Beetle Fight

Reb drew his sword and ran straight toward the beetle. Balanced on long bent legs, it loomed over Reb’s head. It had shiny black eyes, and its pincers looked big enough to cut him in two. The pincers made a clicking sound as it advanced.

“Come on, you varmint!” Reb said, swishing his sword. “Let’s see who’s going to come out of this on top!”

The giant beetle was not fast, but there was something frightening about the steady click click click of the great pincers. They were sharp and serrated, and Reb knew he was lost if the beetle ever got hold of him.

“Run, Reb!” Gus said. “Don’t try to fight that thing! He’ll kill you!”

But Reb Jackson loved a fight. He also was fairly sure that the beetle was coming for the goats, not for him or Gus. The insect wasn’t equipped to protect itself against a sword. “Don’t worry,” he said.

But then he saw the wicked pincers head for him, and he leaped to one side just as they came together with a vicious click. Quickly Reb slashed with his sword and severed one of the creature’s front legs.

A leg might be gone, but the beetle still had wicked pincers that could kill. Reb dodged around as it lumbered after him on five legs. The pincers closed on the sleeve of his shirt, tearing it free. But at the same time Reb leaped forward and severed another leg. The beetle pitched forward.

“You got him now, Reb! Whittle him down to size!”

Reb danced around, and the beetle could not move fast enough now. With a mighty blow he severed the head.