Page 188 - World of Darkness

David turned off the car radio in disgust. Nothing but
crap these days. Not like when he was growing up. That was a
time of great music, what they now called “classic” rock.

He drove on in silence. The road would have been pitch-
black but for the glow of the moon. There weren’t any
streetlights this far out on the back roads. He’d be at the
turn-off soon, where asphalt would turn into gravel, and then
miles of logging road would lead him deep into the forest.
But he wasn’t interested in trees.

He still smoldered with anger over the remarks that girl
had made back at the gas station. She had seemed so nice at
first, clearly bored and looking for conversation. She’d
asked him what he did for a living; he hadn’t volunteered it.
When he told her, she broke out laughing. That was to be ex-
pected. But when he explained how serious it was, she just
kept laughing. He dropped a bill on the counter, took his
drink and stormed out.

Then there was the old Indian, standing by his car with
that stone-faced-chief look. He told David to turn around and
go home, that what he was looking for was a hoax. That, more
than anything else so far, convinced David that he was on the
right trail.

He had only two grand of his advance left, and still no
confirmed sightings of Sasquatch. He couldn’t turn in a book
full of conjecture. The market was crowded by those already.
He’d sold his book to the publisher with the promise that
he’d have eyewitness reports. Now, after six months of travel
and interviews, he’d come up dry. He had to turn to the only
reliable witness he had left: himself.

All the clues, legends and lore pointed to this stretch of
woods. If he couldn’t get a sighting within a month, he’d
have to call it quits. But he was sure this was it, that he
was on to something. The old man only confirmed it.

David was so lost in thought that he nearly missed his
turnoff. He suddenly saw it ahead and hit the brakes, hydro-
planing on the rain-slick road. Before he could grasp what
was happening, a giant, furred shape leapt in front of his
car. The front end slammed into the thing, hurtling David
forward. Before the airbag exploded and blocked his view com-
pletely, he saw a long snout and green eyes. Then the car
flipped, sending David into oblivion.

187