Officially they’re archived.
Unofficially, they live in a closed database.”
“What are you telling me?”
“That there is an unclassified species of higher primate
in certain isolated regions of North America. The Appalachians.
The Pacific Northwest. Not the legend. A real animal.
Mostly arboreal, which is why it moves silently. Enormously strong.
Omnivorous, and a highly efficient predator.”
Frank’s pen stopped moving. “And it’s intelligent?”
“In a way we don’t fully understand. It knows humans are dangerous.
It avoids us.
But if its territory is violated, and if it’s seen, it eliminates the witness.
And it cleans up. Clothes. Tents. Equipment.
Anything unnatural to the forest.” “The bones?” Frank whispered.
“Our analysts believe it’s a territorial marker. This is my ground.
This is my kill. It suggests the beginnings of symbolic thought.”
A pause. “I’m sorry, Mr. Jenkins. It’s the most frightening part.”
