Chrysalis

The next day I dedicated myself to digging out the channels for the village to use for irrigation. With Tiny helping we shifted a heck of a lot of dirt, very quickly indeed. As a side project we used the extra dirt to erect a nice and high bank for the channel network, as well as building up the height of the river bank. It never hurts to have a few extra layers of protection in case of flooding!

The villagers were only too happy to pitch in and their own tireless efforts spurred me on to work even faster. It was interesting to see the farms taking shape so quickly. Teams of humans have been churning out simple wooden fencing whilst other groups have been marking lines in the dirt and digging holes for fence posts. The planting is already happening on the land that we've cleared. People have been collecting seed and apparently some farmers had time to bring some with them on carts, all they were waiting for was a clearly delineated space and for someone to plough the new fields. Yet another task that was currently being seen to by dedicated groups of humans. Seeing the cooperative and coordinated groups in action put in mind of nothing but ants at work.

It made me curious enough to go and find Enid to ask where this industrious spirit of cooperation came from.

[It's partly that people need something to focus on in order to take their minds of the tragedy. After losing homes, family, their nation, these people are desperate for something they can work towards] she explained.

[And the rest?]

[Beyn] she said simply.

[He preaches day and night about the benefits of cooperative work, that we should be more like the colony of saviours that have created this sanctuary and that by acting selflessly and working together, the people can give thanks and praise to the Great Ant.]

…

[Are you serious?]

[Perfectly.]

people are going to be more antlike in their behaviour, it should only work in

getting stuff done. Enid is looking tired. Her wispy white hair and weathered skin look even more lined and thin than usual. The woman is skinny as a wooden rake chewed by termites as it is,

day, surely. Go lie down or something. The

for a

because I'm old doesn't mean I can't keep up

the fusion of other, lesser stones, that were themselves formed from the skulls of stubbornness record holders. She gives of an indestructible air and at times I have to remind myself that this person was an iron fisted merchant, tough enough to marry one of

strong breeze

reaching out to hesitantly pat

concern. I'll make sure I eat

[Anthony.]

[Sorry? What's that?]

I point to myself with

across Enid's face and she reaches out to pat me again, more confidently

meet you Anthony. Did you call yourself that because it

this. I've

does

why I told Enid my name, but it felt right to do so. Perhaps she'll eventually put two and two together and realise that an Ant monster really shouldn't have a name, or even

passing day in this new world I can feel my connection to the old me falling away. I like my

without, also the distinct lack of pizza. But hey, you can't ask for

brought to this place found it. Gandalf seemed to suggest that he only brought 'damaged' people here, whatever that means. Perhaps they adapted well to life on this world and found their own little niche here. He did say that most