Day 14
Something woke me! 3:12 a.m., according to my watch. Our fire had gone out, and impenetrable darkness covered the inside of the cabin. I could hear Cut snoring to my right, and Buck's low growl coming from over by the door. What is going on?
"Cut!"
The snoring stopped momentarily, he mumbled something and, judging by the creaking of the bunk, turned over.
"Cut!" I hissed a little louder, sitting up.
"What's the matter?" Kelly's sleepy voice answered instead.
"Don't know. Be quiet and don't move," I whispered, reaching for the MPK beside my cot. "Shut up a minute, Buck, I can't hear myself think."
The dog growled louder, now with an angry undertone.
"Shut it, I said!" I slid off the bunk. "Damn, Cut, wake up!"
"What?" he finally grumbled back irritated, but then seemed to be instantly on his feet. "What's going on, Chase?"
Ignoring the question, I felt my way toward Buck's location and only now noticed Chief, standing with his back to the wall beside the window.
"See anything?" I asked, gliding next to him, but realized at the same time that in the darkness he could not possibly make out what I was saying.
Still he answered, almost inaudible, "Someone is out there."
"Someone or something?" Damn, Chase, you're doing it again! "Cut, get over here!"
"Shit! I can't see a thing," he hissed, tripping over something as he moved beside us. "What's goin' on?"
I could barely recognize Jimmy's motion for 'silence', a finger across his lips, and another gesture indicating the woods outside. Straining my eyes, I glared through the glass of the old windshield from a Jeep, that served as our window.
Chief pointed a little further to the right, and following the direction—There!—A quick stir! A large shadow was moving between the trees.
Cut must have seen it at the same time. "Damn, what is that?" he whispered over my shoulder.
"Let me see." Kelly came creeping up next to me.
"I told you to stay put, damn it," I scolded low, unlocking my MPK. "Cover my ass!" I advised Cut and slid toward the door.
Buck quieted somewhat when I put a hand on his back. I could feel his hair sticking up though, and the low rumble coming from his throat. Good thing we oiled them hinges, I thought, opening the door as slow as possible. Crouched with my back against the side-wall, I peeked around the corner.
Buck growled louder again, and I placed my fingers over his muzzle. He was trained to instantly silence at this and it worked, but I could feel him shudder against the touch. I would have to move further out to see around the side of the hut, which meant having to let go of the dog.
A hoarse growl from the left, and Buck tore loose. Snarling and barking, he chased toward the area where we had recognized the movement. Another growl, more a roar this time, mixed with a painful howl.
Damn! I was instantly on my feet and around the corner. The giant shadow, less than ten yards away from me, doubled in size as the bear rose to his hind legs. No time to think! I brought the MPK up. The deafening blast from the gun, even louder in the night, cut off the next nerve-racking roar. The shadow crumpled to the ground. Between the ringing in my ears and the darkness, I couldn't make out anything. Almost a comforting sound when I switched the MPK to full-auto—just in case!
There was no movement, however. Nothing for several moments. Then a low whimper, a few steps from me. Buck!
"Cut!" I hollered suppressed, knowing he had heard me since he was quickly at my side.
"You get 'im?" he inquired, handing me one of the flashlights.
"Think so," I answered scarcely. "Go see. I gotta check on Buck. Be careful!"
In the dim glow of the flashlight I could see his indignant frown at the unnecessary admonition. Guess this little incident had rattled my nerves, or was it just the adrenaline rush? No matter! I took a deep breath to calm myself and stepped over to Buck.
"Damn, old boy," I mumbled, kneeling down, "he got you good, didn't he?"
The dog was laying on his side, whining softly and looking up at me with big, pleading eyes.
"It's okay," I soothed as I ran my hand along his side. "Shit, that's deep."
He shuddered when my fingers touched the wet hair on his shoulder.
I held up the light to closer examine the cuts.
"Is he alright?" Kelly inquired, squatting down beside me.
"Don't know. I can't see enough out here. Let's get him inside."
"Need some help?"
"Yeah, here...take the gun and the light." I flipped the safety on the MPK and handed it over to him along with the flashlight.
Buck whimpered harder and struggled against me when I picked him up.
"Damn it, hold still," I grumbled between my teeth. "You're heavy enough as it is."
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Chief had started the fire back up and lit two of the lanterns. He gave me a questioning look of concern as I placed the dog onto my cot.
"Damn, Chase! Hell of a shot!" Cut came through the door. "Shit, he get Buck?" he squinted worried.
"Yeah. Where's that fuckin' medical kit?" I cussed, rummaging beside the bunk.
Jimmy tapped my shoulder and handed me the pouch when I turned.
"Thanks! Help me hold 'im, Cut, so I can patch him up."
"Easy, boy," he mumbled, restraining Buck's front legs. "Gees, you's lucky! Stupid dog! That grizzly could've tore you to shreds," he kept talking while I cleaned and wrapped the dog's shoulder.
"Can I go see it?" Kelly begged. "I never seen a real grizzly up close. How big is it?"
"Pretty damn good size. 'Bout eight-hundred pounds I guess," Cut informed him. "Shot him dead center in the heart. Hell of a hit!"
"Wait a minute!" It suddenly hit me. "Did you say grizzly?"
"Sure did, man."
"Bullshit, Cut! There ain't any more grizzlies in this area."
"Well, now that you mention it...that is kinda weird, but I swear that sucker is gray and way too big to be anything but a grizzly."
"I wanna look at it," Kelly repeated.
"Just wait till it gets light," I answered irritated. "Go back to sleep, we got a lot of shit to do tomorrow."
"Hell, who'n sleep after this?" he protested. "This is really somethin'. Knew it'd be cool hangin' around you guys."
"Yeah, well," Cut scratched his head, "this ain't all that cool. Buck's hurt and we got real lucky. A grizzly ain't nothin' to fool with. He'd eat ya as soon as look at ya."
"Ah, that wouldn't happen with you around. Damn, Chase, how'd you manage to get a shot like that off in the dark?" Kelly asked admiringly.
"Just luck," I shrugged. "Now will you please shut up. Go sit down somewhere, okay?"
"Alright, alright! Hey, Chief..." He turned, and since it actually got quiet I figured he just signed whatever it was that he had to tell Jimmy.
Cut looked over and snickered, but I was too busy to worry about the conversation.
"Here, that should do it. You'll be as good as new in a few days," I assured Buck.
He gave me kind of a doubtful look, then licked my hand nevertheless.
"So, now what?" Cut inquired. "We still gonna head back out when it gets light?"
"Have to. We already lost too much time. Guess we just leave him here, he'll be fine...I hope!"
Buck regarded me with a low growl.
"Sounds like he don't appreciate that idea at all," Cut chuckled. "It's alright, boy." He scratched the dog's head. "You just take it easy for a while."
Another growl, and we both laughed this time.
Chief got our attention with a snap of his fingers, and Cut grinned from ear to ear as he relayed the signed question.
"He's wonderin', since we got us some fresh meat kinda by accident, shouldn't we go take advantage of the situation?"
"You know, that's not a bad idea. Guess we'd still be in time to gut 'im and cut us up some."
"Already took care of the first part when I was over there," Cut smarted at me.
"Oh, you did, huh?" I smirked. "So what you waitin' for then?"
"Just thought I'd make sure it's okay with you."
"Yeah, right!...Kelly, stay here with Buck, we'll be back in a few."
"Oh, come on, I wanna see it before you cut it up," he complained.
"Boy, you gonna cause me to lose my hair," I sighed.
"Hell, there ain't much left to lose," he shot back, squinting up at my receding hair-line.
I shook my head in resignation. Asked for that one, didn't you, Chase!
Chief grinned roguishly and placed an arm around Kelly's shoulder, signing that way. Whatever he told him, it had the effect that the boy giggled but sat down on his cot without further protest.
"That's better," I nodded, earning myself a shit eating grin.
Cut chuckled, making it hard to hold my question until we got outside.
"What did he say?"
"Oh, Jimmy just told 'im, that you're real sensitive when it comes to your hair-do," Cut informed me with a mischievous snicker.
"Thaaanks! Man, between the three of you, I don't know who's..." I interrupted myself, and the joke was suddenly over when we reached the spot where the bear had fallen.
"No way!" Cut's eyes widened in disbelieve as he held up the lantern he had brought along. "No fuckin' way, Chase! This is impossible...I just don't believe it!"
Chief bent to a knee, but looked back up at us over his shoulder immediately.
I merely stood, staring at the spot.
"What the fuck is going on here, Chase?" Cut asked low.
I shook my head. There was no way explaining this. Nothing there to explain! No bear, no blood, not a leaf disturbed. Like nothing had ever happened.
Jimmy got back to his feet, and it wasn't the first time I had seen that particular expression on his face. His eyes darted back and forth, carefully scanning the surrounding darkness, and his fingers were wrapped around the bear-claw necklace.
Well, I thought, guess it's time to start believing in ghosts. How else would you explain an eight-hundred pound, dead grizzly disappearing without a trace?
"Chase?" Cut's voice was tight.
"Yeah, man!" I didn't sound much better.
"This can't be. I gutted that son-of-a-bitch right here. There was blood and everything all over the place."
"Damn, Cut, what do you want me to say?" I snapped at him, not meaning to. "That it was all just a bad dream, and we's in it together?"
"I don't know," he answered low, "but I've had about all I can take of this shit."
"You and me both, buddy!" I concurred, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Well," he let out a long breath, "usual question...what now?"
"Usual answer...don't know!" Jimmy said in my place, along with the familiar sign.
"Thanks for the input, Chief!" I couldn't help but grin despite the feeling that this situation was everything except comical. "Well, guys," I continued, "I figure we'll just have to write this little incident off as another unsolved mystery."
"You'n just leave it at that?" Cut scolded. "Damn, Chase, somebody is pullin' a real bad joke on us here, and it's slowly but surely startin' to be not funny anymore."
"Didn't know it ever was," I replied dryly. "Look, if you think you'll find out what's going on...well, be my guest. I'm gonna head back and try my luck in the morning."
Ignoring his testy look, I turned and started toward the camp. No sense in going back to sleep. Hell, who could sleep after something like this anyway. Okay, Chase, think! There's got to be an explanation. Needless to say, there was none. What had occurred here tonight was simply beyond any logic or reasoning.
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"You done already?" Kelly greeted me as I walked through the door. "What's the matter? You look like you just seen a ghost or somethin'," he sneered.
"Maybe I have," I answered curtly, and sat down on my cot beside Buck.
"Well, did y'all save the hide?" he rattled on. "I'll help you scrape it, we could..."
"Shut up!" I barked. "If you really must know, there is no hide and there is no bear."
"Whaaat?" The boy stared at me in total confusion. "But I thought..."
"Yeah, well, we all thought," Cut snapped, coming in together with Chief. "Guess we all thought kinda wrong, huh?"
"Let me get this straight," Kelly grinned crooked, "you're tryin' to tell me it's gone?"
"Yup," Cut shrugged, "hide, dinner and all. Not a trace of it nowhere."
"Are they serious, Chief?" the boy inquired, signing as he spoke.
Jimmy confirmed with a somber nod.
"Damn," Kelly mumbled, "I'n see losin' a buck. But a grizzly?" He scratched his head.
"I wouldn't believe it either, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes," I mused sullenly.
"Maybe your dog could find somethin'," he suggested.
"Probably, but I don't want him out there for at least a couple of days. His shoulder is pretty tore up."
"Alright, so then now what?"
Damn, I hate this question!
"Well?" Kelly pushed for an answer, and Cut helped me out.
"We'n look again after it gets light, and if we don't find nothin'...guess then we just go on as planned."