Mystery at Devil's Elbow
Chapter Sixteen – Second Week of November 1969

The two walked on for about ten minutes without hearing or seeing anything. The trees blocked most of the light from the moon and stars. They both had to make their way through the forest with their hands out in front of them to keep from hitting a tree. Once the stars and moon came out the going would be more comfortable.

“Let’s try some vocalizations.”

“Sounds good.”

Gunner gave out a guttural growl and howl that lasted several seconds. They both remained quiet.

Gunner and Tammy thought they heard a response coming from straight ahead.

“Is that Bigfoot?” asked Tammy.

“No, that’s a coyote.”

“How can you tell the difference?”

“The coyote has more of a shrill howl while the Bigfoot is more guttural.”

The two walked on for another 15 minutes and then waited at the edge of a field, listening for any sound. They both stood there not moving when suddenly they heard three tree knocks.

“Did you hear those knocks?” asked Tammy.

“I sure did.”

“Will you answer them?”

“I sure will.”

He pulled the fish bat from his pack and knocked three times on the nearest tree. They both waited in silence for a response.

Nothing.

The pair set off again walking, waiting, making tree knocks and howls until just before daybreak.

“Looks like all we got were some tree knocks,” said Gunner.

“It was still pretty exciting.”

“Let’s work our way back over to the bridge so we can call the search over.”

“Sounds good to me.”

The pair walked back over the bridge and then to the sandwich shop where they said their farewells. Gunner walked back to his cabin at the camp and Tammy walked to her car.

Tammy headed straight for the newspaper office so she could type up her notes for the deadline later that afternoon.

I am still concerned about the first knocks that Gunner heard. Even though we didn’t get a response to our knocks. Bigfoot could always be out there.

The Kansas City Star ran the story of the Pike County Bigfoot known as Momo even though it was clear across the state because it was selling a lot of papers in St Louis. The footprints taken by the Bigfoot Hunters in Pike County were provided to Stephen Johnson, director of the Edmonton Zoo and Botanical Garden. After a careful examination, he stated that the tracks were made by that of an unknown primate species.

Tammy wondered if it was possible to get the Bigfoot print from Devil’s Elbow submitted to the same man for his review. She had to speak to the sheriff to get a copy of the footprint.

“I hope the Kansas City Star takes an interest in your story,” said Basil.

“Do you think that’s possible?” asked Tammy.

“Sure, it’s possible. People are always looking for interesting stories that’ll sell papers.”

“Have you ever had a story picked up by a large newspaper?”

“Yes, years ago, I did a story on the local vets returning from Nam. The story was picked up by the AP, ran nationally in several newspapers. I was a cub reporter then.”

“Well, that must’ve been something.”

“Oh, it was something, but it sure didn’t last long. Next week I was back looking for stories at the police stations and hospitals.”

“That is too bad. I got some material when I went on a search last night with one of the men.”

“So, how’d it go?”

“I think it went well. We didn’t find a Bigfoot obviously, but I got some good material on the techniques used by these men.”

“Do me a favor, Tammy. Don’t go believing in this Bigfoot stuff. This is just a story.”

“Me?”

“I think you and I both know there’s no such thing as a Bigfoot.”

“All I know is that something interesting’s happening here, and we might as well capitalize on it.”

“Now you’re playing the game.”

“I’ll get back to my story, so I can make the deadline this afternoon.”

How can I really capitalize on this story and be faithful to the facts? I think that’s important, but I want this break. With some of the other articles I’ve read, it seemed the journalist played loose with the facts. And it seems that’s what Basil wants me to do.

I wonder if this is all a hoax. What if it’s real?

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