WETA The Insect War

By Warren Lockie

Giant insects.
At war with humans.
Revenge for our destruction of their life giving environments.
Cosmic influences.
Teenagers caught up in it all.
A racey tale with an ecological edge.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Warren Lockie
• Release date: Sep 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310124778

Warren Lockie

Warren Lockie is a retired teacher who is now relishing the chance to write the stories he has been thinking of for many years.His interests include, family, reading, playing music, walking, biking, film and stage drama, conservation and the environment, social justice issues, spirituality, travel, growing things, education and learning. He lives in Rotorua New Zealand with his wife Lyndsay and has five children and seven grandchildren.

Book preview

The sun exploded.

A tsunami of Gamma Rays sprayed out at the speed of light.

Nobody on earth knew it had happened until instruments alerted us to its arrival 3.2 billion years later.

We were lucky it wasn’t our sun. The exploding star thirty times bigger than ours was a long way from us. That distance saved us from extinction and no harm was detected from its touch across the eons of time. Unfortunately for most humans, it had a passenger, hitch hiker, virus. An intelligence from the super nova galaxy, surfed the biggest wave since the Big Bang to avoid annihilation itself. After its epic journey to earth, it entered our biosphere. Humanity would have to cope with the changes it unleashed or die out like the meteor struck dinosaurs.

Two

Sam knew he was about to die. Pain ripped through his legs and chest as he strained to move out of the blackness enveloping him.

He would not look back through the gloom of the tunnel. Once was enough. Brown spiky armour, multiple evil eyes, alive with the heaviness of death and powered with the fear of the dark and poison fanged.

He knew he was panicking, but he couldn’t shake off the tremours convulsing his body. Up ahead, light. Something pulled on him from behind. Invisible fingers of force slowed him to a frustrating shuffle. A touch on the back of his head and shoulders. Swirling colours and sounds filled his mind. Images of dead and dying people. Malevolent voices intoned an unmistakable message.

…Die… your time is up…failed to protect…stand aside for the new.

A massive black insect face flooded his vision.

The grip on his chest tightened to snapping point. Something overwhelming was about to annihilate him.

‘No!!!

He woke. Springing upright, eyes wide, gasping for breath, sweating, heart racing. Familiar shapes in his room gradually came into focus and his hands felt the reassuring softness of his feather duvet.

Again. The same dream. Worse this time. He couldn’t stop shaking.

Understanding the need to record his experience, he switched on his bedside lamp, found his tablet and stylus and opened his dream file. As he drew, pausing now and then to still his shaking hand, he realised his sketch portrayed the tunnel much the same as earlier dreams. The giant creature, cricket like, was known as a Weta in New Zealand. He knew they were the largest insects in the world and had survived since the dinosaurs disappeared. But in this dream the creature was huge, and had used some sort of hypnotic power over him.

The mind pictures and rumbled messages were clearer and more destructive this time. New also was a fleeting, strange feeling. A fragment of something positive underneath the fear. Something like hope, or was it just his desperate imagination? He was confused. His mind still spun. Then, another memory surfaced. A smell. A salty smell. The sea. He had been close to the ocean.

Failing to make any sense of his recollections he saved his sketches and lay back to let his mind play with them. The clarity he so desperately wanted eluded him. Frustrated and unable to sleep he slipped out of bed, found his sweater and jeans underneath a pile of sports gear, and wandered into the hallway. The light was off in his dad’s room as he made his way to the kitchen. The microwave showed 12:47.

A cockroach scurried across the bench as the room flooded with light. He would normally kill any he spotted but couldn’t be bothered tonight. Live and let live he thought. Raiding the fridge and pantry he assembled the ingredients for his favourite hot milk and chocolate drink, a triple Milo with plenty of honey.

Eat your heart out Wonder Chef, he muttered.

Seated at the table sipping from his mug he gazed at his drawings hoping for some insight.

Woo! He blinked several times. Pieces of his sketches began to fuzz, drift, and melt into the swirling patterns of his cup. He shook his head and looked up. His gaze settled on their photoshaped calendar on the opposite wall. His dad’s yacht, Jade. Good memories. He worried he was going crazy. Three times this week, dreams about insects. Weta. Scary dreams. Was it his science project on invertebrates he wondered? It would certainly be material for the dream writing, he was doing in English. Steve and Kimiora could help. He could talk to them without it going around the senior school. It’s a good story anyway. What was it that Mr. Rowlands had said?

Become an element of your dream. Face it. Feel it.

It was worth a try. He looked at his crude drawing of the giant cricket, imagining he was it. Nothing then slowly, something, struggling for expression. A sense of urgency, inevitability, change and suffering. Dead people. He looked up shocked, curious and worried.

Enough, he said as he closed his file. Enough. I give up. No sense to be found here tonight, or sleep either.

He stood and stretched, twisting through some Tai Chi moves his drama teacher had shown him.

I’ll read a bit of my homework, he muttered. Shakespeare. Now there’s a guy who understood drama, mystery, violence and stuff.

Three

Next morning at school Sam found Kimiora sitting with her friends by the school café. She looked great as usual. Sam loved her flowing black hair, smooth olive skin, blue eyes and enthusiasm for life. He felt special knowing they were considered a good match by their friends. He got the impression some teachers thought so too.

Kimiora sat in the middle of the group concentrating on the to and fro of the conversation, last night’s party. He stood within hearing distance behind the girls.

But you went with Pete, said Paula, Kimiora’s best friend. How come you spent most of the night with Andy?

Angela Pointer the senior ball queen replied with a knowing smile. Nothing wrong with keeping two of them interested. Bit of competition is healthy. Besides I like playing games. A considered silence hung over the group. Kimiora spoke up.

Just remember they have feelings too Angela. No one wins every game.

Whatever gets you into the finals Kimi, she replied coldly. Anyway you’re doing alright with lover boy.

Kimiora felt her face flush and she searched her mind for a stinging reply. Before she could think of something clever enough, Paula caught her eye and nodded towards Sam at the edge of their circle.

Whatever guys, exclaimed Marcia the class clown, determined to prevent an outbreak of bitchiness.

I reckon the funniest moment was when Sandy collided with Ian Collins. Two cream desserts, big ones.

She lifted her chest and wobbled. Giggles followed.

Down the front of them. Both of them, she chuckled. And then all over Miss Evans. What a crack up. Laughter now from the group.

Sam still hadn’t figured out why girls were so different from boys when talking about stuff. He, his best friend Steve, and their mates talked about girls a little, mainly to show off or boast about ‘scoring’. They generally preferred to talk sport, tech, gaming, cars, fishing or hunting. Music, movies, some school and family stuff served as a common ground to chat with the girls about.

I was so shamed, he heard Sandy say. The cream from those buns soaked the front of my black dress. You know the one with the frill that mum got in Sydney. I don’t think I can get the stain out. Smart ass Tony said I could pass for an ice cream. I could have died.

Another ripple of laughter spread round the group.

Never mind, said Kimiora, you can donate it to the garage sale on Saturday. They need the dollars for the Chinese trip.

No, mum would kill me. What’ll I do?

You could try topless. Easy to clean, called Sam from the edge of the group. More Giggles came from the girls as they turned to look at him. He caught Kimora’s eye, raising his head slightly to acknowledge her.

She gave him a nasty look. He knew she didn’t like the way he sometimes teased her friends, but it just slipped out like he couldn’t help it.

She signalled him to sit away from the group on a vacant bench nearby and joined him a minute later. She didn’t look happy.

I’ve told you to ease up on my friends. Why do you have to do that?

Sorry, I’m feeling grumpy today. Didn’t get a good sleep last night. In fact I had another nightmare.

Well, try not to take it out on my friends, or me. OK?

OK. Sorry about that. He paused. How you doing?

She looked at him. For her he was handsome enough, not rock star gorgeous but his blue eyes, blonde hair, strong body and quick mind appealed to her. She liked being with him. He had also proved a good friend who she could trust. She appreciated that he didn’t tell his friends stories about her or them. They had their ups and downs as she was no push over and stood up for herself and he had an anger problem at times. Thinking she’d waited long enough she slowly smiled and shrugged an OK. They had been friends since they started school together and friendship was blooming into something closer recently. She knew Sam enjoyed her company and she enjoyed his. They could have fun and laugh together.

Well… she started, our cat is sick, possums have eaten mum’s best roses, the car brake lights don’t work, my nails are cracked, I’ve got split ends… apart from that…Oh...yes…I’m tired too…didn’t sleep much last night. Had weird dreams as well.

Yeah?

Yeah!

I’ve drawn mine to take to our writing class in English today, Sam said. Maybe I can work it into a story, though it would be a weird one. Giant insects and dead people.

You do have the most active imagination Sam Barnes. Weird is the right word for it.

Hasn’t done me a lot of good, he replied. Sometimes in art it works for me. He paused to look at her. What was yours about?

She looked up and raised her eyebrows. Well, I remember walking through a park, with trees, and water nearby… I was scattering something close to the ground… seeds of some kind perhaps. You know the old time painting Smithy showed us in Art, how they used to throw the seed out over the fields?

Yeah. Sam enjoyed the memory of the painting, a peaceful scene of people in a country setting, before he was jolted by last night’s images.

Mine were more about some giant creature that was after me. And people and stuff getting busted up. Scary stuff.

What you think they’re about? Kimiora asked genuinely puzzled.

Don’t know. I’m going to ask Rowls in English.

OK. He’s weird enough to know about dreams.

They sat in silence, enjoying the morning sun and each other’s company until a loud shout broke the spell.

Hey! Barnes! Sam the toe jam! Lost again?

Oscar Martin and two of his mates were walking across the yard towards them.

Psycho, said Sam softly as he felt his anger rising. He deserves a good punch in the head.

Stay cool Sam, Kimiora whispered.

Sam met Oscar’s stare as he approached. Oscar grunted like an orangutang and began his gangsta shuffle, raising his hands, fingers signing to his mates who did the same.

Sam my man. How’s it hanging? You’re a man I’m presuming. Still hiding behind a bit of skirt again though I see eh.

His friends sniggered at his side. They went everywhere with him. Sam described them once to Kimiora like sucker fish on a shark. She didn’t like the way they looked at her either.

He felt her hand on his arm.

Leave it Sam, she whispered. Don’t get sucked into his game. He just wants to get you into trouble. Ignore him.

It was true he realised. Oscar was out to get him and didn’t care if he got suspended as long as Sam did too.

A group had gathered anticipating some action. Oscar’s boys began a chant as Oscar took up in a boxing pose.

Get him Osks! Fight, fight, fight.

Kimiora could feel Sam’s arm tightening and see his fists clenching. She knew he could easily be drawn into a fight with the right nasty remark. She spoke up. Firmly.

Find something better to do with your time Peterson. Picking on people, spoiling our school, isn’t a sport you know and you don’t get grades for it. You’re a bully and trouble maker. Push off and leave us alone.

Oscar’s expression changed from confrontational to amused.

Meow! A savage pussy I see. I like them savage, eh boys?

Sure do, said his mate Slim with an evil chuckle.

"Show them a good time

Kimiora decided it was time to retreat.

Let’s go Sam. We don’t need this kid’s stuff.

She pulled him up and pointed him towards the school lunch hall. He reluctantly began to walk with her as she drew him away.

As he was leaving Sam managed to spit out a defiant retreating remark.

I’m not scared of you Peterson. You’re just not worth getting kicked out for.

Even though Oscar was bigger than him, Sam was angry enough to fight. He didn’t like appearing a coward and struggled to remember his dad’s advice about it being OK to walk away. He felt Kimiora’s tug on his arm

I’ll get you some day, swore Oscar. When there’s just you and me.

Whatever, Sam called over his shoulder as he was led away by Kimiora.

Inside the hall Sam was still fuming. He was even annoyed with her for rescuing him.

You should have let me deal with it. I can look after myself.

Yeah, like last time you took on Riley. He was big trouble. You got suspended.

That was different. He was hassling you.

Yeah, thanks, but as I’ve told you, in most situations I can take care of myself. Just help without violence. OK? She waited for him to settle. I’m glad you kept your cool just now. See, you can do it. She smiled sweetly.

He sighed.

It’s not easy. He’s such a bully. Needs a good lesson.

Yeah, well it’s not one I want to see you involved with. Come on. Better not be late for class. See you in the quad after school. And stay away from Oscar. OK?

She looked deeply into his eyes and smiled. He ran his fingers nervously through his hair and agreed. He felt grateful to her despite feeling uncomfortable about being rescued by a girl.

OK. See you then. Thanks.

He watched her walk away and join her friends. She was so graceful, and strong. Her warrior ancestors would be proud of her. She looked great. He felt better.

Hey bro, that was a close call. His friend Steve sat next to him. That Oscar is a real pain in the ass. You did well to avoid a scrap. Don’t want your exams next week stuffed up eh. Come on, the bell’s gone. You don’t want a detention either.

Sam managed a weak smile and followed his friend out of the dining hall.

Kimiora and he talked again after their last class. He was disappointed that Mr Rowling had not been able to solve the dreams for them.

Some help Rowlings was.

You know he was right, she said. It’s up to us, and he did suggest some themes, like, what were they now?… desire for starting something new, fear of authority… the unknown. That’s a good start.

Yeah, I guess so. Doesn’t help me with any answers though. I’ll think about it some more later. Right now it’s doing my head in. He held his face and rested