urging bold actions, he was advocating radical ideas, he was declaring a passionate faith. And the multitude around him were listening silently, rapt, nodding to the emphasis of his words. And as he spoke the certainty within him grew and grew, until finally he ended his speech with a great cry of passion, and the massed ranks broke into a clamorous roar that echoed and re-echoed far off into the dark distances and rumbled on to the very edge of the universe.