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.]

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

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, her current position as the de facto leader

people can live without you for a day, surely. Go lie down or something. The village won't be better off if you keel over and have a heart

for a moment before barking out

I'm old doesn't mean

other, lesser stones, that were themselves formed from the skulls of stubbornness record holders. She gives of an indestructible air and at

If a strong breeze comes your way, who knows where you'll end

out to hesitantly

you for your concern. I'll make

[Anthony.]

[Sorry? What's that?]

I point to myself with

face and she reaches out to pat me again, more confidently this

Anthony. Did you call yourself that because

not believe this. I've never actually

does is

realise that an Ant monster really shouldn't have a name, or even need one. The leap from that fact to my actual origins is quite a large one though, not that I think it will make a difference to anything even if she does realise I was

any longer. With every passing day in this new world I can feel my connection to the old me falling away. I like my new family. I like the new me.

senseless violence I could live without, also the distinct lack of pizza. But hey, you can't

suggest that he only brought 'damaged' people here, whatever that means. Perhaps they adapted well