Chapter 25
The fire is waning, so the abominable snowman ambles over and throws a few logs into it. The logs are wider than your legs, but he heaves them into his strong arms with barely a grunt. If he wanted to hurt you, there would be no way you could stop him, but it’s clear that’s not his goal.
“Thank you,” you blurt out.
The creature looks over his shoulder at you. “As I said, you’re welcome.”
You squeeze your fists together. “Now what?”
“Now…” He pokes at the fire with a long stick as the embers catch. “It’s pitch black outside—better to stay in the cave overnight. You’ll be safe here until the morning—you can have my bed.”
He’s indicating the pile of leaves in the corner. It’s not exactly 1500 thread count satin sheets, but it might be more comfortable than your thin mattress at home.
“When the sun comes up, I’ll help you get your car free,” he says. “And you can go on your way.”
“I appreciate that.”
He nods. “My name is Robert, by the way.”
“Robert?”
He turns away from the fire to glare at you. “What’s wrong with the name Robert?”
“Nothing,” you say quickly. “I just expected a name that was more… unusual. Like, I don’t know… Behemoth or Thundercore or… Chupacabra.”
“Chupacabra sucked the blood out of goats,” he says.
You did not know that about Chupacabra. Also, why did he say it like Chupacabra is an old buddy of his? Did the two of them go goat-sucking together?
“Anyway,” Robert says, “I’m sorry my name isn’t more exciting.”
“That’s all right.” You curl up on the ground, tucking your legs underneath your body. “I’m Sloan, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you, Sloan.”
“Nice to meet you, Robert.”
You sit for a moment in companionable silence. Every sound you make in this cave seems to echo around you. You wonder what it must be like living here.
“Do you…” You scan the cave for signs of other similar creatures, but it’s just you and him and the hitchhiker. “Do you live here all alone?”
“Yes,” he answers, although there’s a slight hesitation there.
You arch your eyebrows at him. “Have you always been alone?”
“Not always,” he says. “I used to live here with my wife Nicole, but she… she vanished a few years back.” His gruff voice chokes up with emotion.
“I found her footprints in the snow, but the trail went cold. I searched everywhere on Peyton’s Peak to find her.
I spent an entire year tracking her scent. But I never found her.”
“I… I’m so sorry.”
He stares down at his hands. “Someone must have taken her. I don’t know who it was, but I can only hope that one day that person will pay the price.”
“I’m sure they will,” you say, even though you’re sure of no such thing.
His lips turn down, but then he shakes his head, as if to clear it. “Are you hungry?”
You hesitate. You’re actually starving since you didn’t get dinner before you hit the road, but you’re not sure what sort of food this creature will serve you.
What if he decides to cook the hitchhiker?
Of course, you shouldn’t feel so bad about that, given the hitchhiker was apparently trying to kill you earlier today.
Anyway, you can’t go the entire night without eating, can you?
To accept food from the abominable snowman, turn to Chapter 29 (page 71)
To turn down his offer of food, turn to Chapter 26 (page 63)