Rogue Angel - Footprints Part 26

Chapter 14.

Annja stepped out onto the well-worn asphalt of the main road. Small puddles of water from the overnight storm acted like moats between the woods and civilization. Annja glanced one way and then the other before looking at Jenny.

"What do you think?"

"About what?"

"Which way do we go? Left or right?"

Jenny looked right and then left. "I think left. That was the direction we headed initially when we drove in."

Annja nodded. Her gut instinct was to head left, as well. What had Joey said in the darkness? That the distance was a few miles? They could cover that in under an hour if they were lucky.

"Let's go."

Jenny fell in step beside her. "I should apologize."

"For what?"

"Getting you involved in all of this. I never meant for it to be such a headache. I just wanted you to see what David had promised to show me."

Annja smiled. "You dragged me out here without even knowing what it was first?"

"I guess so." Jenny shook her head. "I wasn't thinking very clearly. So am I forgiven?"

Annja shrugged, listening to her boots roll over bits of loose stone on the road. "You show me some definitive proof that big foot exists and I might think about it."

Jenny smiled. "I knew you were a closet believer."

"I never said that."

"Didn't have to. I know you'd be thrilled if it turns out that David has something truly amazing to show us. Who wouldn't be?"

"Of course I would, but I'm still skeptical as h.e.l.l. I just can't accept the idea that something like a Sasquatch could survive in the wilderness what with all our technology and encroachment."

"Joey disappeared on us when we were less than ten feet away from him."

"We were distracted."

"He built those cairns without us even realizing it. I'd say that was pretty impressive."

"So what? You think that makes him a relative to the Sasquatch or something?" Annja frowned. "That's crazy."

"I'm not suggesting that at all. I'm simply saying that if Joey can be that stealthy with us so close and we knew he was there, then why is it so difficult for you to consider the possibility that a creature who knows these woods like the back of his hand could evade any attempt to find him?"

"Because a Sasquatch isn't a Joey."

"How do you know how intelligent they are? They could be more evolved than us. You never know."

Annja sighed. She had to admit that for a moment before she saw Cheehawk clawing at their structure, she had briefly wondered whether they were being attacked by the likes of big foot or not. She'd stood, fully expecting to be confronted by a giant ape-man covered in long coa.r.s.e hair and fur.

"Well, let's wait to see what amazing evidence this David guy has and then I'll make up my mind. You know, because I'm a scientist and I'm supposed to say things like that."

Jenny smirked. "It isn't all facts. It's the burning questions that drive us to explore and discover things, not the reinforcement of factual information. If that's what drove me, then I'd be a pretty dull woman."

"You're saying I'm dull now?"

Jenny shook her head. "Nope. But maybe you've forgotten the wonder of all that we do. Maybe it's become stale for you in the wake of finding out you have to carry that sword around with you."

"Not the sword again."

"Well, can you blame me for wondering about you? The last time we were together, you were much more happy-go-lucky. Now you're much more a cynic. You frown a lot more than you used to, and I wonder what happened to the Annja Creed I used to know."

"You sound like the mother I never had."

"Don't dodge the question, Annja."

Annja walked another few steps and took a deep breath. "I've seen a lot of bad stuff since I got this sword. Maybe it's having an effect on me that I haven't realized until now."

"What kinds of bad stuff?"

"A lot of death. And I've been the cause of some of it. Justifiable, of course, but it's death just the same. "

"You've killed people?"

"Yes."

Jenny fell silent for a moment. "That's a lot of bad karma you're hauling there."

"Tell me about it."

"And here I thought my man troubles were plenty bad."

"I don't have time to think about men. Well, not much, anyway."

Jenny laughed. "I knew the old Annja was still in there somewhere. Remember that time in Virginia Beach at that bar with the Navy guys?"

"Don't even bring that up."

"So you do remember."

"How in the world could I ever forget? I never heard someone sing in quite that way before. It was horrifying and hilarious at the same time."

"You saying I shouldn't try out for American Idol American Idol anytime soon, huh?" anytime soon, huh?"

"You'd be better off sticking with big foot," Annja said.

They kept walking and, for Annja, the sound of the footsteps was in some small way comforting. The rhythm of their pace as they continued to trek down the road with the forest on either side helped refresh her spirit. As different as she and Jenny were, there was a comfort in being with her. The sense of the familiar. It was something Annja realized was missing from her life in a big way.