Insecto-Cide
Five highly innovative and entertaining short stories that will grip and surprise the reader. Big Game hunters thought that the perfect environment had been created for them but were they really committing
INSECTO-CIDE
The World teeters on the brink of disaster, what is the incredible surprising solution?
THE ULTIMATE QUESTION IS ANSWERED
An extraordinary untold tale only recently rediscovered from archives concerning the infamous death camp
ONE CERTAIN NIGHT IN AUSCHWITZ
Was the most famous ancient relic really there? Was the world ready for it’s discovery?
GOD’S PROPERTY
A dark violent story of a parent’s unlikely revenge on an evil murderer in a seemingly safe place, how can the messenger of death possibly reach him?
TRUE JUSTICE
Introductory story to a place within our world where usually successful Hunters become prey – No return ticket required ! This story will hold extra appeal to everyone who dislikes hunting
An Extract from Insecto-Cide
Professor Bernard Rickman hummed a nameless little tune to himself, pleased with the amazing progress that he and his long time friend and colleague since their twin double firsts at Oxbridge days, Professor Alec Blake, had achieved. Alec was a leading, probably the leading molecular biologist (including also palebiology), he himself was one of the very top physicists in the world. In their early forties, they both had extremely well paid posts with huge multinational conglomerates but it was their combined secret private research funded out of their own pockets that was the cause of his, yes he had to admit it, excitement, an emotion rarely felt by his scientific, analytic mind.
Their combined brilliance had steadily made progress from the first discussed extraordinary innovative concept, and step by step their ideas had been proved viable and minitests had indicated eventual success as being viable and indeed realistic. Last night’s endeavours had been successful and now the big test was looming in the immediate future.
Bernard’s cleanshaven face with dark hair brushed back and thoughtful grey eyes mirrored exactly what he was, a distinguished, studious man who didn’t really ever expect to be wrong about anything. He stopped to ponder over matters momentarily, if it worked and it ought to work, the result and ramifications were (he frowned at the term that automatically sprang up) mind-blowing. The knock-on effects would be staggering, the financial possibilities limitless, literally “Write your own figure.” However financial gain was neither man’s priority, far from it although both enjoyed and expected a fine lifestyle in line with their IQs and contributions to science but they were men who had both high moral and ethical standards.
Bernard and Alec had always got on well together, their wives were also good friends and all enjoyed their regular dinner parties as only people who genuinely like each other can do. The two men shared the same views on politics and the realistic conservation of the world’s resources and nonexploitation. Both detested corporate greed and in particular the subject that had decided them on a suitable route for the final test, they hated any cavalier attitude to endangered species along with an abhorrence of hunting in general. They were astounded at how any sane person could get enjoyment from killing an animal and also despised any inference that any skill was required to be perhaps hundreds of yards away from any possible danger, squeezing the trigger of a powerful rifle with some poor animal in the crosshairs of the telescopic sights.
Over several generous brandies after a pleasant restaurant meal with just the two of them one night that very topic, the enormous stacking of the odds in favour of the hunter that, in all likelihood the quarry didn’t even know was stalking it, prompted Bernard to pose the question that had kickstarted the whole endeavour.
“What if the hunted creature was far, far more dangerous? What if it was stronger, better protected, had a far more lethal armoury of weapons, better senses, incredibly aggressive nature, a natural killer? I wonder what those pathetic hunting types would do then, would they even dare to risk going after such a creature?” mused Bernard.
“An interesting hypothesis,” responded Alec, “But what sort of creatures did you have in mind, some sort of mutants?”
Alec’s slightly thinning sandy hair, sometimes a little tousled, implied an academic whose appearance might well come second to inventive thought. The spectacles that he had a habit of often removing and needlessly polishing confirmed that this was a man who likely stood outside of general life, looking in, objectively.
“No not mutants,” replied Bernard, “What I have in mind are naturally already more than dangerous enough, they don’t need any improving.”
“Go on Bernard, I’m intrigued,” replied his friend.
Albert Einstein was arguably the most intelligent person of the twentieth century. It has been stated that when he was discussing science at the very highest level there were only about six people on the planet who could understand what he was talking about. Einstein also once said, “There is nothing more certain than the existence of God.” This was also a belief that the two scientists subscribed to.
Bernard continued, “I wonder if many people have ever considered just how fortunate it was for human beings that most large powerful creatures such as elephants, hippos, rhinos, cows, horses and buffalo to quote just a few, are herbivorous. They are harmless and leave mankind alone unless provoked.
Can you possibly imagine what would have happened to early man if insects were large? Most are extremely aggressive, have terrifying weapons, and are amazingly strong, I understand that the goliath beetle for instance, one of the strongest insects, has the equivalent strength proportionate to a human being able to lift ten elephants, incredible! Some have excellent armour, many can walk up walls, across ceilings, are poisonous and some fly,” waiting a moment for his point to be made he then concluded with his trump card, “and the crunch is that many are carnivorous. They would have slaughtered early man, it would have been no contest, we would have been wiped out.”
There was a moment’s silence as Alex refilled his glass. “I believe you are certainly correct however fortunately for us all they aren’t big so what exactly are you getting at?”
Bernard also refilled his glass and settled himself comfortably in the chair before gazing steadily at his old friend and with only the slightest hint of a smile said: “Well Alec, what if we MADE them big?”
