A. Colucci - The Colony

For a moment, Kendra was speechless. “What about your work?”

“I’m going to be your assistant.”

She couldn’t suppress a burst of laughter.

“What’s so funny?” he asked, offended.

“There’s no glory in dirt, Paul. No offense, but I think your digging days are over. Even field study won’t replace your burning desire to unlock the mysteries of the Siafu Moto.”

He scowled inwardly, and Kendra took his hand.

“Let’s go to Nevada,” she said. “To research the ants.”

Paul looked away.

“Oh, come on. You’ll be world famous.”

“I’m already world famous.”

“World famouser.”

“This is your moment, Kendra. You earned it, and the work you do will bring about great changes to the environment. To the future of agriculture.”

Kendra frowned. Somehow the future of agriculture didn’t seem as important anymore. She stopped at a light and watched the pedestrians marching across the street: tourists pointing and chatting, couples holding hands, distracted teenagers texting in stride. Life had not ceased. The earth continued spinning, its inhabitants going on with the daily grind as always, barely skipping a beat after the most monumental catastrophe in the history of humankind.

We’re a resilient bunch, she thought. Yet somehow, a piece of her soul had transformed and would never be the same. She wondered if it was her own evolution, or did others feel it too? She looked at the faces streaming by but couldn’t tell.

The light turned green, and she turned south onto Georgia Avenue.

“You can’t pass up this opportunity,” she said. “There’s no telling where it may lead.”

“What about the institute?”

“Let Jack head the research for now. He never really wanted to retire.”

Paul didn’t say anything.

“I’ve given this a lot of thought.” Kendra raised her chin, sounding defiant. “We devoted half our lives to ants. I don’t want death and destruction to be their final legacy.” She looked at him. “You can make sure it never happens again.”

Paul wrestled with the proposal, as he’d done many times before. Living in the desert with Kendra. Studying the most dangerous creatures on earth. Raising a child in a world… a child? Suddenly, it wasn’t just about him. Perhaps their research could somehow benefit future generations. “Okay, we go to the lab—but just for a look around. I’m not making any promises.”

He opened a paper bag at his feet, pulled out two bottles of water and handed one to Kendra. It was warm, just the way she liked it. “To new discoveries,” he said.

They tapped the neck of their bottles, and Kendra took a long drink. There was a sudden flutter in her abdomen.

“She kicked!” Kendra sucked in a gasp of air, with a hand on her belly.

Paul reached over and pressed a gentle palm. Another kick. They shared a loving glance.

“You know, we’re both starved,” she said.

“I think I’ve got you covered.” From the backseat, Paul retrieved a brown cardboard case marked HERSHEY.

“No way,” Kendra said, reaching into the open box and pulling out a candy bar, as Paul watched her rip open the paper, amused.

“Nevada,” he said. “We should probably drive to the airport.”

“I’m not flying,” she replied, filling her mouth with chocolate. “I could drive all night.”

“We could take a red-eye. You’d be asleep the whole—”

“I’m not flying!”

“Okay, okay.” Paul knew better than to argue with a woman who had recently saved the human race.

Kendra stopped at a red light and chugged the rest of her water. “Just be ready for a lot of bathroom stops.”

Paul watched her smiling profile, and he was filled with the promise of a better world, where people of every nation accepted their differences. It was naive, he knew. Irrational. But then hope, he realized, was the only thing that kept civilization moving forward. It was like Kendra once told him. Ants have been around for a hundred million years. We’re still learning how to be human. Now that he saw the universe in a whole new light, anything was possible.

The light turned green against a stunning cobalt sky. In front of the jeep, the Washington Monument loomed like an arrow, pointing onward. Kendra shifted into gear with the wind in her face, and they blasted down Independence Avenue, to the last sliver of orange sun setting in the west.

A. J. Colucci lives in New Jersey and spent fifteen years as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, and writer for corporate America before becoming a full-time author.

“New York City comes under attack from a vicious new species of ant in Colucci’s exciting thriller debut…. Colucci… balances scares and science nicely. Michael Crichton fans will hope that this is but the first of many such outings from the author’s pen.”

“Colucci’s suspense-novel debut is a frightening combination of well-researched science and scenes of pure horror. Downright gory in places, the tale is rounded out by the usual corrupt officials, warring industries, and failed romances. Full of suspense and intrigue, The Colony will especially appeal to fans of Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park and the like.”

“[A] grimly entertaining debut… the book transcends its horror-movie basis with descriptions of the ants in action and of the science behind the Siafu Moto , which is part fire ant and part African strain…. Not a book for picnic-goers, this tale may have you rethinking those warnings about fire ants heading north.”

“Few debuts cut to the quick as effectively as A.J. Colucci’s The Colony . Razor-sharp writing, scientific intrigue, and political brinkmanship create a story as plausible as it is frightening. Here’s a novel to leave your skin crawling—and wanting more!”

“Innovative, provocative, and exciting, The Colony possesses the three crucial ingredients for any high concept thriller. I’ll never look at an ant the same way again.”

“The kind of story that eats you alive, one little bite at a time. Accurate research combines with pure horror for a fantastic read.”

“A.J. Colucci has created an engaging, frightening tale mixing science and adrenaline in equal measure. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. If you like Crichton, you owe it to yourself to read The Colony .”

“Creep-a-palooza! A.J. Colucci’s masterpiece combines whirlwind action, characters that make you stand up and cheer, and deliciously evil killer ants into a flesh-ripping joyride of a thriller. It’s one of the most gripping stories I’ve read in ages. Read it tonight, and I guarantee you’ll be canceling tomorrow’s picnic.”

“You’ll think twice about squashing ants after you read The Colony . The novel is fun, scary, and unsettling. Creepy in the best sense of the word.”

When ant attacks lead to a number of gruesome deaths in Manhattan, Mayor John Russo turns to ant specialist Paul O’Keefe to solve the crisis. The ants are unlike any Paul has ever seen, and even with the help of his ex-wife and fellow specialist Kendra Hart, he’s not sure he will be able to understand the vicious creatures before they embark on a full-scale attack on the city. The ants seem indestructible, and with death tolls rising, there is even mention of nuclear intervention. With the government and the military breathing down their necks, Paul and Kendra have just hours to discover what will kill the murderous pests and save the city from destruction.