by Lee Murphy
"I've still got a few weeks left of my vacation."
"Some vacation."
She smiled. "I don't know. It is an experience I wouldn't have wished on my worst enemy. It's certainly one I'll never forget. There is one thing. The rangers gave me Ben's personal belongings..." She dug into her pants pocket and pulled out a gold cigarette lighter. "I guess they didn't realize what it really was." She flipped open the lid and pulled out a tiny camera. "Ben always kept this with him. Any guesses as to what's on this film?"
Kodiak smiled as she gave him the camera. She said, "He'd want you to have this."
"The world will see these soon enough. And Ben's going to get the credit."
"That's nice, George. So, what will you do when you're finished here? Go back to Hell?" She suddenly laughed out loud because of how ridiculous the question sounded.
Kodiak just smiled. "I don't know. I was thinking of maybe heading back to Seattle for a couple of weeks. I always wanted to check out the Space Needle."
"If you need a place to stay, I know somebody who might be willing to put you up if you offered to show her how you do that card trick of yours."
He smiled and said, "I'll show you if you'll show me!"
She laughed. "Why don't we discuss that over breakfast? There's a nice little cafe down the street. It's got a great view of the mountains."
He pulled her close as they walked slowly down the street, away from the remnants of the Red Fern Tavern.
***
Mildred Hunnicut went out on her front porch to watch the sun set behind the mountains, as she had for most of the last thirty-seven years. She sat on the porch swing, watching the sun's red fire sink slowly into the black walls of the forest. The air was getting cooler these days, and the sun was setting earlier. It would be Autumn soon. Then the snow would come and aggravate the hell out of her arthritis, but she would survive, just like she always did.
Larry jumped up on the swing and lay beside her after finishing his dinner. He survived losing his tail, but Mildred kept it bandaged even after the vet told her it was no longer necessary. She wanted to play it safe.
She heard about what had happened to the people who came to her house that night. Three of them died. Then the Red Fern Tavern burned down. She felt a pang of sadness, not only for the destruction and loss of life, but also because of what she had and then lost with her Sasquatch. There was an emptiness for what might have been, if nobody had interfered.
She thought fondly of George Kodiak and Cyrena DeVarona, and was relieved that they weren't among those who died. She felt there was something special between them, and she hoped that they knew it.
The sun went down, and the cold began to gnaw at her joints. She should go in, but she couldn't help but search the trees that surrounded her property, hoping for some sign of the presence she knew would not be there.
Finally, she convinced herself it really wasn't coming back. She stood up, looking at the plate of canned cat food in the center of the lawn. She had gotten into the habit lately of putting out much more food than the cat could eat. "I guess the raccoons and possums will enjoy it, huh, Larry?" She picked up her cat and went in for the night, closing her door to the outside world.
And the mountains.
Author's Note
The material in this novel is based upon documented research done by scientists and laypersons educated on the subject of cryptozoology-- the study of hidden and unknown animals.
For information regarding the International Society of Cryptozoology, an organization dedicated to the scientific study of unkown animal phenomena and the implications of their possible discovery, please contact:
10. Richard Greenwell, Secretary
International Society of Cryptozoology
P.O. Box 43070
Tuscon, AZ 85733
Telephone/Fax: (520) 884-8369
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Bord, Janet and Colin, Alien Animals. (Stackpole Books, 1981)
2. Ciochon, Russell; Olsen, John; James, Jamie, Other Origins; the search for the giant ape in prehistory. (Bantam, 1990)
3. Green, John, Sasquatch; the apes among us. (Hancock House, 1978)
4. Heuvelmans, Bernard, On The Track Of Unknown Animals. (Hill and Wang, 1958)
5. Krantz, Grover, Big Footprints; a scientific inquiry into the reality of Sasquatch. (Johnson Books, 1992)
6. Lien, Carsten, Olympic Battleground; the power politics of timber preservation. (Sierra Club Books, 1991)
7. James, Jamie, Bigfoot or Bust. (Discover magazine, Volume 9, March, 1988)
8. James, Jamie, Stalking The Giant Ape. (Discover magazine, Volume 10, February, 1989)
9. Waters, Tom, Almost Human. (Discover magazine, Volume 11, May, 1990)
10. An Upstanding Ape. (Discover magazine, Breakthrough Section, Volume 19, February,1998)
The Kodiak Books
WHERE LEGENDS ROAM
If you enjoyed reading this exciting adventure from Lee Murphy and Defining Moments, then order additional copies today!
Call 1-877-996-3717
Or copy and mail this form with check or money order to:
DEFINING MOMENTS
P.O. Box 7037
Van Nuys, CA 91409-7037
NAME:____________________________________________________________
COMPANY:_________________________________________________________
ADDRESS:_________________________________________________________
CITY, STATE, ZIP:________________________________________________
PHONE NUMBER:____________________________________________________
NUMBER OF COPIES ($11.95 each):__________________________________
SHIPPING ($4.00 for first book, $1.00 each additonal):___________
California residents add 8.25% tax per book:_____________________
TOTAL:____________
*Ask about our quantity discounts on orders of 10 copies or more.