Hive Mind by Timothy J. Bradley

Author:Timothy J. Bradley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Argosy Press

CHAPTER 6

With the sun up, it was time to start exploring their first live hive. A small electric vehicle towed a portable miniaturizer from the flying lab out to the hive. Dr. Sharp and Verge, one of his assistants, went first. The students followed. Sid watched as the beam projector was fired and a cloud of mist enfolded Hari and Penny. He could just make out the shrinking forms of his two friends for a moment before they seemed to disappear. The mist cleared, and then he was next on the platform.

Sid barely had time to worry if he was ready when the technician fired up the miniaturizer. When the mist cleared, he was looking at the tech’s shoes, which were now the size of houses.

“Come along! Quickly! The miniaturizer platform must be cleared before the next students can be reduced.” Dr. Sharp was waving them toward the microshelter. Once all the students were inside, the professor made sure everyone was strapped to the padded floor. He then signaled they were ready to be moved by flashing a series of lights. At their tiny size, his voice couldn’t be heard by the assistants’ normal-sized ears. When the tech detected the tiny green lights flashing on the outside of the microshelter, he gingerly lifted the box. To the microstudents inside, it felt as if the room were rocketing upward. They shrieked as the room tossed and turned. After a few brief seconds, the microshelter was fastened securely to the tree where the nest was located.

Dr. Sharp called out, “You may now unbuckle your safety harness and stand. We’re going to get right to work. The coolsuits and equipment have already been miniaturized. You’ll find them in the lockers against the wall. Put them on, and then Verge will spray you with a pheromone that will make you smell like a bee—well, at least to other bees. Smoke is being pumped into the hive, so the bees should be calm and docile. But don’t worry, it won’t have any lasting effect on the bees.”

Once they were dressed, the students lined up to be sprayed.

“How do you know this stuff works?” Sid asked Verge when it was his turn.

“We located the queen and took a sample of the chemicals she normally secretes into the hive,” Verge said. “Then, we mixed up a batch for ourselves. We’ll all be royalty today,” he said with a wink. He patted a cylinder standing beside him. “I tested it earlier, and the bees accepted it. Nothing to worry about. Okay, helmet on, please.”

Once Sid was sprayed, he joined the other students standing around the entrance to the hive.

“All right! Here we go. Take your time, and try not to make any sudden moves,” Dr. Sharp advised. “The bees you see will be in a somewhat sedated state, but try not to startle them. You have the shock prods so you can give the bees a mild shock if they get too curious. At this voltage, no harm will be done, but the bees will be startled enough to move away.

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