"So what did you do?" Laura asked. "Did you get out of bed?"
"No," the boy said. "I didn't have to. I can see out the window from my bed. I just got up on my knees and looked out."
"Do you want to tell us what you saw?"
"Okay," Sawyer said. He looked at his mother, who was beside him on a short couch, and she nodded back in encouragement. "I saw a big spider," he said. "First I saw one, and then I saw another one. They were in front of the dog pens."
"Oh?" Laura seemed a little surprised, but composed herself quickly. "I see. That must have been really scary."
David was confused. He thought the boy was about to claim he saw a giant hairy man, so he had no idea what kind of story he was hearing now.
"What did you do?" Laura asked.
"I ran into my mom and dad's room to tell them I saw a giant spider, but my dad didn't understand. He said it was just a spider, and I should go to sleep."
"I feel so bad," the boy's mother whispered. "We thought he was freaking out about a big spider on his wall. It's a farmhouse. We get those a lot."
"It wasn't a spider in my room, though!" Sawyer insisted. "It was outside, and it was giant. Like, it was as big as a car. It was really creepy."
"I know it was giant," Laura said as she squeezed his hand. "I know lots of people who've seen what you saw. They weren't really spiders, though," Laura added. "You know that, right?"
"That's what my mom told me," he said in his little boy voice. He hesitated before starting again. "She said they were Sasquatches. She says that sometimes they can crawl on their bellies and put their knees and elbows up like this to sneak up on things." As he spoke, he twisted his arms around to jut his elbows skyward. "It makes them look a lot like giant, hairy spiders. Especially when it's dark out."
"I learned that on your show," the mom said.
"That is absolutely right," Laura said. "That seems to be how they crawl sometimes, when they are trying to make sure they stay out of sight."
"And you believe me?" Sawyer asked. "That I saw them?"
"I sure do," Laura said. The boy smiled at his mother and looked back at Laura. "A lot of people watching this show believe you, too. You don't have to feel alone."
"They got one of daddy's dogs," he said. "One of them was missing in the morning."
Laura's mouth fell open, but she composed herself quickly. "I'm really sorry about that," she said.
"It's okay," the boy shrugged. "I feel real bad for the dog, but I wasn't allowed to play with them or anything. They were hunting dogs. And they can run really fast. I think maybe it got away from the spider. I mean the Sasquatch."
"I'll bet it did get away," Laura smiled. She patted the boy on his hand.
"Okay," Sawyer said, as if to signal he was done talking.
David watched as Laura continued to comfort both mother and child, and advised them both to call her personal phone if they had any more trouble with the creatures. She assured them that this encounter was most likely a one-time event, and that the creatures were probably on the move, since they didn't usually stay in one place too long. Even though the words that came from her mouth sounded like crazy talk to David, he was impressed with her kindness.
Thoughts were racing through his head. He'd never felt inner turmoil like this before, and frankly, he couldn't think of a way out of this strange situation. Should he keep up the charade, and spend the summer pretending like he was okay with her bizarre work and beliefs?
On the other hand, and David couldn't believe he was actually entertaining this thought, was there some real situation out there that made these people believe what they did? Not that he believed that there was a large, undiscovered humanoid lurking in the woods, but it was possible that something real was giving that impression. For instance, maybe it was possible that bears were the real culprits. Maybe there was some unknown disease that made bears behave strangely, and that this was the reason people believed the way they do?
David realized that the show had ended, and he was staring blankly at the screen, so he picked up his phone and tapped "mistaken for a Sasquatch" in the search bar. He was comforted to find, as he scrolled down the page, that it was quite common for bears to be confused for unknown animals. The act of walking upright was not as uncommon as once believed, and it was quite common for people to be fooled by this and other behaviors that were not common knowledge. He tossed the phone down again, but the sound of a ping made him look back once more. He could see that he'd received a text from Laura.
"Did you watch it? What did you think?"
She knew he'd intended to watch the recording. She seemed to genuinely care how he felt about it. He wasn't sure how to answer her, since he wasn't at all sure how the hell he felt about the show or the entire phenomenon. But there was one thing that was crystal clear. The sound of the ping, and the realization that Laura London was on the other end of it, had caused his heart to race like nothing in the world had ever done before. He couldn't back out of this whole arrangement, now. However things turned out, he just couldn't quit right now. His curious nature just wouldn't permit it. But more to the point, and to David's genuine surprise, his own heart wouldn't allow it.
9
Literature Review
David lifted a wine glass to his lips and shifted his eyes from table to table around the restaurant. "I'm not used to people staring at me while I eat."
Across the table, Laura flashed a quick, sassy smile and reached across to pat his free hand. "They're not looking at you, honey."
It was unbelievable to him, how much the simple feel of her touch sent tiny needle pricks shimmering up his arm to make his face flush. This was the first time he'd ever considered that the term chemistry, when applied to two people, could prompt a real physical reaction. He'd been in plenty of relationships before, and with some very attractive women, but he'd never experienced a palpable reaction from a simple glance or touch. There was something different about her beauty. While there was perfection in her flawless skin and her long, brown ringlets of hair that bounced as she walked, the beauty of this woman rested like a cloud in and around her. Being near her was beautiful.
"Very funny," he stuttered, trying to sound as calm as she was. "And some of them are looking at me." From his view behind the glass, David could spot at least four sets of eyes gazing straight toward his table. "They're wondering why the beautiful, kooky monster hunter is hanging out with such an ugly dude. But seriously, does this happen everywhere?"
"Most places," Laura said. "But you get used to it. People tend to leave you alone until you finish your meal, then one or two may wander over to say hello or ask for an autograph. I just try not to make eye contact, because that's usually interpreted as an invitation. And for the record, your ugliness is only in the inside."
"You do wonders for my ego," David said. He settled his glass on the table and tried to keep his eyes from darting outside the sphere of their dinner table, but it was futile. He could feel the stares boring into the side of his head, and he couldn't keep from glancing sideways.
It was all so strange, spending time with this woman. In addition to her mind-numbing beauty, her apparent fame was a constant, unavoidable factor to deal with. They couldn't be in public alone, and while it was part of the woman's appeal, it was also odd and somewhat annoying.
Like most people, David had dreamed of being famous when he was younger. He had the good looks at the time, with his tall physique and dark features. At the age of fifteen, he was pretty certain his guitar skills were going to propel him to rockstar fame, and he'd been sure his handsome face would afford him the sweet life of traveling, making a little music, and conquering thousands of adoring virgins. He wasn't sure exactly when he'd gone off the rails so much and decided to live the life of an academic, instead. Now he spent his days reading and grading papers. He'd been on the road to turning into a big, fat, distinguished but perpetually single professor, until this whole paranormal project came along. Now, here he was
, suddenly, getting a taste of the celebrity life. He wasn't sure where this whole adventure was going to end up, but if he wasn't really careful, he could end up feeling like a real heel. And maybe a heartbroken one. After all, his main goal this summer was to find a way to discredit this woman, along with her life's work. He was starting to realize that this wasn't going to be easy. As nutty as this girl was, he really liked her. She made him laugh, she made him think, and recently, she'd made him get his body in better shape. She'd traveled to join him in his own small, Ohio town for a few weeks, in an effort to prepare him for the ordeal he'd signed up for. For one thing, he'd have to work out every day in preparation for their summer hikes together. "You'll need to be in top shape to keep up with me all summer," she'd said about their pending series of hikes through some remote forests. The locations of these adventures, he couldn't say just yet. She had promised to fill him in on a need to know basis, since discretion was required by her contract with the TV network.
"Earth to David," Laura said from across the table. "Where did you go?"
"I was just wondering where you're taking me next week," he said. "Am I allowed to know the state?"
"No." she said. He loved the way her brown eyes flashed when she was mean to him. "Or maybe after dessert," she teased.
David just sighed and shook his head in response. He couldn't really object too much. After all, he wasn't exactly behaving like a choir boy. She was right not to trust him.
"I have a present for you," she said, as she reached around to pull a small bundle from her handbag. The look on his face must have revealed the momentary panic he felt. "Don't worry," she said. "It's not a real gift; it's more like an assignment."
He took the package from her hand and could tell from the feel of it that it contained a paperback book. As he tore away the paper, he revealed a professional photo of Laura, smiling from the back cover. He turned it over to reveal the title, Bigfoot: Arguments and Answers.
"Yours?" he said, maneuvering his face in a desperate attempt to look enthusiastic. Just a few weeks ago, the thought of owning a book on this topic would have been absurd. Actually, it still was preposterous to him, and he was trying mightily not to show it.
"You look like you're going to throw up," she giggled. So much for hiding his feelings.
"I'm just—surprised."
"You are horrified." Again, she was able to see right through his facade. "But you're going to read it," she continued. "If you're going to do this with me, I need you to understand how serious this topic is. Or, at least, I need to start chipping away at that big wall of negativity. I know it's hard for you. I've met a lot of people like you. But here's the thing: most of them have had a change of heart." She punctuated her statement with a seductive wink.
“I—uh,” he stammered. He felt as if his brain and his heart were at war, and his brain was clearly losing the battle. He couldn't conjure any words that were comfortable coming out of his lips. He could either insult her now, and end this wonderful adventure, or he could tell a big lie that she'd see right through. His mind was paralyzed.
"Relax," she said. "Just set it aside for now."
She was trying to be merciful, he could tell, but he'd been pushed into a place he was hoping to avoid for as long as he could. He'd never felt such internal conflict, and there was no point in trying to avoid it every moment he was in her company. "I'm sorry," he finally managed. "This is really hard. I'm trying to keep an open mind—"
"No, you are not."
Her response was abrupt, but not confrontational. She seemed genuinely amused.
"David," she laughed out his name. "I'm not stupid, remember? I know exactly how you're feeling. Just relax, I frankly don't care how you feel right now. I see you as my student."
"Well, that's awkward," he stammered. "The student part. It messes up a lot of my plans for this summer." He was glad to work his way back toward their normal flirtatious talk.
"Well, we both know taboos just make things more exciting." She lifted her eyebrows as she spoke, and her gesture made the blood drain from his torso. At that moment, a server approached their table and placed a sizzling ribeye in front of him. He wondered if he'd be able to choke down any part of it. Although he hadn't eaten since his breakfast cereal, food had lost all appeal to him.
"And listen, you can stop being all twisted up inside, afraid of saying things to offend me," she continued. "I am so confident that you'll change your tune by the end of this summer, that you can say anything you want. I'll just remain smug."
Her confidence made her seem crazy but sexy at the same time. But he did feel relieved that he didn't have to worry so much about offending her. The fine line he'd been trying to walk had widened by an inch or so, at least for now. As the summer wore on, his reality checks would wear down her patience at some point, he knew. But he could worry about that later. "So can I start with one question?" he asked.
"Of course. Anything you want."
"Why no bodies?" He'd decided to jump into the thick of the controversy to test her confidence. It was a risk, but he couldn't see any way around the situation. If he was ever going to be able to relax around this woman, he had to find out where her boundaries were placed, and how penetrable they truly were. He was all in now.
She placed her elbows on the table, placed her chin on her clasped hands, and sighed. "The long answer is in the book. That's why I gave it to you."
"No good," he said. "Give me a quick summary."
"Okay. There are bodies. There have been bodies."
David rocked back in his chair. "Oh, really? Why haven't I seen this on the news?"
"Read the book. Next question."
"Okay," he said. "So if there's so much proof and it's easy to find, why don't real anthropologists get involved?"
"They are involved." She plopped another bite into her mouth and gave him a smirk with one eyebrow raised in a reminder that she was an anthropologist. Awkward.
"DNA evidence?"
"It's readily available. People call it fake news."
David put both hands on his head in frustration. "So I get the feeling you want me to read the book?"
"Bingo. So now can I ask you one question? You have to promise to think about it and not be offended."
"Of course," he said.
"Why is it that scientists are the most closed-minded people of all?"
"That's absurd," he snapped. The very notion was offensive to him, a man who had dedicated his life to discovery and progress.
"Is it, really?" she asked.
The question bothered him more than he wanted to admit. He wasn't closed minded. Good scientists can't be. He realized he was now chewing his steak aggressively and slowed down a bit. He took a sip of wine and let it settle before speaking. "I'm not gullible," he said. "That's how I see it."
For the first time, he saw a flash of something like annoyance on her face, but she recovered quickly. "Great," she said. "So that means you'll be able to admit freely that you are wrong, when the evidence is in front of you."
"Definitely." He noticed that both of them were speaking in curt sentences. "Real evidence."
"Fair enough," she beamed a fake smile. "North Georgia."
"Huh?"
"That's where we're going next week."
"Ahhhh, so Sasquatch is there?" He smiled sheepishly, knowing he was pressing her buttons.
"Maybe, but we're not going there to see him." She was totally ignoring his playfulness now. So, she wasn't as bullet proof as she liked to pretend. "We're going to a campfire meeting. That's something that takes place once a year, when researchers and enthusiasts get together and discuss their recent findings and their plans for the upcoming summer. And I'm going in the hopes of charming a certain scientist from Ipswich University."
"Ipswich?" David asked, noting the surprise in his own voice. Despite its small size, the college had one of the best anthropology programs in Europe.
"Yes, dear. Ipswich." She had that annoyed look
again. "This guy has been tracking several family groups for years. He's well funded and loaded with technology and resources, but he's pretty secretive about his findings. He doesn't have much time for doubters."
David’s brain was stuck on the words "family groups." People actually believe there were clans of these creatures roaming the deep woods? The guy was apparently some self-proclaimed expert on Sasquatch social behavior. This was all so bizarre.
"However," she continued, "He knows about my show, and we've exchanged a few emails, so I'm hoping he makes an appearance. If I can get him to support an expedition, you are in for the ride of your life."
She was so beautiful, sitting there across from him, staring back across the table. Indeed, he was definitely in for the ride of his life, one way or another, and he had no idea how this would all end up.
"Then I'll buckle up tight," he said.
10
Meeting of Minds
"This your first time out?"
David tried to pretend he hadn’t heard the scrawny, wrinkly-skinned man who sat sweating through his T-shirt on the other end of a log. The man had shoulder length, white hair, and he sat with one leg wrapped around the other, like a sexy woman might do, only it looked really creepy on an old man. Of all the people gathered at this event—and there were hundreds from all over the world—this guy had decided to strike up a conversation with him. And he wasn’t giving up easily. He poked David on the bare leg with a branch he’d described earlier as a snake stick. "Oy, chap," the man said in a pompous English tone.
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