I go to the front door and survey the yard as I prepare to make a run to the mailbox to get the mail. Somehow it is still being delivered despite this plague of insects. The grass and sidewalk is strewn with the carapaces of molted Cicadas, discarded as they rose from the depths of the earth. I walk swiftly as I go down the sidewalk casting glances side to side. I can hear a subtle change in the humming as my presence is noted. There is a crunch, crunch, crunch as I make my way – no way to move without making an abundance of noise.
Suddenly a beady eyed scout flies my direction. I furiously swat it away as a warning to the others to keep their distance. I hastily swoop up my mail and now I am in a run as I scamper back to the safety of the house. The door slams behind me and the humming becomes more subdued as the red eyed demons relax their guard as I leave their sight.
Every 17 years the plague begins anew. They lay a new brood and that brood saps the lifeblood from the roots of the plants – more and more as their needs grow over the years. Then after stunting plant growth for years, they burst out of the ground and begin pruning the tops of all the plants. Laying waste to vast swathes of land as first tree's, then grass, then anything with a leaf is devoured. And when all the plants are gone – anything that moves.
We were now entering that last stage. I have to force the dog to go out at least once a day. In the beginning it was fun for him – he would playfully grab one and munch it when they first came out of the ground. But they kept coming out of the ground, more and more. At times it seemed like a volcanic eruption as scores of insects filed out of the ground. Leaving the yard pockmarked with holes as they exited. Then after awhile the hunter became prey. Now I have to drag the dog out of house, keeping watch while he hurriedly does his business and as soon as he is finished - he is off like a shot to the protection of the house.
We knew this was coming, so there are plenty of provisions but still the tedium of being under siege day after day as the red eyed hordes hungrily munch away is wearing upon us. First the pandemic and now just as that quarantine is lifted we are once again housebound. Nothing but the 4 walls of this house. It is enough to drive one crazy.
And then there is the daily humming as thousands and thousands awake in the morning. It rises and rises in volume as the sun warms them and they begin lustily calling for mates. Then it dies away as the sun goes down but in my mind I can still hear the humming and at night I awaken and look at the clock and count the number of hours until the horde arouses and starts their daily ritual. Filling the dry, dusty air with that incessant drone, only stopping their noise and feasting with the darkness of night.
The landscape is without life – save for the cicadas as far as the eye can see. Tree's that should be full of leaves, reduced to stark, bare limbs as if it were the dead of winter. The lawn is dust and a few sparse clumps of grass, too withered even for the voracious cicadas to digest. With no grass the ground dries out and becomes dust. Now dust devils wander about the landscape as though intent on inflicting as much damage as possible upon this barren land.
Finally I can't take this desolation and isolation anymore. Florida – there are no cicadas down there, at least according to the news. A place free of the cursed insects and their infernal humming. It's as though they are trying to drive you out of the house and into their hungry mouths.
Now its breeding time where they climax their time out of the ground by mating and laying eggs for the next brood that will slowly throttle the life blood out of the land. So yes this is it, time to make a run for for freedom.
I wait for night as that is when they are resting and I grab what possessions I can in one arm and I drag the dog to the car with the other. We have to be quick before any are awakened. He seems reluctant to go, I have to drag him down the sidewalk – maybe it is the fear of having to run through a gauntlet of these insects I reason to myself. I have to dodge away from one of their scouts as I rouse him from his slumber.
We are inside the car and I pray that it starts, it has been a while since I have left the safety of the house. If it doesn't start do I risk walking down the road to the highway? It cranks slowly, and then the engine barks to life. It coughs a bit and now it is running. I sit for a minute relieved, then I recover my senses – time to get moving before they become away of my plan. I put the car in gear and zoom down the road. Twin vortexes of dried cicada husks blowing behind me are billowing in the moonlight as I make my way to the highway.
I look at my gas gauge, the car will need fuel. I see a sign ahead and pull into the station. Nervously I begin to fuel the car. It is quiet this late at night and I am the only car here. What, what is that? Could that be those little demon red eyes glowing in the dark? Are they coming for me -just as I make my escape? Thinking fast, I pull the gas pump nozzle out of the car and start spraying behind me where I saw the glow.
The man inside the gas station comes to the door and starts yelling excitedly at me. I can't quite make out what he is saying. I yell at him to save himself – the beasts are coming for me and I must kill them. I hear him this time,“You're crazy, man!” and he bolts out of the door and away from the station. I see a McDonalds bag in the trash and I light it and throw it on the gas. With a satisfying Ka-Whoosh, the gas lights and flames tower into the air. No more glowing eyes. Well this 'crazy man' just saved your life I think to myself.
This is enough to buy me time as I jump back into the car and squeal my tires as I get back on the road. The gas station is a distant glow in the rear view mirror as I enter the highway and settle in for the long drive to safety. But soon another light appears in the rearview mirror. The flashing lights of a police car.
I am the only car on the road, what could he be after me for? Then it hit me. In my haste to leave, I forgot to pay for the gas! But I need to get out of this place, I have no time for courtrooms. I press the accelerator and turn off my lights at the next exit. I use my emergency brakes to slow down and ease off the highway (saw this in a movie). The police flash by the exit, siren wailing.
Now I search for an apartment complex and slide into a parking spot. I have a few tools in the trunk and I get the license plate off of another car and put it onto mine (saw this on a CSI episode). All the while I am looking left and right. Not worried about anyone seeing me, but more worried about the cicadas. They are out there I know. Thankfully they are too busy breeding to pay attention to an easy meal below them in the parking lot.
The dog tries to worm his way around me as I open the door. I grab him by the collar and push him back onto the passenger seat. He cowers against the door. Fear makes one act in unusual ways. He will be able to feel safe once again when we reach Florida.
The rest of the trip is a blur. I drive straight through, only stopping for gas. Gradually we leave the desolated landscape behind. As the sun rises I can see leaves once again and grass. It is sunny and bright. But still I press on, I want to be as far away from those cursed creatures as possible.
Finally I go to where I can go no further. It's the beach. I come to a stop and open the door. The dog flies out of car and disappears into the woods behind me. I call his name but he does not come back. Well at least he is safe from those demon cicadas. I drop to my knees, thankful to be away from the plague.
Suddenly from behind me I hear that familiar buzzing of wings. My mouth drops open as I turn and look. A single cicada loaded with eggs buzzes away and disappears into the woods. Oh Florida, I think to myself, what I have I done...
