Chapter 2 – Meeting On the Mountain
Blount County, Tennessee, Two Days Later
The chopper blades whirled with an intensity unmatched by most modern machines as it touched down on a gravel road at the base of Chilhowee Mountain, a low ridge where the dreaded Spearfinger was said to haunt. The chopper wound down, the large steel blades coming to a complete stop, as Hellboy stepped out. Three other agents, all dressed in tan suits and dark sunglasses, followed Hellboy out of the helicopter, lining up in a row behind him.
In the distance Hellboy noticed a dingy looking red Jeep Wrangler speeding towards the helicopter. The vehicle got closer and slowed down, finally pulling next to the aircraft and promptly parking. Wasting no time, the driver exited and approached the men with a heavy eagerness.
"You are the creature that Miss Corrigan told me was a specialist in folklore?" the man extended his left hand, looking at Hellboy with a hint of fear in his eyes, marveling at his large stone hand.
"Well, I don't know about all that," Hellboy shook the stranger's hand. "Hi! My name is Hellboy. I'm with the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. And these are some of my contemporaries, Agent Rogers, Agent Stern and Agent Byrne."
"Hello!" The man acknowledged the three agents but his greeting garnered no response from any of them. "Mr. Hellboy, I am Charles Chea Sequah, known as Red Bird to my tribe. I fear I have made a horrible mistake."
"Well, if we have a witch on our hands, and you're responsible, I'd say you're right, Charlie."
"It is actually a long story. You see, the government allows a group of my people to live in a nearby village that we have set up as part of an agreement over protected land. But, I won't bore you with those details. My village is back there." The man paused and pointed behind him to show where the relative location of his village was before continuing. "And we as a people have certain customs. We hold ceremonies and practice sacred rituals. You see, a fortnight ago I was using some ancient incantations, an ancient rhythm of my people in a healing ceremony for one of our young girls. Something went wrong and the next morning we started seeing her signs."
"Signs? And what might those be?"
"Well the most obvious one is her song. Her voice echoes down the mountain to our village. She also has a large bird, a raven that watches over the land for her. When you hear its call you know she is coming. Brown smoke sometimes billows from the top of the mountain and there are also footprints of white sand around our village. You see, the natural form of U'tlun'ta is stone and when she walks, she crushes rocks beneath her feet. We tried to ignore the signs but when two of our children went missing, I knew I had cursed the land. I have shamed my village. My people are angry with me. I pray that you can help me make amends."
"Wait a minute!" Hellboy halted. "Back up! Are you saying that this thing nabbed two kids?"
"Well, yes. You see, U'tlun'ta uses her long, sharp finger to cut open her victims and then feeds on the livers of children and –."
"Small animals? Yeah, I heard about that."
"It only makes sense that she would return here after all this time because she used to haunt a nearby trail that joined this mountain with the Little River."
"Okay, Charlie. I've heard enough. Thank you for your cooperation. I'm gonna set up camp near here and find her. Thanks for meeting with me. And don't you worry, I'm gonna put a stop to this."
"Oh, just so you know Mr. Hellboy, she can look like anyone. She typically resembles an elderly woman."
"Got it. Thanks a lot. I'll report to your village once I have taken care of your little problem."
"May the gods bless you, Mr. Hellboy. Thank you again!" Charles Chea Sequah again shook Hellboy's left hand and quickly got back in the Jeep.
As soon as the engine started, the man sped away. Hellboy gestured to his colleagues, who promptly removed some gear from the chopper: an oversized tent, four large containers of pancakes, a giant vat of chili with extra beans, a bottle of tequila and various weapons and equipment.
"Thanks Byrne! Did you guys document everything that Charlie told us?"
"Yes, Hellboy!"
"Alright! I'll radio in if there's an emergency."
"Right! Anything else?" Agent Byrne requested.
"That'll be all, boys. Now you might wanna get out of here," Hellboy recommended. "It could be a couple of rough days."
