Chapter 22
You’ve never been one to take your fate lying down. If that monster wants to eat you, he’s going to have to work for it.
You pick up the rock and crouch in the clearing. It occurs to you that you could untie the hitchhiker, because two against one might be better odds, but you just don’t trust him. Besides, if the hitchhiker is available as a ready snack, then the monster won’t need to eat you.
The thumping noises are growing louder and louder. Thump thump thump. You’re not sure which is louder—the footsteps or your heart. Either way, in a minute, you’re going to come face-to-face with the monster.
You see his imposing shadow before he comes into view. He lets out a resounding roar that shakes the entire cave to its core. You are so scared, you nearly drop the rock.
And then a second later, there he is.
This is the first opportunity you’ve had to get a good look at him—out by your car, you didn’t have much of a chance.
He’s about eight feet tall and covered head to toe in white fur.
Except, of course, for his fingers, which are a deep purple.
His nose is nothing more than two breathing holes in the center of his face, and his eyes are two endless dark abysses.
The glow of the fire provides just enough light to make out his sharp yellow teeth.
As you stare at him, you finally realize what you’re looking at.
This monster is the abominable snowman. The monster from the legends.
But you don’t even have a chance to be awed by this earthshattering discovery.
If there was ever a chance to fight this creature, it’s now, while you still have the element of surprise.
You raise the rock high over your head, and you run at him as fast as you can.
The creature sees what you’re trying to do and lets out a furious roar.
When you get within striking distance, you make your move. You hurl the rock at the creature as hard as you can. You gasp with the effort.
The rock finds its target in the creature’s right leg. Except even though you hurled it with all your might, the rock bounces harmlessly off of him. That giant rock did nothing. You may as well have thrown a pebble at him.
So much for fighting him.
The monster lets out another roar that shakes the walls of the cave. And then a second. And a third. But then, when he lets out a snort, you finally realize that he is not, in fact, growling at you in fury.
He is laughing.
Turn to Chapter 24 (page 58)