Day 18-4
Following Cut's suggestion, we return to the large cave. Chief has an animated discussion going with 'Harry', but I figure he will fill us in later. We leave the weapons and ammunition outside, hidden in a crevice beside the cave-entrance— at least for now. I don't want the men inside to know anything about them yet.
Now comes the hard part. Getting the situation we're in through to these guys. There are a whole lot of extremely concerned looks when we walk in. Better make it good, Chase, or you'll end up with a mutiny on your hands.
"Gentlemen," I start with drawing a deep breath, "I would like to speak with the agent in charge."
A dark-haired, stocky built guy—he is maybe in his mid-forties—gets up. "That would be me, Sergeant," he says, coming over. "What is going on?"
"Hold on a second, Sir….Sergeant Drake," I wave him over too, then pull both of them off to the side a little further. "Gentlemen, we need to talk."
"What is going on?" the dark-haired agent—I still don't know his name—repeats, starting to get impatient.
Great! Looks like he's gonna be a lot of fun to deal with. "Sir..." I hesitate.
"Wayne Perry," he introduces himself.
"Thank you, Agent Perry. Now, what I need to know first, how much are you aware of what's going on in this area?"
Drake and Perry exchange a somewhat puzzled look, then Drake glances over toward 'Harry' and shrugs.
"Well, Sergeant," he turns back to me, "I've been here quite a while, but I still can't believe it's true. We actually found Bigfoot. Or better say, he found us," he grins wryly.
"Sergeant," I rub my forehead, "that wasn't what I meant."
"Huh?" Both of them say it at the same time.
"Look, like I mentioned before, there is something going on here, and we've stirred up a little heat about it."
"Yeah," Drake remembers, "I was wondering about that remark when you made it. Could you fill us in?"
I can see it in Perry's face that he is really in the dark about the situation as well.
"Okay!" I get back to Drake's request. "One condition, this conversation stays between the three of us. At least for now. Agreed?"
Perry gives me an affirmative nod right away, but Drake hesitates. "Sergeant, maybe you should talk to the Lieutenant instead. He is in charge of us soldiers."
"I'm not much for pulling rank. If you feel it's necessary, you can always fill him in later, okay?"
"If you say so, Sergeant, then it's fine with me." He smiles a little.
"Good! Now listen," I continue low, "it seems there is a major cover-up going on in this area, concerning the illegal disposal of chemical agents..."
"What?" Perry blurts out.
"Sir!" I interrupt him quickly because we get some very curious looks from the other men. "Please, Sir, let me explain the situation."
"I'm sorry, go ahead," he mutters irritated.
"Alright, just keep it down. Anyway, we have found large quantities of Nerve- and Blister-agents, dumped in a valley. And when I say dumped, I literally mean dumped. They are brought here, at the rate of approximately fifty barrels per year, and covered later by blasting a piece of mountain down on top of them," I relate, according to the information Kelly gave us and what we had seen with our own eyes.
"Nonsense, Sergeant. Who would do something so stupid?" Perry barely hold his voice down.
"Well, Sir, apparently there is at least one of your agent-colleagues involved in this."
"No way!"
"I'm afraid so, Sir. To be honest, I don't think I was sent up here to find you and your men, but rather to make sure none of you would return, should you, by accident, have found any of this."
"Oh, bull, Sergeant," Perry laughs pressed.
"Alright then, let me ask you this, Sir. Why would there be an attempt on our lives, made by a sniper, wearing the same kind of jumpsuit as your men over there, carrying a standard M14 and no ID. And why would there be about twenty agents, including the one who sent me to find you, come to our camp and try to blow my damn head off?" I rattle the whole thing off in one angry breath.
Perry doesn't answer, just stares at me, a derisive look on his face.
"Man," Sergeant Drake responds instead, "how did you guys end up in a mess like that?"
"Finding something we weren't supposed to."
"What? You went and told them?"
"Of course not, Sergeant. We're not that stupid. But like I said, we suspect that our whole mission up here was a set-up from the very beginning. You and your men are probably the only ones who really came because of the surveillance photos from last year. Everything else was just a farce."
"Now wait a minute, Sergeant," Perry finally breaks in, "my men and I were sent here to find Lieutenant Walker and his people."
"That's what you were made to believe. Just like I was under the impression, I was looking for all you guys."
"So? Where is the cover-up?" He is still not convinced.
"Damn it, Sir," I go off, "don't you see? You were sent to make sure that the soldiers were either dead or, should they return, could be silenced before any of this gets out. And I was sent to do the same for all of you."
"Sounds pretty farfetched," Perry sneers, and I roll my eyes. "Why would anyone want to put us away for something we don't even know?"
"You still don't get it, do you?" I snap—to hell with the courtesy. "The person, who is responsible for all this, doesn't really give a fuck whether you know anything or not. He's just hell-bent on covering his own ass in the matter, 'cause if the truth gets out he's going down, faster than he'n say shit."
"Sergeant!" Perry snaps back now.
"Sorry, Sir. Didn't mean to get carried away."
"Whatever! Look, I understand your concern. If any of what you just said is true, we have a very serious situation on our hands here."
No, shit!
Frank Hughes steps beside us. "Excuse me, Sergeant Riggin, I don't mean to butt in. Seems to me though, you have a little trouble convincing Mister Perry?"
"Wait a minute," Perry squints suspiciously, "how could you know what we're talking about?"
"Well, Sir," Hughes scratches his head and gives me a curious sideways glance, "going by your reaction, Sergeant Riggin just filled you in on the fact that there are chemical agents dumped in this area, right?"
"How...?" Perry's mouth drops open, and I am thinking, Hughes must've talked to Cut before I got here.
"Unfortunately, Sir," Hughes responds to Perry's unfinished question, "I have seen 'em with my own eyes. Ain't a pretty sight, believe me."
"And you think Sergeant Riggin is right?" Drake inquires.
" 'Bout what?"
"That there is a cover-up going on?"
"You'n bet your ass, there is. I'm not in the military or anything, but...well, let me just say I got connections. And when Government people start shootin' at their own guys, then there's definitely somethin' goin' on that ain't all straight."
"Hmmm..." Perry seems to get thoughtful at last.
"Look, Sir," I push the issue, "whether you believe me or not is actually besides the point. I just thought I'd fill you in, so you would understand what has to happen next."
"And what would that be, Sergeant?"
"Well, like I told you, there's a whole bunch of agents down at our camp, waiting for us. We would probably be better off just sticking it out here for a while, but there is one little problem."
"Like what?"
"Like a real good friend of ours, on his way up here to help straighten this whole mess out. If he runs into those agents...no telling what's going to happen. So we have to get out of here and try to catch him before any damage is done."
"Wait a second! Who is this person, and how could he straighten anything out?" Perry is suspicious again.
"Like I said, he is a good friend. Someone we can trust. We sent a message to him after we found the chemicals. He has connections all over the military and the Government." I beat around the bush, not wanting to give a hint to Hughes that I am actually talking about his brother.
"All right, so when are we going to leave?" Drake asks.
Oh, shit! That's the problem part. "Look, Sergeant..." I hesitate, not quite sure how to explain this one.
"You wasn't plannin' on runnin' off and just leavin' us here, were you?" Hughes laughs halfheartedly and I think, Oh shit, again.
"Sergeant?" Perry squints hard.
"Look, guys...now wait a minute and let me explain," I cut all three of them off. "This is a pretty touchy situation out there. The slightest mistake and we all gonna be history. I swear, we'll come back for you guys as soon as it's over, but...just hear me out, damn it," I snap when Perry opens his mouth. "I can't risk getting all of you in danger, because of something we started. You all have been here so long, a couple more days won't make a difference. So just sit tight and let us handle that shit, so we can all go home."
"What if you can't?" Drake throws in, dead serious. "What if something does go wrong out there anyway? Then we're stuck up here until hell freezes over, because no one will ever know. You said yourself, they had you outnumbered down there."
"Look, Sergeant, how about if I promise you, should we not return in...let's say one week from now...you could all still go home? Would that make you feel better?"
"And how exactly is this supposed to happen?" Perry sneers. "What? Those things up here will just put us on the next train that comes by?"
"No, Sir!" I snap irritated. "For your information, in case you haven't noticed, those things are highly intelligent creatures. Call them what you want...Bigfoot, Sasquatch, monsters, whatever, believe they exist or not...none of it matters, considering the fact that they know exactly what the presence of these chemicals up here means."
"Nonsense! How could they?" Perry says, so scornful, I get a strong urge to punch him.
"Why do you think they brought you here? For dinner?" I ask instead.
"How should I know?"
"Well, let me enlighten you then, Sir." Now I am sneering. "You were brought here to get you out of harm's way. Apparently they understand the danger these chemicals pose very well. And for some unexplainable reason they actually care about us ignorant humans."
"What a crock of shit!"
"I don't think so, Perry," Drake disagrees thoughtfully. "I know it sounds stupid, but I've been up here long enough to change my way of thinking a little. Seems to me, the Sergeant is right. I mean when he says they are intelligent. Did you watch earlier? That big one, talking with the Indian in sign-language? Just about freaked me out. How does he know anyways?"
"Well," I muse, since the last question is directed at me, "for one, my Indian friend uses sign-language because he is deaf. To be honest, I was just as surprised as you that he could communicate with...well, I call him Harry. Anyway, according to my friend, the signs they're using are ancient. The only reason he knows 'em is because of his Indian heritage."
"Wonderful!" Perry sneers again, and I am definitely getting on the edge. "So what did they talk about? Recipes for buffalo-stew?"
Now I have had it! "You really are an ignorant son-of-a-bitch!" I yell and he flinches. "No, man, they talked about dumbass humans, poisoning this whole fuckin' area, killin' off their own species and everything else that walks, crawls, swims or flies."
"Damn it, Sergeant, get a grip!" Perry yells back. "You talk to me like that again, and I'll have your stripes and your ass in a frying pan."
"I don't give a fuck what you do, Perry. I came up here to save your sorry ass and you give me a hard time. I don't need that shit. Do what you want. Go out there and get your damn head blown off. Just stay out of my way, 'cause if anything goes wrong and one of my friends ends up dead, I'll personally blow your brains out." With this, I turn and walk off, leaving all three of them standing there, Perry red-faced, ready to explode, Drake with his mouth open and Hughes with a shit-eating grin on his face.
#####
"Gees, man, what was that all about?" Cut snickers when I get back over to him. "I thought you's ready to punch that guy's lights out any minute."
" 'Bout got that right, Cut," I answer, sitting down on the rock-ledge he is on to calm myself.
"He give you a bunch of shit or somethin'?"
"Sure did, man. First he don't believe a word I'm saying, and then he starts making fun of Jimmy and Harry about the sign-language thing."
"Good thing I wasn't over there, or he would've really lost a couple of teeth." Cut flashes Perry a withering glare. "So what's the deal now, Chase?"
"Hell, I don't know, Cut. Where's Jimmy anyways?"
"Somewhere outside, talkin' with fuzzy-nuts," he laughs, and I can't help but do the same.
Always got a way to make me feel better, even if it's just a smartass remark.
"Excuse me, Sergeant?" Drake comes over and I squint, irritated again. "I just wanted to tell you, sorry for all the hassle," he continues anyway. "And what you said...I can see your point."
"Which one?" I ask dryly.
"All of them," he assures me. "And I understand why you got so upset. Perry is a little hard to deal with. We found that out quite a while ago, but..." He hesitates embarrassed.
"But what?" Cut grumbles. "Look, man, we're here tryin' to help. We don't need anyone givin' us a hard time. Got enough shit to worry about as it is."
"Yes, I heard that from the Sergeant, and like I said, I understand. But you have to see our situation too. We have been up here for so long, thought we were considered dead and no one would ever find us. Then you guys show up and we get a glimpse of hope..."
"Look, Drake," I sigh in frustration, "I really did try my best to explain the situation we're in right now. Obviously Perry doesn't believe a word I said. Well, I don't give a damn. Sure wish I had never told him though, because if he fucks up, I don't wanna be the one who gets held responsible for it."
"You wouldn't be," Drake answers thoughtfully. "I am sure I'll be able to convince Lieutenant Walker and our men to stay here and wait for a few more days. But as far as the agents are concerned..."
"If you could just talk to your guys, Sergeant, that would already be a big help. Guess I'll have another go-around with Perry. Maybe he'll see the light after all... that is, if I don't punch it out for 'im first," I add, getting somewhat of a roguish grin from Drake. Seems like he wouldn't mind too much if I really did that.
"Want me go talk to 'im?" Cut asks sly. "I promise, I'll be real nice."
"Sure," I smirk. "Your idea of nice probably put him to sleep for a week."
"That would solve the problem though, wouldn't it?"
I don't get around to answer because Jimmy returns at that moment. He is alone, but has an excited look on his face as he signs to Cut.
"Wow! Get this, guys!" Cut grins at Drake and me. "Jimmy says, Harry's been showin' him around a little, and he got to meet some of the others."
"That's sure more than we were allowed to do, all this time we have been here," Drake mumbles sullenly. "But of course we couldn't talk to them either."
"Looks like they took pretty good care of you though," I muse.
"Oh, definitely. We didn't have to ask for anything. Not like we could have anyways. Only thing I been missing all this time was maybe a beer and a cigarette every now and then. Other than that..."
"Well, we'n sure help with the second...here!" Cut hands him what is left of his pack of Marlboros, and Drake's face lights up like a Christmas tree.
"I guess it's a little silly to start again after eleven months, but thanks, man!"
"Welcome! You'n share 'em with the others if you want to."
"Great! That will make things easier. So, are you going to talk to Perry yourself?"
"Yeah, I think I better," I answer, since his question is directed at me.
"Well, good luck! Just don't hit him too hard." He grins again, and I get a questioning look from Jimmy when Drake leaves to talk to the soldiers.
"You don't wanna know," I answer the unspoken question, rolling my eyes. "So, what all did you find out, talking to Harry?" I return to the previous subject.
A broad smile and he sits down beside us, signing quickly.
"He says, there's over thirty of 'em," Cut translates just as fast. "They been living here for generations, in these caves along the walls. This place used to be a volcano, millions of years ago, and the caves are just as old. They've pretty much kept to themselves all this time, since everyone's scared 'cause of what they look like."
"Wait!" I signal 'time-out' to Chief. "Slow down, Jimmy. Wait a second! If they kept to themselves, then how come they know Indian sign-language?"
An indifferent shrug, and he goes back to signing.
"For what he got out of Harry, it seems they are somehow descendants of an ancient tribe that was outcast for one reason or another. They didn't get into too many details, 'cause the signs they're using are so old, he's got a hard time figuring 'em all out."
"So, are we gonna get to meet the others too?" I inquire.
"If you want to," Chief answers directly this time.
"Sure would. You know where they're at?"
"Everywhere!" he smirks, then signs to Cut again.
"He says, they have adapted so well to their environment, there ain't no way you'n see 'em if they don't want you to."
"Now how come I find that easy to believe," I snicker, thinking about all those so called 'Bigfoot hunters', running around in the woods without success.
"Chase?" Jimmy interrupts my thought.
"What?"
"He wants to know how we'n go about keeping this place a secret," Cut relays since Chief switches back to signs. "Says if all those guys get to go home, how we gonna make sure they don't say nothin'?"
"Well," I scratch my head, "you know, that's something I've been thinking about myself. To be honest, I have no idea whatsoever. Only thing we can hope for is they'd be too embarrassed to tell anyone. Like Kelly said, going around, telling people you seen Bigfoot, don't go over quite so good."
"Yeah," Cut grins, "I sure as hell ain't gonna say nothin' to nobody. Maybe we'n come up with a good story that'll explain where they've been all this time."
"Better be a real good one, Cut," I grin back. "Just hope I'n get it through to Perry's stubborn ass that they gotta keep quiet about it."
"That oughta be interesting."
Another questioning look from Jimmy. He had missed my first go-around with the agent since he was outside with 'Harry'.
"If you gotta know," Cut enlightens him, "the guy's a total jerk. Don't believe in nothin' or nobody, and Chase an' me just tryin' to figure out which one of us gets to punch him first."
Chief rolls his eyes and shakes his head, then signs some more.
"He says you'n hit 'im later, Chase. Should come along while it's still light, if you wanna have a look around."
"Sounds good. Let's go, guys!"
#####
It sounds good, but doesn't happen. Perry comes storming over before we even get halfway to the cave entrance.
"Sergeant," he snaps with an unfriendly glare at Chief, "where do you think you are going? I demand to know what is going on."
Oh, no! Maybe I ain't gonna wait 'til later after all.
"What the hell you mean, demand?" Cut answers for me. "We ain't your little..."
"I wasn't talking to you," Perry cuts him off. "You guys are under Government jurisdiction here, and will answer to me before taking any kind of action that concerns..."
"Sir," I interrupt him now, trying real hard to control my temper, "first of all, there is no jurisdiction here, whatsoever. Second, my partners are civilians, and third, we do not answer to anyone except my direct contact at Fort Lewis. Now if you're done, we would like to step outside and have a look around the area before dark."
"I will not allow..."
"Oh, shut up!" Cut breaks in again. "I ain't gonna take no shit from you, man. They sent us up here to find you, and we done that. Now if you don't like what we're doing... tough! Just file a formal complaint, and see if it'll get you anywhere."
Perry looks like he is ready to blow his top, especially when Cut grins in his face and walks out through the tunnel, pulling Jimmy along.
"Sergeant, this man is completely out of order. I will have both of you prosecuted for insubordination when we get back to..."
"If you don't start to be a little more cooperative," I interrupt once more, "all it takes is one word, and you'll never get out of here. Got it?"
"Are you threatening me, Sergeant?"
"Nah! Just take it as a little warning. I told you we are here to help, and I'll do my best to see that all of us make it home. So quit givin' me a hard time and let me do my job, okay?"
"Fine!" he snaps. "But I still think I have a right to know what's going on."
"Sure. There is just nothing going on right now," I answer, a little calmer. "We plan on staying here at least for tonight, and I was gonna talk to you later anyways."
"So where are you going now?"
"Like I said, we intend to check out the area a little."
"Mind if I come along?"
"Sir?" I squint suspiciously at his unexpected request.
"You heard me. I would like to check out a few things myself, if you don't mind."
"Thought you've had plenty of time to do that already? How long you been here?"
"Long enough. But I never had the pleasure of meeting a Bigfoot-interpreter, and..." That is as far as he gets.
I know full well what the smartass remark is hinting to, and go off like a box of firecrackers. Don't think he even sees the punch coming when my fist lands against the side of his jaw. Damn, that hurt! I shake my hand.
Perry staggers back, but doesn't go down.
Oh, shit!
He roars and comes after me, swinging.
A quick block, and I duck out his left hook. Damn, he's fast! But I am faster. Another block and my leg-sweep brings him off his feet.
He grunts, hitting the ground.
I stand ready for another charge, then suddenly get grabbed from behind, my arms pinned against my ribs. Shit! What a grip! Nothing else I can do, so I throw my head back full blast. It slams into something soft and there is a grunt, but that is all.
Perry is back on his feet, a little shaky though, then Cut is there and gets a hold of him.
I am still 'tied-up', until Jimmy comes to my rescue, grinning and motioning something. The grip lets off. What the...? I turn, and stare up into a furry face that looks like it has a smirk on it. Harry?!
"Damn, Chase, you always keep the fun part to yourself," Cut snickers, having a ball with his hold on Perry. "So what you want me do with 'im?"
"Oh, just put 'im down, Cut. Damn..." I rub my upper arms, squinting up at 'Harry' again. "Gees, you got a grip," I grin, and he tilts his head with a grunt.
"Look out!"
Cut's warning yell spins me around and I duck out Perry's sucker-punch.
Just as quick, 'Harry' grabs him and locks him up tight. Perry screams for help and struggles— Nothing doing! 'Harry' pulls him off the ground, kind of grins in his face, and gives him a couple of angry grunts.
"Please...tell him to put me down," Perry squeaks pitifully, holding still now. "Please..."
"Jimmy, tell 'im to let go," I say with a nod. This is just too weird, I think, watching Chief put the message into signs.
Then 'Harry' opens his arms, dropping the Agent like a hot potato. Perry lands on his rear, and then just sits there, staring up, scared out of his wits. By the look on his face, he'll need a change of pants.
"You gonna behave now?" Cut asks him, sounding dead serious, but obviously having a hard time keeping a straight face.
Another grunt from 'Harry' when Perry doesn't respond right away.
"Yes, yes, oh God, yes!" he squeals, scooting backwards.
"Good!" I say hard and he cringes.
"Please, Sergeant, just keep this thing away from me. Please, I'm sorry! I'll do anything!" He sounds so pathetic, I almost start to feel sorry for him—almost!
Jimmy gives me a hardly noticeable wink and quickly signs something to 'Harry'. The big guy takes one step toward Perry and lets out a roar that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Even Cut startles and Perry screams on top of his lungs.
"Sergeant...help...help!"
We finally can't hold back any longer and burst into laughter. Chief is grinning mischievously, and 'Harry' sounds like he is actually chuckling.
I am more surprised though, at the reaction from the group of men over by the fire. They have watched the whole thing without the slightest attempt of interfering. And, looking at them now, it seems every single one of these guys enjoys the hell out of seeing Perry grovel at our feet.
"Oh, get up, Perry." I am still laughing. "He ain't gonna hurt you."
"How can you be sure, Sergeant?" he asks with a terrified glance up at 'Harry'.
"If he wanted to hurt you...you would never get up again," Jimmy answers him calmly.
Perry's mouth drops open and Cut and I exchange a surprised look.
That's gotta be the longest speech I've ever heard him make.
"I thought you said he is deaf?" Perry recovers at last.
"So?" I shrug with a grin at Chief. "Doesn't mean he can't talk."...If he wants to!
Jimmy returns my grin, then signs a few words.
"He says, close your mouth Perry, it's gettin' mighty drafty in here," Cut snickers, and the agent gives Chief a look like he definitely doesn't know what to make of him.
"Well, you gonna get up now, or you just gonna keep sittin' there, lookin' stupid?" Cut inquires with a sneer. "What? Cat got your tongue all of the sudden?" he continues since Perry is still staring.
"I'm...I'm," he stammers, turning red, then grapples to his feet with a cautious glance at 'Harry'.
"Now," I start when Perry is finally up, "think we'n handle things in a civilized manner?"
"Yes...of course, Sergeant...I...I didn't...I'm sorry!" He is still stuttering.
Learned a lesson, didn't ya? Just hope it did any good, I think, but say aloud, "Alright then, Agent Perry, if you don't mind, we would still like to carry out our intentions. If you wish to join us, you're welcome to do so..."
"Sergeant..." he interrupts hesitantly.
"Yes, Agent Perry?" I ask, with just a hint of a sneer.
"I would prefer to stay with my men, if this is okay with you?"
"Fine with me. Feel free to fill them in on the details of our previous conversation. I will be back to talk to them later."
"Yes, Sergeant, whatever you say," he mumbles, then turns quickly and hustles over toward the group of agents.
"Gees," Cut snickers, "sure got that puppy housebroke, Chase."
"Couldn't have done it without Harry," I say, with a grin up at the big guy that earns me a friendly grunt.
"So, we gonna go now, or what?" Cut queries.
"I guess so…Jimmy, tell Harry I said thanks for the help, and ask 'im if he's still in the mood for showing us around."
A few of signs back and forth, and Chief comes back with the answer quickly. "You're welcome...and yes."