“I suppose I left out that part of the story. Didn’t seem important at the time.”
“I surely didn’t mean to get you in Dutch. Guess I should be more careful.”
“She would have found out sooner or later. Guess I was just trying to introduce her to the joys of working for Bob’s Saucer Repair a little at a time.”
“Nothing wrong with that. I just wish you would have given me a warning, before I opened my big mouth.”
“Don’t beat yourself up about it. If it was that big a deal, I should have warned you beforehand.”
“As long as we’re still good.”
“Always, Boss.”
We went back to the bedroom, and Topper started showing Jim where they were unsure how to proceed. Snitz came wandering in. He looked up at me and tilted his head. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my weapons laying on the bed. I said, “You’re right, Boy. We do need to check out the new neighborhood.” I strapped on my Vaquero and picked up the Squirrel rifle Nunya had converted for me. Jim asked, “Going on safari, Bob?”
“Andre was worried about some of the animals around here. I figure it’s easier to be prepared than to listen to everybody complain after I get hurt.”
“Holler if you need help.”
“I will.”
I checked to make sure I had a translator badge. Fred and Will said there weren’t any Squatch on the island, but as good as they are at hiding, I figured it was better to be prepared. Snitz and I went through the gate, and out into the woods. It still amazed me how similar it was to Earth. We had been walking for half an hour or so, when I smelled smoke. We went to see where it was coming from. Soon enough, we walked up on an old Squatch sitting by his campfire. I got out my badge, and asked, “Hello, the camp. Mind if I come in and sit a while?”
He grunted, “Come ahead, Smallfoot.” Snitz ran ahead and gave him a smell. He must have passed, because Snitz sat down beside him. The old fella looked at Snitz, and then up at me. He said, “You must be Bawb, that the folks on the mainland talk about so much.”
“How did you figure that out?”
“I watch them flashing the stories back and forth, when I don’t have anything better to do. They talk about you and this little fellow like you were as tall as me. I just guessed the only Smallfoot brave enough to come into the woods alone must be the mighty Bawb.”
“I think you might be confusing brave and stupid, but whatever you say.”
“The stories I have seen them flash say you don’t act like the Smallfoot who come to take our daughters. I see now that they are right.”
“We didn’t know there was anyone on this island. Hope we aren’t too bad for neighbors.”
“Not so far. I suppose I could always go back to the mainland, if you get too obnoxious.”
“So, our village isn’t in a bad spot?”
“Well, it’s right where the deer used to bed down. They’ve all found new places, now.”
“We should have checked the place out better before we started building.”
“Not a problem. Supper was easy to catch, till they got settled into new spots.”
“You know who I am. What do I call you?”
“The young ones wanted me to take the name ‘Voice of the Mountain’. That’s why I moved out here by myself. When I was younger, they called me ‘Running Skunk’. I’m afraid I’m more like ‘Walking Skunk’ these days.”
I stuck out my hand to shake. Walking Skunk asked, “Do you not fear my strength?”
I replied, “We have a machine that will fix me, if you hurt me, but I don’t think you need to do that, just to prove your strength.”
“You are smarter than you look, Smallfoot Bawb.”
“’Bout have to be, wouldn’t I?”
Walking Skunk laughed, and shook my hand. “It is as the flashes say. Bawb is a good Smallfoot.” We sat and talked for quite a while, till my comm rang. “What is that noise, Bawb?”
“Someone wants to talk to me. Probably my wife, wondering where I got off to.”
“It is good to have a mate when the night is cold. Maybe not so much when you want to hunt.”
“Exactly.” I answered the comm. “Captain Wilson.”
“Caveman, where did you get to? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just getting acquainted with the neighbors. Did you need something?”
“We were wondering if you wanted to have a cookout tonight, to celebrate moving in?”
“That sounds like a good time. What are we having?”
“We thought maybe you were going to bring a deer or something.”
“I’ll see what I can do. My new friend Walking Skunk knows where they live.”
“Did you say Walking Skunk?”
“I did.”
“How do you find the windiest people, wherever you go?”
“Just lucky, I guess.”
“Bring him to supper. I want to meet this new friend of yours.”
“I’ll see what he says. Might be he don’t like dining with Smallfoot.”
“See you later, Caveman.”
“Love you, Space Cadet.”
Walking Skunk said, “She wants you to bring supper?”
“Yep.” He got up, slowly unfolding himself. “Come this way.”
I followed, rifle at the ready, trying to be as quiet as I knew how. He pointed, and I took the shot. He helped me dress the deer. I saved the hide and head, saying, “We’ll send them over to the mainland. This will
