Unit 1 Lesson 1 Story - North Okanagan Shuswap School District

SHORT STORIES
ped.
g made up, created, or sha
Originally fiction meant anythin
on
ed
bas
y
stor
se
ion to mean a pro
Today we have refined the definit
of
s
form
tion writers may imitate the
the imagination of the author. Fic
ies.
accurate details in their stor
nonfiction or use true or historically
rtain
to re-create reality but to ente
At the same time. they write not
an existence.
and perhaps to comment on hum
first
fiction. the short story was
One of the most popular forms of
s’
rest
was sure that worldly inte
defined by Edgar Allan Poe. He
felt that a
centrating on reading. He
prevented most readers from con
and that
ng
ld be read in one sitti
short, concentrated tale that cou
n.
ion was the best type of fictio
created a single, powerful impress
ations,
followed Poe’s recommend
Today, innumerable writers have
unit
this
e,
anc
inst
of subjects. For
creating stories on a vast array
of
y
stor
a
to
a tale of three wishes
includes short stories ranging from
war.
an empty house after a nuclear
er
fiction, short stories are charact
of
es
typ
er
As opposed to oth
a
and
s,
ing
sett
racters, restricted
ized by a limited number of cha
ele
n
mo
com
ies, however, share
narrow range of action. Short stor
ed in
of those elements are examin
ments with other forms. Seven
s, tone
point of view, setting, symbol
this unit—plot, characterization,
e up
the series of events that mak
and irony, and theme. Plot refers to
of
les
imi
facs
creation of reasonable
the story. Characterization is the
the
is
and smiles. Point of view
human beings with all their warts
rat
or speaker who is doing the nar
perspective of the story, the voice
the
ch
whi
in
t
men
artificial environ
ing. Setting refers to the natural or
ng
ethi
som
n
understood to mea
story takes place. A symbol may be
ter
wri
the
a tone, or attitude, that
beyond itself. Every short story has
cial
toward you, the reader. A spe
conveys toward the story itself and
writers
ting tone is irony, in which
element sometimes used in crea
ected.
exp
is
t
are the opposite of wha
use language or situations that
tral
cen
the
y reveals about life,
Finally, theme is what the short stor
k.
idea presented throughout the wor
r
short story writers have at thei
ls
too
or
maj
These, then, are the
dis
you
help
will
ents of the story
disposal. Understanding the elem
t is being said about life and the
wha
cover the author’s intentions and
g one
, the reader, might be studyin
human experience. Although you
fied,
realize that a short story is uni
of the elements, it is important to
r
in the tale. As you read, conside
that all elements happen at once
the whole as well as the parts.
READING ACTIVELY
A short story is fiction—a work of literature in which the char
acters and events are created by the author. Fiction allows you to
explore new worlds, share joys and sorrows of characters, and learn
from their experiences.
Reading short stories is an active process. It is a process in
which you envision what is happening in the story and derive mean
ing from the picture you are envisioning. You do this through the fol
lowing active-reading strategies:
What questions come to mind as you are reading?
For example, why do the characters act as they do? What causes
events to happen? Why does the writer include certain information?
Look for answers to your questions as you read.
Use details from the story to create a picture in your
mind, As you read along, change your picture as the story unfolds
and your understanding grows, If you find yourself confused, try to
state your confusion. Use your visualization to clarify whatever hasn’t
been clear to you.
What do you think will happen? Look for hints in the
story that seem to suggest a certain outcome. As you read on, you
will see if your predictions are correct.
On pages 3—13 you
will see an example of ac
tive reading by Marlene
Sanchez of Onate High
School in Las Cruces, New
Mexico. The notes in the
side column include Mar
lene’s thoughts and com
ments as she read ‘Games
at Twilight.’ Your own
thoughts as you read the
story may be different
because each reader re
sponds differently to a story.
2
Short
(orics
Bring your own experience and knowledge to the
story. Make connections with what you know about similar situations
or people in your life.
Also make connections between one event and another in the
story. Try to summarize how all the pieces of the story fit together.
Think about what the story means. What does it say
2 What has the story
to you? What feelings does it evoke in you
7
added to your understanding of people and of life in general
Try to use these strategIes as you read the stories in this Liflit.
The strategies will help you increase your understanding and enjoy
ment of literature.
GUmE FOR READIING
Leiningen Versus the Ants
A short story generally contains a conflict, which is a struggle
between opposing forces. A conflict can be internal or external. An
internal conflict takes place within a character, as he or she strug
gles with opposing feelings, beliefs, or needs. An external conflict
is one that occurs between two or more characters or between a
character and a natural force.
(1893—
) was born in Ger
many and has lived there all
his life. “Leiningen Versus the
Ants” was first published in
1938, and it has been widely
read ever since, appearing in
numerous collections of short
stories. According to Stephen
son’s literary agent, “Leinin
gen Versus the Ants” may be
the only story that Stephen
son will allow to be published
during his lifetime.
Nature can be formidable. Hurricanes, tornadoes, tidal waves,
and volcanic eruptions are just a few natural occurrences that can
devastate people and the environment in which they live. In “Leinin
gen Versus the Ants,” a natural disaster takes the form of a swarm
of ants. What natural disasters can you imagine? Draw a plot dia
gram of a story about a natural disaster. Be creative; use original
ideas that would make an intriguing story, should you decide to write
one later. The following diagram will help get you started. Use spe
cific events in yours.
climax
Knowing the following words will help you as you read ‘Leinin
gen Versus the Ants.
(pray n dr) n.:
(sór è nz) n.:
Food (p 50)
Lizardlike animals (p. 43)
( lö’ ye m) fl:
(pam’ paz) n.: Tree
as sand or grave)
such
Material
less plans in South Amenca
movmg water
by
deposited
(p. 45)
(p. 58)
(pe änz) n.: Laborers in
(fO mn tã’
45)
Spanish America (p
of
Applications
n
shnz)
(flaut) U: Show contempt
the
in
substances
moist
warm.
for (p. 46)
treatment of an injury (p. 58)
(wir) n. A low dam (p. 47)
42
Short Stories
Leiningen Veius
1 Sty fl,
f
tla’v i1ter their course.
o reason v hv I hey should, they’ll
a. plantation ill t \V() tlavs at the
s
pla(’i(lIv at a (‘iga r
a )rn (‘0)) and for 1 few
tied without answering at the agi—
i net ( ‘onmlissioner. Then he took
I rum his lips and leaned slightly
,Vith his bristling irav hair. bulk’
lucid eves, he had the look of an
ii I shabby eagle.
it of von.’ he murmured. ‘pad
this way just to give me the tip. But
‘tiling my leg. of course, when von
—.1 do a bunk. Why, even a herd of
‘ouldn’t drive me from this planta
ne.
,i’azilian omcial threw up lean and
‘s and clawed the air with wildly
ljngers. “Leiningen!” he
‘you’re insane! They’re not
on can fight—they’re an
an ‘act of God!’ Ten
g, two miles wide—
hing hut ants!
n single one of
nd from
C von
,(‘I1
ize
•
ta
-.i
1(’ked
ii
Hs
cie \it
TI
line. t Iu’Hi tat a icill-grown
I t< II von it \0ti (10111
1)0110
tIne
hciflalo 10
clear out at ain’t [bert—Il be tmtininy left of
von but a skeleton picked a’— cleati as your
own plant at ion’’
can
5101
irec’ t
•
(‘
‘V
F
‘
‘
- ‘
‘-
TW
—
Leiningen grinned. ‘Act of God. my eve
Anvvav. I’m not going to run for it just
because an elemental’s on the way. And
dont think I’m the kind of fathead who tries
to fend off lightning with his fists. either. I
use my intelligence, old man. With me, the
brain isn’t a second blind gut: I know what
it’s there for. When I began this model farm
and plantation three years ago. I took into
account all that could conceivably happen to
it. And now I’m ready for anything and
everything—including your ants.”
The Brazilian rose heavily to his feet.
“I’ve done my best.” he gasped. “Your obsti
nacy endangers not only yourself, but the
lives of your four hundred workers. You
his fellow settlers in the district, who had
made little or no resistance. This unbroken
success he attributed solely to the obser
vance of his lifelong root to: JIi(’ boil tOil
brain needs only to beconu’ ittllt cittaro vi
its powers to c’onqu’r even the elernent.s.
Dullards reeled senselessly and aimlessly
into the abyss: cranks, however brilliant.
lost their heads when circumstances sod
denlv altered or accelerated and ran into
stone walls; sluggards drifted with the cur
rent until they were caught in whirlpools
and dragged under. But such disasters.
Leiningen contended, merely st rengt heneci
his argument that intelligence, directed
aright, invariably makes man the master of
don’t know these ants!”
Leiningen accompanied him down to the
river, where the government launch was
moored. The vessel cast off. As it moved
downstream, the exclamation mark neared
the rail and began waving arms frantically.
Long after the launch had disappeared
round the bend, Leiningen thought he could
still hear that dimming. imploring voice.
“You don’t know them. I tell you! You don’t
his fate.
Yes, Leiningen had always known how
to grapple with life. Even here, in this Brazil
ian wilderness, his brain had triumphed
over every difficulty and danger it had so far
encountered. First he had vanquished pri
mal forces by cunning and organization.
then he had enlisted the resources of mod
ern science to increase miraculously the
yield of his plantation. And now he was sure
he would prove more than a match for the
Ic flOW them!”
But the reported enemy was by no
means unfamiliar to the planter. Before he
started work on his settlement, he had lived
long enough in the country to see for himself
the fearful devastations sometimes wrought
by these ravenous insects in their cam
paigns for food. But since then he had
planned measures of defense accordingly.
and these, he was convinced, were in every
way adequate to withstand the approaching
peril.
Moreover, during his three years as
planter. Leiningen had met and defeated
drought, flood. plague. and all other “acts of
God’’ which had come against him—unlike
1. blind gut: Reference to the appendix, which noiv
have no
44
tUfl(tiOfl
Short Stories
“irresistible” ants.
That same evening, however. Leiningen
assembled his workers. He had no intention
of waiting till the news reached their ears
from other sources. Most of them had been
born in the district: the cry. ‘‘The ants are
coming!’’ ‘as to them an impr’rat ive signal
for instant, panic-stricken flight, a spring
for life itself. But so great ‘as I lie Indians’
trusi in Leiningen in Leiningen ‘s word, and
in Lei n i ngeii ‘s wisdom, that t h cv recei veil
his (‘Urt tidings. and his orders for t lie mimi
nent struggle. with tI te calmness wit It
which they were givelt. They wait ed. ima
fraud, alert, as if for the beginning ot a flew
game or hunt, which he had iust described to
them. The ants were indeed mighty. hnt not
so mighty as the boss. Let them enme!
.
v came at noon the second day. Their
h was announced by the wild unrest
or-es. scarcely controllable now ei
stO 11 or under rider. scenting from
nior insbnct with horror.
announced by a stampede of ani
d and savage, hurtling past each
uars and pumas flashing by nim—
01 the pampas: bulky tapirs, no
niers, themselves hunted. out
‘-ct kinkajous: maddened herds of
‘ads lowered, nostrils snorting.
brough tribes of loping monkeys,
dementia of terror: then
ig in a 2
he creeping and springing deni
1)050 and steppe, big and little ro
:i Ices, and lizards.
cli the rabble swarmed down the
plantation, scattered right and left
barrier of the water-filled ditch,
I onwards to the river, where, again
hev fled along its banks out of
-
water-filled ditch was one of the
oasures which Leiningen had long
ired against the advent of the
‘ompassed three sides of the plan
a huge horseshoe. Twelve feet
tiot very deep. when dry it could
escribed as an obstacle to either
ast, But the ends of the “horse
nto the river which formed the
hundary, and fourth side, of the
a ,\nd at the end nearer the house
adings in the middle of the plan
iningen had constructed a dam by
hich water from the river could
I into the ditch.
by opening the dam, he was able
a imposing girdle of water. a huge
:1 with the river as its base. corn
ad the plantation. like the moat
medieval city. Unless the ants
were clever enough to build rafts, they had
no hope of reaching the plantation, Leinin
gen concluded.
The twelve-foot water ditch seemed to
afford in itself all the security needed. But
while awaiting the arrival of the ants. Lein
ingen made a further improvement. The
western section of the ditch ran along the
edge of a tamarind wood, and the branches
of some great trees reached over the water.
Leiningen now had them lopped so that ants
could not descend from them within the
“moat.”
The women and children, then the
herds of cattle, were escorted by PCOflS on
rafts over the river, to remain on the other
side in absolute safety until the plunderers
had departed. Leiningen gave this instruc
tion, not because he believed the noncom
batants were in any danger. but in order to
avoid hampering the efficiency of the de
fenders.
Finally, he made a careful inspection of
the “inner moat” —a smaller ditch lined
with concrete, which extended around the
hill on which stood the ranch house, barns,
stables, and other buildings. Into this con
crete ditch emptied the inflow pipes from
4 tanks. If by some miracle
three great petrol
the ants managed to cross the water and
reach the plantation, this “rampart of pet
rol” would be an absolutely impassable pro
tection for the besieged and their dwellings
and stock. Such. at least, was Leiningen’s
S
4’
opinion.
He stationed his men at irregular dis
tances along the water ditch. the first line of
defense. Then he lay down in his hammock
and puffed drowsily away at his pipe until a
peon came with the report that the ants had
been observed far away in the south.
3. tamarind (tam’
rind) wood: A grove of leafy
trees found in the tropics.
I
a
men sh) n, lnsarntv or madness.
4. petrol (pet’ rl) adj.: Gasoline.
Leiningen Versus the Ants
35
—‘
l
I,(’il1iIlLiii ill(HlIit(’d his licn’se. whi(’li at
ol its master seemed to loret its
u1o’ainess. and roul’ leiNurd]v in the diree
tile ted
th(’ thr(a1dli1nL Olldl)siVd. ]iie S(uth
em Stretch of dii (‘I) ——t he tipper side of the
quadrilateral —was nearly (I iree miles long:
one coulil survey tll(’ entire
from its (‘cm
countryside. This was destined to be the
scene of I he outbreak of war bet ween Lcin
ingen’s brain and twenty square miles of
[loll oI
em
life-destroying ants.
It was a sight one could never forget.
Over the range of hills, as far as eve could
see, crept a darkening hem, ever longer and
broader, until the shadow spread across the
slope from east to west, then downward.
downward, uncannily swift, and all tile
green herbage of that wide vista was being
mown as by a giant sickle, leaving only the
vast moving shadow. extending. deepening,
and moving rapidly nearer.
When Leiningen ‘s men, behind their
barrier of water. perceived the approach of
the long-expected for, they gave vent to their
suspense in screams and imprecations. But
as tile distance began to lessen between tile
‘‘sons of hell’’ and tile water ditch, they
relapsed into si]cncc. Before the advance of
that awe-inspiring throng. tileir belief in the
powers of the boss began to steadily dwin
dle.
Leiniligell iliflIsell, xvllo had ridden
UI) just ill time to rest ore ii iei r loss of heart
by a display ot unshakable caliii, e iii hi’
(‘OUld 1101 tree ilimsell troll) a qualm 01 ma—
‘ioitc1er wci’e 1110usd tids of millions of
lais
voracious jaws be,iriiig Iowit 1(11011 him and
univ a siid i(!ilv i!lsiUllili(’,illt. iiarmw dliii)
Lu hctwccii 111111 and iii’— Rid] and being
gnawed to 1 ic bones ‘‘before von can spit
Even
I llrt’(’ tllfl(.
iladint ins boor loi once taken tilt moie
1ilni it (‘i0)ll fll iiigc’? If th( blighilers de(’id
ccl to rdlSIi tile (111(1), fill it Id) th<’ brim with
1 illume t flail
II ((9’
)1’l).i”.. ii ii ii still b
‘V
(V
46
,Sfiii I .5L
‘t i(’’
clest n v ever’ I ra(’e of that era Il
11111 of hi.T he pla nter’s chin jilt ted; t hey
had!) ‘I got him vet, and he ci see to it t l’iev
never would, While he (‘01(1(1 think at all,
he’d flout both death and the devil.
The hostile army was approaching in
perfect formation: no human battalions.
however well drilled, could ever hope to rival
the precision of that advance, Along a front
that moved forward as uniformly as a
straight line, the ants drew nearer and near
er to tile water ditch. Then, when they
learned through their Scouts tue nature of
the obstacle, the two outlying wings of the
army detached themselves from the main
body and marched down tile western and
eastern sides of the ditch,
This surrounding maneuver took rather
more than an hour to accomplish: no doubt
the ants expected that at some point they
would find a crossing.
During this outilanking movement by
tile wings. the army on tile center and
southern front remained still. The besieged
were therefore able to contemplate at their
leisure the thumb-long, reddish-black. longlegged insects; some of the Indians believed
they could sec. too, intent on them, tile
brilliant, cold eves. and the razor-edged
maiidibles: of this host of infinity.
It is not easy for the average person to
imagine that an animal, not to nlention an
insect. (‘all thuiik. But tiox’ both the brain of
Leiningen audi t lie brains of I lie Indians
began to stir wi lb the u n plea sa 111 foreboding
I hat inside ever\’ single 0111’ of’ t lint deluge of
insects dwelled a thought. AIld that t hougilt
was: I)iteht or 1)0 ditch. w. ‘II get to our
cliii (gil to
-
flesll
Not until four o’clock did till’ wings
ends of t lie (Ii tell,
horseshoe
reach the
OllIx’ 10 fOid those ran into the great
telegraphy, tilt’
Tllrougll 501111’ kind
‘
‘
‘
river.
of
5. mandibles miii’ ct lii,’
secret
TI.: BiiiIi
iii-’
t .nust then have flashed very swiftly
along the entire enemy line. And
gen, riding—no longer casually
ug his side of the ditch. noticed by
tic and widespread movements of
that for some unknown reason the
if the check had its greatest effect on
ie
uthern front. where the main army
s :assed. Perhaps the failure to find a
er the ditch was persuading the ants
to v. it idraw from the plantation in search of
more easily attainable.
\n immense flood of ants, about a hun
iards in width, was pouring in a gum
dr
•ocrng black cataract down the far slope of
the litch. Many thousands were already
dr ‘.ning in the sluggish creeping flow, but
thee vere followed by troop after troop, who
(l;1FJered over their sinking comrades, and
then themselves served as dying bridges to
the r serves hurrying on in their rear.
shoals of ants were being carried away
in he current into the middle of the ditch,
crc gradually they broke asunder and
th n. exhausted by their struggles, van
ji ii below the surface. Nevertheless, the
v. ivering, floundering hundred-yard front
w is remorselessly if slowly advancing to
ai the besieged on the other bank.
L ningen had been wrong when he supp sed the enemy would first have to fill the
cltt h with their bodies before they could
cr ss; instead, they merely needed to act as
st ppingstones, as they swam and sank, to
ii e hordes ever pressing onwards from be
htd.
Near Leiningen a few mounted herdso ii awaited his orders. He sent one to the
eir—the river must be dammed more
strongly to increase the speed and power of
t
water coursing through the ditch.
\ second peon was dispatched to the
0
douses to bring spades and petrol sprin
rs. A third rode away to summon to the
/
ie of the offensive all the men, except the
.i
,
observation posts. on the nearby sections of
the ditch, which were not vet actively
threatened.
The ants were getting across far more
quickly than Leiningen would have deemed
possible. Impelled by the mighty cascade
behind them, they struggled nearer and
nearer to the inner bank. The momentum of
the attack was so great that neither the
tardy flow of the stream nor its downward
pull could exert its proper force: and into the
gap left by every submerging insect, has
tened forward a dozen more.
When reinforcements reached Leinin
gen. the invaders were halfway over. The
planter had to admit to himself that it was
only by a stroke of luck for him that the ants
were attempting the crossing on a relatively
short front: had they assaulted simultane
ously along the entire length of the ditch,
the outlook for the defenders would have
been black indeed.
Even as it was, it could hardly be de
scribed as rosy, though the planter seemed
quite unaware that death in a gruesome
form was drawing closer and closer. As the
war between his brain and the “act of God”
reached its climax, the very shadow of anni
hilation began to pale to Leiningen, who
now felt like a champion in a new Olympic
game, a gigantic and thrilling contest, from
which he was determined to emerge victor.
Such, indeed, was his aura of confidence
that the Indians forgot their fear of the peril
only a yard or two away; under the planter’s
supervision, they began fervidly digging up
to the edge of the bank and throwing clods of
earth and spadefuls of sand into the midst of
the hostile fleet.
The petrol sprinklers, hitherto used to
destroy pests and blights on the plantation,
were also brought into action. Streams of
evil-reeking oil now soared and fell over an
enemy already in disorder through the
bombardment of earth and sand.
Leiningen Versus the Ants
47
r
L
p(;fld (1 1) 1 hese virtornhls
r!P’., ((I d(’I(n’-(’ liv fur
hit
(
cssltil
and sii
ther ((‘\‘(O)l neil I S (1 I ) ii nfl (‘Osive Entire
to 1(ltl
(‘11111110, 1)1 l]’U(i(lmL ihls’’(’l’-. hei lii
down till’ (lJ)pOS’te l)allk into the water. At
he same time. Lein ingen i-tot iced that the
ants were now attacking along an ever
widenintt front. As the numbers both of his
and Ii is petrol spri ii k lers were severel
limi ((I this rapid ext CHS1Ofl ol ii le line ol
an overwhelming dan
battle
Tin’
:101
10
‘
men
was
lilt I lit pet ml.
Lou 1 l1( \ t’Its 1 Iii)’ ‘I’ I ii
nO nil!
‘1 he
is
r
,
Idlol IPi isi’
it
xed.
transfi
dcrvsh t’caed lii’- jurotu It
1 ln’ arm
in
lien lore nil ht-. ‘-I
shoulder
Ii
lit’
ut
1,,
0
hancinu,ants
lit
au-I
01
But
dm1
this
n
opt
iii one of hit larpt
not
did
iuclihic’(
ni;
i1,’ her’
(\‘el1 then
slacken: another is u11 had to help him
squash a rid dotaclu itt i separate insect
I >istroet(’tl ho’ ito el iu—,’idi some defend—
I ut ditch. And
ers had turned aw v
now cries of furs a liii ‘cid Ylt 01 spades, and
a wild tran1pliIg 10 :twh h’ slowed that (he
-
rQ’i
becoming
ger.
-
To add to his difficulties, the very clods
of earth they flung into that black floating
ii ned fragments toward the
carpet oft
defenders’ sid and here and there dark
re already mounting the inner
ribbons
bank. True. wherever a man saw these they
could still he driven back ii ito the water by
spadefuls of earl Ii or jets of petrol But the
file of defenders was too sparse and scat
tered to hold ofi at all point s these landing
parties, and though the peons toiled like
lv
mad men. their plight beca
en
wi
wr
nip
moment
more perilous.
One maii struck with his spade at an
draw it bark quickly
clump, did
I rice the wooden
the
set irrvi u g
rd
ha ft swarmed with u
rse hr dropped t h spade
sects With a
in to t he di I eh. too late. I lii were a] ready on
hen ver they
tim
his ho’lv. They inst
deeply- o
lot
flech
I
he
encountered h ie
(‘(1
iii I hi iF
i
te\v. biggt r t fi,m t Ii’ rest eat
burn
hindquarters a s1in which iflj’( cd
Iran
trig and paralyzing venom S it
wined
I
and
(1010(11
lie
is-oc
t
III \yi! h no ti.
like : (lIryNIL’
Ni’iili/iiig that aunt 11( F n( h (‘asilaltv.
iiHLht pli1n” hi’\t’. l’1’l’ thii a11’!l(
\ t hctr nl(un
run
d’’SIr)
ilien into conliusini
In’ uder
e
a
‘cIt
1
10
ale. I ,cit i irie’n not
not
enemy
enough
vat
from
Cr:
in
a
in
en
no
a
anuitig.
-
-
-
mad hill (I e ut the interval.
a lu t ia’! managed to
though luck lv on
get across ‘11w nit ri set I wot again des—
perat ely wit 11 t h barrage ot cart Ii and sa rid.
Meanwhile aa old Indian. who acted as mcd—
icinc- man to the plantation wot kers. gave
drink lie had prepared
the bitten
some hours bclor wlnc’n lie claimed. pos
sessed the virtue of dissolving and weaken—
jug ants venom.
Leiningen niurvct’euJ his iosii tonì. A dis
ants had
6. dervish (1.’!
-‘I’
I
i it’
i—i
I ti
Sloe I Slot (CS
(In
n
I
p-
t
a
peon
passionate ohsei er would Iia-’e estimated
the odds against him at a I lonsand
But I hen such an onlooker wotmid have reek—
Ii it advance of
oiled onix’ by w hat It’ saw
myriad battalions (It i’ll’- against tile futile
and riot Lv the
efforts oi a 1ev rIch lOll rs
to
one.
-
ulllscf’ll :h(’ti\’it\ lii :t ciii o o’l
hrain
1 :11
Cid( tdi Cl Lu vaH(l t;gnt
i’
lil(’Iltai. Iht v’ 1’
I eitung(
ncr wt’-
0
Ito
Tlill to ri
I
in a man’s
-
loi
10)1
P
I
(‘i)ifl(iithl
hcii he
w’utli ele—
diri 1 was begin
to
dauuimiuig oh hit
“tiougci
1110 tc I ng iI
(Hi
I
a
api
\ish!v lii’ uitiIi ss ,iHC; p’twt r ot (lii’
swui ling into
ui n in d
of w ‘0
niassi
ii’- living
nut’tuu
1)1
ouu-k(11111 her and
carry
rut,
0
tilo k snrfa’t d a no gil’ tat
liii’ liasO hi
,
ih1 lii ,i\ 01cr)’ .101 11101) (1 0
-
ll 1
48
r:i’;igi
i’U 10 I
\i
lit
101
‘
1:”
‘
It p
-
in(t
V
l)
Ii (liii hit’ yen
1 it ( lit
I
-
1
‘
‘
‘
.‘
‘-ttiti
ii if
i
i
its feverishly intensified their born
nt of earth clods and sand.
d now the wide cataract down the
itt hank was thinning and ceasing, as
iHts were becoming aware that they
r a attain their aim. They were scur
k tip the slope to safety.
It ie troops so tar hurled into the ditch
t n s icrificed in vain. l)rowned and
m insects eddied in thousands
Fm I ow, while Indians running on the
stroved every swimmer that reached
I
until the ditch curved toward the
I the scattered ranks assemble again
herent mass. And now, exhausted
ii
they were in no condi
d-numbed,
u d h
i m( C nd the bank. Fusillades of clods
tit r
hem round the bend toward the
dn
of the ditch and then into the river,
nit
r r tt ey vanished without leaving a
ist
i
tra e
news ran swiftly along the entire
chai i I nutposts, and soon a long scattered
line )f laughing men could be seen hasten
ing or g the ditch toward the scene of
iCtOi
[ r o cc they seemed to have lost all
their ito e reserve, for it was in wild aban
don no v they celebrated the triumph—as if
thue
re rio longer thousands of millions
of me ii ss, cold and hungry eyes watching
them rom the opposite bank, watching and
waitinG
[he ,un sank behind the rim of the
tamar
1 wood and twilight deepened into
night. Tt v s not only hoped but expected
that h ants would remain quiet until
dawn IIut to defeat any forlorn attempt at a
crossir
ne flow of water through the ditch
thilly increased by opening the
ws
clam still other,
Ii i
of this impregnable barrier,
Le rIin( a ‘sas not vet altogether convinced
that F
in s would not venture another
surprise attack. He ordered his men to camp
along the bank overnight. He also detailed
parties of them to patrol the ditch in two of
his motor cars and ceaselessly to illuminate
the surface of the water with headlights and
electric torches.
Alter having taken all the precautions
he deemed necessary, the farmer ate his
supper with considerable appetite and went
to bed. His slumbers were in no wise dis
turbed by the memory of the waiting, live,
twenty square miles.
Dawn found a thoroughly refreshed and
active Leiningen riding along the edge of the
ditch. The planter saw before him a motion
less and unaltered throng of besiegers. He
studied the wide belt of water between them
and the plantation, and for a moment al
most regretted that the fight had ended so
soon and so simply. In the comforting,
matter-of-fact light of morning, it seemed to
him now that the ants hadn’t the ghost of a
chance to cross the ditch. Even if they
plunged headlong into it on all three fronts
at once, the force of the now powerful cur
rent would inevitably sweep them away. He
had got quite a thrill out of the fight—a pity
it was already over.
He rode along the eastern and southern
sections of the ditch and found everything in
order. He reached the western section, oppo
site the tamarind wood, and here, contrary
to the other battle fronts, he found the
enemy very busy indeed. The trunks and
branches of the trees and the creepers of the
7 on the far bank of the ditch, fairly
lianas,
swarmed with industrious insects. But in
stead of eating the leaves there and then,
they were merely gnawing through the
stalks, so that a thick green shower fell
steadily to the ground.
No doubt they were victualing columns
7. llanas (Ic a’ noz)
tropics.
ii.
Climbing vines found in the
Leiningen Versus the Ants
49
sent out to obtain provender for the rest of
the arm The dis over’ did not surpris
Leiningeri. He did not riced to he told that
ants are intelligent, that certain species
even use others as much cows, watchdogs,
and slaves, lie was well aware of their power
of adaptation. their sense of discipline. their
marvelous talent for organization.
His belief that a foray to supply the arms’
was in progress was strengthened when he
saw the leaves that fell to the ground being
dragged to the troops waiting outside the
wood. Then all at once he realized the aim
that rain of green was intended to serve.
Each single leaf. pulled or pushed by
dozens of toiling insects, was borne straight
to the edge of the ditch. Even as Macbeth
watched the approach of Birnam Wood in
8 Leiningen saw
the hands of his enemies,
the tamarind wood move nearer and nearer
in the mandibles of the ants. Unlike the fey
Scot, however, he did not lose his nerve; no
witches had prophesied his doom,
9 and if
they had he would have slept just as sound
ly. All the same, he was forced to admit to
himself that the situation was now far more
ominous than that of the day before.
He had thought it impossible for the ants
to build rafts for themselves—well, here
they were, coming in thousands, more than
enough to bridge the ditch. Leaves after
leaves rustled down the slope to the water.
where the current drew them away from the
bank and carried them into midstr am. And
every single leaf carried several ants. This
ime the farmer did not trust to the alacrity
of his messengers. He galloped away, lean—
front his saddle and vellint orders as he
rushed past outpost after outpost: ‘l3rint
petrol pumps to the southwest front Issue
8. Macbeth . enemies: In William Shak ‘a ares
11a\ Mo Ia (1 soldiers ( a rried hongl is front I it ma nt
Wood I litdt lalund a they allot k (I a atli
9. fey (to) Scot .
doom: F St 01 me fees to
Mac bet Ii v 1051 (foal It v, a lot ci old hI I h ne i ti he’
50
Shod Stones
spades to every man along the line facing
the wood!” And arrived at the eastern and
southern sections, he dispatched every man
except the observation posts to the menaced
west.
Then, as he rode past tIme stretch where
the ants had failed to cross the day before.
he witnessed a brief but impressive scene.
Down the slope of the distant hill there came
toward him a singular being, writhing rath
er than running, an animallike blackened
statue with a shapeless head and four quiv
ering feet that knuckled under almost
ceaselessly. When the creature reached the
far bank of the ditch and collapsed opposite
Leiningen. he recognized it as a pampas
stag, covered over and over with ants.
It had strayed near the zone of the army.
As usual, they had attacked its eyes first.
1, it had reeled in the madness of
is torment straight into the ranks of
—ecutors. and now the beast swayed to
in its death agony.
h a shot from h is rifle Leiningen put
fits misery. Then he pulled out his
lie hadn’t a seeoi id to lose. but for life
eould n a have denied his (uriosi ty
Sr
lact ion of k nowing how long the
‘.ould take—for personal reasons,
peak. After six minutes the white
1 bones alone remained. That’s
• himself would look before you can
ingen spat once, and put spurs to
IL
tia
pla
,porting zest with which the excite
We novel contest had inspired him
before had now vanished; in its
is a cold and violent purpose. He
would send these vermin hack to the hell
where t hey belonged, somehow anyhow.
Yes, but how was indeed the quest ion; as
hings stood at present it looked as if the
devils would raze him and his men from the
earth instead. He had underestimated the
might of the enemy: he really would have to
bestir himself if he hoped to out wit them.
The biggest danger now. he decided, was
the point where the western section of the
ditch curved southward. And arrived there,
he found his worst expectations justified.
The very power of the current had huddled
the leaves and their crews of ants so close
together at the bend that the bridge was
almost ready.
True, streams of petrol and clumps of
earth still, prevented a landing. But the
number of floating leaves was increasing
(I
L
ever more swiftly, it could not be long now
before a stretch of water a mile in length was
decked by a green pontoon over which the
ants could rush in millions.
Leiningen galloped to the weir. The dam
ming of the river was controlled by a wheel
on its bank. The planter ordered the man at
the wheel first to lower the water in the ditch
almost to vanishing point, next to wait a
moment, then suddenly to let the river in
again. This maneuver of lowering and rais
ing the surface, of decreasing then increas
ing the flow of water through the ditch, was
to be repeated over and over again until
further notice.
This tactic was at first successful. The
water in the ditch sank. and with it the film
of leaves. The green fleet nearly reached the
bed and the troops on the far bank swarmed
down the slope to it. Then a violent flow of
water at the original depth raced through
the ditch, overwhelming leaves and ants,
and sweeping them along.
This intermittent rapid flushing pre
vented just in time the almost completed
fording of the ditch. But it also flung here
and there squads of the enemy vanguard
simultaneously up the inner bank. These
seemed to know their duty only too well, and
lost no time accomplishing it. The air rang
with the curses of bitten Indians. They had
removed their shirts and pants to detect the
quicker the upward-hastening insects:
when they saw one, they crushed it: and
fortunately the onslaught as vet was only by
skirmishers.
Again and again, the water sank and
rose, carrying leaves and drowned ants
away with it. It lowered once more nearly to
its bed: hut this time the exhausted defend
ers waited in vain for the flush of destruc
tion. Leiningen sensed disaster: something
must have gone wrong with the machinery
of the dam. Then a sweating peon tore up
to him:
52
Short Stories
‘They’re overt”
While the besieged were concentrating
upon the defense of the stretch opposite the
wood, the seemingly unaffected line beyond
the wood had become the theater of decisive
action. Here the defenders’ front was sparse
and scattered: everyone who could be
spared had hurried away to the south.
Just as the man at the weir had lowered
the water almost to the bed of the ditch, the
ants on a wide front began another attempt
at a direct crossing like that of the preceding
day. Into the emptied bed poured an irresist
ible throng. Rushing across the ditch, they
attained the inner bank before the Indians
fully grasped the situation. Their frantic
screams dumbfounded the man at the weir.
Before he could direct the river anew into
the safeguarding bed he saw himself sur
rounded by raging ants. He ran like the
others, ran for his life.
When Leiningen heard this, he knew the
plantatiqn was doomed. He wasted no time
bemoaning the inevitable. For as long as
there was the slightest chance of success.
he had stood his ground; and now any fur
ther resistance was both useless and dan
gerous. He fired three revolver shots into the
air—the prearranged signal for his men to
retreat instantly within the “inner moat.’
Then he rode toward the ranch house.
This was two miles from the point o
invasion. There was therefore time ennugt
to prepare the second line of defense agailis:
the advent of the ants. Of the three grea!
petrol cisterns near the house, one had al
ready been half emptied by the constan!
withdrawals needed for the pumps durin
the fight at the water ditch. The remainin.
petrol in it was now drawn off through un
derground pipes into the concrete trend
which encircled the ranch house and it
outbuildings.
And there, drifting in twos and threes
Leiningen’s men reached him. Most of ther
S.
wiously trying to preserve an air of
a id indifference, belied, however, by
‘estless glances and knitted brows.
ould see their belief in a favorable
ire of the struggle was already consid
,hakefl.
e planter called his peons around
I
I
I
I
\ell. lads,” he began. “we’ve lost the
rind. But we’ll smash the beggars vet.
ii
eu worry. Anyone who thinks otherin draw his pay here and now and
pit’ if. There are rafts enough and to
1
n the river and plenty of time still to
h i’m.
a man stirred.
I iningen acknowledged his silent vote
mfidence with a laugh that was half a
of
‘That’s the stuff. lads. Too bad if
r!lrt,
itissed the rest of the show. eh? Well,
thu on won’t start till morning. Once these
bll,41 cers turn tail, there’ll be plenty of work
for ‘t ryone and higher wages all round.
And now run along and get something to
ave earned it all right.”
eat
he excitement of the fight the greater
the day had passed without the men
pars
Ofl( t ) nising to snatch a bite. Now that the
ants v re for the time being out of sight and
all of petrol” gave a stronger feeling of
the
seer r
. hungry stomachs began to assert
t
their ulaims.
‘I I bridges over the concrete ditch were
rem
d. Here and there solitary ants had
reic h ‘d the ditch; they gazed at the petrol
metIl tively. then scurried back again. Ap
paitmd they had little interest at the mo
mern
r what lay beyond the evil-reeking
barr i, the abundant spoils of the planta
tioti
re the main attraction. Soon the
tret
drubs and beds for miles around
died with ants zealously gobbling the
yield
ng weary months of strenuous toil.
i ilight began to fall, a cordon of ants
ma
h I around the petrol trench, but as
‘
.
.
“
‘
yet made no move toward its brink. Leinin
gen posted sentries with headlights and
electric torches, then withdrew to his office,
and began to reckon up his losses. He esti
mated these as large, but, in comparison
with his bank balance. by no means un
bearable. He worked out in some detail a
scheme of intensive cultivation which would
enable him. before very long, to more than
compensate himself for the damage now
being wrought to his crops. It was with a
contented mind that he finally betook him
self to bed where he slept deeply until dawn,
undisturbed by any thought that next day
little more might be left of him than a glis
tening skeleton.
He rose with the sun and went out on
the flat roof of his house. And a scene like
one from Dant&° lay around him: for miles
in every direction there was nothing but a
black, glittering multitude, a multitude of
rested, sated, but nonetheless voracious
ants; yes, look as far as one might, one could
see nothing but that rustling black throng,
except in the north, where the great river
drew a boundary they could not hope to
pass. But even the high stone breakwater.
along the bank of the river, which Leiningen
had built as a defense against inundations,
was, like the paths, the shorn trees and
shrubs, the ground itself, black with ants.
So their greed was not glutted in razing
that vast plantation? Not by a long chalk;
they were all the more eager now on a rich
and certain booty—four hundred men, nu
merous horses. and bursting granaries.
At first it seemed that the petrol trench
would serve its purpose. The besiegers
sensed the peril of swimming it. and made
no move to plunge blindly over its brink.
Instead they devised a better maneuver;
10. Dante (dan’ tà): Italian poet (1265—1321( who
wrote The Divine Comedy, describing the horrors of
hell.
Leiningen Versus the Ants
53
H
i
9.
they beQan to collect shreds of bark. twiis
and dried leaves and dropped these into the
petrol. Everythin green. which could have
been similarly used. had long since been
eaten. After a time, though. a long proces
sion could be seen bringing from the west
the tamarind leaves used as rafts the day
before.
Since the petrol, unlike the water in the
outer ditch, was perfectly still, the refuse
stayed where it was thrown. It was several
hours before the ants succeeded in covering
an appreciable part of the surface. At
length, however, they were ready to proceed
to a direct attack.
Their storm troops swarmed down the
concrete side. scrambled over the support
ing surface of twigs and leaves, and impelled
these over the few remaining streaks of open
petrol until they reached the other side.
Then they began to climb up this to make
straight for the helpless garrison.
During the entire offensive, the planter
sat peacefully, watching them with interest,
but not stirring a muscle. Moreover, he had
ordered his men not to disturb in an’ way
whatever the advancing horde. So they
squatted listlessly along the bank of the
ditch and waited for a sign from the boss.
The petrol was now covered with ants. A
few had climbed the inner concrete wall and
were scurrying toward the defenders.
“Everyone back from the ditch” roared
Leininen. The men rushed away, without
the slightest idea of his plan. He stooped
fnrwarcl and cautiously dropped into the
dutch a stone which split the floatint carpet
and its l ivin&i I reitht to reveal a Ieamin
pat h of petrol. A match spurted. sank down
to the oily surfacc—Leininen spralul back:
in a flash a towering rampart of fire encom
passed 11w Larrison.
TI is spetacular and inst ant repulse
threw the Indians into ecstasy. They ap
.
54
Short Storte!’
plauded. veIled and stamped. Had it not
been for the awe in which they held their
boss. they would infallibly have carried him
shoulder high.
It was some time before the petrol
burned down to the bed of the ditch, and the
wall of smoke and flame began to lower. The
ants had retreated in a wide circle from the
devastation, and innumerable charred frag
ments along the outer bank showed that the
flames had spread from the holocaust in the
ditch well into the ranks beyond, where they
had wrought havoc far and wide.
Yet the perseverance of the ants was by
no means broken: indeed, each setback
seemed only to whet it. The concrete cooled.
the flicker of the dying flames wavered and
vanished, petrol from the second tank
poured into the trench—and the ants
marched forward anew to the attack.
The foregoing scene repeated itself in
every detail, except that on this occasion
less time was needed to bridge the ditch, for
the petrol was now already filmed by a layer
of ash. Once again they withdrew: once
again petrol flowed into the ditch. Would the
creatures never learn that their selfsacrifice was utterly senseless? It really was
senseless, wasn’t it? Yes, of course it was
senseless—provided the defenders had an
unlimited supply of petrol.
When Leiningen reached this stage of
reasoning, he felt for the first time since the
arrival of the ants that his confidence was
deserting him. His skin began to creep: he
loosened his collar. Once the devils were
over the trench there wasnt a chance for
him and his men. What a prospect. to be
eaten alive like that
For the third time the flames immolated
the attacking troops. and burned down to
extinction. Yet the ants were coming on
again as if nothing had happened. And
meanwhile Leiningen had made a discovery
hilled him to the hone—petrol was no
i flowing into the ditch. Something
be blocking the outflow pipe of the
md last cistern—a snake or a dead
hntever it was. the ants could be held
nger. unless petrol could by Some
I he led from the cistern into the
o Leiningen remembered that in an
sO nearby were two old disused fire
s Ehe peons dragged them out of the
amnected their pumps to the cistern,
I and laid the hose. They were just in
•
urn a stream of petrol at a column of
that had already crossed and drive
ok down the incline into the ditch.
[0’’
more an oily girdle surrounded the
gar i ii, once more it was possible to hold
ion—for the moment.
tia )
us obvious, however, that this last
meant only the postponement of
i;
ro
nd death. A few of the peons fell on
dt;.
tlu’r n”es and began to pray: others,
insanely, fired their revolvers at
shr
k. advancing masses, as if they felt
tb t
the r I pair was pitiful enough to sway fate
its 1 ) mercy.
ngth. two of the men’s nerves
brmc” ‘.‘ningen saw a naked Indian leap
o\rr
zorth side of the petrol trench,
.iowed by a second. They sprinted
willi •‘t “ruble speed toward the river. But
their I
iess did not save them: long before
they
d ettain the rafts, the enemy cov
ered I
r bodies from head to foot.
In he .mgony of their torment, both
spra
iindl into the wide river, where
enrm: no iess sinister awaited them. Wild
SCr
mortal anguish informed the
broom
mlookers that crocodiles and
s.u\ ( I
hen piranhas were no less raven
OtIs
nis, and even nimbler in reaching
the a
II
I [his bloody warning. more and
‘.
‘
.
more men showed they were making up
their minds to run the blockade. Anything.
even a fight midstream against alligators,
seemed better than powerlessly waiting for
death to come and slowly consume their
living bodies.
Leiningen flogged his brain till it reeled.
Was there nothing on earth could sweep this
devils’ spawn back into the hell from which
it came’?
Then out of the inferno of his bewilder
ment rose a terrifying inspiration. Yes, one
hope remained, and one alone. It might be
possible to dam the great river completely,
so that its waters would fill not only the
water ditch but overflow into the entire gi
gantic “saucer” of land in which lay the
plantation.
The far bank of the river was too high for
the waters to escape that way. The stone
breakwater ran between the river and the
plantation; its only gaps occurred where the
horseshoe” ends of the water ditch passed
into the river. So its waters would not only
be forced to inundate into the plantation,
they would also he held there by the break
water until they rose to its own high level. In
half an hour, perhaps even earlier, the plan
tation and its hostile army of occupation
would be flooded.
The ranch house and outbuildings stood
upon rising ground. Their foundations were
higher than the breakwater, so the flood
would not reach them. And any remaining
ants trying to ascend the slope could be
repulsed by petrol.
It was possible—yes, if one could only
get to the dam! A distance of nearly two
miles lay between the ranch house and the
weir—two miles of ants. Those two peons
had managed only a fifth of that distance at
the cost of their lives. Was there an Indian
daring enough after that to run the gauntlet
five times as far? Hardly likely; and if there
Leiningen Versus the Ants
55
‘
ii i
I
were, his prospect of gcttinL back was al
most nil.
No. tlici-c was on lv one thing for it. lied
have to make the attempt himself: lie might
just as well be running as sittint still. any
way. when the ants finally got hint. Besides.
there teas a bit o1 a chance. Perhaps LI ie
ants weren’t so almighty. after all I’rhaps
he had allowed the mass suggestion of that
evil black throng to hypnotize him, just as a
snake fascinates and overpowers.
The ants were building their bridges.
Leiningen got up on a chair. “Hey. lads,
listen to rne!’ he cried. Slowly and listlessly.
from all sides of the trench, the men began
to shuffle toward him, the apathy of death
already stamped on their faces.
“Listen, lads!” he shouted. “You’re
frightened of those beggars. hut I’m proud of
you. There’s still a chance to save our lives
—by flooding the plantation from the river.
Now one of you might manage to get as far as
back. Well.
the weir—but he’d never
Fm not going to let you try it: if I did. I’d be
worse than one of those ants. No. I called the
tune, and now lrn going to pay the piper.
‘The moment I’m over the ditch. set fire
to the petrol. That’ll allow time for the flood
to do the trick. Then all you have to do is to
wait here all snug and quiet till I’m back.
Yes. I’m corning back. trust me—lie
grinned—’ ‘when I’ve finished my slimming
(Some
cure.”
He pu lIed on high leaf her hoofs, drew
liea garn ii let or’r his hands, and st tilted
he spaces between breeches ai 1(1 1 )O( (1s.
wit ii
gaunt lets and a ruts, shirt and ii (‘ek
rags soaked in petrol. With (‘lose—fit I iiit,
mosquit C) goggles he shiieldt’d hi is (‘Ves.
knowing too well the ants’ dodge of first
robbing their victim of sight. Vinallv. lie
plugged his nost ri Is iiid cars wi Iii (‘Ott oil—
wool, and let I lie pci ins drci ich his clot lies
with petrol
lie was ahoi.ii to set oil when t lie (11(1
.
56
Short 3torws
Indian iiiedit’me niai i (afll’ up to htiiii : lie
had a xvoiidi-i n is sa Re. lu said. prep: e red
from a Sieeics of (‘hater whose 0(101 was
mtolerablc to ants ‘it’. t lii’ 0(101 prot ected
these chalers from t in’ at tacks of even t lie
most murderous an is. ‘I he India ii smeared
the boss s hoots, his gaunt lets, and Ins face
over and over wit Ii I h ext rod
Leiningeit then remembered the para
lyzing effect of ants’ venom, and the Indiam i
gave him a gourd full of the medicine he had
administered to the bitten peon at the water
ditch. The planter drank it down without
noticing its hitter taste: his mind was al
ready at the weir.
He started ofi toward the northwest cor
ncr of the trench. With a bound he was
over—and among the ants.
The beleaguered garrison had no oppor
tunitv to watch Leiningen’s race against
death. The ants were climbing the inner
bank again—the lurid ring of petrol blazed
aloft. For the fourth time that day the reflec
tion from the lire shone on the sweating
faces of the imprisoned men, arid on the
reddish-black cuirasses° ot their oppres
sors. Tue red arid blue, dark-edged flames
leaped vividly now, celebrating what? The
funeral pyre of the four 1 tundred, om of the
hosts of destruction?
Leiningen ran. He ran in long, equal
strides, wit hi only om thought, one sensa
he roost get through. lie
tion. in his bcinm
dodged all trees a I id sh robs: except h r the
split set otids his soles iouhed the ground.
the ants
should
have
no opportunity
to
a1iht omi him That they would get to hum
Soon. (lespit(’ I lie sal\’d oii his hoots. t lie
Petrol Oil his clof lies, he rca hit (I on \ t ii
well, but In kiu’w (‘veil niorc surely that he
11. chafer (11:11’ :‘r) Ii. hiiscit (Lid
12. cuirases (kwi r,is’ 1/I TI Fish
ants’
Oiit(’i
bodies
tt’ti. (iii
arnlnr:
ht’i e
iii’
t he would, get to the oeir.
II H the sa he as some use after
ii 10 had reached halh\ay (lid he
a-I a hIs tloth’s. and a few on his
II cdlv. iii his stride, he struck
OuiSCiOtIS nf their bites. He
F •-l\
.1 aa 0g ippreu’iahlv nearer the
h tnU0 drew less and less—
Hvo hun
I h vt-c
rue I red
r,
-.
a
•
-ii
I:
t Ii
t1
1
-
----
a! F ic ‘.•eir mci gripping the
ii. t mcdlv laud he seized it
a r i ifuriatod ants flowed over
aid shoulders. He started
in
lou it t tuned otIre OH its axis
en d his [bce. Leiningen
an Inn iii, his lips pressed
Pt t d heni I draw breath
I urnu. d: slowly tine darn
I P t lie bd of the rner.
on iriio ing the ditch.
110 FiX CF XX OS pouring
d) in the brt akn nter.
ii
a itnil nn isel Lt’gun
ci \ow. mr the
first time, he realized he was coated from
head to foot with a layer of ants. In spite of
the petrol, his clothes were Hill of them,
several had got to his body or were clinging
to his lace Now that he had completed his
task, he felt the smnurt raging over his flesh
from the bites of sawilig and piercing in
sects.
Frantic with pain, he almost plunged
into the river. To be ripped and slashed to
shreds by piranhas? Already he was run
ning the return journey, knocking ants from
his gloves and jac ket. brushing them from
his bloodied face, squashing them to death
under his clothes.
One of the creatures bit him just below
the rim of his goggles: he managed to tear it
avay, but the agony of the bite and its
etching acid drilled into the ee nerXes: he
saw now through circles of fire into a milky
mist, then he ran fbr a time almost blinded,
knowing that if he once trtppcd and fell,
I he 1)1(1 indians brew dudn m eem much
nooti: it a eakened the p is’ni a hit. but
clidn t rt rid ot it. His lit-a rt potiiiclecl as if it
H
it
PV
::
t
Lc
IfliHqt
11
t t’i sos Flue Ants
57
_;-
would burst: blood roared in his ears: a
giant’s fist battered his lungs.
Then he (‘Quid See again, but the burn
ing girdle of petrol appeared infinitely far
away: he could not last half that distance.
Swilt-changing pictures flashed through his
head, episodes in his life, while in another
part of his brain a cool and impartial on
looker informed this ant-blurred, gasping,
exhausted bundle named Leiningen that
such a rushing panorama of scenes from
one’s past is seen only in the moment before
death.
too weak to avoid
A stone in the path.
it
the planter stumbled and collapsed.
He tried to rise
he must be pinned under
the slight
a rock
it was impossible
est movement was impossible.
Then all at once he saw, starkly clear
and huge. and, right before his eyes, furred
with ants, towering and swaying in its death
agony. the pampas stag. In six minutes
—gnawed to the bones. He couldn’t die like
that! And something outside him seemed to
drag him to his feet. He tottered. He began to
stagger forward again.
Through the blazing ring hurtled an ap
parition which, as soon as it reached the
ground on the inner side, fell full length and
did not move. Leiningen. at the moment he
made that leap through the flames, lost con
sciousness for the first time in his life. As he
lay there, with glazing eves and lacerated
lace, he appeared a man returned from the
grave. The peons rushed to him, stripped oil
his clot hes. tore away the ants from a body
that seemed almost one open wound: in
sonic plees the bones were showing. They
carried him ii ito t lie ranch house.
As (lie curl a iii of flames lowered, one
(‘01 ild see in place ol the illimitable host 01
ants an extensive vista of waler. The
I hiwa ri ed river had swept over the plaid a
lion, ‘a rrving xvi t h it the entire army. The
.
.
.
.
58
.
.
.
.
.
Shod Stories
.
.
.
.
\vat er had collect (‘ci and mounted in the
great ‘‘saucer,’’ while the ants had in vain
attempted to reach the hill on which stood
the ranch house, The girdle of flames held
them hack.
And so. imprisoned between water and
fire, they had been delivered into the annihi
latiori that was their god. And near the
farther mouth of the water ditch, where the
stone mole had its second gap, the ocean
swept the lost battalions into the river, to
vanish forever.
The ring of fire dwindled as the water
mounted to the petrol trench and quenched
the dimming flames. The inundation rose
higher and higher: because its outflow was
impeded by the timber and underbrush it
had carried along with it, its surface re
quired some time to reach the top of the high
stone breakwater and discharge over it the
rest of the shattered army.
It swelled over ant-stippled shrubs and
bushes. until it washed against the foot of
the knoll whereon the besieged had taken
refuge. For a while an alluvium of ants tried
again and again to attain the dry land, only
to be repulsed by streams of petrol back into
the merciless flood.
Leiningen lay on his bed. his body
swathed from head to foot in bandages. With
h)men(ations and salves. they had managed
to stop the bleeding, and had dressed his
many wounds. Now they thronged around
him, one question in every face. Would he
rc’cover’? ‘He won’t die.’’ said the old man
who had bandaged him. ‘‘if he doesnt want
to.”
The planter opened his eves.’’ Every
tlun& iii order? he asked.
‘They’re gone.’’ said his nurse. lie held
out to his master a gourd lull of a pox’er1ul
sleeping—dral I Lei ningen gulped it down.
‘‘1 1(11(1 you I’d come hack,’ he mur—
niured. ‘‘even if I am a bit streamlined.’’
•(1\I)t\(
‘)
I
1 Hf.
r1
self in Leiningens place What would
..e done differently? Why?
“,reat do the ants pose to Leiniflgen?
t point in the story does it first seem that
men has snatched victory from the very
.t defeat? How do the ants recover?
ants
oes Leiningen finally defeat the 7
•
o you think Leiniflgen was so determined
and fight the ants?
m
tqualities do you think make Leiningen
6
uipped to tight the ants? What qualities
mit make him dangerous to others?
ehavior of the ants makes them appear
7
ntelligeflt beings?
n the story, Leiniflgefl’S motto is stated:
urn
an brain needs only to become fully
Th
cf its power to conquer even the ele
.a Explain how the events of the story ei
ipport or invalidate his motto.
th r
.
9. 8 .t.iyng to fight the ants, Leiningen risked
ot ves as well as his own. Do you think
ustified? Why or why not?
h.. as 1
•zrG L1rFRH
0.
placo
ferin.
nal
their
curs
a oh
1 0”
ir
2. C
RE
confliCt is a struggle that takes
a character who struggles with dif
as and feelings. The peonS have inter
L.t5 between their fear of the ants and
in Leiningen. An external conflict oc
en two or more characters or between
and natural forces.
.nternal
.hn
xarnple of an internal conflict that pits
t against instinct.
m xample of an external conflict that pits
t sqainst instinct.
tl\
\
\\ ) LI
I
Situations have both causes and effects, The
causes are the reasons why something happens.
The effects are the mSuitS or outcomes of the
situatIon.
1. Describe each of Letringefl s lines of defense
against the ants.
2. Explain the effect of each line of defense.
T Hl\KI\(
\I)
Imagine that you are a reporter covering
Leiningen’s war against the ants. To write your fi
nal summary story. decide what the conflict was
really about and why it was important. Also list
some high points of the fighting. Write a story that
helps your readers understand what went on.
When you revise your story be sure that it an
swers these questions: who? what? where?
when? why? and how?
fly
‘0
HI
I
L
1. Art. Based on Stephenson’s description, draw
a map of Leiningen’s plantation. On your map
use symbols to show the measures Leiningen
took to defend the plantation. Draw lines indi
cating the distance the ants advanced at each
stage. In addition create symbols to show the
strategies the ants used against Leiningen. Fi
nally, make a key to explain the symbols on
your map.
2. CommUnitY Connections. How have people
in your community banded together in re
sponse to a crisis? Think of a situation in which
members of your community have tried to solve
or alleviate a problem through a group effort.
Commend this effort in a letter to the editor of
your local newspaper.
Lciningetl Vet sos
the Ants
59
Ii0
:1
4:
I