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The other members of the hunting
party look to you for a decision. They've sat in the board room with you
one too many times and seen how their business deals go sour if you don't
get your way. You shrug your shoulders and point to the black wagon.
Captain Omaha smiles and enters the wagon.
When he emerges,
something strange and chilling jerks at the other end of the thick length
of chain he's holding. The beast has long flowing silver hair, is muscular
and looks capable of ripping the chains into shreds if it so desires. Yet
there is a glassy shine in the beast's eyes that is probably the result of
tranquilizers.
"This one's going to be tricky," Omaha says.
"You'll get your money's worth on this hunt. I promise you." You don't
understand what he means at first until he yanks the chain and forces the
beast to turn sideways. It's not much wider than a pencil. The beast makes
another quarter-turn and has the breadth of a Great Ape.
"What is
it?" you ask.
"Wendigo," Omaha replies. "The Native American
legends about this creature are numerous and varied. I'm not sure how much
of the stories are true, but I do know that it's got a voracious appetite
for human flesh. It's also great at hiding as you might expect after
seeing it from the side."
"We'll never be able to kill that kind
of creature?" you say. "We don't do this for a living like you do."
"Not my problem," Omaha says. "But I do see your plight. You're
not a hunter like me. This will be more of a challenge. And because of
that, I'm willing to offer you a choice. I'll play Monty Hall again and
give you two options. Door Number One-I'll tie a bell onto the Wendigo's
ankle. That will help you track him through the city. Door Number Two-I
can cut him and let you follow the blood trail. Option number one is the
safest. Option number two may cost you your life once his adrenaline
kicks in. Once he realizes that his life is in danger, I'm sure he will
snap those chains like rubber bands and kill anything and everything in
his path. You make the call." |