Culture War by Walter Knight

Author:Walter Knight [Knight, Walter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction And Fantasy, Science Fiction, Adventure, Military, Space Opera
Amazon: B004G08YP8
Publisher: Penumbra Publishing
Published: 2010-12-11T00:00:00+00:00

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Arthropoda is a hot, dry, and arid planet, described by human visitors as a godforsaken wasteland. Its monotonous weather is caused by a lack of large oceans. The reptilian and exoskeleton-based lifeforms that evolved under those harsh desert conditions by necessity do not consume much food or water. To spider colonists accustomed to such Spartan conditions, New Colorado seemed like paradise. Still, the abundance of water on New Colorado required some getting used to. For example, swimming for recreation was truly an alien concept to spiders. Even so, some spiders taught themselves how to swim. Classes in the public schools offered free swimming lessons and instructions on water safety.

Most spiders still instinctively feared the water. Accidental drowning still took many lives among the many lakes, rivers, and canals of New Colorado. It was said spiders sink like a rock in water, and it was true. However, the attitude among many spiders was that if the human pestilence could swim and enjoy the water, so could spiders.

The increase in popularity of water sports among spiders made the New Gobi Reservoir Recreational Park District a very well-frequented place. After a while, it grew to be used almost exclusively by spider families from both sides of the MDL. The hot New Gobi weather made the park an excellent year-round water playground for swimming, boating, water skiing, and angling. The reservoir was still shared with the human pestilence, but not many humans used it anymore. Only Legion water techs showed their ugly faces at the park to check water levels and for routine maintenance on the dam.

Privates Knight and Thayer and ten other legionnaires arrived at the reservoir in a Legion Armored car with picnic baskets of food and swimming gear.

“Where are all the people?” asked Private Knight.

“I saw a man as we entered the park,” said Private Camacho. “Oops! They got him!”

“We’re the Legion,” boasted Private Thayer. “We will go where we please. No one will mess with us. Try to relax. If spiders smell fear, they might attack.”

“That’s right,” added Private Knight. “Just act like you come here all the time.”

“How would you rookies know anything about spiders?” asked Private Camacho. “Spiders can’t smell. Man, they don’t even have noses.”

“Spiders have those mandible things,” insisted Private Thayer. “They can smell. You don’t know.”

As they were checking out the neighborhood, a park ranger patrol car pulled alongside the armored car. A spider park ranger got out to talk to the young legionnaires. “Why is the Legion here?” asked the spider park ranger. “I have everything under control. No one requested your assistance. There is no problem here.”

“We are the problem,” bragged Private Camacho, as the legionnaires unloaded food and beer. “We’re here for broads, boogie, and booze. Last one in the water naked gets arrested!”

“I suggest you leave,” said the spider park ranger. “This is a quiet family-orientated park used by spiders only.”

“I have heard that,” replied Private Camacho. “That’s why we brought our token spider, Private John Iwo Jima Wayne.

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