“Thanks. I’m waiting for them to quiet down before I even try to sleep.”
“Hopefully, that happens soon.” I left them, heading to the tent. After settling the babies, I returned, but the Sasquatches had disappeared, save for Kat, who sat staring into the woods.
“What happened now?” I heard growling in the distance, followed by several primal roars. “What are they doing?”
The aroma of cannabis lingered in the air. “They’re freaking out, honey. I’d let ‘em.”
I sat next to Zelda. “Gimme that thing. Fuck this.” I sucked on the end, as smoke entered my lungs.
“You should have some, Leslie.”
“Kat, what are they doing?” she asked.
“They mourn the leader,” she said in a high-pitched, raspy voice. “They choose a new leader soon.”
“Oh.”
I handed the pipe to Leslie. “Here. It’s gonna be a long night.”
She took it from me. “Poor Bubba. This one’s for you. I’ll miss you.”
I eyed her, seeing a woman with long, thick brown hair and a flawless complexion. Being out in the wilderness agreed with Leslie, and all the hiking had kept her fit and lean. She was my age, and now a widow, which was bizarre to think about. “Will you leave?” She knew what I was asking.
“I don’t know. I…there’s Wolfie and Bubba Jr. I can’t abandon them. Maybe when they’re older or something and they don’t need me anymore.” She shrugged. “It sucks. I’ll be alone now.”
“Oh no you won’t,” said Zelda. “Some horny ape will be all over you in no time.”
Leslie looked less than thrilled. “That’s okay. I’m so not into it right now.” She picked up a small rock and flung it into the trees. “Just think, I killed my lover during sex. Wonderful.”
“That’s not true.” I rubbed her back. “He was too damn fat. Let’s blame Dr. Haynes for sending all that chocolate. He wouldn’t stop eating that stuff.”
“He was an old ape, honey.” Zelda looked stern, her forehead wrinkling. “He was gettin’ up there in years. They typically don’t live all that long. I’ve never met a Sasquatch older than fifty. It’s a short, crazy life.”
The noise in the forest had our attention. Several loud roars echoed. “Holy shit,” I said. “Every Bigfoot in a fifty mile radius just heard that.”
“They call them,” said Kat.
This was news. “Who are they calling?” I glanced at the female ape, seeing a heavily pregnant creature.
“It’s a custom. They gather, and the new leader will be chosen soon.”
“Isn’t that Leonard? He’s the oldest now.”
Zelda nodded. “I’m assuming he’ll be next.”
“Then why do they need to gather?”
“It’s just the way they do it.”
The cannabis had begun to affect me, leaving me slightly fuzzyheaded and utterly relaxed. I leaned into Leslie, who put her arm around my shoulders. “Let’s smoke this stuff and fuck it all,” she said. “If they want to rampage, let them. Stupid apes.”
I giggled in response.
An hour later, as the fire had begun to die down, there was movement in the trees, and the shadows of creatures emerged. There were multiple shapes, dark and tall, the fluorescence of their eyes gleaming.
I sat up, slightly alarmed. “Oh, hell. Look at that.”
Leslie was on her back on a blanket. “What?”
“A shitload of apes are coming.”
She rolled to a sitting position. “Where?”
“The tree line.”
Kat had perked up, her nose sniffing the air. “They come.”
“Who are they?” asked Leslie.
“Other tribes.”
“Are we safe?” The thought that a dozen or more Sasquatches would be upon us in a matter of minutes had me mildly concerned. “I’m not fucking all those apes.” I didn’t mean to, but I began to laugh.
Leslie giggled; the cannabis had made us both loopy. “Oh, hell no!” She stumbled to her feet. “I ain’t no Sasquatch whore!”
“All right,” said Zelda. “Not so loud. Calm down now. I’d sit and be quiet, if I were you. Don’t draw attention to yourself.”
Zelda’s warning worried me. “Great,” I muttered. “Sit, Leslie.” I grabbed her ankle. “Get down here now!”
“Fine.”
The creatures approached, led by Leonard and Pooky, who were followed by Dale. There were others behind them who eyed us with interest, their nostrils flaring, our human scent filling their lungs.
The newcomers looked far too hearty, as the outlines of muscles moved beneath their pelts. Their grizzled faces were eager…lustful.
Chapter Five
One of the newcomers had a drum under his arm, which was a carved piece of wood with a calfskin head. Two others carried similar items.
Leslie grasped my hand; her expression was cautious, yet interested. “These boys came to party.”
Leonard waved to us. “Make us food. We hungry.”
Zelda got to her feet. “There’s plenty of venison left over. Let’s get a pan out.”
It was late at night, and I was groggy from the cannabis, but we had been summoned to work, all under many sets of watchful black eyes. I didn’t want to have to provide a feast for a bunch of horny apes, but it seemed as if I did not have a choice in the matter. While we began the preparations, the Bigfoots lingered near Bubba’s grave, staring at the once great Sasquatch. The drums began to sound.
There was talking and gesturing, punctuated by grunts.
We cut up the meat and fried it with garlic and onions, to reduce the gamey quality. Leslie prepared a stew, but it wasn’t clear how soon the creatures wanted to eat. The stew would take hours.
Zelda worked on the campfire biscuits. The aroma was delicious, but I wasn’t hungry in the least, having already had dinner. When we were done, we sat together on a pelt with a blanket around us, listening to the drums and the strange, archaic speech of the Sasquatches. They were far more interested in tribal matters than an orgy, which was a relief.
“I’m going to bed.” I got to my feet. “Will they be able to serve themselves?” There were wooden bowls and spoons stacked neatly nearby.
“I got it, hon. Go to sleep.”
“How about you?”
Leslie yawned. “I guess that’s it. Exciting party.” She joined me. “See ya in the morning.”
Our departure was noted, as several interested eyes glanced in our direction, but their discussion was more important, as they huddled together in a circle on the grass. It shouldn’t have surprised me that they were peaceful and orderly.
Leonard glanced at me, nodding. I waved to him. After I had brushed my teeth and relieved myself in the woods, I unzipped the tent and crawled inside, lying close to Daisy, who was sound asleep.
Wolfie had his arm around her. I closed my eyes, listening to the gentle refrains of his snores.
“Wake up, sleepyhead.” Leslie had poked her head inside the tent.
“Aw…go away.”
“They buried Bubba. Leonard is our new leader.”
“Fantastic.” I reached out to touch Daisy, finding nothing but air. “Where’s my kid?” I sat up, suddenly
