Ant on the Run

By Jan Cookson

Ant on the Run is an adventure story that teaches children about insects and other tiny creatures, in an interesting way that will hold the attention of the child. The creatures in the book face the sorts of dangers each day that would make humans heroes. The story tells of a bond between three unlikely friends, that other animals in their world find hard to understand. One of the friends, an arrogant sugar ant who is a prince, discovers that he has to leave the nest in a hurry. The ant in this story (Aaron), and his two friends (Lucy, a caterpillar who matches wits with Aaron, and Zack, a kind hearted skink) flee from the nest and its huge soldier ants. Their journey takes them through many adventures, and they meet some unusual creatures along the way before finding their new home. But finding this home results in Zack having to face his greatest fear.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Sep 24, 2003
• ISBN: 9781469739410

Jan Cookson

Jan Cookson has studied the Bible with Bible Study Fellowship International for thirty years, and currently serves as an area advisor for women’s BSF classes in Northern California and Nevada. In addition to her experience teaching for BSF, she has taught the Bible both locally and internationally. Jan is a pediatric physical therapist and consults in special education classrooms helping disabled children learn to sit, stand and walk. She and her husband, Jim, have two married children, two grandchildren, and a cat.

Book preview

Contents

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank my children for their feedback on the pace of adventure needed to hold their interest. Daniel also drew the ant picture on the front cover, and my husband who is an entomologist provided useful reference material and comments.

Chapter 1

I’m sick of this boring life. I’m a sugar ant of noble birth and high intelligence—a Prince. I shouldn’t be told what I can and can’t do. I want to go hunting for food, and explore new places like the scouts in my nest do. I’m tired of being fed, cleaned, and generally fussed over; always being told that it is not my place to leave the nest.

Aaron was talking to his best friends, Zack a small skink, and Lucy a tiny caterpillar, while all the time pacing and preening himself. He was constantly fidgeting, never able to keep still.

Did anyone see you sneak out of the nest today? asked Lucy up in her tree munching on a leaf. Lucy ate so often that the other two really didn’t know what she sounded like without food in her mouth. And as Lucy said many times, It really is quite polite in caterpillar society to speak with your mouth full.

Those big soldier ants guarding the entrance of the nest are too stupid to catch me, bragged Aaron. They are so busy protecting the nest against intruders that might try to sneak inside and eat the Queen’s eggs or baby larvae, that they don’t even notice when I sneak out amongst the workers. Boring creatures who only live to work. One day when I sneak out, I’m going to explore new places like the scouts do.

As the three unlikely friends lay basking in the autumn sun, Aaron did most of the talking. They barely noticed the slight breeze and the bright blue sky. Zack lay sprawled lazily across a rock, absorbing its heat through his belly, feeling the warmth of the sun on his back. Occasionally a tiny fly flew past. Zack would give a flick of his tongue, and the fly would be gone.

Many days were spent like this, with Aaron complaining about how bored he was with his life, and how one day he was going to change it all. He would tell his friends stories of exciting adventures, and new places he would see.

Zack loved listening to these stories, and encouraged Aaron to tell them. However, he always thought that they were just stories, and nothing more.

That would be great Aaron, encouraged Zack, who agreed with nearly everything that Aaron said. Zack admired Aaron so much. He seemed to be everything that Zack was not.

Can I come too? asked Lucy.

Aaron looked up at Lucy chewing contentedly. Lucy you couldn’t keep up, and you’d always be stopping to eat, teased Aaron. Plus you move too slowly.

Lucy looked hurt. I could keep up, and if I got a little behind Zack would let me ride on his back, wouldn’t you Zack?

I suppose so, said Zack, who was a kind hearted creature who didn’t like to hurt anyone’s feelings.

Aaron grinned and teased Lucy further, Anyway Lucy, you will be going into a cocoon some day, and turning into a butterfly. That is if you can stop eating long enough to make one.

I have to eat a lot, snapped Lucy indignantly. She was sick of Aaron teasing her all the time about her eating. It was all right for him. He was so spoilt. Food was brought to him, and fed to him. He did collect food for himself sometimes, but that was only for amusement, or to upset the other ants in the nest. Anyway, she went on, I’m going to be in that cocoon for several months without food, so I have to have plenty of conditioning on me.

Aaron ignored her completely. He wasn’t even listening. He was watching the little creek gently running beside them, and thinking about how he enjoyed being here with his friends. Matching wits with Lucy was one of his favourite pastimes, but even that could not hold his interest today. He felt strange. Not sick, but just somehow different, and unsettled, like something was about to happen.

He suddenly turned from the creek. I think I’d better head back to the nest before the Queen notices that I’m missing.

Zack and Lucy were rather surprised by this sudden decision. It was not like Aaron to go back to the nest so early, and he had never before worried about the Queen catching him. The most astonishing thing though, was they had never known Aaron to let Lucy have the last word in an argument before.

Zack looked concerned. Is there something wrong, Aaron?

Aaron stood cleaning his antenna for a minute, thinking. I don’t really know. I think there is something going on at the nest, as everyone has been acting a little strange, and the Queen in particular has been acting quite peculiar.

In what way? inquired Lucy.

Well, she’s always been a very dominating sort of creature, but she usually remains in her chamber just issuing orders. Lately though she’s been strutting around giving commands and lectures to everyone. Yesterday she came into the princes’ chambers and went on about how she was the Queen and ruler of the nest, and how she made all the rules and regulations, and expected everyone to abide by them. She said because we were princes, we have an obligation to show the rest of the ants in the colony how important instincts and duty are. I have no idea what she was talking about, but she seemed all wound up about it.

Do you think maybe she has found out about you sneaking out of the nest? asked Zack.

No, I think it’s something more than that, puzzled Aaron. I don’t know what it is, but I intend to find out.

They said their good-byes, and promised to meet again the next day. Aaron and Zack went off on their separate ways, while Lucy remained behind munching happily on her leaves.

On his way back to the nest Aaron passed one of his favourite eating spots, where all the young wattle trees grew. On the trees were small green bugs camouflaged as thorns, with wings pointing up like tents to meet their pointy shoulders. They were froghoppers, and they sat with their beaks in the stems of the trees, sucking sap. The ants farmed these froghoppers like a farmer does cattle, because they turn sap into honey dew, which the ants find delicious. In exchange for the honey dew, the ants would protect the froghoppers, by jumping and biting at any birds or beetles that might come by to try and eat them.

Aaron decided to stop for a feed, as he was feeling a little hungry, and it wasn’t out of his way. As he approached the wattle trees, he could see all the froghoppers with their heads stuck in the stems, extracting the sweet syrup in an endless appetite. He saw the other ants