Finding Miss Bigfoot
A short story
By Cole Geier
Copyright 2015 Cole Geier
The jackknifed tractor trailer smoldered under the downpour of rain. The flashing red and blue lights lit up the dark night. The trailer back doors had flung open under the force of the impact into the sidewall under the overpass. A sheriff deputy was the fist on the scene and was taking the driver's report when the state trooper arrived in his vehicle.
The deputy turned as the trooper approached. “We have a problem. It seems he was transporting a live animal in the trailer and he said he can't find it now.”
“What kind of animal?”
“You're not going to believe it. But, take a look at this.” The deputy handed the trooper a picture that truck driver had just given him.
“Is this some kind of joke?” The trooper took the picture out of the deputy's hand and shined his flashlight on the photo. His mouth dropped open. “I'm soaked and wet and I'm in no mood for any jokes.”
The driver finally stepped forward toward the two officers. “Sir, take a look in the trailer.”
The state trooper handed the picture back to the deputy and slightly shook his head as he turned to walk to the back of the trailer. Both the deputy and the trooper shined their flashlights towards the back of the trailer. The trailer door creaked as the driver pulled the ajar door wide open. The first thing to come across when the door was opened was the obvious stench of an animal in captivity. The smell was almost unbearable. The two flashlights shined into the trailer. A large cage with its door wrenched open with food containers scattered across the back of the trailer as well as animal droppings to give validity to the evidence of a recently confined animal.
The trooper turned to look at the deputy. “We need to find this thing now! Call in more resources. County, City, and Tribal police. We need to contain this animal before it hurts someone.”
“No.” Stepped forward the driver. “It's young. It won't harm anyone. It's probably just scared.”
The trooper flashed his light at the driver. “What were you doing with a creature like that?”
“A guy from Grand Rapids paid me to transport it to a private individual in Marquette.”
“Do you have a license to transport an animal of this kind?”
The driver just shrugged.
Throughout the rest of the night, police cars from various departments patrolled the surrounding areas. The rain eventually came to a stop as light beams shined across yards and open fields by the patrol cars. Bright eyes were seen in the fields of deer, raccoon, skunks, and even a cat in the ditch.
It was a horrifying experience for the animal. The dark moving confinement suddenly went sliding across the back of the trailer as the semi rig lost control on the slippery road. The cage slammed against the inside wall of the trailer, breaking off the latch on the cage door.
Moments later the door to the semi trailer flew open after the impact against the wall under the overpass. Suddenly everything came to a stop. The heavy rain could be heard falling on the roof of the trailer along with the occasional sound of thunder. The crack of a small amount of light finally shined through the open trailer door along with the smell of the pouring rain. It was an invitation to proceed through the open cage into the wet outdoors.
It was a natural instinct to run to a place to hide. Hide from the elements and to hide from man that has proved to be an unnatural relationship. To run and to keep running. Finally a sense a freedom. But, now was not the time to stop. The instinct to keep pressing forward was very strong. The rain continued to fall along with the flashing of lighting and the rumbling of thunder.
Her black fur was soaked and no doubt smelled much like a wet dog. But, that was never a concern nor was it even a thought as she pressed on closer to a group of trees coming closer in view.
Under the trees it felt like a welcome home as the rain splattered their way down through the leaves above. The rain seemed to slow down as she too slowed in her pace from her previous run.