Hominid

by R. D. Brady

  He paused. “What’s going on, Tess?”

  “I don’t know. I guess… I’m worried about what happens if the results come back the way I think they will.”

  Dev frowned. “I’m still not seeing the problem.”

  She blew out a breath. “The thing is—what happens after I get the results? If it gets out that I’ve found proof of bigfoot, the woods will be crawling with people trying to track them down.”

  Dev pulled her into his arms with a chuckle. “I think you’re getting a little bit ahead of yourself. And no says you have to publicize the results right away. You can announce your findings whenever you’re ready.”

  Tess sighed. She knew he was right, but she also felt guilty about even thinking about testing the hair. “What do you think about all this?” she asked.

  Tess watched Dev carefully, trying to gauge his reaction. Native Americans in the Northwest had a long tradition of regarding bigfoot with respect, almost as a family member or teacher. But they also regarded bigfoot as a flesh-and-blood being—unlike other Native American groups farther east, who viewed bigfoot as a mystical or spiritual being. And Tess knew Dev was a product of his heritage—in particular, he had a great respect for the natural world and for the beliefs of his people.

  “I support you,” Dev said. “I know why you’re doing this. And if you prove bigfoot exists, then I’ll be one of the ones fighting to make sure they’re protected and left alone. The fact is, if bigfoot is still out there, I’d rather you find him than someone else.”

  He pulled back and looked into her face. “This is really bothering you, isn’t it?”

  “Yes. Once Hayes gets word of this, it will be completely out of my control.”

  “Why don’t you send it to Pax? Maybe he could run it on the sly, and then you can decide what to do.”

  “Yeah, I’m leaning in that direction.”

  He kissed her on the forehead. “Well, whatever you decide, it will be the right decision.”

  Tess watched him go. She pictured Charlie, Mary, and Sugar. Something had changed ever since she’d watched the three of them interact.

  And now she wasn't sure what the right decision was anymore.

  CHAPTER 40

  A few hours later, Dev quietly closed the front door of Tess’s cabin behind him. He had an early shift and he had to stop by his own place to get a clean uniform.

  As he headed to his truck, the doubts he’d had for the last few weeks crept in. Tess was keeping something from him; he could sense it. She closed up whenever he asked about her research, or she deflected his question like she had tonight. And whatever her secret was, it was putting up a wall between them.

  He didn’t like it. But he also didn’t know how to get her to trust him. And if he was being honest, he was a little hurt by it. He had thought they were past this kind of stuff.

  He pulled out of the drive and headed down the road, but his thoughts stayed with Tess. He’d been in love with her since they were kids. His mom had realized it almost as soon as he had, and had told him to just wait—it would happen. And now it had.

  As far as Tess was concerned, he knew two things for sure:

  One, he was going to spend his life with her.

  And two, whatever she was keeping from him, it was important.

  CHAPTER 41

  The next day, Tess sat in her office, waiting for Pax to return her call. Rain was pouring from the heavens. When the precipitation had begun at five this morning, she’d hoped it was a passing shower. But the weather forecast indicated it was only going to get worse. She had really wanted to get out to the camp. Instead, she was inside, catching up on paperwork.

  Which was probably for the best. She’d barely slept, thinking about Charlie and his two guests.

  As she listened to the rain drum on the metal roof, she wondered what Charlie did in the rain. Did he have a shelter? Did he need one? The idea of Charlie all hunched up somewhere, soaked, tugged at her.

  Before she could question that emotion, Pax’s return call came through on Skype. His smiling face appeared on her screen. “Hey, sis.”

  Tess laughed. “Back away from the camera, you nut.”

  Pax laughed and took a seat at his desk.

  “Is this a good time?”’ Tess asked.

  “Yup. Everyone’s at lunch. Did you get the gift I sent you?”

  Tess reached over and picked up the ten-inch plush bigfoot with a giant “Adopt me!” message on the front. “I got him. Thanks. He’s a little small.”

  “Well, a life-size would be, what? Six feet minimum? Think of him as a pocket bigfoot.”

  Tess chuckled, wondering what Charlie’s reaction to the little bigfoot would be. “It’s just what I’ve always wanted.”

  This morning, thanks to the rain, she’d finally had uninterrupted time to dedicate to the hair sample. She had collected four strands in total: two gray, and two a dark brown. Each was between four and five inches long—and luckily the bulb was still attached at the end.

  Under magnification, she had made two distinct observations. First, that the ends of the hairs were rounded, meaning they had never been cut. And second, that the hairs were clearly neither human nor gorilla.

  There were some similarities between these hairs and human hair—for instance, the scale pattern was similar, and like human hairs, these did not have a continuous medullary core. But these hairs also varied in color and thickness along their shaft, which human hair did not. Tess had searched both her texts and the internet and could come to only one conclusion: no known animal had hairs like these.

  The next step was a DNA test, which is why she’d been waiting anxiously for Pax’s call.

  “So, exactly how rusty are your lab skills?” she asked.

  “Rusty? Moi? You insult me.”

  “Seriously.”

  Pax paused. “I drop into the lab every now and then to keep my skills on point. Why?”

  Now it was Tess’s turn to pause. “I was hoping you could run a sample for me.”

  A grin spread across Pax’s face. “That’s great! You found something.” He frowned. “But why are you asking me? Hayes must have dozens of labs you could use.”

  “He does, but I want to run it myself first, on the down low. Do you think you could run it and put the results under John Doe?”

  Pax narrowed his eyes. “What’s going on, Tess?”

  She sighed. Why is everyone asking me that lately? “I just want to be prepared, depending on how this comes back. And with Hayes, it’s all under his control. He could announce before I even saw the results.”

  “I get it. You want me to don my superspy outfit and run the analysis under the cloak of darkness.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

  Tess rolled her eyes. “I am so not going to address the fact that apparently you have a superspy outfit. And yes, with or without the outfit, if you could run the sample, I’d be thrilled. And I can pay for it.”

  “It might take me a while. I’ll have to go in when the lab’s empty.”

  “That’s fine,” Tess said quickly. “No rush.”

  “Okay, I’ll get it done.”

  “You don’t know how much better that makes me feel.”

  Pax frowned, inspecting her through the screen. “Shouldn’t you be more excited about this? And what’s with the ‘no rush’?”

  Tess knew he was right. She should be more excited—and more impatient to get the results. Months ago, she would have been. But something had changed. Now she wasn’t just think about finding answers. She was worried about what would happen after she found answers. And she wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad one.

  From the blog Bigfoot Among Us by Dr. Tess Brannick

  This week’s question comes from Hilda Maldonado in Houston, Texas.

  I’ve read a lot about the giant footprints left behind by bigfoot, and I’ve read about the hair and seen some of the photo evidence. But is there any other evidence?

  Actually, one of
the best pieces of evidence comes from Skookum Meadows, Oregon. (The word “skookum” is a Native American name for bigfoot. Dozens of locations in the Northwest have names that include the word “skookum.”)

  In 2000, a team of researchers from the Bigfoot Research Organization found a large imprint near a fruit trap they had left out. But it was not a footprint. It revealed an animal’s buttocks, thigh, arm, and even hair. From the positioning, it appeared that the animal had lain on its side next to the mud to reach for the fruit trap. Analysis of the cast, which required over two hundred pounds of plaster, indicated that the animal was seven and a half feet tall and covered in hair.

  Not only that, but bigfoot prints were found nearby, along with some hair samples—which matched no known animal.

  CHAPTER 42

  The ground was uneven, and Tess had to focus in order to not lose her footing as she chased Sugar through the trees. It had been three weeks since Charlie had introduced her to Sugar and Mary, and since then, Sugar and Mary had shown up with Charlie at least a dozen times.

  Mary never stayed as long as Sugar did, but there was something very calming about her presence. Sugar, however, was anything but calm. She was full of energy. She was the most friendly of the bigfoot and the most willing to interact—even more than Charlie himself. Much like human juveniles, Sugar didn’t seem as concerned as her elders were about the possible dangers of her actions.

  Each time she visited, Sugar grew bolder. She’d already investigated Tess’s lean-to and her packs. Tess had taken more than a few walks with her. And of course, there was the required Twinkie at every visit. Tess worried a little about getting Sugar hooked on the stuff, but the little bigfoot seemed so happy when she got to eat them.

  Now Sugar and Tess were playing their own version of hide-and-seek. Sugar always hid, and Tess always sought—and Tess rarely found her without a little help from Sugar.

  But Tess had learned a lot. Sugar would sometimes emit an odor in one spot and then skip off to hide somewhere else. She could move just as soundlessly through the forest as Charlie, and she was incredibly strong. Tess might see her on the ground, then turn away and look back only to find Sugar swinging down at her from a tree limb. Sugar could also go completely still, and in an instant, she would blend into the shadows and trees. Even while looking for her, Tess would often pass right by.

  As a scientist, Tess was cataloguing these physical behaviors, of course; but she was also enjoying herself. Sugar just wanted to have fun. She was a sweet child.

  The thought brought Tess up short. Child. When had she stopped thinking of them as animals? But the truth was, she had. It was like she was finding a new tribe of humans—incredibly large, powerful, and hairy humans, but humans nonetheless.

  Over the last few weeks, she’d debated how best to classify them. They had similarities to gorillas, especially in their foot shape and their torsos. But they also had distinctly human characteristics as well. What she really needed was information on that DNA sample. She’d have to call Pax again and see if he’d had any luck yet. He’d reported having trouble finding a time when the lab was empty.

  She also knew Hayes was growing impatient with her, and she owed him an explanation. Yet she continued to refrain from telling him about either the hair sample or her interactions with the bigfoot.

  For no particular reason, Tess felt her spirits lift; and a moment later, she felt someone watching her. This was another ability she had noticed with the bigfoot: they were like the opposite of an empath—they projected their feelings. And the happiness Tess was feeling right now was Sugar’s.

  Tess grinned and then turned quickly, pointing up at the tree behind her. “Got you!”

  Sugar swung down from the tree, but she misjudged the distance, and as she landed, she bumped Tess on the shoulder—hard. Tess was knocked to the ground, the wind knocked out of her.

  Sugar immediately began to pace, her nervous chatter filling the air. And then Tess felt a second presence. When she looked up, she was unsurprised to see Charlie striding through the trees. He might be okay with Tess spending time with Sugar, but never without supervision.

  Charlie let out a bark, and Sugar cowered.

  Tess’s shoulder ached, but she wasn’t seriously injured. “No, no,” she said. “It was an accident. It’s okay.” She pushed herself to her feet and stood in front of the younger bigfoot, swallowing down her fear. “She didn’t mean it. It was an accident.”

  Charlie stared down at her, and Tess could swear she saw a smile cross his face before he disappeared back into the trees.

  Sugar put her hand gently on Tess’s unharmed shoulder. Tess reached behind her and placed her hand on top of it. And with that move, she knew that all hope of scientific objectivity was lost.

  And she was completely okay with that.

  CHAPTER 43

  Tess stared out the window at the rain. After coming down all day yesterday, it was finally tapering off, but she still hadn’t been able to get out to the camp. She was waiting for a call from Pax regarding the sample. She was so tense. She couldn’t sit still. What is wrong with me?

  Her computer beeped behind her. She crossed the room and answered it. “Hey, Pax.”

  “Hey yourself.”

  “Any luck running the samples?”

  “Oh, I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

  Tess laughed. “Sorry. How are you?”

  He grinned. “Wonderful, and no, I haven’t been able to run the samples yet. But everyone is supposed to be out of the office at lunch tomorrow for a department meeting. I’m going to see if I can get in then.”

  Tess bit her lip. “I appreciate you doing this, but I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

  “Hey, no risk, no reward, right?” Pax looked around and then slowly unbuttoned his shirt.

  “Uh, what are you doing?”

  “Showing you my commitment.” He flashed his shirt open, and Tess let out a laugh. Underneath his uniform was a red T-shirt. Emblazoned across the front were the words “Team Sasquatch” above a cartoon picture of a waving bigfoot.

  Tess laughed. “Far be it for me to dissuade a member of Team Sasquatch.”

  “And speaking of meetings, I need to run to one now. Call you later?”

  “Okay.”

  Pax disappeared from Tess’s screen.

  Tess stayed where she was. She wanted to know what bigfoot was. She really did. It was why she had sent Pax the sample.

  Today though, she had made a decision. She was going to cancel the grant with Hayes. She couldn’t put Charlie and his family at risk.

  A weight lifted off her shoulders at the decision, and she felt lighter than she had in days.

  And hopefully tomorrow, she would finally be able to classify them. She smiled. Yup, tomorrow was going to be an amazing day.

  CHAPTER 44

  As Tess walked down the path, her thoughts were on Pax and the results he might have later today. What do I do with them?

  She was so lost in thought, she didn’t immediately realize that the woods had gone deathly quiet. When she did finally notice it, she froze and scanned the area. She couldn’t see anything wrong.

  It’s nothing, she thought. But as she continued on toward her camp, she pulled her shotgun out nonetheless. As much as she enjoyed spending time with the bigfoot, they were not the only predators out here. There were mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, and wild pigs to worry about as well.

  Arriving at the campsite, she found a few more footprints over by the log. Damn it. Tess grabbed a branch and quickly wiped the prints away. It was only after she’d done so that she realized with a shock that she hadn’t even taken photos of them first. She sat back on her heels, bemused. Well, I really have turned a corner.

  Shaking her head, she dropped her pack. A shadow separated from the tree ahead of her, and her head jerked up. When Charlie stepped forward, Tess put a hand to her racing heart. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.” She looked around. “Where’s Sugar
and Mary?”

  She grabbed an apple from her pack and tossed it at him. Charlie caught it but didn’t take a bite. He just stood, unmoving.

  Tess narrowed her eyes and took a step closer to him. “Is everything all right?”

  Suddenly, Tess felt a powerful sadness tinged with fear. For a moment it was all she could think about, and then, just as quickly as the feeling had arrived, it disappeared.

  She stared at Charlie. “Those were your feelings.”

  He’d never done that before. Tess had felt Sugar’s and Mary’s feelings, but never Charlie’s. She had begun to think that projecting emotions was an ability that only the females had.

  Charlie held out his hand. Tess started. She’d held Sugar’s hand, even Mary’s one time, but never Charlie’s. But she hesitated. Then she stepped forward and placed her hand in his. Gently, Charlie closed his fingers over it.

  A sigh rolled through her giant friend. Then he stepped back, giving her hand a gentle tug.

  “You want me to go with you?”

  Charlie tugged again, a little less gently.

  Tess put up her other hand and gestured behind her. “Okay, okay. Let me get my pack.”

  She pulled her hand away and quickly grabbed her bag. When she turned back, Charlie had already started walking away. She strapped on her pack and followed.

  Charlie walked quickly, and Tess had a tough time keeping up. At one point, she thought she’d lost him. But Charlie almost immediately reappeared and waited, as if making sure she was still following. This is not our normal game of hide-and-seek.

  Tess had the distinct impression Charlie was leading her somewhere specific. He led her off-trail, deep into the forest, to an area she had never been in before. She looked at the dense trees surrounding her with more than a little trepidation. “In for a penny, in for a pound,” she muttered with a sigh.