"It's not fair," said the boy, pressing the knife in anger against Corporal Williams' neck. "Who are you to say I can't join the Legion?"

Corporal Williams closed his eyes and thought about dying in the desert gra.s.s at the hands of a crazy homicidal little boy. It was not how he envisioned his death. At least not after all the action he had seen across the galaxy.

"Your hands aren't even big enough to grip an a.s.sault rifle," said Corporal Williams. "You have too much hate in you. Chill. Be a little kid for a while longer."

"I do not need to join the Legion to kill spiders," said the boy, loosening his grip on Corporal Williams' throat. "Just remember, I am your worst nightmare. I will make the chupacabra look like a sweet puppy."

"Whatever," said Corporal Williams, relieved, but feeling drained. Perhaps it was just from closing his eyes, but it felt good to block out the world for a few moments. He fell asleep. When he woke hours later, it was dark. Flashlights s.h.i.+ned in his face. Legionnaires were tromping through the high gra.s.s. Private Wayne knelt beside Williams, shaking his shoulder.

"Where did that boy go?" asked Corporal Williams. "He was right here. I tripped over him."

"I see no hatchlings here," said Private Wayne, s.h.i.+ning his flashlight across the gra.s.s.

"There is no one out here but you," snapped Sergeant Green. "You have been hiding to avoid work again. That's okay, because I have a special detail for you and Wayne! Since you are all rested up, you can dig graves all night. Get back to camp!"

"There was a little boy out here," said Corporal Williams. "We need to find him. He might be lost."

"What boy?" asked Captain Lopez.

"Williams was asleep hiding in the gra.s.s," said Sergeant Green. "If he saw anyone, it was in his dreams."

"The boy wanted to join the Legion," insisted Corporal Williams. "He held a knife to my throat and spoke of the chupacabra. What is a chupacabra?"

"The boy was Latino?" asked Captain Lopez.

"I guess," said Corporal Williams. "He sounded like he was from Texas."

"The colonists that were attacked were Latino," said Captain Lopez. He grabbed Corporal Williams by the collar and examined Williams' neck, seeing a trickle of dried blood from a pinp.r.i.c.k on his Adam's apple. Captain Lopez immediately started giving orders. "I want this field searched in a grid pattern! And I want Guido and his dragon out here sniffing for that boy!"

"We have a timetable," said Sergeant Green. "There are other homesteads out here."

"We will camp here until dawn," said Captain Lopez. "Then we move out."

After an extensive search, the boy was not found. Captain Lopez left a stash of food and water next to the graves. Corporal Williams eventually convinced himself he'd just dreamed it all. That was what everyone seemed to believe. Or maybe the boy was a ghost. The Devil knows there must be enough ghosts and restless souls out here, The Devil knows there must be enough ghosts and restless souls out here, Williams told himself. Williams told himself.

The spider commander sat in his office, wondering what had gone wrong during recent negotiations. He had shown proof to the human pestilence general that squatters had invaded Arthropodan territory and had attacked border guards. Could it be that the human pestilence were just not capable of negotiating in good faith like civilized beings?

The Governor of the North Territory called several times. The spider commander put him off, telling aides to inform the governor he was out inspecting the troops. Finally the Emperor himself called. The spider commander had not talked to his uncle in a long time, and did not particularly want to talk to him now. However, aides refused to lie to or hang up on the Emperor.

"h.e.l.lo, Uncle," said the spider commander, cheerfully greeting the image on his communications monitor. "I am so glad to see you after so long. What may I do for you?"

"The first thing you can do is address me as Your Majesty," snapped the Emperor. "Or would you rather I reach across the galaxy and pop your puny head like the pimple that it is?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," replied the spider commander. "I am at your service."

"I already know that," said the Emperor. "I posted you on the most remote part of the most distant inhabited planet of the Empire as a favor to your mother, and to keep you out of trouble, but still you are able to screw up to the point of causing an intergalactic crisis that might start another war. I swear you could screw up a wet nightmare."

"What have I done, Your Majesty?" protested the spider commander. "The human pestilence have invaded the New Gobi Desert. It is not my fault."

"It is is your fault!" said the Emperor. "I just watched your little ma.s.sacre of civilians on cable TV. Now the whole Royal Family is being publicly dragged through the mud by the press, and it is your fault!" your fault!" said the Emperor. "I just watched your little ma.s.sacre of civilians on cable TV. Now the whole Royal Family is being publicly dragged through the mud by the press, and it is your fault!"

"What can I do?" asked the spider commander. "The human pestilence are overwhelming us with sheer numbers. They breed like vermin, you know."

"Millions of our own settlers will arrive soon," said the Emperor. "You will provide them protection as they burrow into their farms and habitats. Understand?"

"But what about the trespa.s.s of the human pestilence?" asked the spider commander. "The honor and integrity of the Empire is at stake."

"You let me worry about my honor and integrity," said the Emperor. "The New Gobi Desert is a large place. There is room enough for all. If the MDL gets moved a few miles one way or another, it is not that big of a deal. You will establish a stable border and bring order to the frontier. Get your engineers to work bringing in water. The New Gobi is now a valuable part of my Empire. I will not have the New Gobi destroyed by war. It will be the Empire's breadbasket. You will protect our colonists and escort them to their new farms. Once our colonists are in place, the border will mostly take care of itself."

"With all due respect, Uncle, appeas.e.m.e.nt of the human pestilence is ill-advised," said the spider commander. "They only respect military force."

"I have been reading much human history," said the Emperor. "You are wrong. I studied this matter in college, too. The more you b.l.o.o.d.y the human pestilence, the more stubborn they get. They hold grudges forever. Their Legion still shout and sing slogans about defeats that happened centuries ago. Remember the Alamo, remember Pearl Harbor, remember Nine-Eleven, and remember the Islas Malvinas these are just a few examples."

"I agree they are odd," said the spider commander. "But the more contact I have with the human pestilence, the more I learn the lesson of how really odd they are. I will follow your orders. I will resist their onslaughts where I can. I will establish the MDL where I can. But, I need more troops."

"More troops are on the way," promised the Emperor. "But more troops are not the most important issue. Key to our claim on the New Gobi is the fundamental tenant that no other power has the right to settle the New Gobi without leave from His Majesty's government or the taking of an oath of allegiance from His Majesty's government or submitting themselves to His Majesty's government as subjects of the Crown, because of our right by discovery as well as settlement."

"Yes, Uncle," said the spider commander. What a windbag, What a windbag, he thought. "I understand completely." Actually, he understood none of it. he thought. "I understand completely." Actually, he understood none of it.

"Good. I am glad to hear you are capable of learning. One more thing," added the Emperor. "The next time the governor calls you, answer his call. The governor's military insight and experience are invaluable. And stop calling me Uncle!"

Captain Lopez' column found several more burned-out homesteads before coming across five families that had banded together for protection by building a stockade of rocks and sod. They were greeted at its front gate.

"It's not safe here," announced Captain Lopez. "You are on the wrong side of the MDL. Your fort cannot stand up to cannon and missile attacks."

"We know where we are," replied the leader of the colonists. "This was the best land available."

"There is no water," argued Captain Lopez. "My engineers will not build ca.n.a.ls or lay pipe across the MDL. So where do you expect to get water? From the spiders?"

"We will dig wells if necessary," said the colonist. "G.o.d will protect us."

"G.o.d didn't protect them them," said Captain Lopez, crossing himself and pointing to smoke on the horizon. "What makes you think G.o.d will protect you you? What will you do when the spiders come?"

"The spider marines have already been here," said the colonist. "When we refused to leave, they said we could stay and farm our lands for as long as we wish."

"What?" asked Captain Lopez. "It's a trick. Their Air Wing will bomb you at their leisure, like they did to the others."

"It's no trick," said the colonist. "The spider commander only required that we swear an oath of allegiance to the Emperor. We all swore the oath. Now we are all protected subjects of the Crown."

"That won't hold," insisted Captain Lopez, angrily jumping down from the armored car turret. "I am establis.h.i.+ng a new MDL here. You are still inside United States Galactic Federation territory."

Legionnaires put up prefabricated buildings for barracks and administration. Others strung fence wire, posted border markers, built bunkers, and placed land mines. Then they moved on to contact other settlements.

The town of New Gobi quickly grew. Both sides of the MDL thrived on the increased commerce. A steady stream of trucks brought building supplies, food, and more colonists. Work began on the ca.n.a.l system, but thirsty farms needed water now. Wells tapped into the underground river, providing instant irrigation. The year-round growing season promised a b.u.mper crop.

Spider colonists soon arrived in large numbers. They were upset to find the human pestilence already staking claims north of the MDL. However, because there was so much land available, everyone was able to claim their fair share. The spider commander required colonists to settle as close to the MDL as possible so he could establish a more secure border. As the Emperor predicted, the border would sort itself out in their favor if Arthropodan colonists occupied as much territory as possible. Of course, there would still be disputes in the DMZ.

Towns first sprang up where wells pumped up water. In many of these towns, jurisdiction was shared by both the Legion and Arthropodan marines, pending negotiations. Because most disputed towns north of the MDL were predominately human, I increased the Legion's presence with more patrols and military convoys.

I rode into one such dusty town with Captain Lopez and ten armored cars. Little kids ran out to greet us and beg for handouts of food and candy. Corporal Williams threw them chocolate bars when we stopped. One boy jumped up on my armored car and stole my sungla.s.ses off the dash. The boy ran off down the street, but was grabbed by Captain Lopez. However, before Captain Lopez could rescue my sungla.s.ses, the boy tossed them to another boy, who then ran off with the prize. Captain Lopez dragged the thief to the armored car so we could have a chat.

"Should we execute the little street urchin?" I asked. "Or just cut off his hand?"

"Cut off his hand," replied Captain Lopez, drawing his jagged combat knife. "It will set a good example to the others."

"But how will that get my sungla.s.ses back?" I asked. "Maybe we should just beat him."

"He's so small, there is no sport in that," complained Captain Lopez. "I guess we will have to let him go with a verbal warning to never steal again."

"Good luck with that," I said. "You have about as much chance of getting him to stop stealing as I do of getting my sungla.s.ses back."

When Captain Lopez let the street urchin go, the boy did not run. Instead, he held out his hand to Corporal Williams, demanding a chocolate bar, too.

"He has got nerve," I commented.

"He's a war orphan," commented Captain Lopez. "They run in wild packs like coyotes."

"Why are you here?" asked the boy. "You don't live here. You don't belong here."

"The Legion is here to protect you from the spiders," I said. "What are you doing here?"

"I was born here," said the boy. "Who is going to protect you? You are not wanted here, and neither is your so-called protection."

"Aren't you afraid of the spiders?" asked Captain Lopez. "They like to eat tasty little boys like you."

"Spare me your lies. The spiders are nothing," scoffed the boy. "If the desert doesn't swallow the spiders up, the chupacabra will suck them dry."

"What is a chupacabra?" I asked.

"It's just the bogeyman," explained Captain Lopez. "Parents use the threat of the chupacabra to scare their children into getting home before dark."

"I have no parents. The spiders murdered them," said the boy. "And I am not scared of anything. Especially you."

"You need the Legion's protection, or you will end up like your parents," I argued.

"The spiders can be killed anytime," said the boy. "Where was your precious Legion's worthless protection when my family was murdered? When my neighbors needed you? You were probably drunk in a bar, or in your air-conditioned barracks."

"What would you know of air-conditioning?" I asked. "Anyway, we are here now. Better late than never."

"You make jokes about what happened to my family?" asked the boy. "I suggest you leave the New Gobi Desert while you still can. Leave before the chupacabra gets you! you!"

"There is no such thing as a chupacabra," I said, getting back into the armored car. "Fear what the spiders will do if they catch you."

"The chupacabra is a state of mind," said the boy. "You cannot fight it with your armies."

"With Legion guns and armor I can fight anyone, any place, any time," I boasted. "Even chupacabras."

"What time is it?" asked the boy.

"About noon," I said, glancing at my watch.

The boy smiled. "You and the spiders have the watches, but we have the time."

"Whatever," I said, as we drove off. "That kid gives me the creeps. He reminds me of the kid in those old Chucky horror films."

"El b.a.s.t.a.r.do pequeno esta loco," agreed Captain Lopez. agreed Captain Lopez.

About a mile outside of town, the lead armored car struck a landmine. The explosion lifted the armored car, blowing off its axle and wheels. Armor plating saved the lives of the legionnaires inside, but some were concussed. A helicopter was called to transport wounded for medical treatment. The armored car would have to be towed.

While waiting, I watched through binoculars the dust of an Arthropodan mechanized marine patrol speeding through the town we had just left. Like before, children ran out to beg for handouts. However, the lead armored car struck one of the children by accident, and kept on going. The other armored cars ground the boy into the dirt. The last car stopped. A team leader and a marine got out and picked the child up and tossed it to the side of the road.

"That was my friend," said a little boy wearing sungla.s.ses. "Why did you murder him? What did he ever do to you?"

"It was an accident," explained the spider team leader. "The little vermin ran out in front of us. He had no business running out like that. Why did he do that?"

"You should drive slower," suggested the boy. "He thought you might give him candy. See?"

The boy held up a chocolate bar for the spider team leader to look at. As the team leader bent over to examine the candy, the boy stabbed him in the throat. The team leader fell back to his armored car with the knife still sticking from his throat. He gasped for air, clutching at the knife. The boy ran for the cover of a building. Another boy, on the roof of the same building, threw a lighted Molotov c.o.c.ktail down the turret of the armored car. The spider marine who had helped carry the dead child fired his a.s.sault rifle at the boy on the roof. The spiders inside the armored car were not so lucky. They burned to death, still seat-belted in the car. One broke away, only to die running down the street in flames.

The main spider column, alerted by the explosion and the sound of gunfire, turned and headed back to help their comrades. They fired machine guns into buildings on both sides of the street as they approached. The boys had already fled. A cannon sh.e.l.l destroyed the building closest to the burning armored car. Spiders continued to fire their machine guns into the surrounding buildings.

Seeing the battle, we rushed back into town. The legionnaires were already angry about the damage caused by the landmine. The specter of a ma.s.sacre in town only fueled their desire for revenge on the spiders. Our helicopter carrying wounded strafed the Arthropodan armored cars with Gatling gunfire, missiles, and cannon fire before heading back to the base hospital. My armored cars attacked the spiders from behind with cannon and machine-gun fire. Soon, four spider armored cars were burning. A fifth spider armored car raced out of town, trailing dark smoke. A wounded spider tried to surrender. As he fell, a band of children raced out of a building and beat him to death with rocks. Townsfolk joined the children in the streets. Some danced on the Arthropodan armored cars, whistling and cheering. Others waved American flags. The whole scene was recorded by numerous handheld communication devices, and broadcast by planetary TV news stations minutes later.

Four low-flying Arthropodan Air Wing fighter-bombers dropped ordnance on our position, damaging two armored cars. Legion surface-to-air missiles brought down two of the Air Wing fighter-bombers. The other two jets took evasive action and fled back to base.

Chapter 9.

The young boy entered Walmart from the spider side of the MDL. He browsed in the sporting goods section, pretending to be interested in football equipment. Without warning, he dashed across the MDL painted across the floor. An alarm went off, and a spider guard challenged him, but the boy just gave the spider guard the one-fingered salute and kept on going to the human side exit. The spider guard did not shoot. One half-sized human pestilence was just not worth the extra paperwork.

The boy liked what he saw on the United States Galactic Federation side of the MDL. Prosperity was evident everywhere. There were more businesses and bright lights. The delicious aroma from all the restaurants made his stomach growl. However, being in the Promised Land was useless without United States currency. When the boy had stripped the dead Arthropodan marines of their weapons, he also grabbed their identification cards and a small amount of cash. He might have been able to grab more cash, but the Legion had just arrived and were shooting everywhere. Now he would see if these ID cards were worth anything. Outside a bank, the boy approached a brightly lit ATM and put an ID card in the slot.

"Greetings Arthropodan Marine Team Leader #42," said the ATM. "Are you vacationing on this side of the MDL, or have we been invaded again? How may I be of service to you this fine day?"