Town in a Wild Moose Chase

by B. B. Haywood

  “She did. She said it had something to do with us.”

  “Us?”

  “You and me. She said it’s centered around the two of us.”

  “Well that sounds pretty weird. Did she tell you what this something is?”

  Candy nodded. “She called it a darkness.”

  He whistled. “That sounds ominous.”

  “It does, doesn’t it?”

  They stopped. They had reached the place where Solomon had fallen to the ground.

  “He came from that way,” Ben said, indicating the old hermit’s now indistinct tracks, which led up toward the trees on the right.

  “And he left that way,” Candy said, pointing off in a different direction, also still marked by the trail of Solomon’s footprints. “I followed those tracks yesterday but didn’t find anything.”

  Ben eyed the numerous tracks that spread across the field, including those made by the police, and finally pointed to the spot where Solomon had emerged from the woods. “Let’s head this way. Maybe we can find out where he came from, and that will give us some clues.”

  She nodded, and together they started toward the top of the ridge. “We’d better stay on our toes,” he told her as they walked, their breaths starting to come harder. “Glad I brought my GPS with me. I have this too.”

  He reached into one of his coat pockets and pulled out a small, military-style compass, which he handed to her. “I’ve had this since my days overseas. It came in handy a few times. Why don’t you hold on to it, just in case.”

  He reached for her right hand, placed the compass in it, curled her fingers around it, and continued to hold her hand. “Listen, let’s try to stay together, okay? If we get separated, just stay where you are and I’ll double back and find you. If worse comes to worst, you have the compass, so you can find your way back out. Just head south-southeast and you should come out somewhere near the farm. And promise me,” he continued, his tone turning more serious, “that if we do find something in there, you won’t do anything crazy.”

  Candy gave him an amused smile. “What makes you think I’d do anything crazy?”

  “Because,” he said, looking into her eyes, “I know you.”

  FIFTEEN

  The woods closed in around them.

  As they followed a path of fading footprints back through the trees, Candy couldn’t help but feel there was another world that existed here when humans weren’t around. The silence of the winter forest seemed to have a sound of its own, an ever-present whisper that came from all around them, disturbed only by the crunch of their boots on the snowpack and the rattle of bare branches in the faint wind. The woodland animals were invisible in the landscape, tucked into their dens or hiding spots, shivering silently as they waited for the visitors to pass.

  Or maybe they were hiding from something else.

  Ben must have felt it too, because he said nothing. Instead, his eyes scanned the woods ahead of them, carefully picking out the best path for them between the trees, bushes, outcroppings of rock, and fallen branches and trunks, eyes ever watchful.

  “Stay close,” he said to her again, in a low tone, as he detoured around a fallen pine tree with an extensive root system that had been plucked out of the ground at some point in the recent past, perhaps during one of the fierce spring storms of the past few years.

  Once they were on the other side of the fallen tree, Ben had difficulty picking up Solomon’s trail. There were several sets of footprints here, all moving around and across each other. It was probably a place where the police officers who had searched the woods the previous day had gathered to compare notes and decide their next move.

  After studying the area for a few minutes, Ben finally pointed to a set of footprints that angled off from the others, headed back into the densest part of the forest. “It’s just a hunch, but I’d say he came from that direction.”

  Candy followed his gaze. “Why that way?”

  “Well, the pattern on the bottom of the boots looks fairly well worn. My guess is Solomon doesn’t go shopping much. Plus they’re more indistinct than the other tracks, so it’s likely they were made earlier. And besides”—Ben pointed down at his handheld GPS device, which he’d pulled out of his coat pocket—“they lead off in the general direction of Solomon’s camp.”

  Candy whistled. “Wow, that’s impressive. You been reading a lot of mystery novels lately?”

  He gave her a boyish grin. “I lean more toward James Bond and old Alistair MacLean adventures. Shall we?” He tilted his head toward the miasma of grays, browns, and dark shadows at the heart of the forest, and they started off again.

  The footprints changed direction several times, first heading off in a northerly direction, then angling off to the northeast before swinging northwest. “It’s like he couldn’t decide which direction to head,” Ben said. “He was stumbling around.”

  “Maybe he was injured.”

  “Or scared.”

  “Because he was being chased?”

  Ben raised an eyebrow but didn’t answer.

  They followed the tracks into a low area, where they managed to cross over the thin ice of a frozen stream without falling in, and climbed up the bank on the other side. Here the trees were less dense, and the woods opened up, so they could see all the way to a rocky outcropping a few hundred yards away, at the top of a gradual slope.

  But Solomon’s tracks had disappeared.

  They searched the high bank in both directions, but all signs of him were gone.

  However, they soon came across another set of the large prints in the snow.

  “Too big for deer, and not quite the right shape,” Ben said, crouching down to get a better look. “They’re moose tracks.”

  Candy felt a chill go through her. “A moose? Out here?”

  Ben straightened. “That what it looks like, and from the size of the tracks he must be a big fellow.”

  Candy blinked several times and turned in both directions, searching the woods around them, suddenly alert.

  “Something wrong?” Ben asked, watching her.

  “I don’t know. It’s just… I saw a moose last night.”

  Ben grinned. “You did? Where?”

  “Behind the farm. I had trouble falling asleep, so I got out of bed to look out the window. And I saw it. It walked right out of the woods and turned up along the edge of the field, sauntering along as if it didn’t have a care in the world. So you think it’s the same one?”

  “It could be. What did it look like? How big?” Ben asked, gesturing with his hands.

  “Big,” Candy said. “No antlers. And it was white.”

  “White?”

  “Well, at least that’s how it looked in the moonlight.”

  Ben sounded impressed. “I haven’t heard of a white moose sighting in this area for years. I wonder what it’s doing around here.”

  “Maybe it senses something strange going on in the woods,” Candy said, speaking before she had a chance to think about what she was saying. “Maybe… maybe it’s here for a reason. Maybe it was drawn here because of—”

  She broke off when she saw the strange look on Ben’s face. “But that’s crazy, isn’t it?” she said after a few moments.

  “What’s crazy?”

  She hesitated but decided she might as well finish what she’d started saying. “That the white moose has something to do with Solomon’s disappearance. That it’s here for a reason. Something drew it here, something that’s not right. It came here to…” But she stopped herself again, as if she’d just listened to what she was saying. “Okay, yeah, that does sound a little crazy.”

  Ben let out a breath. “I think we’re both letting our imaginations get away from us. But I have to be honest with you. After what’s happened around this town the past few years, I’ve learned to discount nothing. At least, not until we know what’s going on.” He took her hand and squeezed it. “Come on, let’s keep looking.”

  They followed the moose t
racks in silence so they could tune in to the sounds of the forest. The woods grew dense again, with thick undergrowth and dark gray branches overhead. Flakes of snow filtered down through the canopy. The day had turned colder. Candy was starting to feel it in her bones.

  Ben stopped her suddenly and put a finger to his lips. “Shhh.”

  He pulled her aside, behind the thick trunk of a tall pine.

  “What’s wrong?” she whispered.

  “I think we’re being followed.”

  “By who?” Cautiously, she stuck her head out from behind the tree. She studied the woods they’d just come through. “I don’t see anyone.”

  “I know. Listen.”

  They were both silent as they huddled together against the tree, his arms around her.

  When the sound came, from their left, their heads turned toward it in unison.

  “I heard that,” Candy whispered, alert for any movement.

  “Me too.”

  “What do you think it is?”

  “I don’t know,” Ben said.

  They heard it again, a rattling in the woods.

  “I think we should check it out,” Candy said. “It might be Solomon.”

  Ben thought about that. The concern was clear on his face. “I’ll check it out,” he said after a few moments. “You stay here. I’ll be right back.”

  She grasped his arm. “Where are you going?”

  “To investigate.”

  “But you said we should stay together.”

  “I’ll feel better if you stay here.” He patted her hand. “Don’t worry. It’s probably just a deer or something. I’ll be right back.”

  He headed off through the trees and was gone.

  Candy found herself strangely calm as she waited, alone. She’d been in these woods many times before. She knew them well. But she also knew there were all sorts of creatures around, including black bears and even a few wolves.

  She felt strangely unprotected, and wished she had a weapon. Maybe a knife. Or maybe just a heavy iron frying pan, which she could use to deliver a good blow if she needed to.

  She heard another sound, coming from the other direction, opposite from the way Ben had gone.

  “Ben!” she whispered loudly. “Is that you?”

  There was no answer.

  “Ben!” More sharply this time.

  She heard the sound again.

  It was coming from somewhere off to her right, behind a dense stand of brown bushes.

  She saw movement then and jumped back, hugging the tree.

  When she looked again, she saw a section of the bushes swaying.

  Something’s back there! she thought.

  She looked around the tree in the opposite direction.

  Ben was nowhere to be seen.

  She thought of calling out to him again but hesitated. She didn’t know what was in the woods with her. Best to keep a low profile.

  Taking a deep breath, she edged around the curve of the tree so she could get a better look at the surrounding landscape. If she moved off to her right, she could circle around behind the bushes so she could see who—or what—was back there.

  She stepped out as stealthily as possibly, placing her boots down slowly to minimize their crunch. The bushes were rattling again. Something was pushing against them and yanking at them.

  It took her several minutes to move into position, crossing patiently from tree to tree, taking her time. She heard a snort and the rustle of something pawing at the ground. The bushes snapped.

  As Candy stepped behind the final tree trunk, she heard heavy footsteps shuffling nearby, then coming toward her. In a moment of panic she knew she’d been spotted. She thought of running but kept still, until the footsteps stopped.

  She slid slightly to her left, cautiously rounding the tree trunk, trying to look beyond the curve of the tree, but at first she could see nothing. Mustering up all her courage, she scooted farther around the trunk.

  And found herself face-to-face with the white moose.

  SIXTEEN

  It was so close she could practically reach out and touch it. But she didn’t. Keeping her hands at her sides, feeling the tree bark reassuringly at her back, she returned the way she’d come, scooting along the curve of the trunk until she was just out of the animal’s line of sight.

  That, she thought, might do the trick. Out of sight, out of mind, right? It would probably just head off in the opposite direction, sauntering away in search of the next low bush or outcropping of grass, and paying her no further attention.

  She’d heard stories of moose charging humans and trampling them, especially when the big animals felt threatened or cornered. It had happened last fall, when a bow hunter up near Lincoln had shot at one. Startled and injured, the moose had planted its legs, lowered its antlers, and charged the man with surprising speed and agility, knocking him down onto his back, though he’d managed to escape un-harmed. She’d watched the video online a half dozen times, both fascinated and amused by the scene.

  Moose were generally shy, quiet creatures, of course, who kept to themselves and usually preferred that humans do the same. When encountered in the wilderness, they were best left to their own.

  And that’s exactly what Candy planned to do. No sense tempting fate and risking a run-in with a startled or aggressive moose.

  So she waited, counting to thirty in a slow, controlled manner, before she permitted herself another peek around the side of the tree.

  The moose was still there, head turned slightly, thick ears standing straight up.

  It was watching her.

  This animal didn’t act startled or spooked or even mildly upset. Instead, it looked… curious.

  “Hi,” Candy said.

  In response, the moose let out a quick blast of air through its large nostrils, creating billowing clouds of condensation as it exhaled into the cold afternoon.

  “Oh!” Startled, Candy backed away, around the curve of the tree.

  This time the moose followed her, circling the tree with slow, deliberate steps. When it had her in its line of sight again, it drew itself to a stop as nonchalantly as possible.

  Candy stood rooted to the spot, thrilled and terrified to be so close to a wild animal of this size. It was a magnificent creature, standing more than six feet at the shoulder, with a wide front torso and a thick neck. The fur along its face was snowy white, which darkened to a cream color along its hump and back, and turned to light gray along its back legs.

  “I won’t hurt you,” Candy squeaked, “if you don’t hurt me.”

  The moose snorted and swung its head in the other direction.

  “Okay, so… we have a deal, right?”

  The white moose stood stoically, its large dark eye flicking back and forth, as if considering the matter. But it gave no indication that it intended to cause her any trouble. Instead, it seemed to be enjoying the temporary companionship with another living being.

  Maybe it’s lost, Candy thought. Or lonely.

  “Are you doing okay, fella?” she asked in a soft voice.

  She sensed the animal was male, a bull, but once she thought about that, it seemed obvious, due to the animal’s size. Still, without the antlers, it was sometimes hard to tell.

  Looking restless, the moose shook its head, making the fur-curved flap of skin under its chin, which Candy had heard was called a bell or dewlap, jump and shiver. The moose began to look about and then, as if it had suddenly forgotten she was there, sauntered over to a low branch with a few leaves left on it, tentatively sniffed at them, and began to nibble.

  They both heard it at the same time, a crack that echoed through the trees.

  Abruptly the moose lifted its head, sniffed at the wind, and swung its body about, starting off toward the shelter of the trees.

  “Hey, where are you going?” Candy asked.

  But it paid her no more attention and trotted off to her right, into a thick stand of trees.

  A few moments later Ben call
ed out for her, from the forest to her left. Relieved, she called back, and they soon found each other.

  He gave her a hug. “Are you okay? I got worried when I couldn’t find you.”

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you worry. But yeah, yeah, I’m fine, I… I just thought I heard something, so I went to check it.”

  “Find anything?” He looked out into the forest around her, and surreptitiously she glanced at the spot between the trees nearby where the moose had disappeared. There was no sign of it.

  “It was… just a forest creature. A raccoon or something.”

  For a moment she felt guilty at the little white lie. She didn’t really know why she wasn’t ready to tell him about the moose, but for the moment she wanted to keep her encounter with the animal to herself.

  Ben nodded, apparently satisfied. He looked back at her and gave her a smile. “So how are you doing? Staying warm?”

  At his gaze, she indeed felt a sudden warmth inside. She smiled back. “I’m doing fine.”

  “So, do you want to press on? There’s a chance we can still pick up Solomon’s trail.”

  She quickly shook her head. “It’s getting late, and we both need to get back to town. Besides, I’m not sure this was such a good idea. These woods… well, it’s a lot of ground to cover.”

  Ben agreed. “Okay, but if you feel up to it tomorrow, we can try it again then.”

  Candy nodded as she took his arm. “Thanks, but I think I’m good. Maybe the chief’s right—maybe we should leave the searching to the police.”

  Ben tilted his head as he looked at her. “Good advice, but that doesn’t sound like the Candy Holliday I know. You’re not giving up yet, are you? You’re just getting started.”

  “Okay, you’re probably right about that,” she said with a wry grin as she tugged him along, “but enough of the woods today. We’ve got a parade to catch, right?”

  “Agreed, but I want you to know I’m with you on this,” he said earnestly. “Whatever happens and whatever you decide to do, I’ll back you up.”

  She squeezed his arm tighter. “Thanks, partner, I appreciate that.”