NATURE CALLS
by E.R. Bills
A colossal multilegged insect terrorizes the Lone Star State in Bills’ horror novella.
When West Texas lawmen find they can’t explain a human-arm-sized “stubby tentacle” clutched in a dead man’s hand, they know it’s time to bring in an expert. It certainly looks familiar to assistant university professor Annette Carden, who has a degree in entomology and a specialty in centipedes and millipedes. The strange body part likely came from a Devil Head centipede, except one this length would mean the Devil Head is around 40 feet long. As these centipedes are fast, aggressive, and venomous, other Texans are likely in trouble—and soon, another few mutilated bodies confirm the danger. Sheriff Axil Rafferty orders those under his command to gather reliable people and arm them to the teeth, so they can “try to corner this thing and kill it.” They’re not sure how many bullets it will take, or even if such firepower will be effective, but Rafferty and the others will do whatever it takes to protect West Texas. Bills’ compact tale hits the ground running with a prompt introduction to the creature. Much of the narrative, however, consists of prolonged but surprisingly absorbing discussions of the Devil Head centipede. Carden, for example, provides expertly derived specs on the creepy-crawlies, and someone else suggests a local nuclear waste dump as the potential reason for this insect’s staggering dimensions. Accordingly, the novella isn’t so much scary as it is compelling. There are humorous bits, as well, as when Rafferty refers to the scientific name Chilopod as “chilidog.” The book’s only downside is that it’s all over too soon, as the appealing cast easily could have carried a longer work. The denouement, nonetheless, is a knockout, and Bills includes a “b-side” in the short, graphic, and profane bonus story, “The Opening Day.” In it, a horrifying near-future America has legalized killing protesters, and a young, bigoted right-wing extremist’s murderous agenda takes an unexpected turn.
An engaging and delightful creature-feature gem.