This is the Seventh
installment of the
short story
Captured Fire
This story is the story of a nine-year-old boy,
Robbie, who enters a magical world where he learns
about the meaning of life,
friendship, and respect for others
***
The morning after
the ceremony Robbie was up bright and early, a little tired from all the
celebrating the day before, but ready to receive his orders. He didn’t understand what orders meant; it
must be his job or where he was going to live. He figured it must be something
like that, after all what does a firefly really do.
All the new cadets
met in the training room all excited anticipating the start to their new life
as mature fireflies. As he sat waiting
for the captain of assignments to arrive he noticed a large map on the
wall. He strained his eyes to see it
and noticed it was a map of his neighborhood, his neighborhood as a boy. Through the door the captain of assignments
walked in carrying a clipboard.
“Today is first
assignment day,” he said as he surveyed the eager group. “Each of you will be
given an area to work. Today you will observe those with experience. When I call your name you will go with your
group leader.” He then started to read
off names.
“These individuals
are assigned to Poplar Street, Cagewire, Runter…” each firefly stood in line
and then was escorted out with their leader.
“These individuals
are assigned to Mayberry Street.”
Robbie’s eyes
opened wide, Mayberry Street, he was astonished thinking that is where he
lived.
“Schrewer,
Martworth, Robbie…”
Robbie stood up
quickly and took his place in line. ‘I
am going home,’ he thought. Then his
thoughts stopped. ‘How can I go home?
I’m not a boy anymore but a firefly. This is my home now.’
Robbie followed the
others out of the room and down the hall into the dining room where a huge meal
was waiting. They all ate the breakfast
in silence either because of excitement or nervousness, but not a word was
spoken. After they were finished eating
they were introduced to the rest of their squad. These were mature fireflies who were huge and muscular next to
the little cadets. Some of the
fireflies had rips in their wings or antenna missing, but it didn’t seem to
matter to them. They all strutted around the room with immense confidence. The cadets looked at them with envy hoping
to one day be just like them.
The cadets were
then paired off in twos to a big firefly who would be their work trainer.
Robbie and his group were assigned to a big scary fly that had a missing eye,
two ripped wings and only one antenna.
They approached him, trying not to show too much of the fear they
felt. As they stood in front of him, he
gave them a warm friendly smile and said ‘hi.’
Robbie was glad to be with Martworth, they had gone through
training side by side. Martworth was
one of the smallest fireflies and rather shy, but he was one of the friendliest
and most determined to succeed in what he did.
Most of the others teased him, but Robbie liked him very much for he
knew what it was like to be teased by others.
He was always being teased about his upturned nose, and the fact that he
was smaller then most of the boys his age.
Their work trainer led them down a dark hallway that
inclined upwards towards a light at the end.
He told them his name was Barra. He was the most experienced night
worker. When they reached the light he motioned for them to go ahead. They walked toward the lighted archway and
found themselves in the land above. It was daylight and their eyes were not
accustomed to such brightness. They squinted to see the land before them.
Barra took their hands and helped walk them over to the
shade under the huge old oak tree where the rest of the squad was waiting. Robbie and Martworth sat down with the other
new cadets. Attention focused on their
trainers. Barra was the leader of this
squad and he addressed the group.
“We want to welcome all the new members to Meltor
Squad. Today we will start your
orientation, you will get to know all members of Meltor.” Barra motioned toward the squad and they
nodded in acknowledgement to the new members. “You must get to know each member
and work closely with them, your life and theirs can depend on this knowledge
and cooperation.”
All the new members spent the day out in the sun hearing
stories of bravery from the old members of the Meltor squad. They learned each squad was assigned an area
and they must learn to know that area completely. Each squad was named after a legendary hero of the past. Meltor,
they learned was one of the greatest heroes surviving the most attacks ever in
the history of the firefly kingdom. The area Meltor Squad was assigned to was
the most treacherous since the most dangerous Land-one lived there.
The day ended with a flying race between the new and old
members and a huge banquet. Robbie
could not remember when he had enjoyed himself so much. As night fell the new members were told to
go home. Tonight they would not go out, but they were to rest for tomorrow night,
which would be their first work assignment.
They all retreated to their dorm rooms. Martworth was now
Robbie’s roommate and the two settled in for the evening. Martworth told Robbie about his family. He
had fifty siblings and they all had been very close as infants.
“Me and my brothers were all sent off to training as soon as
we evolved into beetles and my sisters were sent to reproduction training. I am especially proud of my sisters they are
important breeders because our father was a hero. ”
His father had been a member of the Meltor Squad but was
killed at work one night. “I never
really knew my father I was just a larva when he died, but I have heard many
wonderful things about him. I do want to be brave like he was,” Martworth said
as his eyes filled with tears.
Robbie envied the fact that Martworth had brothers and
sisters, being an only child had been very lonely for him. He also wondered about the dangerous
Land-one who lived in his boy-life neighborhood. He probably knew this person
and therefore knew the killer of Martworth’s father. This made him sad and he did not want to think about it.
The two friends talked and laughed late into the night until
kings’ guards came to tell them lights out.
It was difficult to fall asleep that night with the thoughts of their
new assignment the following evening. Eventually the both were lost in their
dreams. Martworth dreaming of being a famous hero like his father. Robbie
struggled to sleep, unsure of his future, would he ever be a boy again or a firefly
forever. Finally his dreams mellowed, dreaming he was at home with Nana and she
was young again.
Next morning they met in the squad room and were given
instructions for the evening run. Most
were assigned to light show duty as was the common job for young fireflies who
where to young for dating and marriage. When they were mature enough they would
be taught the mating signals, which at this point all the young squad members
thought was a rather “icky” thing, but in reality an important job to keep the
community alive. Other members of the
squad were assigned to food gathering for the elderly and injured members of
the kingdom who could not fly and get out anymore.
Robbie and Martworth were both assigned to the same light
show group so they had flashing classes all day. The routine was easy and fun and everyone in the group was very
excited to get out that evening and perform.
They were cautioned not all humans enjoyed the light show and to be very
aware of the surroundings and the dangers of being caught.
At pre-dusk the squad assembled at the base of the oak
tree. The old members got their
assignments and many snickered at the young new members who could hardly
contain themselves with their excitement.
Attendance was taken and they all stood in groups according to their
night’s assignment. Soon they flew off to Mayberry Street for an evening of
work.
When they reached Mayberry Street each group followed a
leader to an assigned area. Robbie
couldn’t believe it he was assigned to the area that encompassed his and
Jason’s yard, he would probably see all his old friends.
Robbie was amazed. Here he was a firefly flying around his own
neighborhood. High in the sky he
surveyed the land below. He never knew
Mayberry Street was so huge. Everyone in his group started performing the
practiced routine, and they looked magnificent. About half way through the performance he saw the neighborhood
boys rushing after him and Martworth.
He flew - whoosh - to the other side of the yard. The boys, recovering from their stumble,
raced over to where he hovered with his light blinking. He then presented a sarcastic blink to
them. Again they tried to capture him
and missed. He flew as fast as he could to the yard two doors down. He sat proud on a leaf of a hazelnut
tree. ‘Not only am I the best firefly
catcher on Mayberry Street, but the fastest and best firefly.’ He had no idea
it could be so much fun being a bug.
‘No one can catch Robbie the Great Firefly Extraordinaire.’
Robbie sat glowing in self-importance
when in an instant darkness covered his world.
He felt moist warmth crushing him, an earthy aroma infiltrating his
nostrils. Next thing he knew, he was plummeting through a clear wide tunnel. He braced himself to hit hard. But he came to stop with a thump on what
seemed to be a soft cushion. Robbie
shook his head and waited a moment while his vision cleared. It wasn’t a cushion. On the floor piled one upon each other were
fellow fireflies. Some looked dazed
while others were missing wings and lights, while all seemed to be gasping for
breath. Those not injured where in a
frenzied mode trying to help those in need.
He could see the clear tunnel he
came down was a giant canning jar, the kind Nana used to can tomatoes, and the
kind he had used to catch fireflies.
Through the glass walls of the jar the outside world was a distorted
scene of colors. Movement could be
seen, but it was difficult to interpret what action was taking place in the
outside world, and by whom. A loud
bang was heard up above and everyone in the glass prison let out a cry. Robbie looked around at his fellow fireflies
and saw terror on their faces as they ran in panic. An older firefly with a calmer look about him bumped into Robbie,
he evidently had experienced this horror before.
“What is happening?” Robbie cried
out.
“It’s those that captured us. They
have closed off the prison. There are no air ducts in the roof,” the old
firefly said has he turned to attend to a younger comrade who had no wings and
was taking his last breathes of life.
Robbie looked up and saw the cap to
the jar. There it was a solid surface
with no means to let air in the jar.
This was the important reason he had received the ‘bughouse’ for a gift,
it gave the fireflies plenty of air so they could breathe and not
suffocate. He never before understood
the importance of this, but now he did.
Those with no injuries, or minor
ones, helped separate the injured from the dead. With tears in his eyes Robbie helped as best he could, it was not
easy seeing friends he lived with and attended class with hurt or dying. It was also getting difficult for him to
breathe, but he moved along with the rest to help those who needed him.
The lid to the jar opened up again
and a blast of air covered them as everyone who could, began breathing in as
much air as possible. Then suddenly the
container fell to the ground with a huge jolt.
Robbie slowly stood up in a daze and saw the jar was lying on its side
in the yard with the lid off. Everyone
who could move started toward the opening.
He looked down the long jar and out across the yard and saw the boys
running off. He did remember those
nights with them catching fireflies. Little did he know how much harm and
damage he caused.
“Help me get the injured out of the
prison,” the old fly interrupted Robbie’s thoughts. He quickly came back to the present remembering now he was a
firefly now and the boys were the enemy.
All who could, helped move the
injured out of the jar-prison and laid them on the cool grass. Martworth flew back to the kingdom to get
help to carry the injured back for medical care. The old fly gave orders how to bandage broken limbs and stop
bleeding, others went back into the jar and pulled out the dead and prepared
them for burial as the Chaplin said a pray over the torn bodies.
Panic and discipline at the same
time filled the air around the glass prison.
Most of the young fireflies cried in terror not knowing where to
run. The mature took charge comforting
the scared and attending the injured.
Martworth returned with the medical
group and soon all the injured were taken back to the hospital for emergency
care. The dead were left where they
succumbed as the survivors said a silent pray themselves before returning home.
“So now you see what your kind has
done to our citizens. For what reason?
Because we can do something they cannot?
We light up the sky at night with a beautiful show giving beauty to the
world of humans, and what do we get, death and mutilation.”
A huge teardrop ran down his cheek and sorrow showed
in his eyes as he looked up at the King, “I never knew what I was doing. I
never thought of the fireflies as living beings. Nana tried to tell me. She gave me the bughouse for collecting,
but still I never really knew.” He then
let out a loud howl and was unable to stop crying.
§
©
Copyright 2013 Eileen A Partak
