Chapter 20

           

           MeanwhileMoscowwasempty.Therewerestillpeopleinit,perhapsafiftiethpartofitsformerinhabitantshadremained,butitwasempty.Itwasemptyinthesensethatadyingqueenlesshiveisempty.

           Inaqueenlesshivenolifeisleftthoughtoasuperficialglanceitseemsasmuchaliveasotherhives.

           Thebeescircleroundaqueenlesshiveinthehotbeamsofthemiddaysunasgailyasaroundthelivinghives;fromadistanceitsmellsofhoneyliketheothers,andbeesflyinandoutinthesameway.Butonehasonlytoobservethathivetorealizethatthereisnolongeranylifeinit.Thebeesdonotflyinthesameway,thesmellandthesoundthatmeetthebeekeeperarenotthesame.Tothebeekeeper’staponthewallofthesickhive,insteadoftheformerinstantunanimoushummingoftensofthousandsofbeeswiththeirabdomensthreateninglycompressed,andproducingbytherapidvibrationoftheirwingsanaeriallivingsound,theonlyreplyisadisconnectedbuzzingfromdifferentpartsofthedesertedhive.Fromthealightingboard,insteadoftheformerspirituousfragrantsmellofhoneyandvenom,andthewarmwhiffsofcrowdedlife,comesanodorofemptinessanddecayminglingwiththesmellofhoney.Therearenolongersentinelssoundingthealarmwiththeirabdomensraised,andreadytodieindefenseofthehive.Thereisnolongerthemeasuredquietsoundofthrobbingactivity,likethesoundofboilingwater,butdiversediscordantsoundsofdisorder.Inandoutofthehivelongblackrobberbeessmearedwithhoneyflytimidlyandshiftily.Theydonotsting,butcrawlawayfromdanger.

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