I've been a fire watch look out for about a year now.
I spend most of my life alone in a small window lined.
One-room Shack. Atop a steel and wood frame
Tower in the middle of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
My only companions are my collection of cheap novels a
laptop computer with infrequent and unreliable internet service.
And the two-way radio I used to communicate with the few other
nearby towers and ranger stations.
Nearby is a bit of a misnomer though.
Using my high-powered binoculars, I can just barely
make out Tower 12 on a clear day.
They situated several miles to my West Tower 15.
The next nearest to my location only appears as a glint of
sunlight to my East when the sun catches it.
Just right. I've been told the parks
department intends to put up some additional Towers in this
area as soon as it gets the necessary funding, which is
probably no time soon. That's fine with me though.
I like the Solitude it helps quiet.
My mind keeps the memories at Bay.
I occupy most of my days either with simple maintenance in and
around the Tower or else scanning the density of trees.
All Around me for any signs of trouble.
It's been a dry year. So the threat of fire is a
constant one, this particular afternoon, I was clearing some
brush from around the base of the tower that had begun to
encroach on the Fire Road that led from my tower back to the
main Ranger Station, 20 miles away even with the heavy
suspension of the government issued Jeep parked nearby that
was a harsh ride in the best of times.
I had just finished dragging some brush cuttings off into the
tree line. When the radio clipped on my
belt squawked Tower 9, this is Tower, 12 helicopters.
Copy. It was Billy Johnson, my
supervisor, nice enough guy. I suppose tended, to leave me
alone. Most of the time I straightened
up and stretched my back wiping, the sweat out of my eyes with my
forearm and keep the microphone attached at my shoulder, go for
at our nine, I replied as I replaced the shears in both saw
to the small storage shed, near the base of the stairs John.
Do you have eyes on a bit of smoke north of your position,
stand by Billy, I said, snatching up my water bottle in,
jogging up, the metal staircase that rap It's way around my
tower. I didn't bother locking.
The eight feet chain link fence, that surrounded, my little
compound chances were that. I'd be back down here soon
enough. Reaching the top, I step through
the trap door and onto the walkway that surrounded, the
cabin closing, it behind me, it was habit at this point.
The last thing I needed was to take a misstep and Tumble down
through the open trap door. I'd probably end up breaking my
neck as I passed by. I reached into the open door of
the shack and grab the binoculars hanging on a nearby
hook rounding. The railed corner of the wall,
Away and turning my attention to the dark green blanket of trees,
stretching out before me, I saw the smoke almost immediately.
If then trickle of wispy, white Haze Rose, lazily above the
canopy some distance off, probably just some campers.
I figured though there weren't any approved campsites in that
area. We always had more than a few
folks every season who decided that camping off-trail in the
Deep Bush, sounded like a hoot, most of them come back, just
fine, oblivious to the danger that this Wilderness shows to
anyone, not adequately prepared for its risks.
Some of them have Be brought out by search and rescue, some of
them just don't come back. A member of the Rangers or maybe
even a random hiker will occasionally trip across the
deserted remains of a campsite and reported in those.
Are the spooky ones, the ones were the people have just
vanished and left behind a perfectly set up camp site.
No explanation, no clues. Just a deserted clearing often
with perfectly intact tense and personal effects, but there are
bears and mountain lions along with a handful of lesser
predators that roam these forests and sometimes they get
Angry enough to stalk and even get humans and that doesn't even
take into consideration. The much more likely
probability. That folks, step out of their
tents at night to take a leak in the woods and very quickly get
lost, and can't find their way back to their Camp.
Most humans aren't suited to survival in the wilderness.
Unfortunately, my radio squawked again, Tower 9, what's the word?
Yeah, I see it. Men looks to be a couple miles
due north of my tower. What's your plan?
He asked. And I knew what he was asking,
keep an eye on it. Hope for the best or take a trip
over and investigate. After a brief moments, pause, I
side with resignation. It's probably just a campfire,
but I guess I'd better head on over and take a look, just to be
sure. I didn't relish the thought of a
trek into that area of wilderness, to be honest.
It was the only area I hadn't explored during my time here,
there weren't many trails headed in that direction.
And the ones that did were badly overgrown in too narrow for the
Jeep. A couple miles hike, might not
seem like a lot, but when you're out here alone, The dense trees
seemed to stretch on forever to Mi can seem like a hundred Roger
that John Billy replied take your pack in your rifle and
check in periodically. Well do Tower.
Nine out. I said replacing the binoculars
to their Hook and shouldering the red canvas backpack waiting
dutifully in the corner chair. I grabbed the rifle from its
rack over the door frame, check to make sure it was loaded and
headed out as I locked, the gate behind me I threw my pack into
the back of the Jeep and set the rifle beside it.
The Jeep wouldn't get me too far before the brush made the trail
impassable, but if it's save me even a half mile of hiking, it
was well worth it. The sun was still high in the
sky. I had plenty of time to get
there and back before dusk. As long as I didn't dawdle, I
started the engine and put the Jeep into gear.
Turning the wheels towards the unmaintained trail to my right
after only a few moments the trees in canopy obscured, any
trace of the Watchtower behind me.
I was actually able to push the Jeep farther than I had expected
a pleasant surprise. I Has probably a mile along the
trail before it crapped the bed in a massive.
Pine lay across the path. Much too large to go over the
dense underbrush around me, precluded the possibility of
going around and I immediately lamented not bringing the
chainsaw with me, cutting it up and winching the pieces out of
the way, wouldn't have been too difficult and would have saved
me a ton of trouble with a quiet curse.
I stepped out of the Jeep and grabbed my gear from the
backseat. I smiled to myself as a quote
from a certain fictional adventure-seeking archaeologist
suddenly came to mind. We walk I'm here making sure to
Mark the location of the Jeep on my handheld GPS, so I could find
it again. I stepped over the thigh high
tree trunk and continued along the path.
According to the estimate I had made before leaving the trail.
I was walking seem to head in the direction of the smoke which
was a blessing in my book. The less time I had to spend
bushwhacking the better the trail continue to narrow as I
expected and before too long. I was brushing.
Branches and leaves with my shoulders.
As I walked the trees which had been alive with the chittering
Xin chirpings of Animal life back at the tower.
Now seemed muted the forest around.
Me was growing, denser feeling, oddly claustrophobic at times.
I checked in with Billy a couple of times advising him of my
progress and promising to maintain periodic checks.
He advised me that a weather really had come in from the
ranger station indicating an approaching storm that would
likely reach us before nightfall, a quick check of my
watch, made me wince. I had already spent more time
than I had predicted. It would take to reach the
suspected campsite maybe it was best to turn around and head
back. The last thing I wanted was to
get caught out here, overnight with minimal supplies and in a
rainstorm, I wasn't worried but it sure wouldn't make for a
comfortable overnight. If I had been farther from my
destination, I probably would have turned back.
Right. Then I wish I had within another
20 minutes. However, I smelled the faint
Scent of a wood fire, not strong, but it was there.
I was even more certain of what I would find when I reach them,
when I stepped out of the now, almost non-existent Trail and
found myself in a sparsely treat area, amidst, a dozen or so, So
wooden Shacks, I halted in surprise.
I had reached the base of a hill ear eyes covered in heavy
forestry and these old forgotten cabins looked like they had been
some sort of small settlement, perhaps an Old Logging Camp.
I thought to myself, I didn't know this place even existed and
made a mental note to research it when I got back to my tower I
keep the microphone Tower 12. This is John, do you copy when
Billy replied his voice was staticky and distant.
Hey, John Tower 12. What's your status?
I frowned and looked around at the Towering trees all around
me. I suppose.
I was asking more out of the portable radio than was
reasonable. I was lucky.
I still had any signal at all. To be honest I found what looks
like an old logging are trapping Camp.
I said Meandering among the decaying and derelict cabins,
most of them had decayed to the point of collapse and there
weren't any with intact roofs. The campfire has to be nearby.
I'm going to take a look around a bit more.
There was an odd pause before. Billy spoke again.
What's your current location? Okay, ssion John.
I glanced at my handheld GPS and relayed, my position to him.
Another pause John, I think you should probably just turn around
and come back. You don't have too many more
hours of daylight left and that storm looks to be getting worse,
something in his voice sounded off but I couldn't quite place
it nervous. Maybe I don't.
Think I can blame him though. My safety was his responsibility
and the prospect of one of his Lookouts being caught out in the
storm overnight. Probably didn't sit well with
him. Coincidentally, it Insert well
with me. Either.
I thought with a smile, you may be right Billy.
I replied turning around and letting my eyes take in the
entirety of the area, I think I'll just go I stopped as my
eyes caught sight of the bright. Yellow, nylon tent just beyond
the last of the structures repeat.
Your last said Billy. I didn't get that standby, Tower
12, I said absently making my way to what I now realized was a
small cluster of three. Modern tent situated around a
central Fire Ring. The fire had been extinguished I
wished. But the Embers still smoldered
lowly the source of the smoke. I looked around for the campers,
but didn't see or hear anyone sleeping bags and electric
lanterns were still in the tents.
Though I couldn't find any backpacks or supplies.
Hello. I called out turning in a circle
and trying to pick out any signs or sounds of human life.
I'm with the forest service is anyone there?
Nothing but the muted echo of my own voice.
I was about to just dump some dirt on the remaining Embers of
the campfire and call it a day when I noticed the narrow
footpath heading. It's the slope I could see
clearly the recent footprints in the soft dirt heading away from
the camp at keep the microphone at my shoulder again Tower 12.
This is John. I found the source of the smoke.
It's a campfire. All right.
Nothing to be concerned about Billy answered almost
immediately. Roger that John head back home.
I paused a moment. Curiosity pulling me towards the
foot bath. I'll be heading back shortly.
Billy. I just want to check something
out. First, I wouldn't screw around
out. Out there, John Billy replied an
edge to his voice better head back now so you can beat the
storm. His last sentence didn't exactly
sound like a suggestion. Something had him.
Rattled I hesitated before I answered acknowledged knowing
full well that I was going to check out the path a bit before
heading back still I didn't feel like arguing with my supervisor
about something so silly, just a quick walk up that path and then
I'd be on my way. This path was even less
established than the one. I had been on when I discovered
the camp. But I could clearly see the
prince of the campers in the soft dirt before long, I emerged
into a small clearing eyes widening with yet, another
unexpected Discovery, the rough-hewn timber that framed.
The entryway was set into the near vertical slope of the hill
face before me. It created a dark tunnel
entrance that had been sealed off with a heavy iron gate many
years before likely by the park service to keep inquisitive,
hikers from falling to their ends in an old abandoned mine
shaft. So it had been a mining camp,
not a logging Camp, I didn't know There were any mines
anywhere near here. Hell, I'm not sure what they
would have, been mining for coal.
Maybe. Did they even have gold mines in
Tennessee? Who knows, certainly not me
clearly regardless. Now that gate stood wide open on
its hinges, the remains of Arrested chain and antique
padlock laying in the dirt nearby.
Hell, now, I couldn't just turn around and leave.
Not if these idiot campers had decided, it would be fun to
explore a closed and restricted. Mine entrance Tower 12.
This is John, do you copy? We probably wouldn't be happy
that I had continued my exploration after he told me to
head back but there was nothing to do about it.
Now I wasn't equipped or trained for any sort of cave,
exploration or rescue the Rangers had very specialized
teams for that sort of thing. But I could at least poke my
head inside and see if I could hear the Campers or at least
confirm that they actually went inside.
No answer from the radio. I tried again with the same
results. Nothing.
I tried a different approach Tower 15.
This is John from Tower 12, do you copy?
I said into the radio. I figured I might be able to at
least get Nathan's attention. If I was out of range of tower
12, there was a burst of static that sounded like, it might have
contained the hint of a human voice, but it was too distorted
and distant to make anything out.
There was only a moment of indecision before I made up my
mind. I knew it was Reckless to go
into the mine, especially when my supervisor was under the
belief that I was currently on my way back to my tower, but I
just had this nagging intuition that something You're wrong with
this whole situation. Maybe someone was hurt and in
need of help, I couldn't just leave them there knowing that I
might be their only chance of rescue in retrospect.
I should have turned back and called it in to the ranger
station. They could have mobilized the
search and rescue teams that specialized in cave rescues.
I should have, but I didn't. I pulled my flashlight from my
pack turned it on and headed into the pitch-black darkness of
the mine entrance. The walls and floor had been
smoothly carved, many years ago which made my footing
uneventful. And the tunnel itself was mostly
a straight shot several times during the first few minutes, I
turned back to watch the bright square of daylight at the
entrance gradually shrink to a pinpoint of Light.
By the time I had taken the first dogleg turn of the tunnel.
I was in complete darkness, it was a very strange feeling
oppressive. Almost at one point, I turned
off my flashlight, experiment Ali, but after only a few
seconds, I quickly flicked it back on.
In that time, my heart had been pounding in my chest and some
Primal Fear had begun growing inside of Me, I took a moment to
calm myself, the darkness was absolute.
It was almost as if you could feel it pressing in on you.
My footsteps seem much louder than they should have on the
dirt floor in the air was beginning to grow cold and damp.
The farther I went after another hundred feet or so the smoothly
carve tunnel ended abruptly in a wall of rubble.
I couldn't tell if it was a cave-in at some point or if this
was simply where the miners stop digging and hadn't bothered to
remove the debris. But either way, it certainly
appeared to be the end of the line and then I saw it.
I almost missed it because of the way, the light and shadows,
played over the head sized rock-strewn before me.
But when I looked closer, I realized I was looking at a
ragged hole in the wall. It was only five feet across her
so and definitely didn't look like the deliberate formation of
the tunnel I was standing in. Now it almost looked like the
miners had broken into a natural void of some sort interesting,
but there was no way in hell. I was going in there.
I was definitely not trained or outfitted for any sort of spell
on King trip and it didn't seem the sort Of things suited to the
learn as you go method. Just as I was turning back to
make my way out of the mine, I heard the distant sound of
voices, echoing, from the opening, in the stone wall, the
sound was faint and may have just been my imagination, but I
didn't think so. Hello.
I called pressing my face into the black abyss of the whole.
Can you hear me? I'm with the Park Service.
I'm here to help you nothing. Pierre from Beyond the breach
was cold and smelled. Stale old Roni, I felt as if I
didn't believe. Along here, none of us did.
There was a lawn moment of unbroken silence and then I
Heard a Voice again closer this time.
Did you hear that? It said, presumably to a
companion. It sounded like a young woman
nervous. Uncertain.
Hello. Is someone in there that settled
it for me. I carefully Crawl Through the
opening and into the space beyond shining my light around.
I found myself in a small natural chamber, maybe 30 feet
across in with an uneven ceiling of jagged rock that barely Lord
my head. The first thing that caught my
attention was the cracked Lantern laying on the ground.
It looked old very old, maybe 100 years are more a thick layer
of grime. In each covered its suit black
and Tin surface and the glass was thick and uneven beside the
Askew. Lantern was a small leather
bound book, partially buried in the dirt and dust with a
moldering leather strap. Securing it closed, it looked
like a journal and without a thought, I tucked it into my
backpack, raising my light back up to scan around the room.
Hello. Whoa, I called again, I couldn't
hear the voices anymore, but the narrow beam of my flash light
illuminated, another tunnel in the far corner of this room
mired in darkness. Can you hear me once again?
I got that feeling. That something wasn't right?
Then? The voice came again closer?
This time. Did you hear that?
Hello. Is someone in there.
She asked her voice trembling with apprehension.
I hesitated frowning. Something didn't seem right
about the voice, but I couldn't put my finger on it before I
could summon. Words to respond, another voice
called out this time it was clearly the voice of a young
men. We can hear you moving around in
there, please help us. We're lost in our friend is
hurt. I was shouting to them.
I sure as hell wasn't trying to hide.
Can they not hear me for some reason?
I stepped forward to the secondary tunnel and raise my
voice. Again, I'm with the forest
service. Can you follow my voice?
It was. Then when I reached out to
steady myself against the wall of the tunnel entrance, that my
hand met something wet. And I recoiled in disgust
thinking, I had just grabbed a handful of some Subterranean
slime when I put my light on it, however it became very clear.
The reality was far worse, blood, I stepped back trying to
keep the Panic that was fighting to take control of my
rationality at Bay. I needed to keep a level head.
Now panting my light around, I saw an astonishing amount of red
liquid painting, the wall and floor in front of me.
Somebody had definitely been hurt and badly with lost like
this. I wasn't sure I'd be able to
stabilize them long enough to get Rescuing here.
What the hell happened here? And why did the hikers continue
into the cave? After one of them was injured
this badly unless they'd lost their light and gotten turned
around, there was no way for them to get lost.
There hadn't been any branches to this tunnel.
Since I first entered, all they had to do was turn around and
walk until they saw day late. The man's voice called again,
colored with the unmistakable tinge of fear.
What is that? Hurry up Becky, take my hand.
He seemed to be getting closer at least.
If I could guide them to my voice, maybe I could get them
out of here, get to Higher Ground and radio for a rescue
evacuation. They had a helicopter
permanently stationed at the main Ranger Station, it could be
here in 20 minutes. If I was able to reach them, the
woman's voice came again. And this time, I froze.
Did you hear that? Hello is someone in there all at
once? It hit me and the Indescribable
unease, I had been mostly successful in repressing, now
fought back with renewed vigor, I realized at that moment, what
I had missed previously, the woman had repeated herself
twice, more now, no change in her inflection, no variation in
a motion or urgency. It was exactly the same down to
the syllable. It was like, I was listening to
a recording. What is that repeated?
The male voice. Now even closer, hurry up Becky.
Take my hand below the words. I thought I could hear the
stealthy sliding of something soft over rocks.
It seemed like it wasn't too far beyond the tunnel entrance.
Now but I wasn't, Going to wait for it.
I didn't think that what I'd see emerge from the darkness would
be a couple of college kids. Who'd had a rough time of it
during a weekend, camping trip. Now allowing my Panic to run
free. I turned and threw myself
through the cave breach and landed roughly on the flat.
Stone floor of the mine shaft Beyond skinning my hands to hell
and banging my knee on a rock. Scrambling to my feet with a
hiss of pain, I ran as fast as I could not realizing until I
finally burst into the waning light of the late afternoon,
light that I had lost my rifle somewhere in that cave.
It was darker than it was when I first entered the mine and a
quick glance to the sky, showed the Angry Black thunderheads
that had moved in his promised much faster than I had expected.
I quickly swung the iron gate closed on screeching hinges and
loop the chain Between the Bars as tightly as I could securing
it rather lamely with the hasp of the broken padlock.
I stood there along moment bent over in hands on knees.
As I tried to catch my breath outside of the mine entrance.
When I felt the first drops of the coming storm on the back of
my neck, I straightened and look through the bars of the gate.
Gate into the ominous Darkness Beyond realizing how ridiculous
my barricade really. Was, it wouldn't do much good if
something tried to get out, but at least, it made me feel a
little better until I heard the voice echoing from the mine
shaft getting closer, it was unmistakable uncanny.
Hello, can you hear me? I'm with the Park Service.
I'm here to help you. By the time Dawn, arrived, the
next morning, I had climbed down from my temporary shelter, in
the Lobos of a red cedar and tried to work out all the
painful Kinks, from my stiff, shoulders and neck.
The night had not been kind to me, but I was alive.
Which is more than my fear stressed mind expected after
yesterday. The night had been harrowing,
there was no better word to describe it.
The rain hissed among the trees and stunned Exposed Skin angrily
driven by the Banshee wail of the wind rushing through the
forest and was accentuated by the chaotic flashing of
lightning and heart stopping. Thunder because of this
Relentless chaos, it's difficult to say with any certainty but
throughout the night, I thought I heard something large trying
to move stealthily in the forest near my shelter.
I say trying because it felt like whatever stock through the
underbrush was more at home in the unnatural stygian, Gloom of
the cave than under the watchful eyes of nature, of course, it
could just, as easily have been my imagination.
When the first dim light of dawn, started to illuminate the
sodden and dripping Forest. I spent the better part of 20
minutes. Training my eyes with every
ounce of concentration. Soon, as I scan the gray
Woodlands around me. I was only 10 feet or so above
the ground but there was no way. I was going to step foot from my
hide until I was absolutely certain.
I was alone, once I was satisfied that I was alone for
the moment, I climbed down to the muddy ground, I tried the
radio several times through the night and into the morning, but
wasn't able to get even a burst of static that might indicate
someone was trying to respond a combination of the storm and the
interference from the trees worked against me.
My first thought was to get back to my Jeep as quickly as
possible and In every drop of gas out of its tank.
Trying to get as far away from this place.
As I could when I checked the GPS to see how close I was to
its Market position however I found the unit unresponsive and
with a disastrous crack across the screen that seemed to mock
my dismay probably caused by my less than graceful scramble from
that damned cave. No rifle, no radio, no GPS,
perfect. I still had a compass in the
Rising Sun to guide me though and that was something.
I was only a couple miles from my tower which should have been
somewhere due. South Where I Stood, I knew that
once I got close, I should be able to either find the service
road or the tower itself. So there wasn't much danger of
getting myself lost at least it was a small Comfort, but when I
gladly took, I move through the trees and undergrowth with more
speed and recklessness than I probably should have an ankle
broken. By an errant misstep would have
been bad news? Still even though I hadn't heard
or seen anything of my late-night visitor, I couldn't
help but feel like I was being watched, you know, that creeping
sense of dread. You feel when you've just turned
the lights, it's off in a basement and now have to climb
the stairs back to the light of the doorway or when you're
making your way from your car in a darkened and lonely parking
lot. It's the feeling that something.
Is there something much more suited to the dark than you are?
It's that same feeling that pushed my footsteps almost to a
jog. As I Traverse the uneven ground
and storm fell detritus. That tried to hinder my passage
for the next hour. I moved at this pace aware with
every rasping lung full of breath that.
I should pause and rest for a few minutes knowing that pushing
myself to fatigue would only increase my chances, Of falling
are hurting myself. I imagine myself lying in
blinding pain, next to an unseen chuckhole clutching at a broken
leg and watching as the sunlight began to dim with the onset of
dusk waiting for whatever haunted.
My trail to find me, what would happen then what?
I even have time to look on its physics.
Before it struck, did those campers in the cave, a misstep
and stumbled at nearly made, this nightmare is self-fulfilled
prophecy. Jarred me back to the present
begins to all Instinct. I forced my Pace to slow first
to a trot, then to a walk then, Then reluctantly I stopped
completely trying to catch my breath.
While I scan the dense Woodland around me.
Nothing. No, not nothing.
As my heart began to slow and my breathing return to a more
manageable Cadence. I turn my gaze back in the
direction. I had been headed and an
unconscious smile found its way to my lips.
The sun had risen high in the morning, sky during my flight
and now I caught the flash of its reflection on the Windows of
my tower not 200 yards. Directly ahead of me, I laughed
aloud with relief, fully aware that the fear tinted here.
Uh, Was closer to the manic. Cackle of lunacy than anything
else. I didn't care though, and my
feet started forward again on their own quickly, reaching a
Brisk Pace. A few minutes later.
I burst out of the trees into the maintained clearing.
Surrounding my tower, feeling the full sunlight on my face for
the first time. Since yesterday morning, how did
only been a day? It seemed like longer.
I was so filled with relief that I didn't even register.
The fact that a, Forestry Department, Jeeps a park near my
fence and close Tower, until I started entering the combination
into the Gate lock The Faded. Wait 12.
Emblazoned on the corner of the windshield told me that it was
Billy's Jeep, which wasn't much of a surprise.
I realized after a moment after not hearing back from me, I was
more surprised. I hadn't returned to find an
entire S&R, team making preparations to search for their
lost puppy. I punched the four digit code
into the mechanical combination lock on the gate and step
through. Making sure to close and lock it
behind me. I stood there a moment staring
through the tall chain-link fence at the dense Tree Line
wondering. If something waited just out of
Hide in the shadows, staring back at me with hungry
anticipation. I shook myself of the sudden
chill as best I could and made my way quickly to the staircase.
Taking the steps two at a time. Billy was going to be mad at me.
I was sure, but the thought was a fleeting one that didn't take
purchase. His displeasure was the least of
my concerns right now. When I reach the top, I threw
open the trapdoor and suddenly found myself looking down the
muzzle of a very large rifle, even in that brief moment of
abrupt shocked. I could register how the barrel
trembled in the hands of its Master and I wonder how close I
came to having my life ended in a bright flash of light.
The moment only lasted a second or two and then Billy hastily
swung the rifle away in a safe Direction.
Damn it, John. He exclaimed his tone and
incongruous mixture of relief and fear.
I almost shot you. I stepped fully through the trap
door and let it drop close behind me.
Jesus, Billy I breathed leaning back against the railing.
I suddenly felt weary and realized it was likely the
adrenaline. Now, rushing from my system,
that had kept me, Moving at such a hurried Pace throughout the
morning. Where the hell have you been?
He demanded stepping back inside my shack and taking a chair at
the small table in the center of the room?
I noted with mild interest that he kept the rifle leaning
against the table beside him, instead of storing it in the
rack, over the door, but decided not to comment on it.
Billy Johnson was in his middle years, maybe 45, or so, with a
bit of a got in grayish brown hair, trimmed clothes, he wore
an impressive mustache. That reminded me of something an
Old West Gun Slinger might groom, he was dressed.
Austin typical attire khaki. Forestry service shirt and brown
cargo pants. In addition to the rifle, light
had, the unfortunate opportunity to closely examine a moment
earlier, I noticed that he wore his .500 Magnum in a holster at
his side. That wasn't too unusual when out
in the bush bears and mountain, lions can sneak up on you
unaware, having a hand Cannon within easy.
Reach goes a long way towards taking the fight out of them.
If necessary it was a little unusual for a drive over to
another Tower I supposed but not exceptionally.
So The circumstances I took the opposite chair, dropping my pack
to the floor. Next to me, I realized my legs
were still shaking anxiously and I placed my hands on my knees to
try to calm them. He was trying to deflect, but he
was horrendously bad at it. He knew something.
I was sure of it, you know, where I've been.
I replied gambling on Instinct. I watched his face closely for a
reaction and wasn't disappointed when he winced and turned his
Focus out the window and over the forest to the north.
I told you to abort and head back to your Tower.
He stated, bro. Glee, but you just had to feed
that Curiosity of yours, didn't you?
You're lucky to be alive. You know that from my chair I
reached under the Shelf to my right and pulled a half empty
bottle of Jameson and a couple of mostly clean glasses, Billy
turned his head and raised an inquisitive eyebrow, alcohol was
a No-No appear. When I pour it in handed him one
of the glasses, however he accepted it without a word.
I took a poll from the other. It's my own damn fault.
I suppose he continued turning back fully to me.
It's been so long Since anyone's even thought of Camp Leclair
that it didn't even click for me.
When you told me where you saw the campfire, I took another
drink and then poured a bit more of the whiskey Camp Leclair.
That old mining camp by asked logging Camp, actually, he
corrected me the mine was there long before the East Atlanta
clocking company set up out here?
Nobody knows who Duckett? Hell, nobody even knows when it
was duck a long time before the 19th century, at least Camp,
Leclair was established in 1872 and the mine was old even
before. Or that he looked at me in
Earnest for the first time since I'd returned in.
Frowned, you look like hell. John got caught in the storm.
I'm guessing hell of a storm. I only raised my eyebrows as if
to say what an understatement. That was Billy nodded knowingly
and took another swallow. Did you find the Campers?
At least, I shook my head and turn to look out the window to
the north, where I could almost Envision, the black void of
that. Mine entrance, staring back at
me. No, I tracked them to the mine
but lost them in the cave. I When Billy's glass hit the
floor and was out of my chair before I even realized it.
Billy hadn't moved from his seat but now both hands worse played
on the table before him as if to steady himself his pale blue
eyes were wide and fixed on me, you went into the cave, he said
a sudden and horrifying realization Dawning on him.
It was then I realized my mistake, he hadn't known.
He thought I had just discovered the camp in the mine and then
got caught in the storm overnight.
A close call, but nothing that couldn't be undone.
Yeah, I replied not. Eating slowly deliberately.
Yeah, I went into that cave. Looking for the campers, the
gate had been cracked open already, not sure, when her, by
who I lean forward in my chair and stared hard at him.
Billy, there's something in there.
I think it got those campers, and I think it followed me out,
Billy Johnson's face had gone white then.
And I thought for a moment, he might pass out, he scooped his
glass up from the for, with numb fingers and poured himself,
another splash of whiskey, Downing it in a gulp, when he
spoke again, it seemed far away distant.
You were Tommy that's what the Chickasaw called it, and they
were here, long before we ever were angler is what the white
man called it among other names Puma, Tommy.
He nodded false brother lying men or something like that.
Hell, I don't know. What do I look like a
translator? It means bad, no matter what
language you speak. It means something is out there
that isn't supposed to be something that was locked away.
A long time ago. In forgotten, it was then that
he stood and grabbed up his rifle as if suddenly remembering
something, I need to get back to my I Tower and make a call.
Now, I gestured to the radio base station sitting patiently
on the table, near the door. Why not?
He's mine Billy shook his head, sorry John, but it doesn't work
that way. Special phone, special number.
I just hope I'm not too late. I started to stand.
I'll go with you. I said he pointed a Stern finger
at me and narrowed his eyes. No, you stay here.
Strap on your handgun and make sure it's loaded.
His voice was calm, almost cold, and didn't leave much room for
debate. Still.
I had no desire to stay here alone with whatever.
This anger thing was roaming around out there.
Billy I can go with you, I can help.
I started to argue but was quickly cut off when he took a
menacing step towards me. And I realized quickly how much
I had underestimated him, because of his normally easy
manner, you will stay in your damn Tower and you will follow
your orders. He roared, and I unconsciously
took a step back and reclaimed my seat.
Only managing a shaken, not an acknowledgement.
He took a trembling breath, pointed at the radio and said in
In a slightly less terrifying, tone and keep that thing on.
As soon as I'm back at my tower, I'll radio you with updates a
later. He was gone and the trap door,
slammed shut behind him. I stood and retrieve the Pelican
case from under my cot inside was the same model of Magnum
revolver that Billy had been wearing heavy and cold in my
hands. I loaded it and belt it on the
leather holster, feeling the reassuring, wait tugging at my
waist Joan, I heard Billy call from below and went outside to
the walkway leaning over the railing.
He was Ending beside his Jeep, 50 feet below.
Shielding his eyes from the bright sunlight, as he looked up
at me, make sure to keep everything locked, I'll come
back for you. He shouted, I raised a hand to
him and slid the latch shut on the trap door with my toe.
I turned back into my shack as I heard Billy's Jeep fire up in a
moment later. Drive off down the rough service
road towards his Tower. I glanced back to the north to
the place where I had first seen the campfire smoke Rising the
day before and suppress a shutter.
I was alone again safe in my tower in armed but alone own
abruptly like an unexpected wave of nausea.
The feeling that I was being watched washed over me with a
chill, making the hairs on the back of my neck, stand on end.
I look back over my shoulder to where Billy had been only a
minute before, but solemnly the rough Service Road in dense,
impenetrable Tree, Line, beyond that.
Probably just my imagination but the feeling didn't diminish and
with every passing breath, I was more and more certain that there
was something nearby just out of sight standing stones.
Still in the gray-green foliage waiting, I stood there alone.
Moment, I straining for any hint of movement or alien shape among
the Shadows, but if it was there, my human eyes weren't
sharp enough to pick it out. I stepped back through the open,
doorway of my shack, and drop down into the chair again.
My eyes catching the bottle of whiskey.
Before me, I was tempted to pour another drink to help settle my
nerves, but I could already feel the tickle of a buzz at the
edges of my mind from what I had already drank and quickly.
Decided that the last thing I needed was for my reflexes and
awareness to be dulled right now.
I'd made more than one poor decision in.
The last 24 hours. I didn't think adding another to
the pile was such a great idea. Grabbing the bottle, I screwed
the cap back on and reach to return it to the sparse shelf to
my right as I did. So, my boot caught my pack,
knocking it over without a thought.
I reached down to move it out of the way and then remembered the
old weathered Journal tucked. Inside the front pocket, the one
I'd found in the cave, I reached into the unzipped front pocket
for a frustratingly alarming moment.
My searching hand couldn't feel anything in the compartment and
I feared that I had lost it in my Artic Escape.
But then my fingers brush The Familiar shape and I withdrew
it, setting it in front of me on the table, I could see the book
much more clearly. Now in the daylight, it wasn't
overly large a little larger than my hand and maybe the
thickness of my thumb. There were no markings on the
front, except for a simple grimy, brass Loop that secured
the leather strap holding it closed.
I wasn't sure I wanted to see what was inside, but I needed
some answers. Anything astray sound from the
trees below Rose to my ears and I froze listening intently We
for more but none came the forest around.
Me was silent again and I turned my attention back to the
journal, pulling the strap free from the cover and turning to
the first page from the pocket of Andrew Robinson.
It said the writing was neat and Compact and distinctly male the
ink was a rich black scrawled upon brittle Yellow Pages.
And though faded with the years was still mostly legible.
I turn to the next page where the entries begin?
I felt as though I had dropped into his account.
Midway as though, this was just the latest in a series of
journals that Andrew Robinson. Had been keeping the 23rd of
July 1891, after nearly a week of hard, Overland trekking.
We reach the abandoned Camp late this afternoon.
Exactly where the Old Trapper said we would see our Pawnee
tracker as once again, astonished me with his over Land
Navigation skills. I must admit, I was skeptical at
the yarn, the Old Trapper had spun in the crowded confines of
the common house in done Creek. Especially after I smelled the
drinks on his breath, but the professor never doubted a
moment. The man Is instincts for reading
human character are absolutely singular.
The camp looks to have been abandoned, and I have to admit
to a certain unease as we inspected the rough.
Cabins there isn't a soul to be found and it looks years
abandoned yet. Everything stands.
As if awaiting, the loggers return at any moment.
Strange The 24th of July, 1891 are small, troop of intrepid
Adventurer is made camp in the center of Leclair last night,
though. The cabins likely would have
been more comfortable. I doubt any of us would have
felt at ease intruding upon them, Richard's laughed it off.
When someone mentioned how peculiar it was that the loggers
had departed in such a hurry, that they abandoned their
personal possessions, but I could see in his eyes that he
felt it, odd as well. Sakhi are ever courageous
installed guide, seemed ill at ease and unusually withdrawn
refusing. Conversation and only responding
to queries with quiet. Grunts.
Something of concern hides behind his eyes though and I
wonder at what it is. Only the professor seems unmoved
by the unusually still atmosphere of this place and his
typically infectious positivity keeps working at our unease,
keeping it from expanding Beyond its current state.
Today, we spent much of the day, exploring the area surrounding
Camp Leclair and the sunlight was nearly spent when Dobson
burst back into camp with news of his Discovery.
We all of us raised at a moment's notice.
Notice behind him as he led us along an ill-used, an eye
invisible foot path that led ever ascending upon the side of
the northern Rocky slope. When the path terminated, we
were deposited before a truly curious sight, a barricaded
tunnel, entrance have been bored into the rock face by some
unknown hands. I suspect some sort of
exploration tunnel or at it dug in search of precious ores
especially given the nation's more recent history with Gold
Fever. The wooden barrier that had been
roughly assembled from a hodgepodge of heavy.
Timber beams was curious and several of Of our group
commented on it, but the professor dismissed, it as a
triviality. So, the matter was dropped, it
is far too late in the day to proceed further, but we plan to
penetrate the barricade and enter the tunnel in the morning.
The excitement among the men is palpable The 25th of July 1891
Sequoia, he is gone. He took his supplies in his
prized Winchester rifle and fled sometime during the night like a
phantom. This is a shocking blow to us
all, but none more so than to the professor with whom the
Pawnee tracker. Had partnered for a number of
years across much of the eastern states.
We have no explanation for his sudden desertion and it sits on
well with the entirety of the group.
The overall, mood has darkened. I fear still, we must push
onward. The 25th of July 1891 addendum.
It took more than two hours of hard labor, but we were finally
able to gain entrance to the mine shortly before noon today,
Richard's managed to get his boot caught between two heavy
Timbers as he stumbled forward straining his ankle with a
terrible cry. We feared it broken, but dr.
Franklin assured us that the bone cement act.
Regardless Richards was taken back to the camp where he will
convalesce while the rest of us make our entry his part.
In our exploration, has come to an end for now.
No, we made our way in a single file, through the added tunnel
for some way before reaching its carved end.
The light from our oil lanterns. Providing regrettably
inadequate, illumination over the rocky surroundings.
When we reached the Terminus of the mine tunnel, our hearts sank
for a moment before the professor gave exclamation of
Discovery and suddenly disappeared through a nearly
hidden Rift in the wall surrounded by Jagged rocks.
We eagerly followed him through careful of our footing as we
went and found ourselves in what.
I can only assume to be an accidental breach by the miners
in Natural Cave System, the air was Chillin moving.
But our excitement at this discovery, allayed any concerns
or discomfort this might have caused.
The professor directed us to set a secondary camp in this new
chamber which will be used as a staging point for further
exploration. So we spent the rest of the day
bringing supplies from our main camp in constructing, a smaller
version in this moderately sized chamber.
By the time we completed this endeavor, the efforts of the day
precluded as start to the exploration until the group has
had the opportunity to rest and replenish their energy.
I feel I will sleep well tonight, despite the anxious
excitement buzzing around, my mind.
The 26th of July 1891, another shock.
When we awoke this morning O'Connor is gone, the Irishman
who has ever been reliable in constant as the North Star was
assigned. First watch last night, there is
no trace of him and no indication that he took any
provisions or even his personal rucksack with him.
I fear his natural inquisitiveness may have gotten
the best of him and led him to explore the deeper Caverns
beyond our ad hoc base camp for his Lantern, is the sole item
that has gone missing with his person.
The Are immediately rallied the rest of our small group seven in
all, no, and mounted a search for our lost companion.
I tried to caution him against rushing into action, but he was
not to be deterred to my dismay. I was the sole man ordered to
remain here at Camp. Whilst my companions took up
their supplies and launch deeper into the cave system in the
event. You know, Connor returned in
their absence. I was understandably
disappointed, but grasp the logic of it, well enough, I
would love to think of O'Connor returning only to find us all
gone and then losing himself again.
Trying to find us. I shall Endeavor to rest.
A bit with luck, my companions will return before long with our
lost compatriot. The 27th of July 1891, I am at
my Wit's End and I'm unsure how to proceed.
It has been more than a day since the professor led, the
rest of the men in search of poor O'Connor and I have felt
their absence as keenly as I am aware of my own Solitude in this
cave, I have seen nothing of our missing companion, or of the
party that delve deeper into the system yesterday morning.
And I know their lanterns did not have sufficient fuel to
carry them this long without other means of Illumination to
guide their return. I fear, they are hopelessly
lost. Hi.
Myself, I had to return to Leclair for more lantern oil for
my own waning light. I must admit with no little
embarrassment. Some reluctance to my return, to
this dark place, which no longer carries any of its former
adventurous excitement or Fascination.
It is now nothing more than a doorway into the deep places
below the Earth where men were never intended to tread, but the
growing apprehension is not the worst of it.
The Sounds by Heavens Grace, the sounds.
I first became aware of them last night as I did my Lantern
and tried to set myself. Off to sleep.
At first, it was only an indistinct and muted Echo, that
may have been interpreted as nothing more than the distant
whistle of wind or other natural sound distorted by the unique
Acoustics of this place. But then I heard the distinct
tonal qualities. That could only be a man's
voice. I instantly Rose and took up my
Lantern, raising the flame in rushing, to the entrance of the
cave that had swallowed my companions there.
I stood listening with such Keen Focus that I felt beads of sweat
upon my brow. I would swear upon a holy book
that it was the distant cause of the professor himself.
Of and I eagerly called back with as much fervor as I could
summon. Hoping desperately to guide them
back to me. However, the instant I called
out the voices vanished and I was met only with the
suffocating Silence of an open Tomb.
There, I stood straight as a sentinel praying for a response
from my friends, after several minutes of absolute silence, my
thoughts began turning to dark things, I became painfully aware
that. Anything beyond the week cast of
my Lantern, would be utterly invisible to me, but I on the
other hand would be lighted as a beacon.
Into it. I push these thoughts from my
mind as forcefully as I could inwardly chastising myself.
At seeing ghouls where none existed and was about to call
out again, to my lost companions.
When I heard it, the voice came again, echoing from the
claustrophobic Abyss that lay before me mired in the blackest.
Darkness, one could imagine it was still some distance away,
but I was certain it seemed closer now when the third time I
heard it, I was just barely able to make out the words but it was
enough to be sure my own words. Echoed back to me from the So
that cave and in my own voice, I staggered and nearly dropped the
lantern at that moment. Could the Legends be true.
The professor always seem to believe them, though.
I must admit I attributed his faith to the unwavering
certainty, he held in those things lost to Antiquity.
He had always maintained that a legend, especially one whispered
by so many indigenous peoples, without Mutual contact, must
have some rude in truth, but that line of reasoning is
antithetical to Modern Civility, and I must reject it and focus
on the more probable explanation that my all Ready.
Stressed nerves were turning my fears against me.
The voices. Must be those of my companions
lost in the dark but near enough to hear their calls.
They must be. I am not certain, what lies
next? But I know that I cannot abandon
my companions. My friends to wander the
darkness until they fall from exhaustion or dehydration.
Not while I might get help them. I will leave this written
account at the entrance to the cave.
This Lantern is nearly spent but I have another with a full
vessel that I will take in its stead.
If I do not return At least someone may know of are passing
here. May God be with us.
All I closed the journal with a trembling hand momentarily, lost
in. What I had just read, how is it
possible? The journal was more than 130
years old, no animal alive than could be what pursued me now.
What if it's not an animal, the sudden burst of static from
Billy's call that simultaneously erupted from my radio base
station and the portable handset clipped at my shoulder made me
jump and drop the journal on the floor.
Heart pounding I cursed under my breath in Keep the microphone do
for Tower nine. I answered my voice tight as I
spoke my eyes drifted out across the sky to the east were
darkened. Thunder had said been
unknowingly Gathering and marching slowly in my direction.
I shook my head, icing on the cake.
I thought John what's your position asked?
Billy the self-assured Authority that had filled his tone before
was strangely absent now, replaced with something else.
Sear, I found a moment at the question before answering.
Why do you think Bill? I'm in my tower just like you
told me, it's strange pause before he spoke again John, this
isn't some sort of joke, right? You're not outside of my tower.
I was growing more agitated by the moment.
What sort of question was that I had no Jeep?
There was no way I could have made it to his Tower.
In such a short amount of time, even if I'd wanted to know,
Billy. I answered with more Force than
I'd intended and not outside of your Tower.
I stopped mid-sentence a horrified real Ization sweeping
over me in that moment, I tried to speak but my mouth had gone
dry. Delhi was all I could muster the
radio was silent as my eyes slowly drifted to the west where
I could just make out the small lonely shape of tower 12, barely
visible over the darkening blanket of green.
Was that a gunshot? Another damn night stuck in this
window lined prison. At least I have a good view so I
guess that's something the storm raged all night.
Again last night and only let up just before Dawn.
At one point, the winds were gusting hard enough to rock the
tower, which was a bit disconcerting to say the least.
As I stand out on the wet, cat walk around my shack.
I see that the clouds. Haven't let us go just yet and
look every bit as ticked off as they did yesterday afternoon.
It seems like the dry season has come to an end, which is good.
Since I've been slacking a bit on my fire, Watching duties over
the last couple days, Dallas humor, right?
It's either that or sitting in the corner in a fetal position.
Crying. And I've been told by my
ex-fiance that I'm not an attractive crier.
I haven't heard a peep from Billy.
Since his last terrifying broadcast to me yesterday, I've
tried to reach him several times since then, but no dice, I've
also tried reaching Nathan in the ranger station but all I get
is static even from my Base radio set.
When I first started here, I remember Billy telling me during
my brief orientation that the Radio should be able to reach
out, 50 miles or more. So I'm not sure what's going on
with it update. I just took a quick look at the
base station and found that the cable leading up to the antenna
on the roof of the shock. Is now, just a dangly thing.
Swaying in the breeze. The storm must have decided, it
needed the antenna more than I did, because it's gone.
I can see where the screws were torn out of the wooden, Mast.
And before you say anything, about whatever this thing is,
that's been stalking around deciding to sabotage, my radio,
I should probably tell you that the wooden antenna.
Mast look. It's been around for a long
time. The Wood was probably dry rotted
to begin with and now that it's soaked it crumbled away in
little wet Brown bits. As soon as I probed at it with
my fingers, speaking of whatever this Q Itami or anger thing is,
I'm just going to call it a mimic.
I think I haven't heard her sensed anything weird since
yesterday. I'm assuming, it's still out
there somewhere, but I don't think it's nearby.
If it's still anywhere around here, it's probably somewhere
over near Tower 12 or at least that's what makes the most sense
to me anyway, which brings me to To my shiny new lunatic idea my
Jeep. It can't be more than a mile
down. The northern track still sitting
there in front of that Fallen Pine.
I could probably get to it in less than an hour even with the
wet and muddy ground. It had almost a full tank of gas
and I'm pretty sure I could outrun this mimic thing in it.
If I can get onto a straight shot of service road, I
definitely don't relish the idea mind you.
Every instinct is screaming at me to sit my butt right where I
am in this Tower. I know that the ranger station
will start getting a little antsy when Billy doesn't check
in A few days, but I'm also thinking, they may extend it out
a day or two in light of the foul weather, maybe five days at
the outside and then I'll have a ranger truck parked outside my
tower. The question is, what they'll
find when they get here. See, I've been thinking about
it. Billy definitely knew more about
this thing than I do. Certainly enough to not open the
door for it when he heard it outside pretending to be a girl
scout selling cookies. That makes me think that maybe
the fence and the trapdoor might not be enough to stop it if it
really wants in as terrifying as the prospect of leaving the
tower and making for the Jeep is sitting here.
Cornered in my window line. Shack, just waiting for it to
show up in the middle of the night is even worse.
At least I have chance out there.
I still have the Magnum. It's been holstered on my belt
since yesterday. They don't issue peashooters for
Bear protection out here. This thing is the most powerful
handgun in mass production. It'll put down anything in North
America, as long as you can hit it, right?
Any normal animal anyway, who knows what this thing is capable
of still. It does provide a level of
comfort and gives Me some confidence that my plan may work
if Luck's on my side for now, I'm going to try to eat a
granola bar to put something in my churning stomach and try to
build a little energy. I don't think I've eaten
anything since early yesterday. After that, I'm grabbing my pack
and heading out. Wish me luck.
I left my tower shortly after 10:00 a.m.
And let me tell you, those were some of the most difficult first
steps I've ever taken in my life.
Stepping out through the chain-link gate, into the open
space, beyond my small compound felt like I was stepping off the
roof of The skyscraper, When I close the gate behind me, I just
stood there, motionless for what must have been five minutes
Frozen in place with my hand clenching.
The grip of the revolver, still holstered, at my belt.
Even with all the stress and anxiety swirling around in my
head. I was amazed at exactly how key
my senses seemed in that moment. It felt like I could hear every
rustle of leaves and smell every damp patch of moss in the
thousands of Acres of wilderness surrounding me in that moment.
I felt very small, very insignificant trivial when my
chest began to I realized that I had been holding a breath in
subconsciously, afraid to make even the slightest sound.
I let it out slowly and forced myself, to breathe.
Normally, again, scanning the trees.
I turned slowly in a circle, I searching for anything that
seemed out of place, like it didn't belong, but there was
nothing there. Everything seemed normal at
least to me, casting one last look over my shoulder at The
Refuge of my tower. I started off along the seldom
use service road to the north careful of my footing on the
muddy and uneven ground. I allowed myself to move at a
slow jog fast enough to make good progress but not so fast
that I was announcing my presence to the world.
Not so fast that I couldn't hear the forest around me over my own
breathing. I stopped a couple times during
my Trek to catch my breath and take a drink of water and
thankfully still seemed alone and unpursued for now.
I wondered if it was out there somewhere among the dense trees,
hiding in the muted grey, Shadows of the forest, maybe it
was looking for me at that moment, perhaps it had returned
to my tower in my absence found it.
Empty And was even now tracking my flight along this Trail.
If I pause long enough, what I see it suddenly rounding, the
gentle curve behind me as it caught up or did it prefer to
move more stealthily among the trees and underbrush laying in?
Wait alongside the path ahead ready for my Approach.
I had to forcibly shake myself of that line of thought.
It wasn't doing me any good now. I was committed to my plan, the
thought of retracing my steps and returning to my lonely
Watchtower held just as much Terror because now it's at their
unmanned, unwatched abandoned For all I know the mimic could
be there at this very moment. Ransacking my shack, I
definitely didn't want to walk back in.
On that little scene, I can promise you that much.
I ended up making surprisingly good time on that Northern path.
It was only about 30 minutes before I saw the dim Shape of My
Jeep waiting dutifully in the middle of the path ahead.
The mat tan paint job in Black cloth, roof stood out,
remarkably well against the muted greens and Browns of the
surrounding Forest. Urging my Pace to Quicken, I
covered the last hundred yards before I even realized it.
I found myself standing at the door and on handle, I paused a
chill. Ran down my spine and siding and
unbidden Shiver, I realized that how quiet the forest around me
was in, wasn't sure how long it had been this way.
I felt that something was out of place and so, did the Native
fauna on any given day? The trees were alive with the
sounds of wildlife, squirrels and Chipmunks jittered insects
buzzed and a thousand varieties of birds called in sang from the
Treetops. Not now though, it was as if
they had all left and I felt very alone in that moment.
Only not quite alone, somewhere out there in that sea of trees.
Something stalked, something that didn't belong in the light
of day, something that didn't belong under the watchful eyes
of Mother Nature. I was pretty sure she wouldn't
have let something like the Minnick evolved had.
It not been hidden in its underground realm.
The door of the jeep was thankfully quiet.
As I depress the latch and swung it open.
If this had been a horror movie, I'm sure an ear-splitting
Screech would have erupted from its hinges, but in real life we
tend to take care of these vehicles pretty well in the best
of times they are. Only convenient way to travel
for 20 miles or more in times. Like this, though, it was
likely. The only thing that would save
me. I jumped in and pulled the door.
Shut behind me with a dull. Funk subconsciously locking it.
I almost laughed aloud when I did that.
The entire top of the jeep was nothing more than canvas and
plastic. Windows.
A feisty hamster. Could probably have penetrated
my little Haven. I doubt the mimic.
What even think twice about it. The Jeep fired up immediately
when I turn the key in the ignition and I threw it in
reverse for the most ungraceful 14, Point turn you've ever seen
on the narrow and muddy Service Road.
Once I got turned around, I didn't waste any time, directing
it back the way. I went the service road was
really little more than an uneven and he'll maintain dirt
Trail and was only ever used infrequently by the Rangers and
Lookouts. As I previously mentioned, it
was a rough ride even for the heavy suspension of my trusty
Steed. So I had to keep it at a
reasonable speed. The very last thing I needed was
to snap an axle or bounce myself right off the road and into the
trees, compound. The condition of Trail with the
fact that it constantly curved as it progressed and it meant
that even my best speed wasn't too much faster than I could run
on foot. That's okay once I got past my
tower, the service road was generally better maintained and
followed a more or less straight path.
I'd be able to build some decent speed there and I'd be out of
the Wilderness and standing at the ranger station in an hour or
so the abrupt appearance of my tower caused me to feather off
the gas as I rounded the last curve from the northern track.
I slowed to a crawl and squinted through the now dirty win.
Shield from here. Everything looked exactly like I
had left it. The gate still stood closed and
looking up I could see the trapdoor also appeared shut
maybe this thing hadn't returned hell.
Maybe this thing wasn't ever going to return for all?
I knew it was headed in the opposite direction.
It's not like it had a GPS or anything.
It was at that moment that I nearly scared myself when the
radio still clipped to my belt squawked and I heard probably
the last thing I had expected to hear Billie Jean, are you there?
The signal was pretty. Clear.
But his voice sounded weak. I almost didn't respond.
I was frozen in decision. Clouding, my mind, I didn't know
what I could trust to be true, but I doubted that this mimic
had read the radio manual and learn to operate.
The hand sit, I snatched the handset from my shoulder and
keep the mic Delhi. Holy crap, is that you he
answered me right away and I thought I could hear relief in
his tone buried under his pained words John.
Thank God. I was afraid you were gone.
My eyes drifted to the trail leading past my tower toward the
ranger station towards safety, another five minutes and I would
have been over, I've got my Jeep and I was just about to haul it
for the ranger station. I replied.
What's your status? There was a moment of silence
and I wondered briefly, if he'd even heard me but then he
answered, I'm not doing too good.
John, I'm in my tower but that thing hurt me.
I've been drifting in and out. I've patched myself up as best I
could, but I can't stop the cut on my leg.
I frowned in close my eyes. A moment asking, a question that
I was pretty sure I knew the answer to.
Are you able to get to your Jeep?
I thought I heard a coughing bark of laughter before he
answered, I don't think so. I'm pretty banged up.
What happened? The thing got into my tower.
I managed to get off a shot at it but not before it got the
jump on me. He explained it took off before
it did me in. So I think I hit it.
I don't know where it is now though, my tower is wide open
and it hasn't come back. So maybe It's gone.
I doubted that things. Never work out that simple.
Are you stable? Can you be moved?
Another silence and then I know what you're thinking and haul it
to the ranger station. That's an order.
I dropped my forehead to the steering wheel.
Closing my eyes and cursing. It would have been easier if
Billy hadn't radioed me. I know it's selfish.
I know I'm a jerk for even thinking it, but I could have
been blissfully out of range. If he had only waited another 10
minutes, I could still put the Throttle Down.
Down and get out of here, I could still race for the ranger
station and have them mobilize a chopper to come back for Billy,
but they were at least an hour away factor in the spin up and
travel time for the helicopter, and you're talking more like an
hour and a half before anyone gets to him, he didn't sound
good. Something told me it was
unlikely. He would last.
That amount of time I could still turn left.
I'd likely survive. But could I live with myself
knowing that I left Billy to pass alone in his Tower.
What if our situations had been reversed?
Sure, I might be saying Same words, he was saying now but in
my heart I'd be pleading for that voice on the radio to help
me. I couldn't imagine being in his
position, lying there hurt and running out of time knowing that
his Safe Haven was wide open and that thing was out there
somewhere. Look, I know what you're going
to say. I know what you're probably
already saying, don't be stupid. This is exactly why everyone
dies. In a horror movie, I get it,
believe me. I get it.
But this isn't a movie and my friend was lying there in his
Shack. If I could get to him, And get
him into the Jeep. We could both be out of here,
leaving all this Twisted nightmare behind us, Delhi.
I'm headed your way. Get ready.
Because we're going to wrestle you down the stairs and into my
Jeep, as quickly as we can. I said, cranking the wheels to
the right and taking the Western Trail with more speed than I
should have John. I gave you an order, get out of
here. Now, despite the situation, I
managed to sardonic grin as my rig bucked and bounced over the
uneven Trail Billy, I'd like to take this opportunity to
officially tender my resignation.
Ignition from the fire watch. Now shut your mouth and conserve
your strength. I'll be there in 15 minutes, 15
minutes turned out to be a pretty good guess.
And before long I skidded to a halt outside Tower 12 next to
Billy's ride, I opened the door and stepped out into the quiet.
Are my handgun coming out of its holster and held before me,
like, some sort of s.h.i.e.l.d., I took a quick moment to let my
eyes roam over the surrounding Woodlands for any sign of
movement before, quickly jogging around my Jeep and towards the
compounds entrance, I passed through the open doorway.
By taking note of the heavy chain link gate, that was laying
Twisted 15 feet inside of the fence, another dozen paces and I
was at the base of the stairs craning my neck, to make sure
nothing was awaiting me above. I keep the mic at my shoulder
and said, in a low voice Billy, I'm outside of your Tower right
now. Heading up.
Don't shoot me. I turned the volume on the
speaker down just in time for his response.
Damn it, John, I told you to leave, but despite his words,
the Gratitude and relief were clear in his tone.
I It up the stairs, revolver still held at the ready.
As my other hand ran lightly along the railing.
My eyes were drawn to the red black spot staining.
The gray paint of the steel steps.
I found even more of the viscous fluid on the railing as I
continued my Ascent blood but not Billy's good, I hope that
idiot is laying in the woods breathing its last breath.
He definitely hit it but I had no way of telling how seriously
it was hurt in a human bright red indicated, an arterial bleed
which was typically a fairly significant injury.
With this thing who knew what black red meant, I climbed the
rest of the staircase as it ran around the tower and stop just
below the open trap door. Billy.
I called out cautiously a pause then came, his reply shaky and
with a wheezing sound that I didn't like at all.
How do I know it's you say something that this idiot
couldn't have heard you say before?
I've always admired and respected you I answered without
hesitation jerk. He said under his breath, come
on up. I took another couple steps
cautiously. Poking, my head through the trap
door, Billy was sitting upright, more or less resting his back
against the door frame of his Shack and aiming his own
handgun. Generally in my direction, as
soon as he saw my face, he dropped his hand to his side.
The stainless steel barrel falling against the metal
walkway. As I stepped fully through the
trapdoor. I noted two things immediately.
Firstly there was a significant amount of that black reduce
splattered around. Secondly, I realized how badly
injured Billy was his face, had gone gray with a sickly paleness
and his Rats came in ragged hitches, soaked, bandages,
wrapped both forearms, and the side of his face was covered
with a crimson rag. Taped haphazardly, down his
entire khaki. Park shirt was painted in a
hellish tie-dye of shades of red, but it was his like, that
worried me. Most a tourniquet had been tied
around his thigh, but the pants leg was a cherry red below that
and was glistening in the late morning, light Jesus.
Billy, I exclaimed holstering my gun in rushing to his side.
He waved me off as I know beside him.
I know it looks bad. Save it for later.
Let's get out of here before that thing, decides to come back
for another round. I nodded and stood again, taking
a quick glance past him and into his Shack, a twin to my own
Tower. Normally Billy's looked like a
war zone. Now, his table and desk had both
been overturned in smashed along with his base Set Radio on the
floor near by was a satellite phone.
It's antenna and display obviously smashed during the
attack, lifting his arm over my head, I helped him to his feet,
he grimaced and pain, but through his remaining strength
in with mine and we began the precarious descent through his
trap. Door, did you at least get to
make your phone call? I asked him as we took the steps
carefully and agonizingly slow. He shook his head, it got here,
just as I was getting ready to it was using your voice telling
me that you are from the park service, and that you were here
to help, he looked at me with a shaken astonishment, it sounded
just like you John, but when I looked over the catwalk railing
down at it, he winced again, as we have stumbled on a step,
almost there, he continued. Holy hell, I've never seen
anything like it. I shook my head.
As we reach the bottom step in moved on to the rain-soaked
ground and grunted with exertion.
Save it Billy. We have a long ride ahead of us,
plenty of time for that later. He just nodded as I maneuvered
him around the passenger, side of my Jeep, and helped him climb
in. Once he was in, I hurried back
around to the driver's door and got in starting the engine.
As I pulled the door closed behind me, throwing it into
reverse. I felt the wheels break loose as
I stepped on the gas with a bit too much enthusiasm.
I swung the 4x4 around and put it into drive, pointing it back
towards my tower and Beyond safety.
I only had a heart beats warning from Billy before, I saw it,
barreling from the underbrush at us, it threw itself a great Mass
crashing into the side of the Jeep and Billy scramble to get
away from it. Dang near climbing over the
center console in the process and knocking my hands off the
wheel in his Panic. The Jeep's one wildly left and I
stomped down on the brakes to avoid careening off into the
trees, one of the front wheels dipped off the It in the steel
bumper crash through a small cluster of Oak saplings, halting
us abruptly installing the engine.
Everything went silent in that moment.
As we froze, my breath hitched in my lungs and my eyes widened
and shocked as I laid eyes upon this Abomination.
For the first time, my first impression was that it was much
larger than I had thought, but the nightmare visits before me
Eclipse such a pedestrian observation.
The thing stood in the middle of the trail still shaking its head
as if trying to recover its senses after the collision with
the two-ton vehicle it Looked vaguely humanoid in a sense but
it walked on four Islands. Clearly proportion to such a
task. It was hairless.
And with modeled pink gray skin stretched tight over muscles
bones and odd unidentifiable growths.
The Lynne seemed to have joints that bent in all the wrong
directions and ended in what should have been Clause, but
instead of the distinctive keratin composed sharp nails.
That seem so familiar in the natural world.
These seem to be extensions of the creatures.
Skeletal structure protruding painfully through its veiny
translucent hide, but worst of all was the %.
Disproportionately large head. That topped an oddly gone to
peering Nick. It was oblong and reminded me of
the shape of a feline skull in general appearance.
It's ma seem to Jagged tear across its face with ill-fitting
and chaotically position teeth that didn't seem to allow the
mouth to close properly. I couldn't see any eyes, but
where they should have been were instead to bulbous insist like
organs seeming to bulge in flattened in a slow Rhythm.
As if bladders filling with air or liquid, I reeled back and
revulsion as it turned its sightless head in our Direction.
Langley flaps of skin on either side of its malformed snout
opens slowly like some obscene Blossom.
Composed of Milky gray bat wings and I had this sense that it was
using them to try to somehow locate us.
It was then I saw where Billy shot it struck the creature, in
the face. One of the snout flaps was
nearly completely cut hanging in contrast to its sibling and a
gouge furrowed by the shots travel.
Creased along the right side of the things head, when it turned
its head farther. In our Direction, I could see
clearly where it had blood significantly from the shot but
was Fight to see that the wound had already sealed itself and a
shiny silver scar was left to Mark the incident.
I knew, I hit you Billy whispered.
The mimic stopped its motion. A moment later, the Twisted
sound of a human voice assaulted, our ears, I know
you're out there. The voice was unmistakably
Billy's, but was distorted in wrong.
I thought that the injury from his shot probably had something
to do with that. The thing raised its head, again
turning a bit more in our Direction and took a few
experimental steps forward. Again hit pause.
And lowered its head this time we heard what sounded like the
pained Roar of a bear almost perfectly replicated except for
that same Distortion that we had heard previously.
Had this thing got a bearer, I held my breath, as we watched it
again, raised its head and take a few more contemplative steps
in our Direction, slowly swinging its grotesques now back
and forth. I could see how the flaps of
skin that were flared open where it snows should have been twist,
minutely back and forth and I felt like it was using them to
listen for us. It knows we're here somewhere
but it can't see. As whispered Billy leaning
close, but if it gets close enough, I'm thinking, we're done
for. I looked over at Billy and
realized that there was no way he'd be able to make a run for
it in his condition from the look of the thing, growing ever
closer to where we coward in the Jeep.
I thought it was likely, we didn't have much time before it
got close enough to hear our breathing or heart beats or
whatever. Even inside the 4x4 when that
happened, I knew what would come next Billy closed.
His eyes a moment and turn to me, there was something in his
eyes then. Then some sort of acceptance
that I didn't like one bit. Get ready with that Cannon.
He whispered, you're only going to get one chance at this.
What are you talking about? I asked a moment later.
I had my answer, Billy took a deep breath and mustard every
bit of his strength, flinging the door, open and staggering
out of the Jeep. I'm right here.
He shouted at the thing. Limping weekly across the road
away from the Jeep. The mimic whipped its head in
his Direction instantly. But tilted, its head to the side
seemingly momentarily puzzled at this unexpected.
Acted turn of events. Billy held his own Magnum in his
hand, but he was too weak to raise it towards the Beast.
Still he pulled the trigger and a resounding boom seem to shake.
The are the mimic flinched at the deafening sound of the shot,
the membrane at its snout snapping shut protectively, but
it stunned. Hesitation didn't last very long
in an instant faster than I would have thought possible.
It launched itself on powerful limbs at Billy, knocking him to
the ground and going at him with teeth and Claws.
I heard my friend starts screaming, then a horrible A
soul rending sound that I'll never forget as long as I live,
but now is my chance. And I took it, I swung the door
and stepped out of the Jeep. My gun coming free of its
holster. In the same movement, the
creature was preoccupied with what was left of Billy, but as
soon as I brought the gun up and thumbed back the hammer its head
whipped around at me, it crouched like a compressed
spring as it prepared to launch but I was quicker.
The report of the shot was incredible and The Recoil of the
powerful round. Rocked my wrist, back painfully,
the be staggered, and I saw a burst of Red explode from near
where it's shoulder met its neck, it held out an
otherworldly cry, sounding like a Bedlam mixture of man and
beast, but though the wounds seem terrible, it tried once
again, to throw itself at me, I was set in my course though and
took step after step. Towards the creature, pulling
the trigger. Again, and again, until the gun
ran dry. And all I was left with was the
clicking of the hammer and the high-pitched ringing.
In my ears, the acrid smell of gunpowder stunned, my nose.
And by the time, I finally stopped, I found myself within
only a few feet of the terrible thing, six black and whole
stippled, the neck and torso of the creature where the shots had
entered. And I knew that the destruction
of their exits on the opposite side would be far worse, the
mimiclay across Billy Johnson its weight crushing.
What? Whatever had been left of my
friend black red fluid spread out from beneath the thing like
an oil spill across a smooth floor.
I noted with some muted surprised that the creature
still twitched and slowly flexed, its powerful muscles and
a wheezing sound was quietly emanating from the top of its
head. I holstered my empty.
Good and scanned around the sod and ground for what I knew.
Was there a moment later? I spotted it.
Billy's own Magnum laying half buried in the muck where it had
been torn from his grip, under the weight of the monster.
I snatched it up and shook it, clear of most of the mud and
grass opening. The cylinder.
I saw that only one unfired round remained that was enough.
I approached the thing before me without apprehension or pause.
My eyes focused on this thing that had caused such pain and
Terror. I found the hammer back in
place, the muzzle against the mimic, which still moved with
some small remaining life. I didn't know if it would be
able to heal from the wounds. I had already inflicted logic,
told me it was unlikely. But the Silvery scar I had seen
from Billy's previous encounter, caused me to question
everything. I thought was possible.
I felt the Tremors from the creature vibrate through the gun
as the barrel rested against its head.
Right between where it's I should have been a tense, my
finger on the cool steel of the trigger in the crack of the
shot, echoed through the forest, it was done.
But even as I walked back, numbly to the Jeep and
restarted. The Jin.
I wondered if that was true, I thought back to the journal.
I had read written more than 130 years before and how it had
alluded to Tales of this creature.
Going back long before. Then as I drove the Jeep along
the rough and winding service road, I wondered at the
possibility that what we encountered was the only one of
its kind that this same Beast had somehow terrorized cultures
separated from each other. By great time in distance
spawning, the legends that the author of the journal and his
companions at pursued, it didn't seem likely And now the door was
open.