Laline Paull - The Bees

‘We could!’ Lady Primrose took hold of Flora’s fur. ‘Make it softer.’

‘Shine her whole cuticle, not just the legs – make her colour seem lighter.’

‘Do something about her breath—’

Flora swallowed hard. ‘I am very sorry, my ladies. It is the wasp’s blood.’

‘So shocking.’ Lady Burnet offered her water to drink. ‘But how wonderfully you speak; I can understand nearly every word. Not like a flora at all. Now if only you did not look it! Ladies, it would be a fitting tribute, would it not, for her bravery? Would you like that, my dear?’

‘To change my kin?’

‘And lose your wonderful heritage of service?’ Lady Burnet laughed. ‘Goodness me, no! But we might disguise it, a little.’

When they had exhausted their skills with grooming, pomade and propolis, the ladies trained Flora how to sit and rise, but were forced to let her splaying curtsy go uncorrected, for there was nothing to be done with that. When the comb trembled through the hive the ladies did not move to attend the service of Devotion, for here the Queen’s Love filled the chamber so strongly that anyone who entered became euphoric as they breathed.

Flora’s joy increased when she saw the food. Patisserie and nectar finer and more fragrant than she could ever have imagined were served to them by pretty sisters from Rosa and Bryony, but on observing Flora’s manners, the ladies all agreed she was still too uncouth to meet Her Majesty. They made her demonstrate the correct way to eat and drink so often that for the first time in her life, Flora’s hunger was satisfied and she could leave food uneaten. Then they bid her keep her hands still to let set the fashionable shapes they had twisted into her fur, so she rested in great contentment, listening to their bright bubbling conversation – and, despite the vanity, surreptitiously admired the sheen of her newly polished legs.

* * *

After supper they took Flora with them to fulfil the daily duty of visiting the Queen’s Library. When they closed all the doors of the hexagonal chamber, one continuous mosaic of coded scent tiles ran round the walls, and featured on each was one small central panel. Flora sniffed in fascination, detecting the bouquet of home amidst the many unfamiliar smells.

‘Instead of Devotion,’ whispered Lady Primrose, ‘we maintain the Stories of Scent. Not nearly as pleasant, but just follow along and we shall soon be out. We’ll only do the first three, so don’t worry.’

The ladies formed a line and put Flora at the end. They walked in a circle around the chamber repeating the Our Mother, and then Lady Burnet stopped in front of a panel.

‘The first story is called The Honeyflow .’ She smiled at Flora. ‘The lightest touch, then move back.’ She dipped her antennae and touched the panel to demonstrate. Immediately the scent of flowers rose up from it, developing and blending as each of the ladies took their turn. Flora marvelled to recognise the ancient kin-scents: the Sage and the Teasel, the Rosebay Willowherb, the Clover, Violet, Celandine, Burnet, Thistle, Malus, Bindweed and all of them. Of the floras, there was no reference.

‘Quickly, my dear.’ Lady Burnet’s voice had the slightest tremor. ‘We must move along.’

As Flora touched her antennae to the first panel, all the blossom of spring burst into life and the air was filled with orchard sweetness and the scent of lush grass. But before she could fully enjoy it, a pressure wave went through the air in the chamber. She heard the harsh caw of birds and smelled the sharp tang of a wasp.

As she leapt back in shock, all the ladies laughed nervously.

‘A common reaction,’ said Lady Burnet, ‘but it is only a story; it cannot hurt you. Fresh as dew, yet made in the Time before Time. Is it not a marvel? And better that we learn of the Myriad – though you of course have met one already.’

The ladies clapped politely. Flora felt embarrassed.

‘There are others – of the Myriad? Not just wasps?’

‘Oh, they are legion. It means all those who would hurt us, or steal from us, or who pollute and destroy our rightful food. Like flies, for instance.’ Lady Burnet put a hand to her head. ‘Take great care in here, lest all the stories stir at once – our antennae would split with shock.’ She turned to her ladies. ‘I think we may conclude for this evening.’

‘But there are five more.’ Flora gazed at the other walls, from which intricate and unknown scents coiled then curled back in, without diffusing into the air. She looked to the ladies for explanation and saw all of their antennae quivering with stress, and that Lady Primrose was on the edge of panic. Lady Burnet forced a smile.

‘To tend these panels is to strengthen the Hive Mind with the ancient scent-stories of our faith. The priestesses do not expect us to read each one.’ She looked down. ‘The first and second panels are enough. The rest … hold terrors.’

‘I am not afraid,’ said Flora. ‘I long to serve my hive.’

‘My dear – please recall your kin. Do not presume—’

Lady Meadowsweet coughed and looked at Lady Burnet, a world of meaning in her gaze. ‘Does it matter who reads them, if the duty is done?’

‘Yes,’ added Lady Violet, ‘I have heard her kin have less nerves.’

‘And would be less affected,’ agreed pretty Lady Primrose.

Flora stepped forward.

‘Please, my ladies, if I may do any duty, to the hive or the Queen – I am strong and willing’ – pressing her knees tight, she knelt before them – ‘and I long to serve!’

The ladies clapped again. Lady Burnet raised her up.

‘Very well. The second story is called The Kindness .’

Flora saw how the ladies flinched at the name. She stood up stronger.

‘I have heard that word before. I will do it.’

She walked to the next panel. As she touched her antennae to it, the voices and hubbub of the hive rose up all around them, and the wonderful comforting smell of sisters rustling their wings for sleep. She was overwhelmed by love for all her sisters, and the beauty of the hive. Then her feet tingled as if walking on coded tiles, and in her mind she saw herself walking down a long corridor, with a Thistle guard. She saw herself kneel, her knees still splayed, then bend her head low to the wax as the guard braced her feet and raised a great sharp claw above her.

Forgive me, sister—

Pain streaked through the join of Flora’s head and thorax. She cried out and staggered back from the panel.

She was in the Queen’s Library, and the ladies stood watching. She felt her body – unharmed – but the shock of the blow reverberated.

‘I – I don’t understand.’

Lady Primrose giggled nervously.

‘Every sister sees her own end. Though we never go as far as you just did – it is enough to walk the corridor and know what is coming!’

‘The Kindness means death?’

‘ Amen ,’ chorused the ladies. ‘No use to the hive, no use for life!’

At their hysterical laughter Flora laughed too, excited by the terrible vision.

‘Let me do another! Now I understand—’

‘You understand nothing – you are merely brave.’ Lady Burnet leavened her words with a smile. ‘But if you would take one more, then half are done, and our duty is amply fulfilled.’ She followed Flora’s eyes around the last three. ‘No. Those are too strong, only the priestesses tend those stories.’

‘Then one more.’ Flora drew herself up, proud of her courage and the awe in the eyes of these fine ladies. ‘And with all my heart.’

The other bees stood near the door as Lady Burnet positioned Flora at the third panel.

‘Keep your wings latched,’ she told her, ‘and stop at any time.’