CORONA LOCUSTS

CORONA LOCUSTS

Like its owner, the dust encrusted laptop is showing the signs of aging. However, the coffee stains and cigarette ash didn’t seem to hinder its function mainly as a word processor. Nicotined sausage-fingers frantically pecked and scratched away at its keypad like some deranged free-range hen. The deadline for his sci-fi short story loomed on the digital clock at the bottom corner of the screen. The writer pauses as a drop from a sweat-covered forehead joins the coffee stains. Distracted, the writer’s mind goes blank just as the screen freezes. It had done this before. Would a reboot help?

“Wouldn’t it be nice if I could simply reboot myself?” thought our budding author out loud. “Time to fetch another coffee as this old computer rejigs itself. Darn! That’s right, I drank the last of it. I won’t get through this without another coffee!”

Image from Internet

The local supermarket was packed even though it wasn’t long till closing time. People were yelling at each other. Some were even swinging punches.

“What’s going on?”

The young shop assistant told him that the police had been called. Then added, “They’re fighting over toilet paper! Something to do with coronavirus.”

There were people everywhere with trolleys full of packets of toilet rolls.

“What’s gotten into them? Is it on sale? Are you giving it away free or something?” 
The young man didn’t answer this time.

The kettle was boiled and a couple of teaspoons of the freshly bought granulated coffee were quickly dissolved in our keyboardist’s favourite mug. Feeling slightly dizzy, he sat down again in front of his laptop, dropping ash on it. “Oh no! There’s something queer going on here! First coronavirus, and now computer virus.”

He imagined a battle scene in which wave after wave of crown-wearing invaders sweep in, like a plague of locusts, devouring everything green in their path.

“Why the crowns?” he thought, as the anti-virus scanned the endless ranks of the enemy. “This coffee isn’t helping. I still have writer’s block, and my throat is dry.”

His white corpuscles began saddling up their horses to meet the onslaught of the enemy as his writers’ block morphed into a total brain-freeze. A virus was taking over both him and his computer.

Fires, then floods, and then viruses. How much more can Australia take within one year? Fortuitously, at least the fires and the floods have kept the tourists away. However, fewer tourists from overseas, means less incoming spending. The Australian economy may tank, but at least we will have less coronavirus due to the averted invasion from overseas visitors.

The old man’s daughter let herself in. “Dad! Are you OK?”

“Oh, it’s you dear! I must have fallen asleep. I wasn’t feeling too well. And neither is my old laptop. Oh, wait. I think we’re both now back among the living.”

“I think you ought to lie down. What have you been doing?”

 “I’m OK now. I’ve been writing a piece I’m calling, “When Kings Go Forth To Battle”. It’s a sci-fi story from an idea I got from the Book of Revelation.”

“Dad, I’m glad the doctor confirmed that you only have a mild case of the flu, and not that crazy coronavirus. Who knows where that’s all going to end up!”

“I think that coronavirus will be a fizzer. It’ll all be over in about five months. Sure, sadly it’ll take a toll on the old and the infirm. But, the young, and all healthy human beings, will survive. Look, even my old laptop has just survived a computer virus. You just need to have the right antivirus program, I guess.”

“But what about all those panic buyers? What kind of virus do they have? Something must be attacking their brains! Stocking up on toilet paper. You’d think baked beans or coffee would be more like the thing. But, no! It’s toilet paper that they’re going to war over. Anyway, I’m glad you’re feeling better now. What was the verse from Revelation that inspired you to write your story about?”

“Let me read it to you as you’re making my coffee. Thanks. And don’t worry. I promise I won’t light up. My last cigarette made me feel dizzy! It’s those verses about locusts being given power on earth. ‘Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. … The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.’ Revelation 9:3,7-11.”

“Oh, so that’s why you think the coronavirus will be history in five months?”

“Not necessarily five months. And I don’t think these verses apply directly to our present situation. It’s just the principle of the thing. All the past plagues and pestilentials came, did their damage, then went. Therefore, so will this one.”

“Dad, what makes you so sure?”

“The ending for my sci-fi story, that’s what! I need to have it sent in by midnight tonight.”

“Why? What happens at midnight?”

“You’re reading my mind. What’s left of it anyway!”

“Well dad. I suppose I should go and leave you in peace to finish off your blockbuster story. I just thought I’d drop in to see how you were coping with your flu. And please, no more cigarettes!”

Our writer flexes his fat fingers and begins dexterously tapping his keypad.

There arose at that time a great leader, one who would save the planet from these alien invaders, one who would fight against all evil, and the evil corona locusts. He was the King of kings. And on his head were many crowns. Every eye was on him as he pointed his laser sword towards the enemy and cried out, “All who would save themselves and their households from the enemy, stay inside with your doors closed as darkness falls. But before you close your door, sprinkle your threshold with water while saying these words, ‘Whether we live or whether we die, we belong to the King of kings. Thus, swear allegiance to me!’"

At midnight there could be heard a great humming of wings like the drumming of hooves as the corona locusts advanced on the city of the King of kings and its occupants. The darkness grew darker as a shroud of evil began to cover the city. However, in the midst of the darkness there was a light, a great light, the King of kings sitting astride a flying white horse-like creature. He began, as it were, galloping to and fro, up and down the ranks of the buzzing corona locusts, uncrowning all as he went.

The next morning the anxious city dwellers, those who had survived the night, those who had the household protection, emerged to see a great fiery pyre upon which the King of kings had thrown all the enemy. There could be heard much agonistic wailing emanating from thence. However, though at first fearful of the noise and of the sight, realising the great victory of the King of kings, they began to hear music and joyful singing which drowned out the pitiful cries of the corona locusts. It was the city dwellers singing their praises to the King of kings.

The deserts created by the destructive and devouring corona locusts began to bloom. The solar years they had eaten were restored. The planet Eden, and everyone thereon, was now safe forever more as the King of kings sat on his throne overseeing his dominion. THE END.