In the Endless Desert

by Lena Ng

The nuclear wind howled above me, gusts of irradiated sand scratching against the lid of my hovel. I waited and listened. A faint chime of the trigger line sounded in the darkness. Cautiously, I raised the lid and poked my eyestalks out. At the sight of the large, tubular body, I lunged, grabbing the megapede with all four of my arms. Its multitude of legs flailed against me, but I bit down, injecting the venom. As it weakened, I dragged it into the hole. Before I could wrap it in silk, my children swarmed over its body and devoured it.