Daniel L Simmons
Sasquatch Profiler
What lurks in the steep, rugged mountains surrounding North Bend? Only one man knows, and he is missing. The dark unknown faces of the giant beasts living near Cedar Creek Watershed hold the answers. The residents of North Bend have heard the stories for years but dismissed them as rantings of the incorrigible, inebriated patrons at Murphy’s Pub. But the real truth goes far beyond anyone’s imagination. Some will be transformed forever.
The rugged mountains around North Bend hold some giant secrets, some of the townspeople are believers, but most don’t want to talk about it. One man is intent on finding out what lives in the Cedar Creek Watershed. This curiosity places him deep in the unforgiving forest running for his life. Being hunted by creatures that dwarf him. With no weapon to defend himself, all he can do is run. His fate in the hands of his pursuers.
Word spreads that there has been another spotting of Bigfoot, and the town is inundated with hunters, news media, reality television production crews and very odd characters caught up in the hubbub. Chief Ranger Notworst is dealing with unruly visitors to the campground at Rattlesnake Lake. Sheriff Harrington has his hands full just trying to keep the peace.
The Bigfoot hunters multiply this by descending on the town in a horrific traffic jam. The sheriff tries to keep the peace, and the President of the United States declares North Bend an emergency disaster, which brings in the National Guard and the Red Cross to aid the stranded. This confusion is all fueled by a news reporter, Wendy Storms, an unwanted guest of North Bend.
The sleepy town of North Bend is about to be hit by the apocalyptic wrath of the black orb. A man gets burned to death, and Wendy Storms declares it an act of terrorism which brings secret government agencies to town. Confusing and complicating the already complex situation.
Looting and break-ins cause mayhem, and a wrongly accused Rebecca Love stands trial for the crimes. It looks as if she may be prison bound. But the one man who went missing returns to save her from her accuser, prosecuting attorney Rupert Longarm.
Chapter 8 (preview)
Boil Boil
MONDAY MORNING BROUGHT more bad news; pulled up in front of the Double D Diner was the KRAP Channel 12 News van carrying perky little Wendy Storms. She was standing in front of the diner, dressed in the highest heels known to women’s fashion and a tight dark blue skirt with a fluffy white blouse. She was poised to broadcast a live feed to the airways. A hand wave from the cameraman signaled her live connection.
Wendy began, “Good morning, Seattle, this is Wendy Storms with a Kay-RAP, breaking news exclusive. We are live from North Bend, where it seems that in this diner behind me, just yesterday morning a man was burned to death. As I have it, the victim was a local businessman named Philbert Bottomdolr. Kay-RAP News has been notified that a terrorist group named The Preservation of Sasquatch Society is now claiming responsibility. But that is unconfirmed at this time. It seems that Mr. Bottomdolr, who was a regular patron of the Double D Diner was seated in a booth when he ignited. He burst into flames and turned to cinders as he read the Sunday paper. An eyewitness confirms that the victim was smoking a Cuban cigar at the time of the incident and that immolation could have been self-inflicted. The owner of the Double D Diner denied this claim; stating that smoking is prohibited. The diner is closed until the investigation is concluded. Looking through the window (the cameraman took a close-up) you can see the booth where Mr. Bottomdolr had been sitting; it has since been cordoned off with yellow crime scene caution tape.” The camera panned back to Wendy, “That is all we have at this point; please stay tuned for updated broadcasts on this tragic human auto-incineration story. This is Wendy Storms, Kay-RAP’s ‘Knows in the Air’. Back to you, William.”
Zeta Moon
Chapter 1 excerpt
Dan handed the lady the envelope that was given to him by Mr. Durken Mills in Seattle, the one he was told never to open. The receptionist held the envelope under her phone and activated what Dan assumed was an app. She moved the envelope back and forth under the phone. She then shut off her phone and handed the envelope back to Dan.
“I will let Mr. Buckfuller know you are here.”
Dan smiled as she picked up the office phone and, in a low voice, relayed the information. She then looked up and said, “Come on in.”
There was a quiet buzz and a click. She motioned for them to walk through the door next to the window. As Dan opened the door, he saw a man was standing on the other side. He was tall and thin, wearing a blue suit. His hair was groomed back and shiny. Dan could not see his eyes behind the dark Roy Orbison glasses.
He held out his hand. “Hello, I am Graham Buckfuller, welcome to New York.”
Dan shook his hand, “I hope we are on time.”
“No problem. So, I finally meet the famous Dan Simmons, the man that lived with Sasquatch. That must have been something. Too bad you can't tell anyone, that would make a hell of a story. I bet New York is a bit different than North Bend, Washington. This way, follow me. Ruthie, please hold my calls.”
Graham smiled at Rebecca. “You must be Rebecca Love, well, welcome to the Big Apple.
Rebecca did not smile back, shaking his hand. “Yes, sir, Mr. Buckfuller.”
“Call me Graham; we’re family now. This way, right in here, we’ll use this conference room.”
Graham shut the door behind himself. “Have a seat. Have you gotten all settled into your apartments?”
“Is that what you call that cracker box, an apartment?” Rebecca was not impressed with New York or the cramped accommodations.
Graham raised his eyebrows. “So, not quite what you expected?”
Dan interrupted. “Durken Mills promised comfortable domiciles and a car and driver, not the subway.”
“Hate to burst your bubble, but we just went through cutbacks in this office. Mr. Mills can promise the moon, but this office has to cover the expenses. Now that we have all of the bitching out of the way. I have an assignment for the two of you. I hope you didn’t unpack your bags.”
“Assignment? That soon, huh? I wasn’t even sure what my job was.” Dan half-smiled sarcastically.
“Here’s what is going down. Have you ever heard of Area 51?”
Dan looked at Rebecca, then back at Graham. “Of course, who hasn’t?”
“Well, that’s where you two are headed, it seems they have a dead alien on ice out there in some bunker. They call it a Zeta Gray.”
“Alien? What the hell! Are you talking about an illegal alien or an extraterrestrial?”
“My dear boy, this is not a division of immigration. I’m talking about an ET type of alien.”
“What is the connection with us?” Dan was starting to wonder what he had signed up for in this job.
“We need you two to talk to it.”
“How am I supposed to talk to some dead alien from outer space?”
“It’s not dead, well not dead any longer; it started to come back to life. Somehow the military, excuse me, CIA thinks it wants to communicate.”
“I don’t understand how that applies to me. I can hardly speak New York slang, let alone intergalactic pig Latin.”
Graham starts flipping through a file, pulled out a sheet of paper and read through it. “It states right here in your dossier; that you have the ability to telecommunicate. Is that true?”
Dan gritted his teeth and glared at Graham. “You want me to telecommunicate with an alien?”
“That’s what I’m saying, Danny Boy. The CIA is counting on it.”
“Okay, whatever, it all pays the same. Don’t we get to see our office first?” Dan insisted.
“Office? Your office is the highway Buddy Boy. Now on your way out, pick up your plane tickets and money out of petty cash from Ruthie. And keep that phone on and charged.”
On the way down in the elevator, Dan noticed that they only had two hours to make their flight out of Kennedy Airport for Las Vegas. Rebecca was all ready and only needed her bugout bag; Dan was close to being ready, he just needed to make sure his razor and toothbrush got into his duffle bag. Making the situation worse, the seats were coach. What was the next surprise? His paycheck? Dan visualized a big red balloon, the stem violently flapping from the rapidly escaping air.