Shadow Tales

Adventures of a Yeti Hunter Snow is thick on the ground, a great white blanket making everything look the same. It crunches underfoot, makes it hard to walk. But it should make tracking things easier, as they’ll leave traces in the snow. And that’s why Joel is in this forest in Maine: to track an animal no one has ever truly seen. He’s searching for a yeti with a team from the college he teaches at. He’s thrilled there was a sighting in his state. For once, he hasn’t had to travel far from home. It’s early December, though, and it’s been snowing on and off all week. Joel has gone for a piss behind a tree, being quick about it because of the cold. He’s zipping up when he spots something on the ground. It looks like a footprint, human like, but bigger, like a large ape. Joel pulls out his camera and a marker to measure it. They’ll get plenty of false leads. For example, a fox’s print in the snow, when warmed by sunlight, will expand to look like that of some strange creature. The sun often warps the tracks of known animals to make them look like something else, so Joel isn’t about to cry success quite yet. He takes a picture, with the marker down for size, and then leaves a bright pink piece of tape on a nearby tree to mark the location. He also takes out a can of spray paint, equally pink, and sprays a dot on the snow by the fox’s print. Finished, he puts all his things away and heads back in the direction of his team. When he reaches where they should be, however, he doesn’t see them. They must have spotted something. Joel is good at tracking, though, so he starts looking for signs showing what direction they’ve gone. But someone must be against Joel because it starts snowing. Joel curses as any fresh marks start to disappear. He adjusts his backpack, looks around, and starts walking. He’ll freeze his ass off if he just stands in one place. His plan is to walk a little farther into the forest, and if he doesn’t find his team, he’ll head back to where they left the cars. He’s walking when he hears a noise. At first he thinks it could be his team, but then he hears another sound: an animal roar kind of like a bear, but not quite. Joel thinks about calling out, but then wants to kick himself. If it is an animal, it won’t exactly be able to answer. Joel isn’t one of those people who think yetis can talk. He doesn’t think of it as a werewolf or vampire, something mythical. He thinks of it as a very rare, extremely intelligent animal. Joel heads in the direction of the sound—because he’s here to find a yeti, after all—but when he passes through a row of trees, he can’t see any animals. He does, however, see some broken branches low to the ground, so he heads that way. The wind is picking up, and the snow is coming down heavier. Joel pulls his scarf tighter around his head, further warding against the sting of cold snow and wind hitting his face. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to see, even with the ski goggles he’s wearing. He isn’t ready to give up, so he keeps walking, following any signs of life he can find. Finally, he sees something in the distance. It looks like a cabin, and given how bad the snow is getting, Joel wonders if his team may have taken shelter in the cabin, so he heads toward it. The cabin is large and in great condition. It’s clear someone is living there, so Joel knocks on the front door. It takes a little while before he hears someone coming to the door, and when it opens, Joel finds himself face to chest with a tall man. Joel is tall, lanky even, but this man is taller, and broad as well, like some kind of huge lumberjack. “Hello?” The man sounds surprised. He has a long mane of chestnut-brown hair and bright blue eyes. He has a full beard that puts Joel’s goatee to shame. “Hi, I’m looking for a group of people who may have passed this way. I’m Joel Wilde. I’m doing a study in the area,” Joel explains, just as a huge gust of wind almost knocks him off his feet. “‘You’re the only person I’ve seen. I didn’t think anyone would be out in this weather, to be honest. I think maybe you should come in and call your friends,” the man replies. “Do you mind?” Joel asks, not wanting to admit that he hadn’t thought of calling his team. “Not at all. You’re shivering.” The man steps back to let Joel inside. Joel shuts the door behind him, glad to be in the welcoming heat of the cabin for a while. He can see a roaring fire, and its heat fills the room. “My name’s Tommy Claire, by the way, and I live here. You said you were studying something. Can I ask what?” Tommy asks. “Well, you’re going to laugh, and I’m used to it, but I’m here to look for yetis.” Joel is used to being mocked. Some people don’t like that he’s allowed to teach in a real college, given his views on yetis, but he’s far from the only believer. “Well, that’s different. Don’t think I’ve seen one,” Tommy says as Joel frees his cell phone from his pocket. He doesn’t sound like he’s mocking Joel. “No weird sounds or tracks?” Joel asks as he dials one of his teammates, only to realize his phone has no service. “I guess there are, but it’s the woods. You’re bound to hear or see something weird.” Tommy shrugs. “My cell’s not working. Do you have one? Or a landline? I hate to be a bother, but I guess I’m a little stuck.” Joel sighs. “Let me check my cell. No landline, just a radio.” Tommy goes over to the couch and picks up a cell phone, looks at it, and shakes his head. “No service?” Joel guesses. “Yep. Let me get on the radio and see what’s going on. If your friends are looking for you, they might have left a message at the local police station,” Tommy offers. “Could you check? That’d be great.” Joel smiles. “It’s here in the kitchen. Come along, if you like. Grab a cup of coffee to warm up. You look frozen, even in all those layers,” Tommy replies. “Thank you. I am cold.” Joel follows him to the kitchen. Tommy pours two cups of coffee and hands one to Joel before picking up the radio and speaking into the handset. After a few minutes, he gets a response, and Joel listens as Tommy is told a dangerous snowstorm has blown in, and everyone is being warned to stay inside. It’s a full-on blizzard, and Joel feels a little sick. What if his team is still out there? But then the man comes back with another message: a group was found by the road trying to dig out their snowed-in cars. The man describes them as weirdos from the college, which is definitely his team. “Looks like your friends got back to town in time to miss the worst of the storm, but seems like you might be stuck here for a bit. Good thing I’ve got a spare bedroom,” Tommy says, sipping coffee. He’s a big man, but he moves not delicately, but close to that. He’s not some lumbering mountain man. He looks more like one of the bearded tops you’d find in a really good porno, which is a thought Joel wishes he hadn’t had. “You don’t mind? You’re not worried about having a stranger in your home while you’re sleeping?” Joel asks. “I sleep with an ax beside my bed.” Tommy shrugs. “Well, that’s comforting for one of us,” Joel says with a shaky laugh. Just because Tommy is good-looking doesn’t mean he isn’t some psycho ax-wielding serial killer hiding out in the woods. He seems normal, and he did just radio a cop he seemed to be on first name terms with. “I’m not dangerous, I swear. My nieces call me the big gay bear, more cuddly than ferocious.” Tommy grins, and then stops, looking worried. “I just outed myself, didn’t I?” “Yeah, but it’s cool. I’m pansexual, so feel free to let your rainbow flag fly,” Joel says, taking off his wool hat. His hair beneath it is short and a gray-silver color. It had started to go gray in his twenties. At thirty-three, Joel decided to embrace the gray and dye his hair all that color. He’s been told it goes well with his gray eyes. “Nice hair. What are the odds that a cute guy knocks on my door, and he’s pan? And I just called you cute. I swear I’m not a creep. I just get so used to not talking to people, I forget how. I’m a nature photographer, so I’m living out here and can go weeks without seeing people,” Tommy says. “You know, I usually don’t spend the night with a guy unless we’ve gone to dinner,” Joel says, hoping it’ll show that he doesn’t think Tommy is a creeper. “Well, I can’t take you out anywhere, but as my guest, I’ll cook you dinner. You don’t have to put out though: I’m a gentleman,” Tommy replies. “Come on, let’s take these coffees to the fire and sit down. You can take that coat off, settle, in and get warm,” Tommy suggests. “Good idea.” Joel takes his coat, scarf, backpack, and gloves off, putting them on Tommy’s coat stand, and then he takes a seat by the fire, opposite Tommy. “So you’re a yeti hunter. Is that your full-time job?” Tommy asks, and he doesn’t sound like he’s mocking Joel. “I’m a professor at the University of Maine. I teach zoology, specializing in rare animals,” Joel replies. “Do you get s**t for being a professor who believes in yetis and is pansexual? I can imagine you get some uptight parents.” Tommy sounds like he speaks from experience. “I get some. I’ve had parents who’ve tried to get me fired, students who’ve come on to me to try to get better grades. And one kid who dressed in a Wookie costume, got his friend to videotape it, and tried to say he had proof of yetis. I get a mixed bag, but it’s one of the better schools I’ve taught at”.” “I guessed you aren’t from Maine, from your voice. Where are you from?” Tommy asks. “I’m actually from Canada, but I’ve lived all over the States for work.” Joel smiles. “Cool. I’ve been to Canada. It has some great wildlife. I got some terrific shots there. I guess we both like animals.” Tommy looks pleased. “Yeah, I love animals. Do you get lonely working out here?” Joel asks. “Sometimes. Normally I Skype with my sister and her kids, and I talk to friends on the phone. But I do go a long time without being face-to-face with another person. Last person I saw for real was a grocery store clerk, and you’re much prettier than she was.” Tommy grins. “You’re kind of a flirt,” Joel replies. The grin fades a bit. “Too much?” “No, I like it. Been a while since someone flirted with me like that, right off the bat,” Joel replies. “The people you meet must be stupid, then. You’re a really good-looking guy, and a professor? That’s impressive. If we weren’t snowed in, I’d ask you on a date, take you out, show you off,” Tommy says, and sounds like he means it. “Well, if we don’t drive each other crazy by the time we get out of here, maybe we could try that date?” Joel suggests, feeling bold. He’s attracted to Tommy, and he wants to see where that could go. He already knows Tommy’s kind enough to let a lost stranger into his home, and he’s nice enough not to mock Joel about yetis. He seems like a good guy. “I like that idea, but I also have another one.” Tommy smiles. “What?” Joel asks. “We can have a date, right here in my cabin. I’ll cook you dinner. We’ll have some wine, get to know each other. It’ll help the time pass till the storm passes”. “I like that idea. Feels kind of crazy, but I’m used to crazy. I spend my days being told I’m nuts for hunting things most people don’t think exists. A date with a guy I’ve just met isn’t stranger than that,” Joel says. “I know what it’s like to be called crazy because of your job. Sometimes the animals I’m taking photos of are dangerous, could kill me. But I think it’s worth it to help educate people about animals and remind them of how so many species are dying out. Maybe your yetis are real, and they’re just another animal driven nearly to extinction by people.” They talk about work a little longer. Once their coffees are finished, they return to the kitchen together. Tommy gets back to work on the warming, hearty chicken stew he started earlier. Joel can’t wait to taste it. He hasn’t eaten anything since breakfast.