Page 25 - World of Darkness

acting on instinct, can hide themselves from a determined terrain, weather, flora or fauna. All you can do is hope to get lucky.
search, how much easier would it be for intelligent, man-like It’s a tremendous waste of time, resources and effort.
life forms to avoid notice when they’re not being looked for?
A much better approach is to look for what biologists call “edge
It’s time we developed a methodology for seeking out and environments,” places where two different ecosystems meet. The
studying anthrocryptids. To that end, I’ve used what little we edge of a field, where an ice pack blends with the ocean, the border
know about them to create three distinct anthrocryptid between a desert and a savannah. These are all classic edge
categories (slide #3). environments, where organisms can easily be observed moving from
one ecoclime to another. In the case of feral anthrocryptids, an edge
environment is a place where a relatively small human community
Ferals abuts a large, undeveloped wilderness. There are probably fewer
If you wanted to hide from humans, the most obvious ferals in such places than there are in less accessible areas, but
solution would be to place yourself as far from civilization as there’s a greater chance that they’ll make their presence known,
possible. I call the anthrocryptids who take this approach either by accident or intent.
“ferals.” You’re familiar with stories about sasquatch and yeti,
and while the most familiar “bigfoot” evidence is almost Example: Coeur Island, British Columbia
certainly fraudulent, there are so many accounts of these One of an uncounted number of islands between Port Hardy
creatures that they bear continued investigation. The key and the British Columbia mainland, Coeur Island is accessible
strategy for finding out more about them is, I think, not to only by water. Even at that, the ocean passages are difficult
go looking for them in their own environment. Unless you’re to cross, especially in fall and spring. There are no towns or
trained and practiced for survival in harsh environments, any permanent structures on the island. I’ve collected a
traveling to the remote locations most likely to hide ferals number of stories of possible feral encounters there, begin-
means you put your life in serious danger.
ning with stories told by the native populations and collected
Habitat by an early missionary Father Pierre (we’ll hear more about
him next week). I’ve also heard the testimony of hunters and
Even if you’re a botanist who spends half his time looking for fishermen who occasionally visit there today.
orchids in the Yucatan, I still wouldn’t recommend a determined
search for ferals. As comfortable and familiar as the wilds may seem Among the most notable is the case of Oscar Johnson in
to you, you’re on their turf. There’s no way they won’t see, hear or 1922. He was a logger who was taking time off to do some
smell you coming. You can’t expect to match their knowledge of the fishing. He reported that one night while sleeping on the

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Chapter 1- THE SECRET HISTORY