The Hollow Hill

The hill is sealed behind glass this morning and set upon the north bench. I have given it a crust, a scatter of seed, and a beetle from the window sill. By noon they had found all three.The hill is sealed behind glass this morning and set upon the north bench. I have given it a crust, a scatter of seed, and a beetle from the window sill. By noon they had found all three.

They go out by one door only, and whatever they find they bring back by the same road. The road is drawn on nothing but the air. The brass at the eastern corner of the frame does not sit true; I must have it seen to.They go out by one door only, and whatever they find they bring back by the same road. The road is drawn on nothing but the air. The brass at the eastern corner of the frame does not sit true; I must have it seen to.

The upper galleries are a market. Traffic in both directions, and at the narrow places a queue, which they keep better than the crowd at the omnibus stand.The upper galleries are a market. Traffic in both directions, and at the narrow places a queue, which they keep better than the crowd at the omnibus stand.

A midden. The dead are carried to the far end of a gallery and laid with the seed husks. No one is left where she falls. I find I cannot say the same of us.A midden. The dead are carried to the far end of a gallery and laid with the seed husks. No one is left where she falls. I find I cannot say the same of us.

Rain in the night. The upper rooms flooded and by dawn every egg had been carried down. I did not see who gave the order. I do not think there was one.Rain in the night. The upper rooms flooded and by dawn every egg had been carried down. I did not see who gave the order. I do not think there was one.

Down here it is warm. I keep the lamp by this pane at night and the nurses have noticed: the brood lies where the glass is warmest, eggs with eggs, larvae with larvae, the cocoons apart.Down here it is warm. I keep the lamp by this pane at night and the nurses have noticed: the brood lies where the glass is warmest, eggs with eggs, larvae with larvae, the cocoons apart.

I have numbered the ones I can tell apart. It is a vanity. They do not know their numbers, and I cannot keep up with them.I have numbered the ones I can tell apart. It is a vanity. They do not know their numbers, and I cannot keep up with them.

When the noon is hot they carry the pupae upward, toward the sun, and bring them down again at dusk. Every day. Nobody taught them the hour.When the noon is hot they carry the pupae upward, toward the sun, and bring them down again at dusk. Every day. Nobody taught them the hour.

The queen. I had to lower the lamp to see her at all. She hardly moves. The whole hill above her moves instead.The queen. I had to lower the lamp to see her at all. She hardly moves. The whole hill above her moves instead.

Her attendants face her in a ring, like a small congregation. When she lays, the eggs are taken away before they touch the floor.Her attendants face her in a ring, like a small congregation. When she lays, the eggs are taken away before they touch the floor.

I have begun to think of the hill as one animal and the ants as its cells. That is a figure of speech. I write it down so that I may disown it later.I have begun to think of the hill as one animal and the ants as its cells. That is a figure of speech. I write it down so that I may disown it later.