by C W Hawes
***
Shortly before four in the afternoon, the SUV pulled up in front of the long, low ranch-style home of Bill and Judy Young. Mostyn had phoned ahead, so waiting for them was a man Mostyn guessed to be in his forties. He was wearing jeans and a flannel shirt, for the strong wind made the dry September air feel cooler than it was, especially when the sun slipped behind a cloud.
Mostyn exited the vehicle and walked up to the man. “I’m Pierce Mostyn, Special Agent in Charge.” He showed the man his ID, which identified him as being with the Interior Department.
“I’m Bill Young,” the man responded, shaking hands with Mostyn. Noticing the others in the SUV, Young said, “Why don’t you and your team come inside?”
Mostyn indicated his team members should get out of the vehicle, and then they all followed Young into the house.
When seated in the living room, and after introductions had been made and coffee had been served by Judy Young, Bill got down to business.
“You want to know about the chupacabra. Well, it’s real. After the first attack, Amos Brown, one of my hands, and I waited for it the next night. The moon was out so we didn’t have any trouble seeing.”
“When was this?” Dotty asked.
“Four weeks ago from last Thursday.”
Dotty nodded.
Young continued, “Amos and I were in the back of the pickup, that way we could get a good shot. Along about one in the morning, we saw movement. Something was coming down from one of the hills. I picked it up in my scope. Looked like a she-bear in size.”
“What does that mean?” Helene asked.
“It was around two-fifty to three hundred pounds.” Young answered.
“Thank you,” Helene said, and followed up with, “How do you know it was not a she-bear?”
“I was coming to that, young lady. I know it wasn’t a bear because it had spines on its back and didn’t have fur like a bear.”
“Did you get a picture?” Baker asked.
“I didn’t take a camera,” Young replied. “I wasn’t interested in getting its picture. I wanted it dead so it wouldn’t be attacking any more of my animals.”
Baker nodded. “I understand. Did you shoot it?”
“I shot it, but must’ve only wounded it. The thing took off before I could get in a second shot.”
“What were you using, Mr Young?” Mostyn asked.
“Bolt-action thirty-aught six.”
Mostyn nodded. “And Mr Brown didn’t get in a shot?”
“He has that thirty-thirty lever-action and the creature was out about eight hundred yards.”
“I see,” Mostyn said. “How certain are you that you wounded the creature?”
Young looked perturbed. “Amos and I went back when it was daylight and found blood. That’s how I know, Mr Mostyn.”
“No offense intended, Mr Young,” Mostyn replied. “You searched for the creature?”
“We did. Didn’t find it, though. Blood trail just disappeared, and it got into some terrain where we couldn’t follow its footprints.”
Mostyn nodded. “And you haven’t seen it since?”
“No, sir.”
“In the remaining daylight,” Mostyn said, “we’re going to do some searching on our own, if you don’t mind showing us where you were when you shot the creature.”
“Suit yourselves. But I doubt you’ll find it.” Young stood. “I’ll get my truck. Just follow me.”
***
A half-hour later found Mostyn and his team in a flat area of grazed prairie grasses and low, scrub-like trees, surrounded by several hills covered with similar vegetation.
“Up there, coming down from the top of that hill is where it was when I shot it,” Young said.
“Jones, Ramsey, get the drones and set them loose,” Mostyn ordered.
Ramsey looked up from his iPad. “I’ll get them.”
Jones shrugged. “Sure, Agent Geek. Whatever you want.”
Ramsey gave him the finger, tucked the tablet into his backpack, and went to the back of the SUV.
Jones pressed a button on the key fob to unlock the back hatch and Ramsey took out what looked like a large suitcase. He extended the legs from one side so the case looked like a small table, then he opened it, got his iPad out, tapped on it, and out of the case flew over a hundred tiny drones.
Ramsey set up a second tablet that was stored in the suitcase and directed the drones in an ever widening circular search pattern for the chupacabra.
Young inquired of Mostyn what was going on.
“We’re searching for the creature by means of those tiny drones. They have visual, infrared, and heat-seeking capabilities. If the creature is out there, Agent Ramsey will find it.”
“But it could be anywhere,” Young protested. “I shot it four weeks ago.”
“I know. But it’s possible the thing has gone to ground somewhere to heal itself. If it has, Ramsey and his drones should find it. Otherwise I’ll put money on it that he’ll at least find the thing’s carcass.”
Young shook his head. “Well, I’ll be damned. It’s no wonder people are so paranoid over these drones.”
“And they should be,” Mostyn replied.
While Mostyn and Young chatted, the other team members got comfortable waiting for the drones to come up with something. All except Ramsey, Baker, and Helene, that is. Ramsey was busy with the drones. Baker was taking pictures with his camera, and Helene was reveling in the new experiences the locale was providing her.
Meanwhile the tiny drones continued to fly in ever widening circles. Ramsey bent over the tablets watching the data stream in. Mostyn, excusing himself from Young’s company, joined Ramsey; although he couldn’t tell much as to what was going on from the small tablet screens.
Mostyn checked his watch. The drones had been in the air for seventeen minutes.
“How much longer can they stay aloft, Ramsey?”
“Another two minutes and then I’ll have to bring them back, sir.”
“Okay,” Mostyn replied.
And then a light began flashing in one of the small windows.
Ramsey got excited. “We have a heat signature, sir.”
“The creature?”
“Possibly. The data stream indicates that whatever it is, it isn’t your everyday ordinary coyote or gila monster.”
“Do you have a location?”
“Yes. Putting it on this iPad now.”
“Good, Ramsey. You may have just earned your paycheck for the week.”
“The drone that spotted the heat signature has landed and is sending out a tracking signal. I’ve called the others back.”
Mostyn called out, “Okay, people, listen up. We may have found the creature. Penn, get the tranquilizer rifle. Gerstner, get the cage. We’ll be moving out as soon as the drones are back.”
Within a few minutes the little machines returned and Ramsey safely stowed them away. Mostyn then gave the command to move out. He, Ramsey, and Penn were in the lead, Ramsey having a tracking device. The rest of the team followed, and even Bill Young joined them. He wanted to get an up-close look at what had attacked his animals.
The tiny drone’s signal led them to a small rock outcropping. The creature was not immediately visible.
Young removed his baseball cap, scratched the top of his head, and said, “You think that thing buried itself and went into some kind of hibernation?”
“That’s exactly what I think,” Dr Penn said.
“The signal is coming from under that ledge,” Ramsey said.
Mostyn pointed to Gerstner. “Set the cage up. Dotty, can you help him? Baker, get your camera ready. Okay, Jones, let’s dig this thing out.”
The two agents started scooping away the dry soil. Penn was there, watching, with the tranquilizer rifle, and Baker was recording the operation. Helene was also close by.
“I think I have a thigh, here,” Jones said.
The ground started shifting and Mostyn yelled, “Back!”
In a moment, the chupacabra had emerged from its hiding place. It wasn’t fully awake and staggered on its feet. It let out a snarl and lunged for Jones, who was closest to the thing.
Penn fired his rifle and the tranquilizer dart bounced off the creature’s furry hide.
Jones pulled his pistol out of its holster. The chupacabra shook itself, let out another snarl, and made for Jones. Before he could fire his weapon, the thing disappeared.
“What the hell?” Young said.
And then the creature was in the cage Gerstner and Dotty had assembled.
“Who are you people?” Young asked.
Mostyn ignored the question and made a call.
“Mind my asking what kind of phone that is?” Young asked.
Mostyn turned to him. “Special satellite phone. We use it when there are no phone towers nearby. And to answer your other question, we are Interior Department people.”
“Mighty handy contraption,” Young said.
“It is,” Mostyn replied.
Young stood there, baseball cap in hand, and said, “What I really want to know is how did you get that thing in the cage?”
Jones clapped him on the shoulder. “Pretty neat, huh?”
“Yeah, but how…?”
Jones smiled. “If I told you that, my friend, I’d have to kill you.”
Young’s eyes were like saucers.
Gerstner, Penn, and Ramsey had never seen Helene Dubreuil’s ability to dematerialize things in action before, although they knew she could do so. Nevertheless, even with their knowledge, they were a bit wide-eyed as well.
“Chopper will be here in twenty,” Mostyn said. “I suggest you all get comfortable.”
***
With the chopper carrying the chupacabra and Dr Penn on its way to a secret Federal facility, Mostyn decided to spend the night in Springerville due to the time being so late. They’d head out for Albuquerque in the morning, where they’d get the OUP jet to take them to their next destination.
Just outside of Springerville, there was a chain inn that had rooms and Mostyn had booked one for each of the team members. When they reached the big box building and entered the lobby, Dotty said, “You call this a hotel, Mostyn?”
Before Mostyn could reply, Gerstner said, “Well, it seems to me, Doctor, this inn is better than a roadside motel. At least it has wi-fi, TV, and serves breakfast.”
Mostyn went to the desk to pay for the rooms and get the keys.
“I can’t wait for tomorrow morning,” Kemper replied. “Rubber eggs and gooey oatmeal. Yum.”
Mostyn came back with the keys. “We’re basically in the middle of nowhere, Dot. Be thankful they had rooms for us.” He held out a key for her.
Helene was all smiles. “Besides, my sister—”
Dotty cut her off. “I’m not your sister, and I don’t give a damn about the new experience. Got it?” She snatched the key out of Mostyn’s hand and stormed off towards the elevator.
Mostyn shook his head and passed out keys to the other team members. They made their way to the elevator, Kemper long gone, and on the second floor began looking for their rooms.
“Here’s mine,” Gerstner said. He was across from Mostyn.
Jones and Ramsey had rooms down the hall. Helene was next to Mostyn.
“Are we going out for supper?” Gerstner asked.
“Half hour or so,” Mostyn replied, and entered his room. He threw himself on his bed, and thought about the day’s operation. It had been a success. They’d captured a living chupacabra. Bardon ought to be very pleased about that.
Bill Young had signed an agreement that he would not talk about what he’d witnessed of the OUP operation. The penalty if he did so was that he’d be charged with treason against the United States of America.
“You people don’t fool around,” was his comment just before he signed. To which Mostyn had responded, “No, we don’t.”
There was a knock on the door. Mostyn got up to see who it was. Jones. He opened the door.
“Hey, Boss. Mind if Ramsey and I go get us all some food? We’re starved.”
“No, not at all. You have your agency card?”
“You bet. Want anything in particular?”
“No. Burger and fries. Otherwise, I’m okay with anything.”
“Will do. We’re off.”
Mostyn closed the door and was almost back to the bed, when there was another knock. He walked back, saw Helene, and opened the door.
“Since it is still my month to be with you, let’s look at the stars.”
Mostyn smiled. “Sure.”
He grabbed his suit coat and went outside with Helene. They walked a little way from the building.
“I do not think I will ever get tired of seeing the stars,” she said. “And out here in the desert there are so many more to see. Every night is a new experience!”
Mostyn took her hand and chuckled. No stars, no moon, no sun in the subterranean world of K’n-yan. Just the never ending bluish light. And as far as Mostyn was concerned, they were welcome to it.
He thought back to the capture of the creature. The legend was not myth. It was real. Or was it? Penn and others would examine the thing of legend and decide just exactly what the creature was. Then they’d know for sure.
His thoughts, however, went to the night raid he and Kymbra NicAskill had conducted back in July. And Mostyn couldn’t help but wonder if Van Dyne Corporation was somehow behind the chupacabra. The goat-sucker. That their enemy was right here among them.
5
The creature charged him out of the pitch black night. It looked like a chupacabra, but was as massive as a four-story suburban mega-home. Mostyn fired his pistol, over and over, to no effect. This was it. The thing was almost on him, saliva dripping from its fangs.
All around him there was a ringing, and something was shaking him. The creature. He heard his name.
He opened his eyes. Helene was looking at him. “The phone is for you. Mr Young says it is urgent.”
Mostyn groaned, and took the phone from her. He noticed the time was 2:07 in the morning.
“Mostyn, here. What can I do for you, Mr Young?”
“I think you and your people had best come back here right away.”
“Why?”
“Because one of my hands, Pedro Garcia, was killed just a few hours ago. His throat was torn out. Which means there must be another one of those devil creatures out there.”
Mostyn wondered if they were starting to travel in packs. To Young, he said, “Have you touched or moved anything?”
“Nope. Called you as soon as I could after we found the body.”
“We’ll be there as soon as we can. We’re in Springerville. Did you call the sheriff?”
“Nope. Called you first.”
“Good. Best if we leave the local folks out of this. My team and I will be there as soon as we can.”
The call ended. Mostyn looked at Helene. She was sitting in bed in the buff as she usually was when she slept. God, she was beautiful. Long black hair. Flawless, alabaster skin. Small, perky breasts.
“You were having another nightmare. You should talk to Dr Bardon.”
“I have. Not much he can do. I’ve seen too many things. Done too many things.”
She looked thoughtful.
“What is it?”
“I was just thinking. It is too bad I do not have access to K’n-yanian medicine. I am sure there is something that could be given to you so you do not have these dreams.”
“Well, you don’t,” he replied. “So I guess I’ll have to live with it. We’d best get going. Gotta get the others up.”
“I’ll call them while you get ready.”
He looked at her. “How about we shower, and then call them?”
“Oh, Mostyn Pierce. You are a devil!”
“Maybe. Certainly not like the devil we’re facing.”
“What do you mean?”
“This is something new, and not new
in a good way. The chupacabra isn’t just going after animals anymore. Now it’s attacking people. This isn’t good. It isn’t good at all.”
***
Bill Young, Mostyn, and his team, save for Jones, who was at the Young home conducting interviews, watched as Dr Dotty Kemper examined the body of Pedro Garcia. After a couple minutes, Mostyn turned to Young.
“So the first you knew anything was wrong, was when your ranch hand, Jimmy Two Feathers, came out to relieve Pedro.”
“That’s correct. Jimmy phoned it in. Had to drive about three-quarters of a mile to get a signal.”
Mostyn nodded, and looked back at Kemper. “What do you think, Dot?”
She was stooping next to the body, a small and powerful flashlight in her hand. “He didn’t put up much of a fight. I’d say he was caught by surprise. Arms show signs he tried to defend himself. The attacker bit into and then tore out that section of his throat. Kind of like a dog or wolf might do. The jugular vein and carotid arteries were severed. He would have died very quickly. There’s very little blood on the ground, so I’m guessing that when we get him in for the autopsy we’ll find he was exsanguinated by the attacker.”
“I better arrange for a chopper,” Mostyn replied. He motioned for Young to follow, and while they walked a short distance from the group Mostyn made his call to OUP headquarters. When finished he turned to Young.
“Keep this quiet.”
“Sure. I understand.”
“Did Pedro have family?”
“He wasn’t married. But he did have a girlfriend. He lived at home with his parents and four siblings.”
Mostyn keyed in the data on his phone. “Address?”
Young gave him the address, and Mostyn keyed that into his phone as well. Then he sent a text with the data to headquarters.
“I’m not sure what the official story will be, but you will be briefed. The young man’s body will have to be examined, so my superiors will come up with a cover story. I assume I needn’t remind you about the papers you signed.”
