Alec Kerley and the Terror of Bigfoot (Book One of the Monster Hunters Series)

by Tanner, Douglas

  Alec saw the eyeshine of the small Bigfoot, green and reflective. The eyes blinked, and he heard a rustling sound, as if the little fellow was adjusting his sitting position for comfort. Then it dawned on him.

  The old stinky fella cares because this is his family, and he’s trying to protect them.

  Alec gazed up at the moon and myriad stars, bright and peaceful.

  And he wanted to tell us that it wasn’t his family that attacked us, so that we wouldn’t try to attack them back, get revenge. He wanted to make sure his family is safe from us, and he wanted to tell us that before…

  Alec closed his eyes.

  Before he dies.

  Alec kept his eyes closed for a long time, listening to the breeze ripple through the trees around him, listening to his heart beat, listening to himself breathe.

  He wants to make sure his family is safe from us before he is gone.

  Alec opened his eyes and traced the path that the ancient creature took when it left, with the young female holding him up.

  Does that thing really believe in God? In life after death?

  He looked back up at the sky.

  My mom believed that, too.

  He peered over toward the creatures again. The older female had gotten up and gone off into the darkness a long time ago, leaving the father and the young male to guard Alec. Why, he didn’t know. Maybe to go help the old beast.

  What if it’s true? What if God really is there, and there’s hope for something more? What if the ‘love of God’ that my mom always talked about is true?

  Alec shook his head and scoffed. Then he stared at his feet.

  What is going on with me?

  Ever since his mom had died, six months ago, life had been a boiling brew of emotional turmoil for Alec. Sometimes it seemed that pain was fluid, and lived in his soul, and leaked out of his eyes on a regular basis because he was overflowing with it and couldn’t hold it in.

  And now he was having deep thoughts about life?

  And what is it? What am I trying to figure out?

  He closed his eyes again, and breathed deep. The air was moist and musty. A chill was being carried in on the breeze, causing the skin on his arms to prickle with goose bumps.

  In his mind’s eye, there was his mom, in her hospitable bed, with the tubes sticking out of her arm, hooked up to that bag of fluid and the machine that monitored her heart. The illness had given her black eyes, and she looked gaunt. She opened her eyes and smiled when she saw him.

  “Hi, baby.”

  Then her face had become sad, and she said, “Sssshhhh, don’t cry. It’s okay. Listen. Listen. Alec. Listen to me. No matter what happens, I’m always with you. Okay? And God is, too. Okay?”

  “God’s not real, mom. If He’s real, why did He let this happen to you?” he had choked out.

  “He’s real, baby, He’s real. We can’t always see why He lets things happen. But He makes everything work out for our good, okay? Listen to me. Listen to me. Look at me. Life has purpose, and life has meaning, and death is not the end. Listen to me. No matter what happens, I want you to remember this: Death is not the end.”

  Alec opened his eyes. He didn’t try to wipe the tears away this time, he just let them run down his face. He was too tired to wipe them away anymore. Besides, they were his only way to pay tribute to the memory of his mom.

  He sighed. “Death is not the end.”

  The large male Bigfoot grunted.

  “Yeah, backatcha, big guy,” Alec replied.

  Out in the woods, something howled, long and haunting. It sent a chill down Alec’s spine.

  “Well, that was spooky,” he said, sniffling.

  A few minutes later, the two female Bigfoots apparated out of the night, walking into the stream of moonlight, then to the darkness where the large male sat. Alec heard the weird squawks and grunts and chatter that made the hair on the nape of his neck stand up. It came from both the older female and the adult male, back and forth, back and forth. They were having some sort of conversation.

  Finally, the young female stepped into the moonlight and stared at Alec somberly. She looks really serious, he thought. Not playful, like she had been earlier. She reached out and grabbed his left arm.

  “Okk.”

  Alec understood and got up, feeling stiff from sitting on the hard ground for so long. His legs were tingling, almost asleep.

  “Okay… are we done here?”

  “Okk.” She turned around and waited for the adults to lead the way, then she pulled Alec behind her into the black forest. The little one found Alec’s hand and walked beside him in silence.

  “Um… we’re not all going, are we?” Alec said, thinking about what a shock it would be for poor Mrs. Gonzalez to see him show up with a family of hairy, smelly monsters in tow. He chuckled at the thought.

  “No-ka!” the older female growled at him.

  Touchy! Alec thought, smiling, glad to be leaving their camp.

  They walked for a ways in the dark, Alec stumbling over unseen rocks or roots every now and then. The young female never let go of his arm, and the little male still held his hand.

  After several minutes, they emerged into a clearing that allowed for the half-moon to shine forth its full brilliance. Alec could see everything around him clearly, with the moonlight bathing everything in a bluish hue.

  And there, on the ground, lay the body of the old, white Bigfoot. Alec gawked at it in shocked silence. All the creatures stood staring at it quietly.

  “Is he… is he dead?” Alec whispered.

  Without a reply, the two males, the gigantic father and the small son, stepped forward, knelt on the ground, and began digging into the dirt with their hands. The two females started to moan softly, sadly, and sway back and forth.

  Alec watched the creatures digging without understanding for a while. Then a lump formed in his throat.

  They’re digging a grave.

  Watching the father and son kneeling there, side by side, grunting and digging quickly, urgently, touched Alec. He looked over at the dead body, remembering his conversation with the old creature. All he could think about was the mental image of that ancient being, staring up at the stars, with its arms held wide.

  And for some reason, he didn’t know why, tears began to tickle his cheeks again.

  Then the older female screamed, shrill and piercing. Over and over. The young female put her arms around her. Alec sobbed and, bravely, emotionally, he stepped forward and knelt next to the little one, leaned forward, and began digging into the dirt with his hands and fingernails.

  He worked in silence with the two beings known as Sasquatch, digging the old man’s grave. The mother continued to scream.

  It took about an hour. Alec estimated the grave must have been about five feet deep and maybe six feet wide. When it decided the hole was deep enough, the huge Bigfoot stopped and stood up. He stepped out of the grave, then reached both hands toward his son and Alec, and pulled them out. He walked over to a pine tree, pulled off several branches, and laid the boughs across the bottom of the grave; then picked up the body of the elderly creature and gently laid it on top of the pine boughs, and laid more branches over it. He began raking the dirt back into the hole, and Alec and the little one helped. They spread out the dirt and made the filled grave flat. The giant disappeared into the trees for a few minutes, then returned carrying a baby oak tree, roots and all. He planted the tree in the middle of the grave.

  When the father Bigfoot was finished, they all stood around the tree in silence. The mother was quiet now. Seeing the tears sparkling on Alec’s cheeks like diamonds in the moonlight, she approached him cautiously. She stopped before him, peered down at him for a moment, then pulled him in to a great, hairy hug.

  And he hugged her back, tight.

  After a few moments, the mother stepped back, and the two younger ones approached Alec. The little boy walked up to Alec first. He held out a twig that had been twisted into a small circle and tied clos
ed, which he had apparently made.

  “Okk,” he said.

  Alec sniffled. “Thanks.”

  Then the young female stepped up and punched Alec on the shoulder, hard.

  “Ow!” he shouted. She snickered.

  All at once, the gigantic father scooped Alec up and threw him over its right shoulder, just like it had carried him before, and it strode quickly out into the darkness of the forest. Alec tried to look back at the creatures standing in the moonlit clearing behind them, but had trouble seeing them, bouncing on the shoulder of the beast. Then, the clearing was gone, and they were swallowed up by the inky night.

  Danny peered at Chaney. “So what now, captain?”

  Captain Chaney, still brewing about the Sasquatch attack, muttered, “We’ve got a print to go on, so we’ll follow where it’s heading.” He looked at Lieutenant Glass. “Spread ’em out and do a sweep, that way,” he said, making a slice with his hand in the direction that the footprint was pointed.

  “Yes, sir!” the lieutenant replied.

  “I’m going out ahead,” Danny said.

  Captain Chaney stopped and stared at him. “This is a spec ops job—”

  “That’s my son out there, captain, don’t tell me this is normal protocol! I’m going out there first, and if you can keep up, fine. If you can’t, then I’ll find him myself.”

  Captain Chaney eyed him closely. Danny glared at him. The captain turned and called the lieutenant back. He pulled the night vision goggles off the soldier and gave them to Danny. “Then you’ll need these.”

  Danny shoved the pistol into his waistband, turned off the flashlight and handed it to John Gonzalez. Then he grabbed the goggles from Captain Chaney and pulled them over his eyes. Instantly, the night came alive in various shades of green, and he could see everything, bright and clear. He looked at John and Elbert and grabbed them, pulling them to him. “Let’s go, guys.”

  The three fathers began hiking in the direction the footprint pointed to, following Danny’s lead. Captain Chaney joined them. The captain’s soldiers formed a line, shoulder to shoulder, about five feet apart, and stalked through the woods behind them.

  A hand suddenly grabbed Danny’s left shoulder and squeezed. It was Captain Chaney. He had his other hand up to his ear, listening to his earpiece. The three fathers stopped, and the soldiers behind followed suit.

  “Repeat that, Red Eagle?” the captain said. He appeared alarmed. A moment later, he said, “Understood. We’ll broaden our search. Chaney out.” He looked at the three men grimly. “The other kids are gone.”

  Danny saw John and Elbert react. John’s mouth fell wide open, and Elbert seemed to lose balance for a second. Danny reached out to steady him.

  Captain Chaney continued: “They left a note. They went out the back door of the cabin to search for your son,” he looked at Danny.

  Elbert sat down on the ground, overcome. “Ethan,” he mumbled.

  “And the women? They’re okay?” John whispered.

  “They’re fine. My man is with them, and there’s been no sign of any mischief from the Sasquatches. But they’re pretty upset about the kids.”

  John looked down at the ground and put his hands on his hips. Then he bent forward, placing his hands on his knees. He appeared to be trying to get his breath.

  Danny put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “They’re smart kids,” Danny said. “Capable. Ken is strong and Sarah’s sharp as a tack.” He turned to Elbert. “And Ethan… that kid has more spunk than any kid I’ve ever seen.” But he knew these were just words to these shocked fathers. Personally, Danny was afraid for those kids, too. Just as afraid as he was for his own son.

  “Emily… I’m responsible for her, too,” John managed. “How could I tell her mother…”

  “Mr. Kerley, we really need to keep moving,” Captain Chaney said.

  “Good grief, man, have a heart!” Danny said, appalled. “They just found out their kids are out in these woods alone! Just like my Alec!”

  After a moment of silence, John said, “No, he’s right.” He slowly stood straight and went to Elbert, taking his hand and helping him up. “We’ve got to keep moving. Got to find them.” His voice was hoarse.

  Elbert sighed. “Yep,” he muttered.

  Danny put one hand on each man’s shoulder. They put a hand on his shoulders in return. They peered at each other solemnly.

  Danny nodded. “Let’s do this.”

  John and Elbert nodded back. The three fathers turned and Danny began walking into the woods, leading the way. Captain Chaney stepped in behind them, followed by the row of soldiers.

  Danny leaned over to John as they walked. “You okay?” he said.

  John’s face was stone. “We’re runnin’ outa time,” he murmured.

  “We’ll find them, John.”

  Danny looked straight ahead and picked up his pace. We’ll find them, he thought again. But dead or alive? He pulled the gun out of his waistband and gripped it like a vice.

  Sarah twirled her flashlight around at the night. “Red eyes! Where?”

  “Somewhere out there, about ten feet away!” Emily’s voice shook as she pointed.

  Electricity shot down Ken’s spine, and he stared at the trees and darkness, his breath coming in short gasps. Ethan grabbed Sarah’s left arm tight, shining his light in the same direction that Sarah was shining hers.

  “How many?” Ken squawked.

  “What?” said Emily.

  “How many? How many eyes?”

  “Two!”

  “Are ya sure?” he said.

  “Yes, I swear it! And they were red!”

  Ken remembered what the Indian soldier at the cabin had said about the red-eyed Bigfoots: You don’t want to mess with the ones with eyes the color of blood.

  Ethan tooted loudly. Everyone turned and glared at him.

  “Oh, Ethan!” Sarah complained, making a face.

  “Dude!” Ken said.

  “Sorry!” Ethan replied sheepishly. “My mom calls me Fart Blossom.”

  “Uh!” said Sarah.

  “And my dad calls me Tooty Fart.”

  “Okay, Ethan! Thanks for that.” Sarah shook her head.

  “Hello!” Ken called out to the darkness. “Who’s out there?”

  Silence.

  “Hello?” Emily shouted.

  The group of kids gazed around intently, their hearts racing. They were surrounded by the living forest and the blackness of the night seemed to cover and choke them like a giant, unseen hand. The air was cool and damp, and they could smell the mustiness of rotting vegetation and mud underfoot. They shined their flashlights everywhere, but the red eyes were gone.

  His body dangling over the Bigfoot’s right shoulder, Alec listened to the creature walking, breathing, grunting. It sliced through the trees and bushes like a phantom, mostly quiet, hidden in darkness and shadows. Every once in a while Alec turned his head and caught a sideways glance up at the sky, when breaks in the trees revealed it. The night was quiet and peaceful, with a plethora of stars arrayed like a celestial audience to his plight, mute and rapt.

  The skin of his cheek and arms rubbed against the long, coarse hair that smelled like wet dog, and he could feel the animal’s intense body heat. It actually helped keep him warm in the coolness of the deep night.

  He’s taking me back.

  Alec wasn’t sure how he knew that, but he did. He’d met the old creature, he’d learned what it wanted him to know, that they weren’t the beasts who’d attacked the cabin, and now this Bigfoot was returning Alec back to his own family.

  The Sasquatch stopped suddenly and stood still. Alec tried to look around the area but only saw darkness and the leaves from low-hanging tree branches.

  “What’s going on there, big fella?” he said. “This doesn’t look like my cabin, my friend, just to let you know. You might’ve taken a wrong turn in Albequr—”

  It growled, low and deep. Alec fell silent.

  Then he heard
it, like something from a dream. His name. Quiet and barely audible.

  Someone was calling out his name!

  Alec’s heart leapt, quickening his pulse. He kicked his legs to try to get down to the ground but the creature held him tight and growled again.

  “Let me go!” he yelled. “HELLLLLOOOO! I’M HERE! I’M HERE!”

  The beast started walking again, this time faster and more urgent. Alec struggled against it until he realized the Bigfoot was carrying him toward whoever was calling out his name.

  Then the thing began to run, and it was very, very fast. Leaves and branches brushed against Alec’s back and he bounced up and down on the creature’s shoulder over and over. Trees and dark images shot past in a blur. He grasped the beast’s hair and held on tight.

  There it was again! Faint but sure: “Allllleeeeec!” The voice was getting closer.

  But it wasn’t his dad. That sounded like Ken. What’s he doing out here?

  “KEEEEENNNN!” Alec yelled as loud as he could. “HEEEEEYYYYY!”

  The creature abruptly stopped again. It surveyed its surroundings — more trees and blackness — then reached up and seized Alec. It picked him up and slowly lowered him to the ground. Alec stood up, feeling wobbly. His legs had nearly fallen asleep, and they tingled. The ground felt rocky and hard. He peered up at the hulking mass before him. In the dark the Bigfoot was like a gigantic, 8-foot-tall, 3½-foot-wide shadow. Except this shadow was alive and he could hear it breathing.

  “Alllleeeeec!” The voice was much closer now, and was accompanied by the sounds of people crashing through the underbrush.

  The Bigfoot suddenly emitted an ear-piercing scream, like a siren. Alec shrieked and covered his ears with his hands, squeezing his eyes closed.

  “Quiet, demon!”

  “Oh my gosh, it’s killing him!”

  “Alec!”

  “Alec!”