WEBVTT 1 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:08.880 I grew up at the end of the time when 2 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:13.279 kids actually played outside, and anytime I spent inside, I 3 00:00:13.320 --> 00:00:17.399 was a clue to National Geographic I love learning about 4 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:20.800 wildlife and our planet. I wouldn't say I'm an expert. 5 00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:24.239 I have no degrees in these fields, but I was 6 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:27.760 that kid on long car rides with a million facts. 7 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:31.760 As I got older, my parents got into skiing and 8 00:00:31.800 --> 00:00:34.920 we took trips to Vermont with some close friends of 9 00:00:35.000 --> 00:00:38.840 theirs who had two boys. On one trip, we stayed 10 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:42.359 in a cabin between two ski resorts. It was at 11 00:00:42.399 --> 00:00:45.240 the midway point down a mountain that was once a 12 00:00:45.280 --> 00:00:49.560 skiing location. It was beautiful up there, and the air 13 00:00:49.719 --> 00:00:52.799 was clean, and that was quiet, and needless to say, 14 00:00:52.920 --> 00:00:56.399 us boys were excited to explore the area on our own. 15 00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:01.000 Going to this cabin became a tradition every year. We 16 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:03.880 always looked forward to a nice hike up the abandoned 17 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:06.959 ski slope and from there deep into the woods and 18 00:01:07.239 --> 00:01:10.599 up onto a bluff. It was a fifty foot rock 19 00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:15.040 outcropping covered in pine trees, ice and snow. It was 20 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:19.120 truly a magical spot. We named it Misty Mountain and 21 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:22.239 it became a big point on our checklist. Every year 22 00:01:23.799 --> 00:01:26.159 when we were up there, we would hike and eat 23 00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:28.400 and hang out and maybe do a few things our 24 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:33.000 parents wouldn't approve of, like drinking beer. We packed in 25 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:36.040 and packed out, and we didn't destroy anything, but we 26 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:39.439 would leave apple cores and some other small food items 27 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:44.359 under this one tree each time we went. We repeated 28 00:01:44.400 --> 00:01:47.840 that every year, leaving our apple cores and minor food 29 00:01:47.879 --> 00:01:51.519 scraps at that spot under the tree. One time we 30 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:54.040 got up to Misty Mountain and we noticed all the 31 00:01:54.120 --> 00:01:58.760 leftovers under the tree were gone. Satisfied we were doing 32 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:02.280 a nice thing for some hungry wild animal, we left 33 00:02:02.280 --> 00:02:06.319 our apple cores by the tree again. At this time, 34 00:02:06.599 --> 00:02:10.039 bigfoot shows were popular, and I had gotten the idea 35 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:12.800 that I wanted to try a bigfoot call from the 36 00:02:12.840 --> 00:02:15.960 top of that abandoned ski slope, since it was open 37 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:19.719 and clear of trees. So I let out my calls 38 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:22.960 and listened to an echo as it ran down the mountain. 39 00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:26.680 But the other boys grew tired of my sili attempts 40 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:30.120 and we moved on and we left our apples as usual, 41 00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:33.520 and just before we left, I let out my best 42 00:02:33.560 --> 00:02:38.240 bigfoot call ever. We started back on our hike, and 43 00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:41.039 as we came to the open top of the ski slope, 44 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:44.719 I got a strong sense of unease. But I knew 45 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:48.000 I had probably just spooked myself, and as we got 46 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:51.599 down the trail past the slope again, I began to relax. 47 00:02:52.960 --> 00:02:55.000 The next day, I was the only one who wanted 48 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:57.960 to hike back up again. It was a beautiful day. 49 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:01.159 I made my way up and I stopped a while 50 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:05.319 for some trail mix while lounging on the steep slope. 51 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:07.680 When I reached the top, I could see the apple 52 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:10.560 cores were gone from beneath the tree, but that the 53 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:14.000 bread crust had been moved around but not eating. I 54 00:03:14.039 --> 00:03:17.879 thought maybe the deer didn't like bread. Well, that wasn't 55 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:21.319 anything strange, and as my thoughts went in the direction 56 00:03:21.479 --> 00:03:24.759 of bigfoot, I reminded myself that it was just a 57 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:29.439 scary story in something that happens at night. But then 58 00:03:29.479 --> 00:03:32.199 the feeling came over me again, the one that makes 59 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:36.840 your whole body tingling gold cold. It was chilly outside, 60 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:40.319 but this was different. It was the cool shiver of fear. 61 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:43.400 As I tried to brush the feeling off, I became 62 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:46.759 hyper aware of how far I was from anyone, and 63 00:03:46.919 --> 00:03:51.080 how alone I was. I decided I had spent enough 64 00:03:51.080 --> 00:03:53.960 time up there and that I would head back. I 65 00:03:54.039 --> 00:03:56.840 left my whole apple as an offering because I figured 66 00:03:56.879 --> 00:04:00.840 I could potentially use some good luck. A bigfoot were 67 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:03.479 watching me, maybe i'd let it know that I had 68 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:07.360 left something, so for whatever reason, I got a good 69 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:11.800 bigfoot whoop and I started on my way down. In hindsight, 70 00:04:12.199 --> 00:04:15.919 that was a stupid idea. When I got to the 71 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:18.519 top of the ski slope to make my way down again, 72 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:22.120 I felt that creepy feeling. This time though it was 73 00:04:22.199 --> 00:04:25.240 more intense, so I picked up my pace, and as 74 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:27.920 soon as I broke the tree line, I felt another 75 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:32.920 sensation wash over me, one of sheer panic. I was 76 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:36.279 nearly at a full sprint in my own snow shoes 77 00:04:36.360 --> 00:04:38.839 going down a snow and dirt path when I hit 78 00:04:38.839 --> 00:04:41.240 the road and popped them off and booked it to 79 00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:44.680 the house. And when I got inside, I felt silly again, 80 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:47.399 like when you run up on a basement steps as 81 00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:51.560 a kid because you're scared of the dark. By this time, though, 82 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:54.639 I was twenty one, so I got myself a beer 83 00:04:54.959 --> 00:04:57.160 and I put the weird feelings out of my mind 84 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:01.319 and enjoyed the rest of my day. I stepped outside 85 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:03.959 after my parents had gone to bed and had myself 86 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:06.800 a smoke break. It was a clear night, with a 87 00:05:06.839 --> 00:05:10.639 full moon acting like a big spotlight over the whole wilderness. 88 00:05:11.480 --> 00:05:14.160 As I smoked a cigarette, that creepy feeling came back 89 00:05:14.199 --> 00:05:16.879 over me again, and out of the corner of my 90 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:21.079 eye I saw movement. It was a massive shadow, moving 91 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:25.639 swiftly and silently through the trees. I lost sight of 92 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:28.319 whatever it was, and then I went back inside and 93 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:31.199 locked the door. Could have been a bear a moves 94 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:33.839 or it could have been a bigfoot. I wasn't looking 95 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:38.319 to find out. Like many cabins, the one we stayed 96 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:41.199 in was mainly wood and glass, and you could see 97 00:05:41.240 --> 00:05:44.639 three hundred and sixty degrees from any level in that house. 98 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:49.439 As beautiful as that sounds, it doesn't offer much privacy. 99 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:53.040 And the whole night I felt the sensation of being watched. 100 00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:56.360 I didn't hear anything, and I can't say that I 101 00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:59.079 even saw anything, really, But when I woke up in 102 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:01.959 the morning and stay out to have a smoke, and 103 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:04.800 the exact spot that I had been standing the night 104 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:09.399 before was a neat pile of smooth rocks neatly grouped together. 105 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:12.600 I picked one up and I showed it to the 106 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:15.519 other guys, and I thought maybe they had collected them. 107 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:18.920 They asked if I had brought them back from Misty Mountain. 108 00:06:19.720 --> 00:06:22.839 That wasn't the answer I was expecting and not wanting 109 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:25.279 to tell them what I had seen the night before. 110 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:28.240 I smiled and I said, yeah, yeah, I brought them back. 111 00:06:29.800 --> 00:06:32.480 Since then, I have come to believe Bigfoot gifted me 112 00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:36.800 those rocks. I'm sure apples are a rare treat during winter, 113 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:40.199 and I still have one of those rocks. I've heard 114 00:06:40.199 --> 00:06:43.079 in the stories that in fact, Bigfoot are not fond 115 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:47.519 of bread, and that stones, along with sticks and dead animals, 116 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:51.839 are sometimes left as gifts. It creeps me out to 117 00:06:51.959 --> 00:06:54.800 think that I was probably followed back to the cabin 118 00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:58.519 and observed the whole night. I suspect I got lucky. 119 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:02.879 Vice to any Bigfoot fans out there is to leave 120 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:06.759 well enough alone. Who knows what my yelling meant and 121 00:07:06.879 --> 00:07:10.560 Bigfoot language. A smile to a chimp is a threat, 122 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:14.519 but to a human it's a greeting. Gifting is maybe 123 00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:18.560 the safest way to communicate with these creatures. I've always 124 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:21.399 had great respect for nature and these things if they're 125 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:24.680 out there are no exceptions to me. I haven't been 126 00:07:24.759 --> 00:07:30.439 back since. Unfortunately, that's life. I suppose. I haven't told 127 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:33.879 anyone about this. There's really not much to tell except 128 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:37.800 my creepy feelings. Thank you for this platform. It's good 129 00:07:37.800 --> 00:07:40.399 to get the story off my chest to what I 130 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:43.560 know will be a receptive audience. It's hard to find 131 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:47.600 these days to all those skeptics. How many fishermen were 132 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:51.000 laughed at for giant squid stories until everyone had a 133 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:54.639 nice piece of humble pie. I'm no expert nor a 134 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:57.800 seasoned out doorsman, but I know what I felt and 135 00:07:57.879 --> 00:08:00.839 I know what I saw. Be careful out there, people, 136 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:03.839 and always trust your gut. Okay, I'm trying to find 137 00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:06.839 out that. I'm trying to remember back did this monster 138 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:09.560 jump out in front of this guy? It was kind 139 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:12.040 of vague in the story, and there at the end 140 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:15.480 he just says he just had feelings. So I don't know. 141 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:17.519 I'm not sure what happened to this story. I'm going 142 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:20.879 to assume he saw it, and that is pretty scary. 143 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:24.120 But if he didn't see it, maybe feelings are enough 144 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:28.360 to confirm a bigfoot encounter. Maybe they're not. I don't know, 145 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:31.439 but it was a pretty good story and I appreciate 146 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:35.679 the writer. Thank you. Hey, y'all, Welcome to the podcast. 147 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:38.879 It's been I think it's been almost thirty days since 148 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:42.440 I uploaded a new podcast. I want to apologize for that, 149 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:45.799 but I've just been busy. I've been loaded up with work. 150 00:08:46.200 --> 00:08:48.480 I still have a lot of work, but it's slowing. 151 00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:51.639 The pressure's off, and the crisis on the schedule is 152 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:54.240 seems to be a little bit over, so I can 153 00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:56.799 drop back and do some podcasts. But since I've been 154 00:08:56.799 --> 00:09:01.720 gone so long, I've got four stories from listeners. All 155 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:04.679 four of them are fantastic. And then at the end, 156 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:07.320 I've got an hour and a half long fiction action 157 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:10.840 fiction story that I think you guys might like because 158 00:09:10.840 --> 00:09:13.960 I've missed a couple of fiction Fridays. So I almost 159 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:16.519 shutting my mouth. We're gonna get into it all right, 160 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:25.360 here we go. Okay. This is a story about the 161 00:09:25.440 --> 00:09:31.240 little people, many people, maybe even gnomes. The story is 162 00:09:31.320 --> 00:09:35.559 set in the United Kingdom in nineteen ninety five in Devon, 163 00:09:35.799 --> 00:09:39.240 United Kingdom. My friend lived in an old quarry right 164 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:42.879 on the edge of our small town where the countryside begins. 165 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:45.600 He had a caravan at the time, and it was 166 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:48.639 sort of an open house with people coming and going. 167 00:09:49.639 --> 00:09:51.600 He had a big fire pit and we used to 168 00:09:51.639 --> 00:09:54.799 sit around as you do, drinking coffee and shooting the breeze. 169 00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:57.519 It was a nice place in the summer because the 170 00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:01.240 steep back quarry faced north. With all the tall trees 171 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:04.360 growing on the slopes and around the edges, it was 172 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:08.960 shaded and cool. Winter there was pretty bleak though, and 173 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:13.360 it became dark, wet and cold, with heartily any direct sunlight. 174 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:17.080 But he did make the perfect environment for ferns to grow. 175 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:20.519 Large bunches of ferns were clumped about from the flat 176 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:22.840 floor at the back of the quarry and up the 177 00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:27.919 steep slopes around the curved walls. Late one afternoon, there 178 00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:30.960 was a small gathering of people there. Six of us 179 00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:33.960 were crammed into his new caravan, which had a large 180 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:37.840 window on one end where the bench seats were. We 181 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:41.679 were enjoying the time when someone in the group pointed outside, 182 00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:44.879 and within seconds each of us was staring out the 183 00:10:44.919 --> 00:10:49.240 window in disbelief. Only ten feet from the window of 184 00:10:49.320 --> 00:10:54.159 the caravan were little people standing around the ferns. At 185 00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:57.679 first there were just a couple, but then more came out. 186 00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:03.039 They didn't have wings like and they didn't look particularly magical. 187 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:07.879 They were just fully clothed miniature people going about their business. 188 00:11:08.559 --> 00:11:11.440 Are you seeing what I'm seeing? Asked the others, who 189 00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:15.120 had their mouths open and awe like me. Some of 190 00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:18.559 them murmured yes, and the others barely managed a week nod. 191 00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:23.279 Those little people couldn't have been any more than six 192 00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:28.399 inches tall, and their clothes looked old fashioned. There were 193 00:11:28.440 --> 00:11:31.000 more than ten of them. I saw a tiny woman 194 00:11:31.080 --> 00:11:34.639 wearing a long rustic skirt and a fitted button shirt 195 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:39.440 collecting sticks from the floor into bundles, and an older 196 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:42.200 man with a gray beard jumped up to a sitting 197 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:46.039 position on a piece of wood and started happily kicking 198 00:11:46.039 --> 00:11:50.919 his short, brown booted feet. We all watched him rummage 199 00:11:50.919 --> 00:11:54.360 in his leather waistcoat pockets, and he retrieved a pipe 200 00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:57.240 with a long stem and spent a while packing it 201 00:11:57.320 --> 00:12:01.279 with what looked like little pieces of tobacco. He rummaged 202 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:03.960 in his pockets again and sparked up an ember out 203 00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:06.799 of something, and as he puffed away to get his 204 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:09.799 pipe going, we saw his face in more detail as 205 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:12.399 it glowed in the light of the burning pipe bowl. 206 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:16.759 The rest of the little people were either milling about 207 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:19.360 in the open or going to and fro between the 208 00:12:19.399 --> 00:12:23.080 ferns and the open area by the caravan, seemingly busy 209 00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:26.519 with chores, picking up stuff from the ground and talking 210 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:30.279 with each other. The woman with a long skirt went 211 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:32.720 over to the old man with the pipe and conversed 212 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:35.399 with him for a while, and then after about a 213 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:38.200 half an hour, they all walked back into the ferns. 214 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:42.240 They were gone. The six of us in the caravan 215 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:46.559 were speechless. One of the group members got agitated and 216 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:51.000 accused us of drugging her tea. I had an easier 217 00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:53.919 time accepting it, and I was grateful to have an 218 00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:58.600 experience such as an amazing thing as this. My friend 219 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:01.600 who owned the caravan hadmitted that he had seen them before, 220 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:04.120 but didn't tell anyone because he was afraid no one 221 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:07.960 would believe him. I recently caught up with a friend 222 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:10.840 who thought she had been drugged and asked her if 223 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:15.000 she remembered those little people. Her eyes widened and she 224 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:19.320 gasped yes. All these years later, she still couldn't wrap 225 00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:24.440 her head around it. Okay, y'all, I love this story. 226 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:28.039 It reminds me of the did you guys ever see 227 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:32.279 the movie Willow? Val Kilmer was in it. It was 228 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:34.799 a great movie. My kids loved it. I loved it. 229 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:38.080 We watched it a hundred times. We had the VHS 230 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:40.840 tape and we watched Willow over and over and over. 231 00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:43.960 If you have kids that are young, it's a good 232 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:46.840 movie for kids to see. And it's full of it's 233 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:50.320 got little people in it of all varying sizes, and 234 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:53.639 it's a fantasy story. But it's a really, really well 235 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:57.720 made movie. This story was just a kind of like Willow. 236 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:00.919 So that's all I can say. You know, I don't 237 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:03.320 usually I usually have a lot to say, but I 238 00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:06.679 don't say anything, So I'm gonna quit talking about this. 239 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:10.200 But I love this story. Thanks to the writer. He's 240 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:16.879 a good writer, and I appreciating sending me this story. Thanks. Okay, 241 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:21.679 here's a short story about a desert creature. I don't 242 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:24.159 I'm reading this cold. I don't know what it's about, 243 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:28.399 but that's the title. Let's see what kind of creepiness 244 00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:31.519 we can get into on this one. I grew up 245 00:14:31.559 --> 00:14:36.159 near the small town of Oracle, Arizona, in nineteen eighty. 246 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:38.679 I was working for one of the local copper mines. 247 00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:41.840 One night, I got off work at eleven PM and 248 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:44.759 drove the hour long drive back to Oracle and arrived 249 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:48.080 at a local bar. I only had an hour before 250 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:50.679 closing and was trying to find someone who wanted to 251 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:54.559 go four wheeling that night. I talked to a friend 252 00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:57.919 into going out with me. It was a beautiful full moon, 253 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:01.039 it was a warm summer night. After I had gone 254 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:02.960 about a mile out of town, I tried to go 255 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:05.200 through a really bad spot in the road and I 256 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:08.840 got stuck. I had high centered both axles on the 257 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:12.480 ridge between the two ditches of the road. We got 258 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:14.679 out of the truck, got out the jack to lift 259 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:17.360 the axles off the ground, and I started shoveling dirt 260 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:21.480 and rocks under the tires. After about an hour of shoveling, 261 00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:23.480 I thought I would take a break have a beer. 262 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:26.480 We were sitting in the back of the truck when 263 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:29.919 we heard something come crashing through the brush. It was 264 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:32.720 about one hundred yards out and it only got louder 265 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:36.000 and got closer, and I couldn't imagine what this could be. 266 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:40.159 Sounded like a bull hurtling towards us, and as it 267 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:43.840 got closer, I grabbed my pistol. I stood up in 268 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:45.840 the back of the truck to get a better few, 269 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:48.000 and I saw it come crashing out of the brush 270 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:51.000 forty feet behind us. But as thick as the brush 271 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:53.559 was pushed and shoved out of the way, as this 272 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:58.000 thing hit the road, there was no thing at all. 273 00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:00.919 We could see the brush moving as it came toward us, 274 00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:02.799 and we could see it moving as it went away, 275 00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:07.000 but we saw nothing when it crossed the road. My 276 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:10.440 friend and I were freaked the hell out, and we 277 00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:12.919 jumped in the truck and we blasted off the jack 278 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:15.600 and flew out of there. I had to go back 279 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:17.919 the next day to get my jack and shovel, and 280 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:19.919 when I got there, I could see where the brush 281 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:23.320 had been smashed and broken by whatever had torn through it. 282 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:26.320 I've never heard or seen anything like it again, and 283 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:29.440 to this day I have no idea what it could 284 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:34.080 have been. Oh cool, an invisible monster crashing through the air, 285 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:37.879 through the through the Arizona brush out in the desert. 286 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:39.919 I guess it's a desert. I Oh no, not all 287 00:16:39.960 --> 00:16:45.240 of Arizona's a desert. However, I've got I remember doing 288 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:49.440 a story like this several years ago, and this I 289 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:52.200 had forgotten about it, but this kind of jogged my memory. 290 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:55.240 I doubt I could ever find that story again. I've 291 00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:59.879 done so many but this, I have this. I've heard 292 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:04.039 this before, invisible things coming through the brush, and I 293 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:08.000 swear I think the story was in Arizona. Anyway, this 294 00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:11.000 was really cool. I don't think they had too many beers. 295 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:13.480 I think they were just enjoying a few drinks and 296 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:16.359 going out four wheeling in their truck. It's a pretty 297 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:19.920 cool story. Be a scary story if it happened to me. 298 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:25.279 I guarantee you that, thanks to the writer. It was 299 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:29.160 early October in Mississippi, and my family decided they wanted 300 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:32.319 to do something special for me from my nineteenth birthday. 301 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:35.920 One evening, my mom called us all into the living 302 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:38.079 room and told us that she had booked a cabin 303 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:43.240 in Arkansas. Now, this particular cabin was located in the Ozarks, 304 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:46.759 which was exciting because I love nature and the outdoors, 305 00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:50.759 at least I thought I did. My dad is a 306 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:54.799 software engineer, but still likes activities like camping and fishing 307 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:58.759 and bonfires. My little sister, who was eleven at the time, 308 00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:01.519 loved the idea of God going to Arkansas just as 309 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:05.000 much as the rest of us, and that brings us 310 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:09.079 to the glue of our family. Our pet Yorky, He's 311 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:13.160 a feisty, vocal, intelligent little thing. He hates this one 312 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:16.799 commercial on TV and whenever it comes on, he'll run 313 00:18:16.839 --> 00:18:21.119 around the living room barking and jumping around. Our family 314 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:24.359 of five embarked on this journey to Arkansas with permission 315 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:27.359 from the homeowner to arrive that evening so we could 316 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:30.799 enjoy all four days that we had off. We took 317 00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:33.599 a four wheeler with us on an open face trailer, 318 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:38.440 and we were dragging it behind our twenty twelve Chevy Tahoe. 319 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:41.559 The four wheeler was a standard and big enough for 320 00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:44.240 two to ride at a time. There were plenty of 321 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:46.960 trails around the cabin that we could ride up and down, 322 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:50.240 and we all look forward to using it. Winding our 323 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:53.359 way through the steep hills and rock ledges, we finally 324 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:56.400 arrived at the property and we entered through the gate 325 00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:59.400 and traveled down a twisting, turning dirt road until we 326 00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:03.480 entered a clearing and spotted the cabin by that time, 327 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:05.440 it was kind of late, and we were happy to 328 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:09.079 stretch our legs. When my mom turned the car off, 329 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:13.680 everything around us went pitch black. You haven't experienced true 330 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:16.400 darkness until you spend the night deep in the mountains, 331 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:19.759 covered by hills and trees. It was so dark that 332 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:24.759 our flashlight could barely penetrate the night well. We unloaded 333 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:27.440 all our belongings and placed them on the front door 334 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:31.759 as we input the cabin's code. I remember thinking how 335 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:35.960 quiet everything around us was. There were no crickets, bugs, 336 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:39.200 or mosquitos, or any sign of life at all. It 337 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:42.799 was pure darkness and pure silence, almost like a group 338 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:46.119 of uninvited guests had just arrived at a party and 339 00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:49.480 everyone was staring at them, wondering why they were there. 340 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:53.519 I also had this strange feeling that we were being 341 00:19:53.640 --> 00:19:56.960 watched by something in the darkness, and I told myself 342 00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:00.119 it was nothing, that my mind was running wild and 343 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:03.680 causing unnecessary fear, that there was nothing out there in 344 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:07.079 the darkness, and that we were safe and sound. I 345 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:10.480 was wrong. Little did we know that the first night 346 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:13.759 was the quietest out of all the nights we stayed there. 347 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:18.240 We got inside and were greeted with a welcome basket 348 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:21.480 placed on the kitchen table with marshmallows and chocolates and 349 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:26.599 Graham crackers along with roasting utensils. It looked tempting, but 350 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:29.039 we couldn't wait to get in bed and get ready 351 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:32.720 for our first big day. My sister and I stayed 352 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:35.240 in the game room, which was the garage with a 353 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:38.960 few beds and a pool table and an xbox. I 354 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:42.000 got the queen's size bed, while my sister stayed on 355 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:45.559 a bunk bed. It took us hardly any time to 356 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:48.960 turn in that first night, and the following morning, I 357 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:51.519 was woken up by my sister pushing and shoving me 358 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:54.440 to wake up, Wake up, wake up. You've got to 359 00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:58.359 see this, she said. I couldn't tell if there was 360 00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:01.440 excitement or fear in her voice, but I ran to 361 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:05.359 see what the matter was. Outside the kitchen was a covered, 362 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:08.240 screened in porch, and I found my mother there with 363 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:11.799 a strange look on her face. I glanced out the 364 00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:14.920 window and was greeted with a beautiful sight of autumn 365 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:19.279 colored leaves resting on the trees. In the distance. We 366 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:22.480 were surrounded by a sea of rolling hills that stretched 367 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:25.240 for as far as the eye could see. It was 368 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:29.880 a spectacular sight. Well, what's the matter, I asked my mom, 369 00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:34.240 This is actually beautiful. Your sister and I found something 370 00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:39.160 strange outside, she said. My curiosity was peaked. It couldn't 371 00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:42.680 be anything too bad, right, My sister showed me out 372 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:44.799 the door and escorted me to the left side of 373 00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:48.039 our cabin, where I was greeted by an old tombstone 374 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:51.720 position on a small hill fifty feet away from the cabin. 375 00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:56.039 There were two cowskulls resting on either side of it, 376 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:58.640 one on the left and one on the right. It 377 00:21:58.759 --> 00:22:02.279 was a tombstone a little girl from the eighteen hundreds 378 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:04.839 who drowned in the river, just a couple of hundred 379 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:09.319 yards behind the cabin. That alone wasn't the strangest part. 380 00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:12.960 The strangest part was when we realized that the death 381 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:16.400 occurred on the same date we arrived at the cabin, 382 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:22.039 October thirteen, Just like in the old horror movies. It 383 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:24.519 was a clear omen of bad things to come, and 384 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:28.240 we ignored it. On our phones, we looked up whether 385 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:31.519 this actually happened or not, and found an article on 386 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:36.200 the events that took place. They were unseddenly Apparently the 387 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:39.799 girl was separated from her family somehow and was later 388 00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:45.119 found in the river. Upon discovering this unsettling piece of history, 389 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:47.279 we decided it may be a good time for us 390 00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:50.039 to get the four wheeler out and do some riding around, 391 00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:52.400 just to scope out the area and get our minds 392 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:56.400 onto something else. While my dad and I drank our coffee, 393 00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:59.440 my mother and sister rode up the trail behind the cabin. 394 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:03.079 The trail was a steep hill that led to an 395 00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:06.640 over white area with picnic tables and chairs that overlooked 396 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:09.079 a river, and on the other side of the river 397 00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:11.759 there was nothing but dense forest as far as the 398 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:16.079 eye could see. We were truly in a secluded area. 399 00:23:16.839 --> 00:23:19.519 And thirty minutes later, my mom and sister came riding 400 00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:22.680 down the mountain and seemed much happier. There's a big 401 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:26.160 river over this hill that stretches for miles. My mom said, 402 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:29.240 your sister wants to go back and look again. You 403 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:32.720 want to take her, she asked, sure, I will, I said, 404 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:36.519 I took my binoculars and rode the four wheeler back 405 00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:38.480 up the trail to the top of the steep hill 406 00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:41.720 where the picnic grounds were. I looked over the side 407 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:43.559 of the hill and I could see the big river 408 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:46.960 that stretched all the way through the terrain. It was 409 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:50.920 a massive and endless body of water. And then I 410 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:55.599 noticed another path. I went straight. There was a small 411 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:57.799 opening in the woods, just big enough of the four 412 00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:01.680 wheeler to fit through, and I went down this trail 413 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:04.599 and eventually it leveled off and we were left in 414 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:07.240 an area that gave us an even better view of 415 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:10.440 the river. As I brought the foreheather to a stop, 416 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:13.720 I noticed something in the dirt that sparked my interests. 417 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:16.519 On the edge of the hill there was a flattened 418 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:20.160 out area of dirt that was disturbed. I was able 419 00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:24.119 to make out three solid, distinct bear footprints that appeared 420 00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:27.839 to be heading down the water's edge by the river. Now, 421 00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:30.839 at first I thought there must be some campers walking 422 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:35.119 around barefooted. Not a big deal to me, although I 423 00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:37.279 thought it was odd that when I was walking in 424 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:40.119 the same dirt, my impressions did not go as deep 425 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:44.079 as the bare footprints did. Well. We got back on 426 00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:45.839 the foe with her and I looked out over the 427 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:48.559 river and we could see the forest on the other side. 428 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:51.599 In the bank where the water met the land, and 429 00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:54.720 as we were looking, a figure in the distance caught 430 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:57.720 my eye. It appeared to be on the bank, just 431 00:24:57.839 --> 00:25:04.960 resting field glasses out looked down in its direction. First 432 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:06.880 I thought it was a black bear because it was 433 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:10.079 down and low close to the water, until it stood 434 00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:13.559 up on two legs and looked right at us. I 435 00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:15.839 thought it might have been one of the barefoot campers, 436 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:19.440 except that he was covered in this dark blackish color 437 00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:22.799 from head to toe. As it looked at me and 438 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:25.759 I looked at it, I got the most uneasy feeling. 439 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:28.640 And then the figure turned and walked behind the cover 440 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:31.480 of the leaves, and I lost sight of it behind 441 00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:34.039 the tree line. And when we got back to the cabin, 442 00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:36.880 I asked my mother to ask our hostess if there 443 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:39.799 were any campers in the area. Well, why do you 444 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:43.160 want to know, she asked, Well, I told her about 445 00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:45.839 the tracks and the person that we saw across the river, 446 00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:49.079 and it got the interest of both my parents, who 447 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:50.880 wanted to go up to the top of the hill 448 00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:54.400 and investigate it. They took the four wheeler back up 449 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:56.319 the hill, and when they got back, they had a 450 00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:59.759 serious look on their face. As soon as they pulled 451 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:02.400 the four wheeler up beside the cabin. My mom got 452 00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:04.839 off and she said she had to get a hold 453 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:09.119 of the hostess. Apparently the tracks freaked both of them out. 454 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:12.160 Those tracks are way bigger than your dad's tracks, my 455 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:15.599 mom said, Well, my dad is six foot three and 456 00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:19.359 he wears a size thirteen. I knew these footprints must 457 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:22.960 have been larger than his because they were noticeably larger 458 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:27.000 than mine, and I wear a size twelve. Mom sent 459 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:30.200 a text to our hostess and inquired about any campers 460 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:34.559 in the area. Her response was chilling. Not only were 461 00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:37.839 there no other campers in the area that she knew about, 462 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:40.519 but we were the first family who wanted to stay 463 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:44.559 in the cabin for months. As for the land across 464 00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:47.200 the river, it was a nature reserve and no one 465 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:51.839 was allowed into that stretch of land. Now I felt uneasy. 466 00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:54.920 I knew there was a person or something else across 467 00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:58.000 the river on that bank. There were tracks in the 468 00:26:58.039 --> 00:27:01.680 dirt right beside the trail where we were on. With 469 00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:03.720 the rain that had hit the area a couple of 470 00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:06.759 weeks before we got there, these prints should have been 471 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:09.720 washed away if they had been made by the previous 472 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:13.680 residents of the cabin. We would soon find out that 473 00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:16.880 it wasn't the residence of that cabin we needed to 474 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:21.000 worry about, but the residence of the forest. My family 475 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:25.759 and I just became next door neighbors. That evening, we 476 00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:28.680 decided to make good use of the s'mores kit that 477 00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:31.599 was left for us. We grabbed a basket and went 478 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:33.640 out the front door and over to the fire pit 479 00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:35.920 right in front of the cabin while it was still 480 00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:39.799 daylight outside. I don't think any of us wanted to 481 00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:44.160 be outside after dark after everything we discovered that first day. 482 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:47.079 So we sat and we talked, and we made somemores, 483 00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:50.799 all the while listening to the wilderness. A few birds 484 00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:53.359 would chirp here and there and fly overhead every now 485 00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:56.559 and then. And we finished up as the sun was setting, 486 00:27:56.599 --> 00:28:00.079 and we put the fire out and we went back inside. 487 00:28:00.599 --> 00:28:04.119 My mom called DIBs on getting the first shower, and 488 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:06.400 the rest of us decided to go in the movie 489 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:09.119 room and watch TV until it was someone else's turn 490 00:28:09.160 --> 00:28:12.960 to use the bathroom. As we were sitting and watching 491 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:16.000 the TV, we heard a loud pop from somewhere, and 492 00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:18.880 we thought my mom maybe dropped the shampoo bottle in 493 00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:22.319 the shower, but then it happened again twice in a row, 494 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:26.839 pop pop, one right after another. Our dog came running 495 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:29.720 into the movie room, curled up beside me and hunkered 496 00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:33.720 down like it was afraid and warning protection. For four 497 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:36.519 or five minutes, we listened to the popping until we 498 00:28:36.599 --> 00:28:39.519 realized it was the sound of something being thrown onto 499 00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:43.480 the roof. Is it raining? My dad asked, hang on, 500 00:28:43.640 --> 00:28:46.799 let me go see, I said. As the popping continued, 501 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:49.880 I looked out the window of the front porch and 502 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:52.200 I couldn't see any rain or hint of any weather. 503 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:54.599 And when I got back into the movie room, the 504 00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:58.599 sounds came to an abrupt stop and everything went dead silent. 505 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:02.319 When my mother got out of the shower, she asked 506 00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:05.160 us what all the popping racket was, and we told 507 00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:08.160 her we didn't know, and then went on watching TV 508 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:12.319 a little longer before going to bed. The next morning, 509 00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:14.680 I made a nice cup of coffee and enjoyed it 510 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:16.880 at the movie room while I waited for the rest 511 00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:19.680 of the family to get ready. And once we were 512 00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:22.240 all dressed, we stepped outside and had to look around 513 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:24.440 the cabin to see if we could see anything out 514 00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:27.880 of the ordinary. We didn't have to look too far 515 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:31.359 before we saw what was causing all the commotion last night. 516 00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:36.319 All over the ground were baseball sized rocks scattered through 517 00:29:36.359 --> 00:29:39.680 the grass around the cabin that came from the top 518 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:42.599 of the hill where the picnic area was, which overlooked 519 00:29:42.599 --> 00:29:45.680 the river. I knew that because I remember seeing them 520 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:49.400 up there. As we walked around the other side of 521 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:52.599 the cabin, we saw that the two cowskulls sitting on 522 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:57.079 either side of the tombstone were gone. I walked closer 523 00:29:57.079 --> 00:30:00.440 to the tombstone when I saw something by my feet dirt, 524 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:03.680 the same tracks that I had seen at the top 525 00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:06.400 of the hill. We're now beside our cabin and the 526 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:10.720 tombstone leading into the woods. Someone was outside our cabin 527 00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:15.359 last night. I said. This was concerning, to say the least, 528 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:18.799 and we were all starting to get worried. My dad 529 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:21.079 told all of us that we needed to stay together 530 00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:24.440 and we got on with our day. We rode the 531 00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:27.440 trails again and explored some more, but this time we 532 00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:30.160 decided to drive down the road to the river to 533 00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:33.920 see it up close. It was a beautiful sight to see, 534 00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:36.400 and we saw fish jumping in the stream and we 535 00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:39.400 watched a herd of deer make their way through the woods. 536 00:30:40.359 --> 00:30:42.720 We had some fishing poles with us and we decided 537 00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:46.720 to catch some fish, but didn't have any luck. When 538 00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:48.880 we got back to the cabin, we made a dinner 539 00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:51.880 of hot dogs over the campfire and some more some moors. 540 00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:55.440 After the fire was put out and we were back inside, 541 00:30:55.480 --> 00:30:58.759 my sister talked us into having a foosball tournament in 542 00:30:58.799 --> 00:31:02.880 the game room while we TV. Well. We were having 543 00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:05.359 a great time and it was my sister and I 544 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:09.039 versus my parents. We were playing for about thirty minutes 545 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:13.319 until something weird happened. We heard the front door open. 546 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:17.000 We all froze and looked at each other. My dad 547 00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:19.960 grabbed the remote and mated the TV and we crept 548 00:31:19.960 --> 00:31:22.799 around the corner to see what had happened. But when 549 00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:24.680 we got to the door, there was nothing out of 550 00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:29.039 the ordinary. I was the last one inside after our campfire, 551 00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:31.839 and I guess I forgot to lock it. My dad 552 00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:34.359 closed it and locked it right, and then told us 553 00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:36.559 to go through the cabin to do the same thing 554 00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:39.759 with the rest of the doors. We searched the cabin, 555 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:42.960 locked all the exterior doors that we could find, and 556 00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:46.240 decided it was time for bed. Tomorrow was going to 557 00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:48.720 be our last full day and we wanted to get 558 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:51.519 some good rest. But in the middle of the night, 559 00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:54.839 I was woken up by something. I didn't know what 560 00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:57.559 it was. At first. It was dark in the room, 561 00:31:57.640 --> 00:31:59.680 but I could see a little bit thanks to the 562 00:31:59.720 --> 00:32:03.319 alarm arm clock beside my bed. Off in the distance, 563 00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:06.640 I heard a loud whistling noise. It almost sounded like 564 00:32:06.680 --> 00:32:09.960 a freight train. It happened two or three times before 565 00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:12.519 my parents came rushing into the room with our dogs 566 00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:16.200 shaking with fear, and just when our mom told us 567 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:20.240 to stay put, the whistles started again, but this time though, 568 00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:23.920 they were coming from several different directions all around the cabin, 569 00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:29.039 and then we heard footsteps walking around outside. They started 570 00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:31.279 behind us, and then they worked their way to the 571 00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:33.480 right side of the cabin toward the door of the 572 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:37.480 game room that led outside. My parents told us to 573 00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:39.960 stay put while they went to lock the dog up 574 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:42.319 in the closet just outside the room so that he 575 00:32:42.359 --> 00:32:45.680 wouldn't get away from us. They were only gone for 576 00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:48.400 three minutes at the most, and I was trying to 577 00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:51.200 talk my sister to calm to her down because she 578 00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:54.920 was scared, and I couldn't blame her. Just as I 579 00:32:54.960 --> 00:32:58.559 started to console her, she slowly lowered herself down and 580 00:32:58.599 --> 00:33:01.759 pulled the blankets up over her face, and she pointed 581 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:05.519 to the square window next to the door that let outside. 582 00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:09.400 I will never forget what I saw in the window 583 00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:12.000 that was six feet off the ground. I saw a 584 00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:16.240 giant face with bright red eyes gazing into the room, 585 00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:20.599 and its mouth was halfway open. Its breath fogged up 586 00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:24.799 the window as it watched patiently for movement inside. It 587 00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:29.039 watched and waited for nearly two minutes, and then it disappeared. 588 00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:34.039 We packed our belongings quickly, and we spent the rest 589 00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:37.880 of that night listening to whistles and rocks hit the 590 00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:42.400 house that were coming from every direction. We were ready 591 00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:45.680 to leave as soon as it was light outside. There 592 00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:48.319 was no way we were staying another day knowing these 593 00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:52.480 creatures were out there. When daybreak started to light up 594 00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:55.079 the property, my dad peeked out the window of the 595 00:33:55.119 --> 00:33:57.400 front door to see if we could see the car 596 00:33:57.599 --> 00:34:00.880 or anything else for that matter. We waited for a 597 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:04.480 few minutes, and then my dad said, with a heavy whisper, Okay, 598 00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:08.719 I think we're good. He quietly cracked the door open, 599 00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:11.079 and when we looked down at the front porch, we 600 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:15.559 saw a giant, muddy footprint. Actually, there were footprints everywhere. 601 00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:18.480 They were up against the front door and over by 602 00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:22.199 the fire pit, and rocks were scattered all over the place. 603 00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:25.199 A few had landed in the trailer with a four wheeler, 604 00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:28.880 and a few hit the roof of the car. Once 605 00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:31.960 we decided the coast was clear, we loaded our luggage 606 00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:34.559 in a hurry and hit the road. No one said 607 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:37.079 a word for the first thirty minutes of the ride. 608 00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:40.280 I think everyone was so shocked at what happened that 609 00:34:40.320 --> 00:34:44.599 we needed some time to process it. Our dog finally 610 00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:47.360 calmed down, though, and when we got home again, we 611 00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:50.440 decided we wouldn't tell anyone what had happened, and we 612 00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:55.480 never did. This experience was frightening, yes, but I enjoyed 613 00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:58.199 telling it to you. There will be some people out 614 00:34:58.239 --> 00:35:00.360 there who will say the story is face and that 615 00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:03.760 there's no way this could be real, And to be honest, 616 00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:07.519 I don't blame them. If we didn't live through it, 617 00:35:07.639 --> 00:35:10.760 we wouldn't have believed it either. So to the doubters 618 00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:13.760 out there that say this could never have happened. Go 619 00:35:13.800 --> 00:35:15.960 on and find a cabin deep within the heart of 620 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:20.159 the Ozarks. Spend a couple of nights out there. Maybe, 621 00:35:20.199 --> 00:35:23.360 just maybe you can encounter these creatures deep within the 622 00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:25.960 mountains and have a story of your own to tell. 623 00:35:26.679 --> 00:35:28.840 Just be sure to bring someone along with you to 624 00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:32.119 watch your back. Oh man, that was a cool story, 625 00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:36.719 as a very detailed story that culminated in a visual 626 00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:40.800 a sighting right outside the window that would scare the 627 00:35:40.840 --> 00:35:43.320 crap out of me if I was If I was 628 00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:45.920 those kids looking out that window, I don't think I'd 629 00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:48.719 ever be the same seeing a bigfoot looking in at me. 630 00:35:49.559 --> 00:35:52.599 Oh my gosh, what a great story. This was awesome. 631 00:35:53.320 --> 00:35:57.000 It's a family from Mississippi took a trip to the Ozarks, 632 00:35:57.119 --> 00:35:59.079 get away from the flat land, get up in the 633 00:35:59.119 --> 00:36:01.679 mountains and the all to look at the pretty leaves, 634 00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:06.039 and a bigfoot ruins their whole vacation. Damn bigfoots. They 635 00:36:06.679 --> 00:36:09.199 just can't leave us alone, can they. Thank you to 636 00:36:09.239 --> 00:36:11.599 the writer. I've had this a long time. I'm glad 637 00:36:11.639 --> 00:36:17.559 I finally got to it. Great story. Thanks Hawk two 638 00:36:17.639 --> 00:36:22.920 Niner by Richie Harris. There are too many monsters and 639 00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:28.079 not enough. He rose these Days, Part one, A rude Awakening. 640 00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:33.079 I regained consciousness in a combat field hospital to the 641 00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:36.480 sound of a nurse's voice talk to me, Captain Tate. 642 00:36:36.760 --> 00:36:41.119 I heard her say everything was blurry, including my memory. 643 00:36:41.679 --> 00:36:44.280 I closed my eyes and put my brain on replay. 644 00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:49.519 We had been tasked with locating and capturing Omar al Kezzini, 645 00:36:49.760 --> 00:36:53.320 an isis bomb maker, and we found him. He was 646 00:36:53.360 --> 00:36:55.559 holed up on the upper floor of a building with 647 00:36:55.679 --> 00:36:59.559 three hodgies on the ground floor acting as bodyguards. My 648 00:36:59.639 --> 00:37:02.840 team took them out and we followed Sergeant Tim Ross 649 00:37:02.920 --> 00:37:06.599 on point up the stairs. Contact he has a vest. 650 00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:11.280 Ross shouted. I switched into negotiator mode and began to 651 00:37:11.280 --> 00:37:14.639 inch toward him. He was a fat, little man with large, 652 00:37:14.639 --> 00:37:20.320 staring eyes. I recognized that look. Kazini was preparing himself 653 00:37:20.360 --> 00:37:25.199 to die. Aloah akbar. He began to repeat. I moved 654 00:37:25.239 --> 00:37:29.360 gradually closer and reminded him how the Koran addresses people 655 00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:34.199 of the book like me, Alua akbar. He continued to repeat, 656 00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:37.159 and then I watched the inner light in the back 657 00:37:37.199 --> 00:37:40.760 of his eyes. Go out, get down, I shouted at 658 00:37:40.840 --> 00:37:44.920 Ross as I launched myself at Kazini. He was standing 659 00:37:44.920 --> 00:37:47.599 in front of a window, and I executed a double 660 00:37:47.719 --> 00:37:50.960 kick in an attempt to knock him through it. The 661 00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:53.639 world slowed to a crawl around me. As his body 662 00:37:53.719 --> 00:37:57.480 started out the window, a clicking sound rang in my ears. 663 00:37:57.519 --> 00:38:00.480 I fell onto my right side, my feet still in 664 00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:04.360 the air. A bright light filled the room. He had 665 00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:08.559 detonated the vest. Fire licked at my legs as I 666 00:38:08.599 --> 00:38:11.960 watched my boots being shredded and felt the sickening crunch 667 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:16.199 and tear of skin, muscles and tendons being mangled. Then 668 00:38:16.239 --> 00:38:18.719 a nurse was speaking to me, asking me to talk 669 00:38:18.760 --> 00:38:23.159 to her. I'm Captain Harrison Tate, the leader of Delta 670 00:38:23.199 --> 00:38:27.000 Force team tasked with capturing high value targets alive or dead. 671 00:38:27.559 --> 00:38:31.800 I go by Hawk to Niner. After Ranger School, I 672 00:38:31.880 --> 00:38:35.119 decided I would get a degree and apply to OCS. 673 00:38:35.760 --> 00:38:37.920 I was stationed at Fort Campbell at the time, and 674 00:38:38.000 --> 00:38:40.400 I managed to stay there long enough to finish my 675 00:38:40.480 --> 00:38:45.039 first year of college before being sent to Iraq. I 676 00:38:45.079 --> 00:38:47.440 came home. I was sent to Fort Benning, where my 677 00:38:47.519 --> 00:38:51.239 commander told me about an accelerated university program at the 678 00:38:51.280 --> 00:38:55.239 local college that was tailored for soldiers like me, and 679 00:38:55.280 --> 00:38:59.079 I jumped on the opportunity. A week later, I was 680 00:38:59.119 --> 00:39:02.079 sitting in class with my mindset on getting my degree 681 00:39:02.119 --> 00:39:05.679 and internal business, when an Asian kid sat down next 682 00:39:05.719 --> 00:39:10.599 to me, and he introduced himself as Tomahiro Suzuki. But 683 00:39:10.679 --> 00:39:13.599 you can call me Tommy, he added, with a friendly grin. 684 00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:19.079 We developed an immediate friendship. Tiger Tommy, as I came 685 00:39:19.119 --> 00:39:21.440 to know him, was sent to the US by his 686 00:39:21.480 --> 00:39:25.800 father to start a new motorcycle dealership. He was intrigued 687 00:39:25.840 --> 00:39:28.440 by the fact that I was a martial arts practitioner. 688 00:39:29.239 --> 00:39:32.199 I was fascinated by the samurai sword he owned and 689 00:39:32.280 --> 00:39:35.199 let me hold, and the mural on his living room 690 00:39:35.239 --> 00:39:39.920 wall that depicted samurai battles. I studied that mural every 691 00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:43.039 chance I got. It was a strange mix of beauty 692 00:39:43.119 --> 00:39:47.480 and brutality, the realities of war, and the fantasies of legend. 693 00:39:48.360 --> 00:39:52.000 In some of the images, the warriors were fighting strange creatures. 694 00:39:53.360 --> 00:39:56.440 My thoughts dissolved when the doctor approached my bed and 695 00:39:56.480 --> 00:39:59.119 brought me back to the present. He was looking at 696 00:39:59.119 --> 00:40:02.719 my chart with a expression on his face. Am I 697 00:40:02.760 --> 00:40:06.760 going to lose my legs? I asked, without preamble. He 698 00:40:06.800 --> 00:40:09.599 glanced up at me with an appraising look on his face. 699 00:40:10.239 --> 00:40:12.639 I knew what he was thinking. Should I give him 700 00:40:12.639 --> 00:40:15.239 the whole answer or should I hold back? And can 701 00:40:15.360 --> 00:40:18.440 he take it? It's too early to tell were the 702 00:40:18.519 --> 00:40:21.280 words he settled on. Right now, we need to get 703 00:40:21.280 --> 00:40:24.840 you into surgery. He hung my chart on the hook 704 00:40:24.840 --> 00:40:26.639 at the foot of my bed and walked over to 705 00:40:26.719 --> 00:40:30.119 the nurses station. I let my mind wander back to 706 00:40:30.199 --> 00:40:34.880 the past. My father was an alcoholic. He wasn't an 707 00:40:34.960 --> 00:40:38.320 abusive man or a mean drunk. He just lacked ambition. 708 00:40:39.000 --> 00:40:43.159 He was lazy. Mom never worked outside the home. Her 709 00:40:43.239 --> 00:40:46.440 job was to take care of me. We lived on 710 00:40:46.480 --> 00:40:49.639 the poor side of a poor community, in the shadows 711 00:40:49.719 --> 00:40:53.920 of the Smoky mountains on the Appalachian Trail. Everyone was 712 00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:57.639 poor in Hayesville. I was ten before I lived in 713 00:40:57.679 --> 00:41:01.920 a house withindoor plumbing. Vision was a premium. The only 714 00:41:02.039 --> 00:41:04.960 channels we got were the kind that ran constant reruns 715 00:41:05.039 --> 00:41:08.880 of shows like Kung Fu, or showed Bruce Lee movies 716 00:41:08.920 --> 00:41:13.920 interspersed with Billy Jack marathons. My bedroom wall was adorned 717 00:41:13.960 --> 00:41:18.559 with a Chuck Norris poster. I was obsessed with karate 718 00:41:18.880 --> 00:41:22.599 I spent hours practicing in my backyard we were too 719 00:41:22.679 --> 00:41:25.320 poor for lessons, but I studied every move and every 720 00:41:25.400 --> 00:41:28.800 movie or television show that I watched. I even mimicked 721 00:41:28.840 --> 00:41:33.239 them repeatedly for never having a lesson. I wasn't too bad. 722 00:41:34.519 --> 00:41:37.639 When I was thirteen, a karate instructor came to our 723 00:41:37.719 --> 00:41:41.760 school and gave a demonstration. When he asked for volunteers, 724 00:41:41.760 --> 00:41:44.599 my hand shot up so fast that the momentum nearly 725 00:41:44.639 --> 00:41:48.639 lifted me out of my seat. The instructor was impressed 726 00:41:48.679 --> 00:41:51.880 by how intently I listened and how quickly I learned. 727 00:41:52.519 --> 00:41:55.800 He invited me to come for a free lesson. I 728 00:41:55.880 --> 00:41:58.519 knew we could never afford that kind of luxury, but 729 00:41:58.639 --> 00:42:01.400 he cut me a deal of a life lifetime if 730 00:42:01.440 --> 00:42:04.440 I maintained good grades in school and worked for him 731 00:42:04.480 --> 00:42:08.440 at the dojo. He said he would teach me for free. 732 00:42:08.639 --> 00:42:11.480 When I woke up in the recovery room, Sergeant Ross 733 00:42:11.519 --> 00:42:15.039 was sitting next to my bed. Is everyone okay? Or 734 00:42:15.119 --> 00:42:19.400 the first words out of my mouth thanks to your acrobatics, yes, 735 00:42:19.559 --> 00:42:22.719 he assured me. He glanced down at his hands and 736 00:42:22.760 --> 00:42:25.400 did his best not to stare at my legs. I 737 00:42:25.440 --> 00:42:28.039 had an uneasy moment before I was able to look 738 00:42:28.079 --> 00:42:31.599 down at them myself, thinking I was only thirty four 739 00:42:31.719 --> 00:42:34.079 years old and this was how my career was going 740 00:42:34.119 --> 00:42:37.360 to end. I couldn't help the anger that welled up 741 00:42:37.400 --> 00:42:39.960 inside me. I had been at the tip of the 742 00:42:40.079 --> 00:42:43.239 spear in the war on terrorism since I was twenty 743 00:42:43.320 --> 00:42:47.519 years old. The number of hvts that my team had 744 00:42:47.559 --> 00:42:52.800 captured or killed was classified. I held top secret security clearances. 745 00:42:53.400 --> 00:42:57.159 Now what was I going to do? The doctor walked 746 00:42:57.159 --> 00:43:00.320 in and broke me away from those angry thoughts. He 747 00:43:00.400 --> 00:43:02.599 was smiling, and I took it as a good sign. 748 00:43:03.559 --> 00:43:06.760 We were able to repair most of the tendons. He said, 749 00:43:07.199 --> 00:43:10.320 it looks like you're going to keep your legs. Relief 750 00:43:10.360 --> 00:43:12.519 flooded through me, and it felt as though I had 751 00:43:12.559 --> 00:43:16.599 been holding my breath. Fresh cool air filled my lungs, 752 00:43:16.599 --> 00:43:19.639 and I smiled back at the doctor. We're sending you 753 00:43:19.679 --> 00:43:23.400 to Germany. You have more surgery and physical therapy there, 754 00:43:23.599 --> 00:43:27.760 the doctor said. Before he could say any more, Colonel 755 00:43:27.840 --> 00:43:30.599 Jones walked in and announced that the Army was going 756 00:43:30.639 --> 00:43:33.360 to take good care of me. Your days as an 757 00:43:33.360 --> 00:43:36.960 operator are probably over, he said, but all in all, 758 00:43:37.000 --> 00:43:39.800 things look pretty good for you. Some of the Grays 759 00:43:39.880 --> 00:43:44.079 slept back in. I was sixteen years old and getting 760 00:43:44.119 --> 00:43:46.719 ready to take my test for a black belt in 761 00:43:46.800 --> 00:43:50.920 both taekwondo and have keto on the same day. I 762 00:43:51.039 --> 00:43:54.840 was the first student ever to do that. Mister Tubbs, 763 00:43:54.920 --> 00:43:57.559 my instructor, said I was the best student he had 764 00:43:57.599 --> 00:44:01.039 ever had. I was fascinated by the stories he told 765 00:44:01.119 --> 00:44:03.920 me about the orient. I made up my mind that 766 00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:07.920 I would go there one day. Dad was working at 767 00:44:07.920 --> 00:44:10.679 the sawmill then, and on Fridays he and a friend 768 00:44:10.679 --> 00:44:12.960 would get off work and take their checks and go 769 00:44:13.119 --> 00:44:16.880 on a weekend long drunken spree. The day of my test, 770 00:44:17.039 --> 00:44:19.920 Mom was there, but Dad and that friend were recovering 771 00:44:19.960 --> 00:44:23.960 from one of those weekends. As always, they got off 772 00:44:24.000 --> 00:44:26.400 work and headed to the bar, and at some point 773 00:44:26.440 --> 00:44:28.360 they decided to head down to the creek and do 774 00:44:28.440 --> 00:44:32.199 some frog gigging. Both men were sloppy drunk by then, 775 00:44:32.400 --> 00:44:34.960 and they claimed they were having decent luck gigging when 776 00:44:35.000 --> 00:44:37.639 a booger with eyes like a snake came out of 777 00:44:37.679 --> 00:44:41.239 the swamps and attacked them. They went and got the sheriff, 778 00:44:41.559 --> 00:44:44.440 who took one look at their ineborated state and told 779 00:44:44.480 --> 00:44:47.920 them they were just drunk. Dad showed him the scratches 780 00:44:47.960 --> 00:44:50.559 he had on his back, but the sheriff accused them 781 00:44:50.559 --> 00:44:55.119 of fighting with each other. Dad swore those were claw marks. 782 00:44:55.800 --> 00:44:59.960 Mom was humiliated. I passed my test with flying colors. 783 00:45:00.599 --> 00:45:02.519 Mom was there to see it, but Dad was home 784 00:45:02.599 --> 00:45:06.119 recovering from his adventure. And after that day, I became 785 00:45:06.159 --> 00:45:10.079 an instructor at the dojo, and two years later, while 786 00:45:10.119 --> 00:45:12.960 a senior in high school, I joined the Army on 787 00:45:13.039 --> 00:45:18.159 the Delayed Entry Program Part two, Fork in the Road. 788 00:45:19.360 --> 00:45:21.400 I had been to Germany a couple of times, but 789 00:45:21.480 --> 00:45:24.960 I was always working with intelligence on tracking and locating 790 00:45:24.960 --> 00:45:28.960 a target. This time was different. It felt like a long, 791 00:45:29.039 --> 00:45:32.280 boring vacation, but I was determined to come back better. 792 00:45:33.360 --> 00:45:36.199 While I waited for the necessary test and exams, I 793 00:45:36.239 --> 00:45:40.360 spent my free time walking around town. That's how I 794 00:45:40.400 --> 00:45:44.599 found the dojo that taught moy Thai and Kindo. I 795 00:45:44.639 --> 00:45:47.880 had studied kickboxing at the Cantana, but I had never 796 00:45:47.960 --> 00:45:51.000 mastered the two arts, and since I knew I was 797 00:45:51.000 --> 00:45:53.119 stuck there for the next three or four months, I 798 00:45:53.199 --> 00:45:57.880 decided to enroll. Between lessons and the two martial arts, 799 00:45:57.960 --> 00:46:01.880 I was scheduled for physical therapy there. I met several 800 00:46:01.920 --> 00:46:05.400 other operators who hadn't fared as well as me. They 801 00:46:05.400 --> 00:46:09.840 were missing arms or legs. I was inspired by them. Somehow, 802 00:46:09.880 --> 00:46:12.480 I felt I needed to do my best for their sake. 803 00:46:13.360 --> 00:46:17.639 The Kindo and my tie lessons helped. When the day 804 00:46:17.719 --> 00:46:21.519 finally came for my MRI, I was nervous. It was 805 00:46:21.599 --> 00:46:24.360 going to determine what type of surgery I would need. 806 00:46:25.079 --> 00:46:27.719 I was hoping it would be minimal. I was holding 807 00:46:27.760 --> 00:46:30.039 my breath when the doctor came in the room holding 808 00:46:30.079 --> 00:46:34.559 my report, Captain Tate. He said, I don't know what 809 00:46:34.599 --> 00:46:36.639 you've been doing, but I don't think you need any 810 00:46:36.679 --> 00:46:40.519 further surgery. I suppressed a grin, and he went on, 811 00:46:41.440 --> 00:46:43.960 we can do some skin grass for the scars if 812 00:46:43.960 --> 00:46:45.920 you'd like, but there won't be any need for any 813 00:46:45.960 --> 00:46:51.280 more reconstructive surgery. No thanks, I answered, I'll keep the scars. 814 00:46:52.159 --> 00:46:55.599 He gave me an inquisitive look, sort of like tattoos. 815 00:46:55.719 --> 00:47:00.159 I added. He gave me a knowing grin. I'm still 816 00:47:00.159 --> 00:47:02.960 giving you two more months of physical therapy, he said. 817 00:47:03.559 --> 00:47:06.039 While I was happy with that, it meant two more 818 00:47:06.039 --> 00:47:11.800 months of martial arts lessons. My instructor, mister Yuzawa, was 819 00:47:11.840 --> 00:47:15.800 from Japan. He traveled to Thailand and China to study 820 00:47:15.840 --> 00:47:19.599 different styles. He complimented me on being a great student, 821 00:47:20.199 --> 00:47:22.519 and when I told him I'd always dreamed of going 822 00:47:22.559 --> 00:47:26.079 to Japan, he offered to write a letter of recommendation 823 00:47:26.559 --> 00:47:29.400 so I could study at a secluded mountain school that 824 00:47:29.559 --> 00:47:34.440 was world famous for swordsmanship and sword making. Mom had 825 00:47:34.480 --> 00:47:36.880 passed away and I had no real reason to go 826 00:47:36.960 --> 00:47:42.039 back to Hayesville. I had been studying Japanese terms and phrases, 827 00:47:42.280 --> 00:47:45.280 and going to Japan was beginning to feel like a reality. 828 00:47:46.599 --> 00:47:49.559 The morning after my PT appointment, I met with Colonel 829 00:47:49.639 --> 00:47:54.519 Jones and the SoC Special Operations Command. I've been offered 830 00:47:54.519 --> 00:47:57.920 a discharge with full pay and benefits. I asked if 831 00:47:57.920 --> 00:48:01.880 it was still on the table. Yes, Colonel Jones answered, 832 00:48:01.960 --> 00:48:05.840 but I'd like you to consider becoming an instructor. It 833 00:48:05.880 --> 00:48:09.320 was a thought. The earnest expression on the Colonel's face 834 00:48:09.400 --> 00:48:12.760 told me he'd been considering it for some time. I 835 00:48:12.880 --> 00:48:16.840 molded over for a minute. No, sir, I said, there's 836 00:48:16.840 --> 00:48:19.559 something I've wanted to do for a long time. I 837 00:48:19.599 --> 00:48:22.599 need to do it while I'm still young enough. I paused, 838 00:48:22.639 --> 00:48:27.239 before adding, I want to see Japan. If the colonel 839 00:48:27.320 --> 00:48:30.559 was shocked by that statement. He didn't show it. Instead, 840 00:48:30.639 --> 00:48:32.960 he nodded his head and wished me luck and told 841 00:48:33.000 --> 00:48:35.079 me he'd have some people look in on me when 842 00:48:35.119 --> 00:48:39.239 I got there. The next two weeks went quickly. I 843 00:48:39.280 --> 00:48:41.920 was at the end of my PTS sessions, which also 844 00:48:42.039 --> 00:48:44.039 meant I was coming to the end of my lessons 845 00:48:44.079 --> 00:48:48.280 at the dojo. Mister Uzawa helped me find a place 846 00:48:48.360 --> 00:48:50.920 to live by the school, and then we talked to 847 00:48:50.960 --> 00:48:54.760 a man named mister Akagi and made the necessary arrangements 848 00:48:54.760 --> 00:49:00.000 for me to study there. I intensified my conversational Japanese 849 00:49:00.159 --> 00:49:04.599 lessons and practiced every day with mister Uzawa. Before I left, 850 00:49:04.639 --> 00:49:07.239 he gave me a final exam in both my Thai 851 00:49:07.440 --> 00:49:11.280 and Kindo. He brought in some former top level students 852 00:49:11.280 --> 00:49:13.599 for a big sind off that left me bruised but 853 00:49:13.719 --> 00:49:17.880 feeling satisfied. Not the hospital, my brothers in arms threw 854 00:49:17.960 --> 00:49:21.199 me a party. We developed a real bond during my 855 00:49:21.360 --> 00:49:26.360 time there. Two days later, sixteen years, eight months and 856 00:49:26.480 --> 00:49:30.079 five days after I first reported for basic training, I 857 00:49:30.159 --> 00:49:34.400 was sitting in the Army HR office getting discharged. As 858 00:49:34.440 --> 00:49:36.719 I sat there waiting to be called, I reflected on 859 00:49:36.840 --> 00:49:41.639 my military career. I remembered ranger training the Green Beret 860 00:49:41.760 --> 00:49:45.639 in my application to Delta. Most people don't understand what 861 00:49:45.800 --> 00:49:49.280 Delta is. They don't know that Delta pulls from the 862 00:49:49.280 --> 00:49:54.719 best of all specops. Selectionists pulled from Seals, Green Berets, 863 00:49:54.960 --> 00:49:59.639 Marine recon and other elite forces. Only about fifteen percent 864 00:49:59.719 --> 00:50:02.719 make cut. It was the most difficult thing I had 865 00:50:02.760 --> 00:50:05.639 ever done, and I sat there thinking about how I'd 866 00:50:05.639 --> 00:50:08.719 gotten my degree and a commission. It all seemed like 867 00:50:08.760 --> 00:50:12.039 a pipe dream for a poor little boy from the Appalachians. 868 00:50:12.880 --> 00:50:17.519 Captain Tate, a voice broke through my reverie. In two hours, 869 00:50:17.559 --> 00:50:20.119 I would be a civilian, something I had never been 870 00:50:20.360 --> 00:50:24.920 in my entire adult life. The admin clerk made her 871 00:50:25.039 --> 00:50:28.039 pitch to get me to re enlist. She was followed 872 00:50:28.079 --> 00:50:31.559 by a Green Beret sergeant from the European Command. He 873 00:50:31.599 --> 00:50:33.559 could see that my mind was made up, so he 874 00:50:33.639 --> 00:50:37.960 thanked me and left it at that. Colonel Jones entered 875 00:50:37.960 --> 00:50:41.760 the room next, along with Lieutenant General Jackson Miles and 876 00:50:41.800 --> 00:50:45.360 a few more cadre that were carrying a bit certificate, 877 00:50:45.599 --> 00:50:48.480 a cake, and a plaque. It was a photo op 878 00:50:48.559 --> 00:50:51.360 that would be in the Army times and military times, 879 00:50:51.920 --> 00:50:54.480 while I fought back the emotions as I remembered all 880 00:50:54.519 --> 00:50:58.079 the great guys we had lost. My retirement check was 881 00:50:58.079 --> 00:51:02.800 scheduled to be deposited regularly into an online bank. All 882 00:51:02.800 --> 00:51:05.559 I had to do was collect my final paycheck in cash, 883 00:51:06.039 --> 00:51:10.280 and then I would be an official civilian. Part three 884 00:51:10.880 --> 00:51:16.679 a new chapter. I boarded JAL flight two nine for Osaka, Japan. 885 00:51:17.360 --> 00:51:20.079 I was a well traveled special operator going to live 886 00:51:20.119 --> 00:51:22.840 in a foreign country alone, without a team to back 887 00:51:22.920 --> 00:51:27.920 me up. Despite all my experience, it was scary. I 888 00:51:27.960 --> 00:51:29.920 settled in for the flight and I began to hear 889 00:51:30.000 --> 00:51:33.280 chatter in Japanese, and I tried to understand what was 890 00:51:33.320 --> 00:51:36.800 being said, but they were speaking so fast. I picked 891 00:51:36.880 --> 00:51:39.119 up a word here and there and made a mental 892 00:51:39.119 --> 00:51:42.280 note to work harder on my Japanese and settled on 893 00:51:42.320 --> 00:51:46.760 reading my English version of the Osaka newspaper. There were 894 00:51:46.800 --> 00:51:51.039 several interesting accounts of mysterious deaths in the mountainous area 895 00:51:51.159 --> 00:51:54.519 not far from where I would be studying. The deaths 896 00:51:54.559 --> 00:51:59.599 were attributed to animal attacks. The victims were allegedly members 897 00:51:59.639 --> 00:52:04.119 of the u Accusa, the Japanese mafia. A woman had 898 00:52:04.159 --> 00:52:06.880 boarded the plane and was now sitting center aisle for 899 00:52:07.199 --> 00:52:10.840 rows up from me. She was a slender and elegant woman, 900 00:52:11.000 --> 00:52:15.920 and her face had both European and Asian characteristics. She 901 00:52:16.039 --> 00:52:18.480 caught my eye because she was beautiful and because she 902 00:52:18.519 --> 00:52:22.480 had something stashed under her well tailored jacket. And when 903 00:52:22.519 --> 00:52:25.320 she stood up to put a bag in the overhead compartment, 904 00:52:25.679 --> 00:52:29.159 automatically keyed in on the bulge on her lower back. 905 00:52:29.639 --> 00:52:33.039 It was a weapon, I thought. I watched her for 906 00:52:33.079 --> 00:52:36.599 about an hour, and when she displayed no unusual behavior, 907 00:52:36.639 --> 00:52:40.119 I dismissed her as a sky marshall. Maybe it wasn't 908 00:52:40.119 --> 00:52:42.599 a weapon at all, maybe it was some sort of 909 00:52:42.639 --> 00:52:46.760 electronic device. After a while, I drifted off to sleep 910 00:52:46.800 --> 00:52:49.199 for a couple of hours, and when I woke up, 911 00:52:49.320 --> 00:52:52.440 I got up to find the bathroom. The woman wasn't 912 00:52:52.480 --> 00:52:55.239 in her seat, but as I passed by, I saw 913 00:52:55.280 --> 00:52:58.480 she was reading the same newspaper as me, only hers 914 00:52:58.559 --> 00:53:02.000 was in Japanese, and they of the strange deaths had 915 00:53:02.039 --> 00:53:06.800 been highlighted. My curiosity peaked, both for the woman and 916 00:53:06.840 --> 00:53:11.079 the newspaper story. I stayed in the facilities long enough 917 00:53:11.079 --> 00:53:14.199 to hear the door across me open and slide shut 918 00:53:14.400 --> 00:53:16.920 hoping it was her, and as I walked back to 919 00:53:17.000 --> 00:53:20.599 my seat, there was the sculpted goddess back in her seat. 920 00:53:21.119 --> 00:53:24.679 Pardon me, ma'am, I said, I'm learning Japanese and I 921 00:53:24.760 --> 00:53:28.239 notice you're reading the same story. For a second, she 922 00:53:28.320 --> 00:53:32.679 looked surprised, but then she smiled, Yes, isn't it curious? 923 00:53:32.880 --> 00:53:36.519 She said. I introduced myself and told her I was 924 00:53:36.559 --> 00:53:39.280 a retired soldier in that I was traveling to Japan 925 00:53:39.360 --> 00:53:44.559 to study martial arts. My name is akemi Estrata, she said, 926 00:53:44.920 --> 00:53:47.559 motioning for me to sit in the empty seat next 927 00:53:47.599 --> 00:53:51.039 to her. To my surprise, she knew to ask what 928 00:53:51.199 --> 00:53:55.320 my mos was. I told her I was in combat infantry. 929 00:53:55.960 --> 00:53:59.000 That wasn't a lie. I explained that I had been 930 00:53:59.000 --> 00:54:02.360 injured in an and nearly lost the use of my leg, 931 00:54:03.039 --> 00:54:07.239 and then after seventeen years, I decided to retire. How 932 00:54:07.280 --> 00:54:11.199 old are you, she asked, Almost thirty five. I told 933 00:54:11.239 --> 00:54:15.400 her you look younger than that. She said, well, thank you, 934 00:54:15.559 --> 00:54:18.360 I said, your English is perfect, but you have a 935 00:54:18.480 --> 00:54:22.599 unique accent. She explained that her father was a Cuban 936 00:54:22.639 --> 00:54:26.440 American who was in the US Air Force Intelligence. He 937 00:54:26.480 --> 00:54:30.719 had met her mother while stationed in Okinawa. She told 938 00:54:30.760 --> 00:54:32.960 me she had lived all over the world and spoke 939 00:54:33.000 --> 00:54:38.800 several languages fluently, including English, Spanish, Japanese, German, Arabic, and 940 00:54:38.960 --> 00:54:43.800 some Chinese. Well that's impressive, I said, and then told her, 941 00:54:44.000 --> 00:54:46.800 in my best Arabic that she was unique and beautiful, 942 00:54:47.280 --> 00:54:50.159 and she blushed. What line of work are you in, 943 00:54:50.400 --> 00:54:54.079 I asked, giving her a chance to recover, She told 944 00:54:54.159 --> 00:54:58.360 me that she did research for Interpol. Oh, I said, 945 00:54:58.840 --> 00:55:02.800 I thought you were an airmorl Marshall. She raised her eyebrows, 946 00:55:02.960 --> 00:55:06.840 looking surprised again. Why would you think that, she asked. 947 00:55:07.400 --> 00:55:09.559 I guess I thought you might be carrying a weapon, 948 00:55:09.679 --> 00:55:13.679 I said flatly. She changed the topic and I didn't 949 00:55:13.719 --> 00:55:19.960 push it. How many languages do you speak? She asked, English, Arabic, 950 00:55:20.199 --> 00:55:25.039 little Farcie also fluent. He'll billy, I said, he'll billy, 951 00:55:25.400 --> 00:55:29.639 she said, laughing, you mean like the Beverly Hillbillies. Well, 952 00:55:29.719 --> 00:55:33.320 I laughed to and explained where I came from. I 953 00:55:33.400 --> 00:55:36.000 pointed at the newspaper in her lap and asked if 954 00:55:36.039 --> 00:55:39.679 she was researching the strange deaths. She could tell that 955 00:55:39.760 --> 00:55:43.760 I'd brought her back into uncomfortable territory, and she nodded, 956 00:55:44.320 --> 00:55:47.840 just the names and connections of the victims for the database, 957 00:55:48.320 --> 00:55:52.280 she said dismissively. I knew there was more to her story. 958 00:55:53.039 --> 00:55:55.840 I glanced at the newspaper and the information about how 959 00:55:55.840 --> 00:56:01.039 the victims died. She had highlighted it twice. Nodded anyway. 960 00:56:02.239 --> 00:56:05.079 It was after midnight, so I excused myself and I 961 00:56:05.119 --> 00:56:07.199 told her I didn't want to wear out my welcome. 962 00:56:07.880 --> 00:56:09.920 I stood up asked if there was any way I 963 00:56:10.039 --> 00:56:13.719 might see her sometime. She smiled and wrote down the 964 00:56:13.760 --> 00:56:16.159 address and a phone number of the office where she 965 00:56:16.199 --> 00:56:19.760 would be working, and then she handed it to me. Well, 966 00:56:19.800 --> 00:56:21.840 I said good night, and I went back to my seat, 967 00:56:21.920 --> 00:56:24.559 knowing I wouldn't be able to sleep again after talking 968 00:56:24.599 --> 00:56:27.719 with her. Instead, I looked up the meaning of a 969 00:56:27.800 --> 00:56:32.480 Kimi bright and beautiful. The Internet told me it was 970 00:56:32.519 --> 00:56:39.400 fitting Part four. The arrival. At six thirty hours, I 971 00:56:39.440 --> 00:56:43.280 awoke to the sound and smell a flight attendant serving breakfast. 972 00:56:43.960 --> 00:56:46.639 When my vision cleared, I saw a Kimmi walking back 973 00:56:46.639 --> 00:56:49.480 to her seat and toasted her with my coffee cup. 974 00:56:50.280 --> 00:56:53.679 She stepped over to me, smiling again. How did you sleep, 975 00:56:53.960 --> 00:56:57.760 she asked, Not too well, I said, I kept thinking 976 00:56:57.800 --> 00:57:01.880 about something bright and beautiful. Her cheeks warmed to a 977 00:57:02.000 --> 00:57:05.039 rosy pink. She was about to respond when the seat 978 00:57:05.039 --> 00:57:09.199 belt announcement rang through the cabin. See you later, she said, 979 00:57:09.239 --> 00:57:12.559 with a smile. I smiled too, and she had gotten 980 00:57:12.599 --> 00:57:16.599 inside my head. During the stampede. To get off the 981 00:57:16.599 --> 00:57:20.760 plane and into immigration and customs, I separated from Akimi. 982 00:57:21.480 --> 00:57:24.679 She didn't go through the normal lines. Instead, she was 983 00:57:24.760 --> 00:57:27.360 met by a Japanese man who ushered her to a 984 00:57:27.400 --> 00:57:30.760 shorter line. I could barely see her, but we were 985 00:57:30.960 --> 00:57:35.079 able to exchange a quick wave. I handed my passport 986 00:57:35.239 --> 00:57:40.079 military ID to the immigration agent. Welcome to Japan, Captain Tate, 987 00:57:40.280 --> 00:57:43.079 he said, and then asked the purpose of my visit. 988 00:57:43.920 --> 00:57:46.320 I told him of my dream to study martial arts 989 00:57:46.360 --> 00:57:50.440 in Japan. Well, he smiled, and then in Japanese wished 990 00:57:50.480 --> 00:57:55.400 me save travels. If the luggage carousel, I scanned for Akimi, 991 00:57:55.719 --> 00:57:58.599 but I didn't see her. A couple of minutes later, 992 00:57:58.639 --> 00:58:01.320 when I exited the baggage claim, I found a young 993 00:58:01.440 --> 00:58:04.159 Japanese man holding a sign with my name on it, 994 00:58:04.239 --> 00:58:08.039 waiting to take me to my new home. He was goro. 995 00:58:08.800 --> 00:58:14.280 It meant enthusiasm and information. Boy was that right. He 996 00:58:14.320 --> 00:58:17.719 spoke English and seemed truly excited to see me, and 997 00:58:17.760 --> 00:58:20.199 he told me he'd heard that I was a great warrior. 998 00:58:20.960 --> 00:58:23.679 I'm just a soldier, young man, I told him, just 999 00:58:23.760 --> 00:58:28.280 a soldier. We traveled for three hours through heavy traffic 1000 00:58:28.320 --> 00:58:31.039 in his tiny car to reach my landlord and sign 1001 00:58:31.079 --> 00:58:34.079 the lease. I'm five foot ten and one hundred and 1002 00:58:34.119 --> 00:58:38.920 eighty eight pounds felt like a sardine. To distract myself, 1003 00:58:38.960 --> 00:58:42.079 I mentioned the mysterious deaths I read about in the news. 1004 00:58:43.159 --> 00:58:47.400 Some say it's a kappa, Goro said, an evil water spirit. 1005 00:58:48.239 --> 00:58:52.519 Do the police have any suspects, I ask, No suspects, 1006 00:58:52.639 --> 00:58:56.519 he said, They are Yukuza. The police will not interfere, 1007 00:58:57.519 --> 00:59:02.079 or the yakuza common here, I asked. Goro shrugged. You 1008 00:59:02.360 --> 00:59:06.280 only know who the heads of the yakuza are, he explained. 1009 00:59:06.519 --> 00:59:09.239 You don't know who the lesser members are, or the 1010 00:59:09.280 --> 00:59:12.840 people who they call enemies. He said, and then went 1011 00:59:12.920 --> 00:59:15.159 to tell me how it was not good to discuss 1012 00:59:15.199 --> 00:59:20.119 the subject because it makes people nervous. Finally, we rounded 1013 00:59:20.159 --> 00:59:22.960 a corner and turned into a narrow road with a 1014 00:59:23.079 --> 00:59:27.840 row of small traditional Japanese cottages. A man named mister 1015 00:59:27.920 --> 00:59:31.639 Kuu was waiting out front when we pulled up. He 1016 00:59:31.760 --> 00:59:34.599 welcomed me and bowed with his hands pressed together at 1017 00:59:34.599 --> 00:59:38.119 his chest. He spoke very little English, but between my 1018 00:59:38.280 --> 00:59:42.039 Japanese and goros English, we understood each other well enough 1019 00:59:42.039 --> 00:59:46.719 to get the least signed. The cottage was modestly furnished, 1020 00:59:46.760 --> 00:59:50.800 with a loft bedroom and a sleeper sofa. We unloaded 1021 00:59:50.800 --> 00:59:53.559 my bags and went to the Bushido school where I 1022 00:59:53.599 --> 00:59:57.960 would be studying. We drove mostly straight uphill for fifteen 1023 00:59:58.000 --> 01:00:00.960 minutes before we came to a huge ar gate and 1024 01:00:01.039 --> 01:00:03.920 a pebble drive that led into a circle surrounding a 1025 01:00:04.000 --> 01:00:08.679 huge fountain. We must stop and bless the fountain, Goro said, 1026 01:00:08.719 --> 01:00:12.119 as he exited the car. He faced the fountain and 1027 01:00:12.199 --> 01:00:14.800 made a prayer gesture with his hands to his chin. 1028 01:00:15.679 --> 01:00:19.760 Being a Southern Baptist boy, I loosely emulated his actions. 1029 01:00:20.760 --> 01:00:23.679 At the porch. We pulled off our shoes and bowed 1030 01:00:23.719 --> 01:00:27.639 and entered the school. Master Akigi was waiting for me. 1031 01:00:28.559 --> 01:00:33.079 He smiled and extended his hand Welcome, Gokuto harrison tate 1032 01:00:33.719 --> 01:00:37.880 Gakudo means pupil. I gave a respectful bow and shook 1033 01:00:37.880 --> 01:00:41.320 his hand, and then followed him He invited me to 1034 01:00:41.400 --> 01:00:44.760 a traditional Japanese dinner and asked me questions about my 1035 01:00:44.880 --> 01:00:49.320 military service and injuries. Seeming impressed, Where did you learn 1036 01:00:49.360 --> 01:00:52.800 to speak English? I asked him. When I served in 1037 01:00:52.840 --> 01:00:56.800 the Japanese Army, I worked with Americans stationed in Okinawa, 1038 01:00:56.960 --> 01:01:00.360 he said. I motioned with my thumb towards the door 1039 01:01:00.400 --> 01:01:03.360 behind me where Goro had gone, and mentioned that he 1040 01:01:03.440 --> 01:01:08.719 was a good employee. Yes, he is a good kabuko master, Akagi, 1041 01:01:08.840 --> 01:01:13.880 said a houseboy. The next morning, Goro drove us back 1042 01:01:13.880 --> 01:01:17.039 to Osaka so I could get a vehicle. What are 1043 01:01:17.079 --> 01:01:20.360 the car dealers like here, I asked, thinking that where 1044 01:01:20.400 --> 01:01:23.840 I came from. The answer was hit or Miss dealers, 1045 01:01:24.039 --> 01:01:27.880 He asked, No, the school has already arranged a vehicle. 1046 01:01:28.320 --> 01:01:31.960 Apparently my car had already been selected for me. Well, 1047 01:01:32.000 --> 01:01:35.039 what if I don't like it, I asked, If you 1048 01:01:35.039 --> 01:01:40.000 don't take the car, it would be disrespectful for Shadoshi Shadoshi, 1049 01:01:40.239 --> 01:01:45.480 I asked the owner of the school, mister Sumiyoshi. Goro said. 1050 01:01:47.000 --> 01:01:49.559 We arrived at a small building with a vehicle sitting 1051 01:01:49.559 --> 01:01:52.280 on the sidewalk in front of it, and inside we 1052 01:01:52.280 --> 01:01:54.639 were greeted by a petit woman who handed me a 1053 01:01:54.679 --> 01:01:57.960 set of keys. Goro said that he had to get 1054 01:01:58.000 --> 01:02:00.760 back to the school, but that he would see me later. 1055 01:02:02.000 --> 01:02:03.679 When I got back to my new house in my 1056 01:02:03.760 --> 01:02:07.480 new car, I was exhausted. Class began at seven hundred 1057 01:02:07.559 --> 01:02:10.519 the next morning. I knew I needed to get to bed, 1058 01:02:10.639 --> 01:02:14.960 but I couldn't sleep. It was Akimi's fault again. I 1059 01:02:15.039 --> 01:02:18.000 decided to drive by her office in hopes of seeing her. 1060 01:02:18.760 --> 01:02:22.559 After thirty minute driving, another thirty minute attempt to find parking, 1061 01:02:22.960 --> 01:02:25.480 I entered the plaza, only to find that it was 1062 01:02:25.519 --> 01:02:33.719 a PSIA Public Security Intelligence Agencies. Entry was restricted. I 1063 01:02:33.800 --> 01:02:37.119 pressed the buzzer and a voice responded in what I 1064 01:02:37.159 --> 01:02:41.199 guessed was may I help you in Japanese. My name 1065 01:02:41.320 --> 01:02:44.760 is Harrison Tate. I said in English, I'm hoping to 1066 01:02:44.760 --> 01:02:48.639 get a message to Akimi estrata sir. If you give 1067 01:02:48.719 --> 01:02:51.679 us your message, we will determine what to do with it. 1068 01:02:51.840 --> 01:02:56.599 The voice responded in excellent English. It was an interesting way, 1069 01:02:56.679 --> 01:03:00.519 I thought of. Akimi doesn't work here, so I wrote 1070 01:03:00.519 --> 01:03:02.760 a message on a pad of paper in a box 1071 01:03:02.800 --> 01:03:05.280 on the wall next to the buzzer and told her 1072 01:03:05.280 --> 01:03:07.599 I had settled in and that I hoped that she 1073 01:03:07.800 --> 01:03:11.039 was well. Then I added my number and put the 1074 01:03:11.079 --> 01:03:14.639 note in the box and I left. As I drove 1075 01:03:14.719 --> 01:03:17.039 up the winding mountain road back to my new home, 1076 01:03:17.119 --> 01:03:20.760 the setting sun cast long shadows along the road and 1077 01:03:20.800 --> 01:03:26.159 across the forest. It reminded me of the Appalachians. By 1078 01:03:26.199 --> 01:03:28.599 the time I arrived, I was ready for a shower 1079 01:03:28.679 --> 01:03:31.800 in bed. Before turning in, I switched on the old 1080 01:03:31.800 --> 01:03:35.199 television set and found a news program. Thankful there were 1081 01:03:35.320 --> 01:03:40.760 English subtitles. The anchor was talking about another mysterious death. 1082 01:03:41.239 --> 01:03:46.440 This one was only a few kilometers away. Part five 1083 01:03:46.599 --> 01:03:51.159 the Journey. I slept like a rock until five thirty hours. 1084 01:03:51.599 --> 01:03:54.719 I quickly rummaged through my cupboards and found a variety 1085 01:03:54.760 --> 01:03:57.840 of foods that I wasn't quite sure about, But there 1086 01:03:57.880 --> 01:04:00.000 was some tea that looked familiar, and I managed to 1087 01:04:00.119 --> 01:04:04.599 whip up some egg noodles and Japanese bacon. I arrived 1088 01:04:04.599 --> 01:04:07.559 at the school an hour later. At the fountain, I 1089 01:04:07.599 --> 01:04:10.880 stopped and bowed, and then sat down and meditated for 1090 01:04:10.920 --> 01:04:15.119 a few minutes before warming up stretching my muscles. At 1091 01:04:15.320 --> 01:04:18.360 six fifty five hours, the doors of the school opened 1092 01:04:18.679 --> 01:04:21.760 and Goro emerged to tell me that Master Rikagi was 1093 01:04:21.800 --> 01:04:25.559 ready for me. I was fitted for the traditional karate 1094 01:04:25.679 --> 01:04:30.119 uniform and issued protective equipment, a bamboo practiced sword called 1095 01:04:30.159 --> 01:04:33.719 a shinai and an oak sword called a boken. A 1096 01:04:33.760 --> 01:04:38.159 few minutes later, I was introduced to my sense, Jonah Yamamato. 1097 01:04:39.480 --> 01:04:41.719 We spent the morning going over the basics, and then 1098 01:04:41.880 --> 01:04:45.039 stopped for a light ludch of fish and rice. My 1099 01:04:45.159 --> 01:04:48.719 sense whose name means God's Grace, put his food down 1100 01:04:48.800 --> 01:04:53.559 and nodded, you have talent gakuto, he said about in 1101 01:04:53.679 --> 01:04:57.400 humility and thanked him. Now we go to the next level, 1102 01:04:57.480 --> 01:05:00.360 he said. By the end of the day, I was 1103 01:05:00.400 --> 01:05:03.360 ready to go home and crash, knowing that tomorrow I 1104 01:05:03.400 --> 01:05:07.039 would be moving on to a more difficult class. When 1105 01:05:07.039 --> 01:05:09.199 I got in my car, I saw a missed call 1106 01:05:09.360 --> 01:05:12.239 and a voice message. I played the message and heard 1107 01:05:12.239 --> 01:05:15.840 a Kimi's voice thanking me for stopping by and asking 1108 01:05:15.880 --> 01:05:19.960 me to call her after seven pm. At seven oh five, 1109 01:05:20.039 --> 01:05:22.920 I was dialing a Kimi. The pleasant sound of her 1110 01:05:23.000 --> 01:05:28.159 voice caused me to pause for a second before answering, Hello, Harry. Hello, 1111 01:05:28.559 --> 01:05:33.239 She said, yes Hi, I said, untangling my tongue. It's 1112 01:05:33.280 --> 01:05:36.679 good to hear your voice. She asked about my first day, 1113 01:05:36.719 --> 01:05:39.719 and I told her that I was exhausted. I'm looking 1114 01:05:39.719 --> 01:05:43.079 forward to seeing you at your school. She said, well, 1115 01:05:43.119 --> 01:05:46.280 I was caught off guard. I was delighted too. I 1116 01:05:46.320 --> 01:05:50.440 wanted to see her great. I said, what about this weekend? 1117 01:05:51.719 --> 01:05:55.039 We made plans, and she excused herself to go work out. 1118 01:05:55.639 --> 01:05:57.920 I hung up the phone and I made dinner from 1119 01:05:57.960 --> 01:06:00.360 the cabinet full of food I wasn't too sure about, 1120 01:06:00.679 --> 01:06:03.599 and watched the news for a few minutes. There was 1121 01:06:03.679 --> 01:06:07.719 yet another story about a mysterious death. Some of them 1122 01:06:07.760 --> 01:06:12.000 had taken place close to me. Too close. I had 1123 01:06:12.000 --> 01:06:15.000 a hard time sleeping that night. I couldn't stop thinking 1124 01:06:15.039 --> 01:06:18.920 about a Kimi. When I finally dozed off, I dreamed 1125 01:06:18.960 --> 01:06:23.000 about my father and his famous booger incident. At four 1126 01:06:23.199 --> 01:06:26.800 fifteen hours, I was abruptly awakened by a shrill cry 1127 01:06:27.159 --> 01:06:29.920 that sounded like a screech owl blowing a train whistle. 1128 01:06:30.880 --> 01:06:34.119 Instinct took over, and I grabbed the oak boken next 1129 01:06:34.119 --> 01:06:37.599 to my bed and assumed a defensive posture, but silence 1130 01:06:37.639 --> 01:06:41.559 filled the room around me. After looking around for a while, 1131 01:06:41.639 --> 01:06:45.039 I went back to bed. Later that morning, at the dojo, 1132 01:06:45.199 --> 01:06:48.000 I told my sense about the noise that I had heard. 1133 01:06:48.719 --> 01:06:52.920 He was interested and asked several questions, Can you describe it? 1134 01:06:53.199 --> 01:06:56.880 What was the duration? Did it start high or go low? 1135 01:06:57.400 --> 01:07:00.960 Or did it start low and go high? I answered 1136 01:07:00.960 --> 01:07:03.440 his questions and asked if he had heard it himself. 1137 01:07:03.800 --> 01:07:07.519 He shook his head. I'm only curious. Come, let's train, 1138 01:07:07.719 --> 01:07:11.639 he said, since they taught me all the sword strikes 1139 01:07:11.760 --> 01:07:15.079 I had learned from mister Uzawa in Germany, but with 1140 01:07:15.199 --> 01:07:18.800 much more precision and strength. At the end of the day, 1141 01:07:18.800 --> 01:07:21.480 he took me to a room, and before opening the door, 1142 01:07:21.519 --> 01:07:25.800 he paused, this is a privilege, he said, speak of 1143 01:07:25.840 --> 01:07:29.159 it to no one. I nodded and bowed. He opened 1144 01:07:29.159 --> 01:07:31.639 the door to reveal a room full of ancient swords 1145 01:07:31.639 --> 01:07:36.239 and samurai armor. There were murals and drawings of samurais 1146 01:07:36.280 --> 01:07:40.039 and ninjas in battle, sometimes with each other and sometimes 1147 01:07:40.079 --> 01:07:45.000 with strange creatures. I was suddenly reminded of Tiger Tommy's mural. 1148 01:07:46.159 --> 01:07:48.880 I feasted my eyes on the mural and weaponry around 1149 01:07:48.880 --> 01:07:54.000 me for several long minutes before Sinsey got my attention again. Gakuto, 1150 01:07:54.320 --> 01:07:57.800 Tomorrow you will learn some advanced techniques, and then you 1151 01:07:57.840 --> 01:08:02.079 will face a test, umble and honored about to him, 1152 01:08:02.440 --> 01:08:05.800 it is not your proficiency, but your humble spirit that 1153 01:08:05.880 --> 01:08:09.199 tells me you are right for this, he said. He 1154 01:08:09.280 --> 01:08:12.880 handed me some scrolls and told me to study them. Now, 1155 01:08:13.079 --> 01:08:16.119 go purify your body and mind, and stay in your 1156 01:08:16.159 --> 01:08:19.600 home this night. It was a curious thing to say, 1157 01:08:19.720 --> 01:08:22.520 but I agreed that I would, and I left. And 1158 01:08:22.560 --> 01:08:24.640 when I got in my car, I checked my phone. 1159 01:08:25.000 --> 01:08:28.960 There were no miscalls from Akimi at home. I spent 1160 01:08:29.119 --> 01:08:32.960 hours going over the scrolls. One of them contained an 1161 01:08:33.039 --> 01:08:35.760 image of a creature I had seen in the mural. 1162 01:08:36.520 --> 01:08:40.119 It had snake like eyes. Another image was of a 1163 01:08:40.119 --> 01:08:43.800 brilliant blue sword. I studied the scrolls as long as 1164 01:08:43.840 --> 01:08:46.680 my eyes would stay open, and then decided to turn in. 1165 01:08:47.680 --> 01:08:50.840 Before I went to sleep, I sent Akimi a text 1166 01:08:51.000 --> 01:08:55.359 wishing her a peaceful night. At three five hours, I 1167 01:08:55.439 --> 01:08:59.000 woke to the sound of gunfire, five or six double taps, 1168 01:08:59.039 --> 01:09:02.760 followed by two full auto bursts that echoed down the 1169 01:09:02.840 --> 01:09:05.920 valley from a distance. It was the first time I 1170 01:09:05.960 --> 01:09:09.680 had heard gunfire in over four months. Japan was not 1171 01:09:09.760 --> 01:09:14.079 a country famous for firearms, and it was unusual. At 1172 01:09:14.359 --> 01:09:16.880 six fifteen hours, I went to my car and saw 1173 01:09:16.920 --> 01:09:20.039 my neighbor changing out dozens of candles around her house. 1174 01:09:20.760 --> 01:09:23.159 I wanted to ask her about the strange events of 1175 01:09:23.199 --> 01:09:26.439 the last two nights, but my limited Japanese kept me 1176 01:09:26.479 --> 01:09:30.760 from approaching the subject. I checked my phone again, no 1177 01:09:30.840 --> 01:09:35.159 word from Akimi. When I saw Goro, I told him 1178 01:09:35.319 --> 01:09:38.079 that I wanted to talk to him after training, and 1179 01:09:38.119 --> 01:09:40.239 we arranged to meet at my car at the end 1180 01:09:40.319 --> 01:09:43.079 of the day, and I went inside to find Sinse 1181 01:09:43.319 --> 01:09:46.960 waiting for me in full combat gear. I sued it 1182 01:09:47.079 --> 01:09:49.840 up too, and we squared off for some practice strikes. 1183 01:09:50.399 --> 01:09:54.239 It was amazing how fast and fluid he was. We 1184 01:09:54.279 --> 01:09:57.279 spent the morning sparring and I learned to defend and 1185 01:09:57.399 --> 01:10:00.479 counter strike, and during lunch I told her I'm about 1186 01:10:00.520 --> 01:10:04.760 hearing gunfire. He looked at me seriously and asked if 1187 01:10:04.800 --> 01:10:07.640 I was sure. Well, I've heard enough gunfire in the 1188 01:10:07.680 --> 01:10:11.520 military to recognize the sound, I assured him. Could it 1189 01:10:11.640 --> 01:10:15.760 have been fireworks, he asked. I shook my head, and 1190 01:10:15.800 --> 01:10:18.640 he suggested that it was probably a drug gang firing 1191 01:10:18.680 --> 01:10:23.439 their illegal weapons. And we continued our lessons. Sinsey would 1192 01:10:23.479 --> 01:10:26.000 push me to attack him and then kick my ass, 1193 01:10:26.720 --> 01:10:30.359 repeat after repeat, and after two hours of this. He 1194 01:10:30.439 --> 01:10:33.479 told me to stop and stand completely still and control 1195 01:10:33.560 --> 01:10:37.319 my breathing. Put yourself in a meditative state where your 1196 01:10:37.359 --> 01:10:39.840 mind can see what you are doing while you do it. 1197 01:10:39.920 --> 01:10:43.279 He said. I was always good at slowing my breathing 1198 01:10:43.319 --> 01:10:47.119 down during water exercises. I once held my breath for 1199 01:10:47.199 --> 01:10:50.840 over three minutes. I began to breathe slowly and rained 1200 01:10:50.840 --> 01:10:54.800 in my thoughts. With your mind's eyes, see every move 1201 01:10:54.920 --> 01:10:58.720 you make, Sinsey said. I had never had an outer 1202 01:10:58.840 --> 01:11:02.079 body experience, but I found myself wondering if this was 1203 01:11:02.119 --> 01:11:07.239 how it felt. Open your eyes, Gakuto, since snapped attack me. 1204 01:11:07.479 --> 01:11:11.000 Watch every move with your mind. I started moving in 1205 01:11:11.000 --> 01:11:14.079 a fluid manner like my sense, and was now on 1206 01:11:14.199 --> 01:11:19.680 the attack. My blocking and counter attacks were sharper and faster. Now, 1207 01:11:19.800 --> 01:11:23.119 go to a quiet spot and prepare yourself, Sinsey said. 1208 01:11:23.760 --> 01:11:28.239 Visualize your moves and synchronize your mind and body. After 1209 01:11:28.239 --> 01:11:31.000 thirty minutes, I discovered that my thoughts and senses were 1210 01:11:31.000 --> 01:11:35.920 suddenly heightened. Then I heard Sinse's voice. Gakuto, get ready, 1211 01:11:36.039 --> 01:11:38.560 he said. Stand in the center of the room and 1212 01:11:38.600 --> 01:11:42.840 put yourself at ease. The side door opened and in 1213 01:11:43.079 --> 01:11:48.239 walked Master Akagi. In full samurai dress day, he said, 1214 01:11:48.319 --> 01:11:52.399 signifying the moment of contact. He raised his shine eye 1215 01:11:52.520 --> 01:11:55.119 and came at me like lightning, and I blocked his 1216 01:11:55.119 --> 01:11:57.239 first blow, and he came at me with two more. 1217 01:11:57.680 --> 01:12:01.560 See with your mind's eye, he said. I slowed my 1218 01:12:01.600 --> 01:12:04.960 thoughts and breathed deeply, and on his next attack, I 1219 01:12:05.000 --> 01:12:08.760 blocked both strikes. He began to approach me with fluid 1220 01:12:08.840 --> 01:12:12.680 lateral foot movements while striking at opposite angles. I was 1221 01:12:12.720 --> 01:12:16.399 in complete defensive mode, but I did not retreat. I 1222 01:12:16.479 --> 01:12:20.479 began to emulate Master Akagi's moves. My mind's eye had 1223 01:12:20.479 --> 01:12:23.640 photographed each action, and I began to counter with these 1224 01:12:23.680 --> 01:12:26.640 same moves and strikes. And I landed a blow to 1225 01:12:26.720 --> 01:12:30.119 his shoulder, making him pause and stare at me stone face. 1226 01:12:30.800 --> 01:12:35.720 Oh oh, I thought. His sober look turned into a smile, 1227 01:12:35.880 --> 01:12:40.039 and he attacked again. He unleashed the sinpoo on me 1228 01:12:40.399 --> 01:12:44.039 the world when I blocked several strikes as he spun 1229 01:12:44.119 --> 01:12:47.079 and struck and then knelt and struck again, And finally 1230 01:12:47.119 --> 01:12:49.359 he laid back like he was doing a limbo, and 1231 01:12:49.399 --> 01:12:52.960 he struck me with an attack across my ribs. The 1232 01:12:53.000 --> 01:12:57.560 sword was only bamboo, but it hurt enough, he finally said. 1233 01:12:58.640 --> 01:13:01.319 I had a bewildered look of someone who had just 1234 01:13:01.359 --> 01:13:05.520 gotten their ass kicked. When my sense smiled at me, Shiku, 1235 01:13:05.760 --> 01:13:10.640 he said, attention, your title is no longer Goekuto. You 1236 01:13:10.800 --> 01:13:14.359 are now Oshigo. For the first time in the history 1237 01:13:14.399 --> 01:13:17.880 of our school, we are bestowing this title to someone 1238 01:13:18.000 --> 01:13:21.800 in such short time. He presented me with two bundles. 1239 01:13:22.079 --> 01:13:25.840 I looked at Master Akagi, who nodded. The first bundle 1240 01:13:25.920 --> 01:13:31.159 held a magnificent katana, the second held an equally impressive tantu. 1241 01:13:31.680 --> 01:13:34.119 I dropped my head and felt my eyes begin to 1242 01:13:34.159 --> 01:13:38.720 tear up. Harry, hold your head high, Master Akagi said, 1243 01:13:38.840 --> 01:13:42.680 calling me by my first name. You have Musho Rai, 1244 01:13:43.079 --> 01:13:46.960 a warrior spirit. Now you will be welcomed as a 1245 01:13:47.000 --> 01:13:50.920 part of the family. My sinse commented that he and 1246 01:13:51.039 --> 01:13:54.399 Master Akagi saw my brilliance on the first day, but 1247 01:13:54.439 --> 01:13:57.399 they had no idea that I would progress so fast. 1248 01:13:58.000 --> 01:14:00.600 They both told me to enjoy my weekend off, but 1249 01:14:00.640 --> 01:14:07.000 to keep studying the scrolls. Part sixth The Awakening. Goro 1250 01:14:07.199 --> 01:14:10.960 was waiting for me with a big smile on his face. Congratulations, 1251 01:14:11.079 --> 01:14:14.760 he said. I thanked him, but not wanting to waste time. 1252 01:14:14.840 --> 01:14:18.880 I explained the gunfire heard the night before. I asked 1253 01:14:18.920 --> 01:14:21.720 for his help translating to my neighbor, and he agreed, 1254 01:14:22.079 --> 01:14:24.159 And when I jumped into the car, I checked my 1255 01:14:24.199 --> 01:14:28.600 phone again, happy to see a message from Akimi. Sorry 1256 01:14:28.840 --> 01:14:33.319 worked late, thinking of you, she wrote. Goro followed me 1257 01:14:33.439 --> 01:14:36.279 in his car to my house and we parked and 1258 01:14:36.439 --> 01:14:39.920 walked to my neighbor's door and knocked a slight. Elderly 1259 01:14:40.000 --> 01:14:43.439 woman answered the door, and Goro made the introductions for us. 1260 01:14:44.199 --> 01:14:47.479 Her name was miss Hatachi. She was a widow who 1261 01:14:47.479 --> 01:14:50.520 had lived there for more than twenty years. She told 1262 01:14:50.520 --> 01:14:52.880 Goro she was happy to meet me, and I told 1263 01:14:52.880 --> 01:14:55.479 her in my best Japanese that I was a good 1264 01:14:55.520 --> 01:14:58.159 neighbor who she could call on any time for help, 1265 01:14:58.600 --> 01:15:02.600 and she smiled and bowed. Goro asked if she heard 1266 01:15:02.640 --> 01:15:06.279 the strange sounds or gunfry over the past week. She 1267 01:15:06.359 --> 01:15:09.239 looked concerned, but she shook her head, and when I 1268 01:15:09.279 --> 01:15:12.520 tried to describe and emulate the sound, she became frightened. 1269 01:15:13.560 --> 01:15:17.319 I tried to apologize, and Goro asked her what was wrong. 1270 01:15:18.319 --> 01:15:20.760 She explained that the people who grew up in this 1271 01:15:20.880 --> 01:15:26.279 area always spoke of the mutsichi, the water spirits. That 1272 01:15:26.439 --> 01:15:30.119 was why she kept so many candles outside. I gave 1273 01:15:30.159 --> 01:15:32.079 her my phone number and asked her to call me 1274 01:15:32.119 --> 01:15:35.159 if she ever had a problem. She grasped my hand 1275 01:15:35.199 --> 01:15:39.039 and graciously bowed. As Goro and I walked back to 1276 01:15:39.119 --> 01:15:42.319 our cars. He looked at me and whispered, she's talking 1277 01:15:42.359 --> 01:15:46.479 about the Kappa, he said. I hesitated, wanting to show 1278 01:15:46.560 --> 01:15:49.840 him something, but not sure if I should. If you 1279 01:15:49.920 --> 01:15:52.479 tell a soul what I'm about to show you, you'll 1280 01:15:52.520 --> 01:15:57.039 regret it, I said. He nodded eagerly. I let him 1281 01:15:57.039 --> 01:15:59.800 inside my house and showed him the scrolls, skipping the 1282 01:16:00.000 --> 01:16:04.560 image of the creature inside Kappa. He explained, and then 1283 01:16:04.640 --> 01:16:07.159 told me it was an evil water demon that could 1284 01:16:07.199 --> 01:16:11.159 be controlled by a human master. That night, I studied 1285 01:16:11.159 --> 01:16:14.720 the scrolls again, looking closely at the unusual blue sword 1286 01:16:14.800 --> 01:16:17.720 held by the samurai who fought the creature, and then 1287 01:16:17.760 --> 01:16:21.520 I called a kimi. To my surprise, she answered, and 1288 01:16:21.560 --> 01:16:24.319 I told her right away about my new titles. She 1289 01:16:24.479 --> 01:16:27.960 was silent for a few seconds. Hello, I said into 1290 01:16:28.000 --> 01:16:31.600 the phone. I am surprised to hear that a foreigner 1291 01:16:31.680 --> 01:16:35.199 has earned that title so quickly, not knowing what else 1292 01:16:35.239 --> 01:16:38.000 to say, I offered, can we have dinner tomorrow night? 1293 01:16:38.960 --> 01:16:41.439 We agreed to meet the next night at a restaurant 1294 01:16:41.479 --> 01:16:44.640 by the park in Osaka, chatted for a few minutes 1295 01:16:44.680 --> 01:16:47.880 and then said good night. The next day, I left 1296 01:16:47.880 --> 01:16:51.800 for Osaka wearing my best dressed casual clothes, and when 1297 01:16:51.840 --> 01:16:54.640 I entered the restaurant a few minutes early, Akimi was 1298 01:16:54.680 --> 01:16:58.600 standing there dressed like a movie star. We greeted each 1299 01:16:58.600 --> 01:17:00.600 other with a hug that neither of us seemed to 1300 01:17:00.600 --> 01:17:03.319 want to end, and when the host dis greeted us, 1301 01:17:03.359 --> 01:17:06.880 we reluctantly let go and went to our table. Tell 1302 01:17:06.920 --> 01:17:10.000 me more about yourself, I said. As we sat down. 1303 01:17:11.000 --> 01:17:14.279 Akemi was twenty eight. She told me she had been 1304 01:17:14.479 --> 01:17:18.840 recruited by Terpole from her cyber and multi lingual skills. 1305 01:17:19.560 --> 01:17:22.359 When we both relaxed a little, I learned she'd only 1306 01:17:22.399 --> 01:17:25.560 had one serious relationship and it did not end well. 1307 01:17:26.560 --> 01:17:29.239 Her parents lived in Texas, and she had an older 1308 01:17:29.279 --> 01:17:32.439 brother who was a pilot in the Air Force. And 1309 01:17:32.520 --> 01:17:35.159 after a while I confessed to her that I had 1310 01:17:35.199 --> 01:17:39.159 been a Delta team member. I'm not surprised, she said, 1311 01:17:39.920 --> 01:17:42.880 you probably already knew, I said, with a laugh. And 1312 01:17:43.000 --> 01:17:47.199 she laughed too. After dinner, she invited me for another 1313 01:17:47.279 --> 01:17:51.159 drink at her apartment. So are you a Cowboys fan? 1314 01:17:51.560 --> 01:17:54.600 I asked her as I looked around the frame pictures 1315 01:17:54.600 --> 01:17:58.439 of her friends and family back home. Yes, suh, she 1316 01:17:58.640 --> 01:18:02.920 responded with her best Texas accent. While I sat on 1317 01:18:02.960 --> 01:18:05.079 the sofa, she made us a drink and turned on 1318 01:18:05.119 --> 01:18:08.800 the television. I remember a movie playing, but neither of 1319 01:18:08.880 --> 01:18:13.119 us was watching it. Our faces were locked together within seconds. 1320 01:18:14.039 --> 01:18:16.960 Just as the night was progressing, her phone started to ring. 1321 01:18:17.520 --> 01:18:20.840 She groaned and answered it, and then looked worried. She 1322 01:18:20.920 --> 01:18:23.319 spoke urgently to the person on the other end and 1323 01:18:23.359 --> 01:18:27.680 then hung up. Harry, I have to go, she said apologetically. 1324 01:18:28.720 --> 01:18:30.680 I must have looked like a kid who woke up 1325 01:18:30.680 --> 01:18:34.000 on Christmas morning to find an empty stocking, but I 1326 01:18:34.000 --> 01:18:38.079 could respect that her work took precedence. I'll call you tomorrow, 1327 01:18:38.239 --> 01:18:41.239 she promised. A few minutes later, at her car door, 1328 01:18:42.760 --> 01:18:45.319 I kissed her goodbye and watched as she drove away 1329 01:18:45.479 --> 01:18:49.039 and got in my own car. My drive home was beautiful. 1330 01:18:49.520 --> 01:18:52.319 The sky was clear and starry, and I was close 1331 01:18:52.359 --> 01:18:54.520 to my place when I saw the first light over 1332 01:18:54.560 --> 01:18:58.239 the mountain. As I got closer, I decided it must 1333 01:18:58.239 --> 01:19:01.319 have been a helicopter using a spot, and by the 1334 01:19:01.319 --> 01:19:03.920 time I reached my turn off, the helicopter was over 1335 01:19:03.960 --> 01:19:07.119 the trees down by the river, and instead of going home, 1336 01:19:07.439 --> 01:19:09.960 I turned left to head in that direction and check 1337 01:19:10.000 --> 01:19:13.119 it out. It was a road I hadn't taken before. 1338 01:19:13.880 --> 01:19:16.239 On the last curve before the road dropped down to 1339 01:19:16.319 --> 01:19:18.680 the river, I saw a car with its lights still 1340 01:19:18.720 --> 01:19:21.760 on that looked like it had collided with the embankment. 1341 01:19:22.760 --> 01:19:25.840 When I got closer, I realized it was Goro's car. 1342 01:19:26.880 --> 01:19:29.520 I parked behind this car, left my headlights on and 1343 01:19:29.600 --> 01:19:33.159 started to open my door. Suddenly, a large man appeared 1344 01:19:33.199 --> 01:19:37.239 crouching next to Goro's door. As he began to stand 1345 01:19:37.319 --> 01:19:41.000 upright towering over the vehicle, his face and eyes were 1346 01:19:41.039 --> 01:19:46.079 illuminated by my headlights. His face looked human, but it wasn't. 1347 01:19:46.720 --> 01:19:49.520 His eyes were golden, and as my head tried to 1348 01:19:49.520 --> 01:19:52.920 wrap itself around what I was looking at, I experienced 1349 01:19:52.960 --> 01:19:58.239 one of those combat moments where hesitation means death. My 1350 01:19:58.359 --> 01:20:01.159 catana was in the truck, and with my eyes on 1351 01:20:01.239 --> 01:20:04.680 the strange man creature, I exited my car, but by 1352 01:20:04.720 --> 01:20:07.279 the time I reached the trunk and had the cantenna 1353 01:20:07.439 --> 01:20:11.920 in my hand. He had disappeared, with my catana ready 1354 01:20:11.960 --> 01:20:15.159 to strike. I stood there, listening in the silence, hoping 1355 01:20:15.199 --> 01:20:18.640 for a clue as to where he went From the 1356 01:20:18.720 --> 01:20:21.119 right side of my car. Something hit me and it 1357 01:20:21.159 --> 01:20:23.840 knocked me to the ground, and I rolled and brought 1358 01:20:23.880 --> 01:20:27.560 myself up on one knee with my catana held overhead defensively. 1359 01:20:28.640 --> 01:20:31.680 My training kicked in as I breathed slowly and allowed 1360 01:20:31.720 --> 01:20:35.520 my mind's eye to guide me. Standing just outside of 1361 01:20:35.560 --> 01:20:39.439 the light, a faint figure stood motionless. I could hear 1362 01:20:39.479 --> 01:20:43.880 it breathing. I readied myself as he charged me, and 1363 01:20:43.920 --> 01:20:46.439 I moved laterally to my left and made a forty 1364 01:20:46.439 --> 01:20:50.119 five degree strike to the right. He smashed into my 1365 01:20:50.199 --> 01:20:53.279 car and screamed. It was the same scream I had 1366 01:20:53.319 --> 01:20:56.600 heard a few nights before. It was trying to kill me. 1367 01:20:57.960 --> 01:21:00.279 I wasn't sure I would survive another tax, so I 1368 01:21:00.359 --> 01:21:03.159 moved back and put some distance between us and took 1369 01:21:03.199 --> 01:21:07.119 a defensive stance again. I could see his face better 1370 01:21:07.239 --> 01:21:11.079 now and it shocked me to the core. It was 1371 01:21:11.159 --> 01:21:15.239 covered in scaly skin with features that were as reptilian 1372 01:21:15.359 --> 01:21:19.920 as they were human. Vertical pupils, split each eye into 1373 01:21:19.960 --> 01:21:23.920 two golden half orbs. Where its hands should have been, 1374 01:21:24.119 --> 01:21:28.560 it had claws and blood spilled down its side. Come on, you, 1375 01:21:28.680 --> 01:21:31.479 son of a bitch, Come on, I said, inching my 1376 01:21:31.560 --> 01:21:35.560 feet forward into the right. When it lunched toward me, 1377 01:21:35.840 --> 01:21:38.680 I jumped to the right, got my feet on the trunk, 1378 01:21:38.840 --> 01:21:41.520 and struck to the left. I knew I must have 1379 01:21:41.600 --> 01:21:45.119 hit it when it screamed again on top of my car. 1380 01:21:45.199 --> 01:21:48.279 Now I held the high ground and the advantage. You 1381 01:21:48.319 --> 01:21:51.880 want some more, I shouted. It looked at me and hissed, 1382 01:21:51.880 --> 01:21:54.199 and turned away and ran toward the river, out of 1383 01:21:54.279 --> 01:21:57.880 sight in mere seconds. It took a few seconds for 1384 01:21:57.960 --> 01:22:01.840 me to grasp what had just happened. Reality flooded back, 1385 01:22:01.880 --> 01:22:03.880 and I rushed to the car to see if anyone 1386 01:22:04.079 --> 01:22:06.760 was injured. It was sitting at an angle, with the 1387 01:22:06.840 --> 01:22:10.479 driver's side bumper stuck in the embankment. Now rounded the 1388 01:22:10.520 --> 01:22:14.199 corner cautiously with my sword raised, and found Goro lying 1389 01:22:14.319 --> 01:22:18.359 on the ground with his feet still inside the vehicle. Goro, Goro, 1390 01:22:18.520 --> 01:22:21.840 It's harry, I said, dropping down beside him. He was 1391 01:22:21.920 --> 01:22:25.840 a mess of blood and torn clothing. I turned on 1392 01:22:25.920 --> 01:22:28.880 the interior light and saw claw marks where his skin 1393 01:22:29.039 --> 01:22:33.359 was exposed. I had seen those marks before. He looked 1394 01:22:33.399 --> 01:22:36.000 at me weakly, and I could see the life fading 1395 01:22:36.039 --> 01:22:38.800 from his eyes. It was something I had seen many 1396 01:22:38.840 --> 01:22:42.840 times in my career. Don't allow them to have my sword, 1397 01:22:43.079 --> 01:22:46.720 he whispered, barely aloud enough for me to hear. I 1398 01:22:46.760 --> 01:22:49.600 had a million questions, but this was not one of them. 1399 01:22:50.239 --> 01:22:54.039 Goro needed help, and his breathing was labored. The air 1400 01:22:54.119 --> 01:22:58.640 was escaping through a puncture through his ribs. Stay with me, Goro, 1401 01:22:58.960 --> 01:23:02.039 I said, I'm getting help. He grabbed my arm and 1402 01:23:02.079 --> 01:23:07.199 whispered again. My trunk, get the sword, he said. I 1403 01:23:07.239 --> 01:23:10.319 nodded and quickly went to the trunk, and inside was 1404 01:23:10.359 --> 01:23:14.680 a bundle of old canvas material. By the time I returned, 1405 01:23:14.880 --> 01:23:18.680 Goro was dead. I went back to the trunk and 1406 01:23:18.720 --> 01:23:20.960 put the bundle back and hugged my head while I 1407 01:23:21.000 --> 01:23:23.960 composed myself. Then I got on my cell phone and 1408 01:23:24.000 --> 01:23:28.520 called a master Akagi. He answered immediately. I managed to 1409 01:23:28.560 --> 01:23:31.399 tell him most of what had happened, but before I 1410 01:23:31.439 --> 01:23:36.800 could finish, five figures emerged from the trees. Instantly, I 1411 01:23:36.880 --> 01:23:39.880 dropped the phone and was raising my katana to defend 1412 01:23:39.920 --> 01:23:42.079 myself from what I thought was going to be five 1413 01:23:42.199 --> 01:23:46.399 more of those monsters. I was blinded by tack lights. 1414 01:23:46.399 --> 01:23:49.399 As weapons were leveled on me. A voice with a 1415 01:23:49.479 --> 01:23:52.640 Japanese accent shouted to put down the sword and get 1416 01:23:52.680 --> 01:23:56.319 on the ground face first. The zip tied my hands 1417 01:23:56.319 --> 01:23:59.119 behind me and turned me over, and a man asked 1418 01:23:59.119 --> 01:24:03.000 my name, identified myself. It was the first of a 1419 01:24:03.039 --> 01:24:06.479 dozen questions. Who was I What was I doing here? 1420 01:24:06.720 --> 01:24:12.199 What did I see? Inspector? My interrogator shouted, come over here, 1421 01:24:12.560 --> 01:24:15.800 this one is an American. They sat me up against 1422 01:24:15.840 --> 01:24:19.159 the car and the inspector approached. I couldn't see his 1423 01:24:19.239 --> 01:24:23.039 face from all the lights in my eyes. Oh no, Harry, 1424 01:24:23.319 --> 01:24:26.920 I heard a familiar voice say, a Kimi, I said, 1425 01:24:27.000 --> 01:24:30.800 squinting against the blinding lights. Get those lights out of 1426 01:24:30.840 --> 01:24:34.199 his eyes, she ordered, waving off the helicopter. What are 1427 01:24:34.239 --> 01:24:38.279 you doing here? I scoffed. I could ask the same 1428 01:24:38.319 --> 01:24:42.319 of you, I said. She reached down and cut my 1429 01:24:42.439 --> 01:24:45.600 zip ties, but another agent shouted at her to stop. 1430 01:24:46.640 --> 01:24:49.880 In their heated exchange, I learned his name was Agent 1431 01:24:50.079 --> 01:24:55.520 euro Kanaka, a colleague of hers at the PSIA. He 1432 01:24:55.640 --> 01:25:00.439 reluctantly relented and Akimi cut me free. Tell us what happened, 1433 01:25:00.520 --> 01:25:05.119 Akimi said. As I stood up, I hesitated, Promise you 1434 01:25:05.159 --> 01:25:08.159 won't put the zip ties back on, I said, knowing 1435 01:25:08.279 --> 01:25:10.399 what I was about to say warranted a trip to 1436 01:25:10.439 --> 01:25:15.079 a padded room in a straight jacket. I promise, Akimi said, 1437 01:25:15.279 --> 01:25:18.920 Now what happened? As I spit out a string of events, 1438 01:25:19.079 --> 01:25:22.279 leaving out the part about the sword, Akimi and Agent 1439 01:25:22.319 --> 01:25:29.199 Tanaka exchanged a worried look. Part seven myth versus reality. 1440 01:25:30.399 --> 01:25:32.720 So inspector, what are you going to do with me? 1441 01:25:33.079 --> 01:25:37.760 I asked? When Tanaka stepped away. I'm sorry, Akimi offered, 1442 01:25:37.800 --> 01:25:43.560 clearly distressed. Don't apologize, just explain. I said, You're free 1443 01:25:43.600 --> 01:25:47.399 to go. She answered, it wasn't the explanation I wanted 1444 01:25:48.239 --> 01:25:51.319 seeing this, she added, go home and wait for me. 1445 01:25:52.319 --> 01:25:56.039 I nodded. She didn't give me much of a choice. 1446 01:25:56.199 --> 01:25:58.960 When I pulled up to my house, Master Akagi was 1447 01:25:59.000 --> 01:26:05.159 standing outside. I immediately expressed my grief over Goro. Come, 1448 01:26:05.319 --> 01:26:09.279 he said, gently, I will make tea inside. I told 1449 01:26:09.319 --> 01:26:12.239 him what had happened, finding the car and fighting the 1450 01:26:12.239 --> 01:26:15.239 creature and getting the sword, and Goro dying and then 1451 01:26:15.319 --> 01:26:20.279 getting zip tied and blinded by psia. He listened intently 1452 01:26:20.560 --> 01:26:22.920 in his expression, telling me that he was making a 1453 01:26:22.960 --> 01:26:27.079 mental note of every word. You have proven yourself again, 1454 01:26:27.279 --> 01:26:30.239 he said, when I finished. But now you are marked. 1455 01:26:30.479 --> 01:26:34.119 The capita will come after you. Where is the sword? 1456 01:26:34.880 --> 01:26:38.039 I went back outside and retrieved the canvas bundle from 1457 01:26:38.039 --> 01:26:43.199 my car. Master Akagi unwrapped it, revealing a magnificent catana 1458 01:26:43.520 --> 01:26:47.880 made of blue steel. I gasped at the sight of it. 1459 01:26:47.880 --> 01:26:50.239 It was a cloudy blue with a deep finish that 1460 01:26:50.319 --> 01:26:53.039 I could almost look into, but there was no reflection. 1461 01:26:54.359 --> 01:26:57.840 Before I could ask, Master Akagi explained that the steel 1462 01:26:57.880 --> 01:27:00.720 came from within the earth, under the rivers where the 1463 01:27:00.800 --> 01:27:04.079 Kappa live. There were only a few swords like it 1464 01:27:04.199 --> 01:27:10.039 in existence. This is the sword of the scrolls. I said, yes, 1465 01:27:10.239 --> 01:27:12.399 and in the hands of a master, it is the 1466 01:27:12.439 --> 01:27:15.880 only blade that can defeat the kappa. He said, if 1467 01:27:15.880 --> 01:27:18.159 you had not found Goro, the sword would be in 1468 01:27:18.199 --> 01:27:21.000 the hands of the kappa now. He told me that 1469 01:27:21.079 --> 01:27:23.560 Goro was on his way to deliver the sword to 1470 01:27:23.640 --> 01:27:27.319 the home of mister Sumiyoshi, the owner of the school, 1471 01:27:27.399 --> 01:27:33.000 when he was attacked. Master Akagi paus for a moment, Harry, 1472 01:27:33.239 --> 01:27:37.119 there are things I must tell you. Mister Sumiyochi is 1473 01:27:37.159 --> 01:27:40.439 a member of the second largest yakuza family in Japan. 1474 01:27:41.119 --> 01:27:44.880 I leaned in my interest pique. The Yamaguchi are the 1475 01:27:44.960 --> 01:27:48.840 largest family. They want to take over the Sumiyoshi family's 1476 01:27:48.920 --> 01:27:53.720 business dealings. Mister Sumiyoshi left that business many years ago 1477 01:27:53.800 --> 01:27:56.560 to buy our school and start a new life. The 1478 01:27:56.680 --> 01:28:00.720 Yamaguchi think he is becoming weak and has because he 1479 01:28:00.800 --> 01:28:03.600 is an easy target and all the deaths in this 1480 01:28:03.800 --> 01:28:08.199 area were junior members of the Sumiyoshi family. They're sending 1481 01:28:08.199 --> 01:28:11.680 a message to mister Sumiyoshi to sign over all his 1482 01:28:11.800 --> 01:28:14.279 holdings and to persuade the rest of the family in 1483 01:28:14.319 --> 01:28:19.079 Tokyo to do the same. They will refuse this. If 1484 01:28:19.199 --> 01:28:22.479 Yamaguchi are caught in the act of killing a Sumiyoshi 1485 01:28:22.520 --> 01:28:26.520 family member, it will start a war. Someone within the 1486 01:28:26.600 --> 01:28:31.119 Yamaguchi family figured out how to invoke the Kiro, powerful 1487 01:28:31.159 --> 01:28:34.760 evil spirits to gain control of the Kappa. Now they 1488 01:28:34.800 --> 01:28:38.359 want to use them to their advantage. What should I 1489 01:28:38.399 --> 01:28:42.239 do with the sword, I asked, thinking everything he told 1490 01:28:42.319 --> 01:28:45.399 me sounded like it was some crazy plot out of 1491 01:28:45.399 --> 01:28:50.119 a science fiction movie. Keep it, he said, flatly. It 1492 01:28:50.159 --> 01:28:53.159 will be safe with you. Nobody would expect you to 1493 01:28:53.239 --> 01:28:57.720 have it. He stood up and added, Monday, we start 1494 01:28:57.760 --> 01:29:01.359 your training for the sword for fighting the kappa. Now 1495 01:29:01.399 --> 01:29:05.159 come with me. I followed him to the trunk of 1496 01:29:05.159 --> 01:29:07.560 his car, where he pulled out a rifle case and 1497 01:29:07.640 --> 01:29:11.479 a tactical bag. He handed them to me without explaining 1498 01:29:11.560 --> 01:29:15.720 the contents. He knew I was familiar with everything inside. 1499 01:29:16.279 --> 01:29:18.760 Then he handed me an ID card with my picture 1500 01:29:18.840 --> 01:29:22.119 on it. Written in both Japanese and English were the 1501 01:29:22.119 --> 01:29:29.640 words personal Security seg Sumi Yoshi Enterprises Japan. He left 1502 01:29:29.680 --> 01:29:32.800 to make the necessary arrangements for Goro and I looked 1503 01:29:32.800 --> 01:29:36.399 over the contents of the bag, an ar ten carving 1504 01:29:36.479 --> 01:29:40.279 with all the bells and whistles, five twenty round magazines, 1505 01:29:40.680 --> 01:29:44.079 a tactical knife, and a CZ forty five with three 1506 01:29:44.199 --> 01:29:48.600 ten round magazines, and enough mo for an anti insurgent mission. 1507 01:29:49.560 --> 01:29:53.079 The clock told me it was four hundred hours. I 1508 01:29:53.159 --> 01:29:57.319 needed some sleep. At eleven fifteen hours, a knock on 1509 01:29:57.399 --> 01:30:00.199 my door woke me up. It was a Kimi who 1510 01:30:00.319 --> 01:30:03.239 walked in, looking like a dream in just jeans and 1511 01:30:03.279 --> 01:30:08.399 a polo. What no zip ties? I said. She rolled 1512 01:30:08.439 --> 01:30:12.239 her eyes and looked at me. Apologetically. Please, Harry, can 1513 01:30:12.279 --> 01:30:14.880 we put all that behind us, she said, holding up 1514 01:30:14.880 --> 01:30:18.000 a bag of food. I smiled and led her to 1515 01:30:18.039 --> 01:30:21.159 the dining table, where we sat down to eat. You've 1516 01:30:21.199 --> 01:30:25.920 got some explaining to do, I said, bluntly. Yes, she said, 1517 01:30:26.279 --> 01:30:29.039 looking down at her hands for a moment before making 1518 01:30:29.079 --> 01:30:35.399 eye contact again. I hunt monsters, I'm all ears, I said. 1519 01:30:36.479 --> 01:30:39.520 Growing up in East Texas, there were always stories of 1520 01:30:39.560 --> 01:30:44.680 the chupacabra, bigfoot, and dog man. I was fascinated by them, 1521 01:30:44.920 --> 01:30:48.159 and I spent hours researching, and one day I began 1522 01:30:48.239 --> 01:30:51.960 posting about it under a pseudonym. By the time I 1523 01:30:52.039 --> 01:30:55.359 was twenty, I learned enough about cryptids and had taught 1524 01:30:55.399 --> 01:30:59.119 myself enough cyber skills to hack into an obscure cover 1525 01:30:59.359 --> 01:31:03.680 for Dulcia in the Four Corners area. She paused, like 1526 01:31:03.720 --> 01:31:05.840 she was waiting for me to laugh or ask her 1527 01:31:05.880 --> 01:31:08.800 to leave. When I encouraged her with an odd she 1528 01:31:08.840 --> 01:31:12.760 relaxed and went on. My father got a visit from 1529 01:31:12.760 --> 01:31:16.039 an alphabet agency. They wanted to know if this was 1530 01:31:16.079 --> 01:31:19.399 his doing. Her eyes widened as she looked down and 1531 01:31:19.479 --> 01:31:22.319 her plate of food, reliving the memories like it had 1532 01:31:22.319 --> 01:31:26.479 happened yesterday. He was furious with me. But the next 1533 01:31:26.479 --> 01:31:29.520 thing I knew, I was sitting in the NSA office 1534 01:31:29.600 --> 01:31:33.359 getting recruited. First I did research, and then I almost 1535 01:31:33.399 --> 01:31:36.640 sent to a linguistic school, and after that I was 1536 01:31:36.680 --> 01:31:40.520 sent overseas to work with a variety of agencies. She 1537 01:31:40.640 --> 01:31:43.840 looked up with her beautiful eyes. I didn't like the 1538 01:31:43.920 --> 01:31:48.520 direction the NSA was headed, so I resigned. Meanwhile, I 1539 01:31:48.560 --> 01:31:52.479 discovered that Interpole was operating a secret cryptid unit within 1540 01:31:52.520 --> 01:31:55.920 its fugitive unit, so I applied. I've been there for 1541 01:31:55.960 --> 01:32:00.000 almost five years now, so you were packing a gun 1542 01:32:00.159 --> 01:32:04.239 on that plane, I said, and she nodded. I have 1543 01:32:04.359 --> 01:32:07.359 been as honest with you as I can be, she said, 1544 01:32:07.800 --> 01:32:10.399 and I hope you will do me the same favor. 1545 01:32:11.319 --> 01:32:14.079 I just died in my seat, rubbed my chin and nodded. 1546 01:32:14.560 --> 01:32:17.800 I knew I could trust her. I told her everything 1547 01:32:17.880 --> 01:32:20.840 I knew. I recapped my training and how I had 1548 01:32:20.840 --> 01:32:24.319 fought the creature. I told her I had injured it twice. 1549 01:32:24.479 --> 01:32:28.039 And when I told her about my conversation with Master Akagi, 1550 01:32:28.399 --> 01:32:33.359 she nodded. She already knew about the Yukuza connection. She 1551 01:32:33.479 --> 01:32:36.760 was unaware, however, that someone had invoked an evil spirit 1552 01:32:36.840 --> 01:32:41.680 to control the Kappa. You're wrong about one thing, she said. 1553 01:32:41.880 --> 01:32:45.359 This thing isn't a kappa, it's a reptilian. They've been 1554 01:32:45.399 --> 01:32:49.439 here since the beginning of creation. I showed her the 1555 01:32:49.479 --> 01:32:52.920 weapons Master Akagi had given me, and then I showed 1556 01:32:52.960 --> 01:32:57.479 her the scrolls. She examined them closely while I explained 1557 01:32:57.479 --> 01:32:59.640 that they had been given to me to prepare me. 1558 01:33:00.279 --> 01:33:03.279 And when I revealed the sword, she was amazed by it. 1559 01:33:03.960 --> 01:33:07.279 I have only ever seen one of these before, she said, 1560 01:33:07.359 --> 01:33:10.520 staring into the clouded surface, and it was locked in 1561 01:33:10.560 --> 01:33:14.159 a secured vault. This one is better, and then she 1562 01:33:14.279 --> 01:33:18.279 looked up at me. I am obligated to confiscate the sword. 1563 01:33:19.239 --> 01:33:22.680 Before I could react, she added, but my Japanese side 1564 01:33:22.720 --> 01:33:25.600 tells me that it's better if you keep it. I 1565 01:33:25.640 --> 01:33:28.119 told her about the mural that I had seen in 1566 01:33:28.159 --> 01:33:31.119 the battle, with the creature depicted on it, and then 1567 01:33:31.159 --> 01:33:35.039 I told her one last thing. The distinctive scratch marks 1568 01:33:35.079 --> 01:33:38.279 on Goro's body were reminiscent of a set of scratch 1569 01:33:38.319 --> 01:33:41.920 marks my father carried on his back. I told her 1570 01:33:41.920 --> 01:33:44.760 the story of what happened when I was seventeen, and 1571 01:33:44.880 --> 01:33:48.760 how no one had believed my father Akimi placed her 1572 01:33:48.800 --> 01:33:53.239 hand gently on my chest. Harry, do you understand that 1573 01:33:53.359 --> 01:33:57.119 your being here was faded? Before I could answer, she 1574 01:33:57.279 --> 01:34:01.079 leaned in and kiss me. Moments lay, we were tangled 1575 01:34:01.159 --> 01:34:03.800 up in each other and the sheets on my bed, 1576 01:34:04.199 --> 01:34:07.600 as if a lifetime of loneliness and emptiness were finally 1577 01:34:07.720 --> 01:34:11.079 being filled. My phone woke us up a couple of 1578 01:34:11.079 --> 01:34:14.920 hours later. I glanced at the time before answering it. 1579 01:34:14.920 --> 01:34:19.159 It was seventeen thirty hours Captain Tate. A voice said 1580 01:34:19.159 --> 01:34:23.520 on the other end, this is Lieutenant Ellis with Army Intelligence. 1581 01:34:23.560 --> 01:34:26.479 How are you, sir? Who wrote my cell number on 1582 01:34:26.520 --> 01:34:30.399 the bus station wall? I joked, Colonel Jones gave me 1583 01:34:30.479 --> 01:34:33.560 your number. He told me in a voice that, despite 1584 01:34:33.600 --> 01:34:37.800 revealing a complete lack of humor, was not unpleasant. He 1585 01:34:37.840 --> 01:34:39.760 asked that I check in on you and see how 1586 01:34:39.800 --> 01:34:44.000 you're doing. Well. Thank you, I said, I'm still adjusting 1587 01:34:44.039 --> 01:34:47.399 to my new life. I glanced down at a Chmi's 1588 01:34:47.439 --> 01:34:51.239 half covered form in the twisted sheets. Well, I'm sure 1589 01:34:51.239 --> 01:34:53.800 you'll be able to meet all the challenges you'll face, 1590 01:34:53.920 --> 01:34:56.760 but we're here if you need us, he said. I 1591 01:34:56.760 --> 01:34:59.800 thought that was a curious statement. He asked if we 1592 01:34:59.800 --> 01:35:03.920 could meat sometime and break bread. Sure, I said, let 1593 01:35:04.000 --> 01:35:07.439 me call you when things settle down. Roger that, he said, 1594 01:35:07.439 --> 01:35:11.319 and hung up. Akimi, who had been listening to the call, 1595 01:35:11.479 --> 01:35:16.119 noted the strangeness of Lieutenant Ellis's statement as well. She 1596 01:35:16.279 --> 01:35:20.319 reasoned that the Yukuza deaths being in such close proximity 1597 01:35:20.359 --> 01:35:23.640 to me, had put me on their radar. They were 1598 01:35:23.680 --> 01:35:28.359 probably aware of what happened last night. At nineteen hundred 1599 01:35:28.359 --> 01:35:30.640 hours a, Kimi told me she'd left her bag in 1600 01:35:30.680 --> 01:35:32.640 the car, so I offered to go out and get 1601 01:35:32.640 --> 01:35:35.359 it for her. As soon as I walked out to 1602 01:35:35.439 --> 01:35:39.239 the door, and an easy feeling washed over me. I 1603 01:35:39.319 --> 01:35:42.199 backed up into the house again, grabbed the CZ and 1604 01:35:42.239 --> 01:35:46.159 scan the yard. Akimi, I said, over my shoulder through 1605 01:35:46.159 --> 01:35:50.199 the open door, act alert, something isn't right. It was 1606 01:35:50.239 --> 01:35:54.520 the same feeling I'd had walking into an ambush. As 1607 01:35:54.560 --> 01:35:57.039 I inched toward her car, I saw a movement in 1608 01:35:57.119 --> 01:36:00.279 the foliage. Then a creature like I saw all the 1609 01:36:00.359 --> 01:36:04.199 night before, burst out, heading right at me. I squeezed 1610 01:36:04.239 --> 01:36:07.199 all four or five rounds as it advanced on me, 1611 01:36:07.279 --> 01:36:10.319 but I couldn't prevent it from hitting me. It slashed 1612 01:36:10.359 --> 01:36:12.680 at my upper arm and I hit the ground hard. 1613 01:36:13.680 --> 01:36:16.600 I spun around to take aim again, and from behind me, 1614 01:36:16.760 --> 01:36:20.119 I heard the sound of the ar ten barking. It 1615 01:36:20.159 --> 01:36:23.159 was a Kimi firing from the stoop, but she wasn't 1616 01:36:23.199 --> 01:36:26.439 firing at the one attacking me. Another one was closing 1617 01:36:26.479 --> 01:36:29.880 in from behind. I rolled out of the way, and 1618 01:36:29.920 --> 01:36:32.680 the one that attacked me was now bearing down on 1619 01:36:32.720 --> 01:36:35.680 a Chimi, and it jumped onto the stoop and slashed 1620 01:36:35.720 --> 01:36:38.600 at her. She raised the rifle in the fence, but 1621 01:36:38.680 --> 01:36:41.840 it knocked it from her hands. I looked to my 1622 01:36:41.960 --> 01:36:44.439 left and the second creature was lying on the ground 1623 01:36:44.439 --> 01:36:47.479 next to me. A Chimi was down on the stoop 1624 01:36:47.640 --> 01:36:51.560 with that thing standing over her, arms raised and claws bared. 1625 01:36:52.319 --> 01:36:55.039 I emptied the cz into the side of its head. 1626 01:36:55.640 --> 01:36:59.159 It released a horrible screeching sound and fell into the 1627 01:36:59.199 --> 01:37:02.520 side of a house and slid to the ground. I 1628 01:37:02.560 --> 01:37:04.600 looked at the one beside me to make sure it 1629 01:37:04.640 --> 01:37:07.600 was dead, and then ran to Akimi and grabbed the rifle. 1630 01:37:08.199 --> 01:37:11.000 Two more rounds in its skull, assured that it would 1631 01:37:11.000 --> 01:37:15.479 not be getting back up. You're bleeding, get inside, Akimi said, 1632 01:37:15.760 --> 01:37:18.880 getting back to her feet. A minute later, she was 1633 01:37:18.960 --> 01:37:21.600 treating my wound with a medical kit she had stashed 1634 01:37:21.600 --> 01:37:24.600 in her car. I have to give you an injection, 1635 01:37:24.880 --> 01:37:28.760 she said hurriedly as she rummaged through the kit. Scratches 1636 01:37:28.800 --> 01:37:32.800 and bites from these things can cause deadly infections for humans. 1637 01:37:34.279 --> 01:37:39.720 Part eight SUMMATAI kys a cold wind. That was the 1638 01:37:39.880 --> 01:37:44.359 sexiest thing I've ever seen, I said. We were waiting 1639 01:37:44.399 --> 01:37:48.439 for Agent Tanaka and his men to arrive. Akimi raised 1640 01:37:48.439 --> 01:37:52.439 her eyebrows in question, and I elaborated, seeing you fire 1641 01:37:52.479 --> 01:37:56.960 that rifle, that's the sexiest thing I've ever seen. Akimi smiled. 1642 01:37:57.439 --> 01:37:59.960 It is no longer safe for you here, she said, 1643 01:38:00.319 --> 01:38:02.840 you should come and stay with me. Oh, I'd love that, 1644 01:38:03.319 --> 01:38:06.279 I answered with a broad grin, but I'm obliged to 1645 01:38:06.319 --> 01:38:10.520 stay here and finish my studies. Our conversation was cut 1646 01:38:10.560 --> 01:38:14.640 short by a phone call from Master Akagi. Are you okay? 1647 01:38:14.880 --> 01:38:18.840 He asked. My neighbor, Miss Hatachi had called him and 1648 01:38:18.920 --> 01:38:21.760 told him what had happened. You must come and stay 1649 01:38:21.800 --> 01:38:25.319 at the school where they're a security. I agreed with 1650 01:38:25.399 --> 01:38:28.079 that plan. I'm pleased that you have a new friend, 1651 01:38:28.119 --> 01:38:31.920 he added, speak with her. I handed the phone to 1652 01:38:32.000 --> 01:38:35.920 a Kimi. They spoke in Japanese, some of which I understood. 1653 01:38:36.960 --> 01:38:39.319 A minute later, she handed the phone back to me, 1654 01:38:39.479 --> 01:38:42.079 and Master Akagi told me that by the time the 1655 01:38:42.239 --> 01:38:46.399 Gorutsuki the thugs cleaned up the mess, my room at 1656 01:38:46.439 --> 01:38:50.680 the school would be ready for me. Master Akagi thinks 1657 01:38:50.720 --> 01:38:53.479 you are some kind of a chosen one, Akimi said. 1658 01:38:53.479 --> 01:38:56.159 When I hung up the phone. Just then a pair 1659 01:38:56.199 --> 01:38:59.439 of headlights lit up the yard. It was Tanaka in 1660 01:38:59.520 --> 01:39:03.239 an su. He had three men with him and a 1661 01:39:03.319 --> 01:39:07.279 van carrying two men and hazmat suits pulled in behind them. 1662 01:39:07.840 --> 01:39:11.800 Tanaka was clearly angry. He and Akimi got into a 1663 01:39:11.840 --> 01:39:15.479 heated conversation that I didn't like, and I was about 1664 01:39:15.479 --> 01:39:18.960 to interject myself when Akimi put her finger to Tanaka's 1665 01:39:19.039 --> 01:39:22.159 face and said something to the effect of you should 1666 01:39:22.199 --> 01:39:26.199 be happy now you have two to study. She turned 1667 01:39:26.239 --> 01:39:28.319 her back on him and told me that she had 1668 01:39:28.319 --> 01:39:31.279 to go, and I convinced her to stay long enough 1669 01:39:31.319 --> 01:39:34.239 to let Miss Hatachi know that she would be safe now. 1670 01:39:34.319 --> 01:39:37.600 Because I was going to stay at the school. I 1671 01:39:37.640 --> 01:39:40.439 asked Akimi to tell her that I would stop by 1672 01:39:40.479 --> 01:39:43.279 to check on her, to which Miss Hatachi bowed and 1673 01:39:43.319 --> 01:39:46.720 said thank you. When Akimi left, I went to the 1674 01:39:46.760 --> 01:39:50.239 school and found a new servant, Kenda, waiting to help 1675 01:39:50.279 --> 01:39:55.960 carry my things. Kenda spoke almost no English. Master Akagi 1676 01:39:56.000 --> 01:39:58.800 and Jonah were waiting at the front door to usher 1677 01:39:58.840 --> 01:40:01.319 me into the dining ear where the meal had been 1678 01:40:01.359 --> 01:40:06.359 prepared for me, your favorite no Southern fried chicken. Master 1679 01:40:06.479 --> 01:40:10.640 Akagi said, I thank them and the cook for their hospitality. 1680 01:40:12.199 --> 01:40:14.520 As I ate, they told me that tomorrow I would 1681 01:40:14.600 --> 01:40:18.119 learn the kanji or bushido code that few have been 1682 01:40:18.159 --> 01:40:23.159 privy to. It was specific to fighting the kappa. I 1683 01:40:23.279 --> 01:40:25.800 was going to get to meet the Katana sword maker. 1684 01:40:26.560 --> 01:40:29.079 Kenda entered the room, then bowing his head as he 1685 01:40:29.119 --> 01:40:33.359 introduced a visitor. Master Akagi and Jonah both rose to 1686 01:40:33.399 --> 01:40:37.640 their feet and bowed. I followed suit. The man who 1687 01:40:37.760 --> 01:40:41.039 entered was impeccably dressed in a fine three piece double 1688 01:40:41.079 --> 01:40:44.800 breast suit with a fine silk tie, and he greeted 1689 01:40:44.840 --> 01:40:51.000 me in perfect English. Hello, Captain Tate, I am Alexander Asumayoshi, 1690 01:40:51.119 --> 01:40:54.920 he said, seating himself across from me and helping himself 1691 01:40:54.960 --> 01:40:58.199 to a piece of my chicken. He gestured to us 1692 01:40:58.239 --> 01:41:01.399 to sit and join him. May I ask how you 1693 01:41:01.520 --> 01:41:07.000 got the name Alexander sir, I asked, please drop the formalities. 1694 01:41:07.079 --> 01:41:10.600 He said, my father studied Alexander the Great, more than 1695 01:41:10.720 --> 01:41:15.000 any warrior in history, even more than the great Samurai warriors. 1696 01:41:15.399 --> 01:41:18.520 He wanted me to be like Alexander, but it wasn't 1697 01:41:18.560 --> 01:41:23.279 in my DNA, and your English is perfect, I ventured, 1698 01:41:23.399 --> 01:41:26.840 not wanting to sound too intrusive. I went to Harvard 1699 01:41:27.159 --> 01:41:32.760 in an internship on Wall Street. That's impressive, I said, Actually, 1700 01:41:32.920 --> 01:41:36.680 he said, it is you who I find impressive. I've 1701 01:41:36.720 --> 01:41:39.640 never risked my life in combat, nor have i had 1702 01:41:39.720 --> 01:41:43.520 my comrades gata alongside me, and I certainly never fought 1703 01:41:43.560 --> 01:41:48.039 and defeated a Kappa. I listened and made mental notes 1704 01:41:48.039 --> 01:41:52.079 as he explained that Atsumasai Akades had arrived about six 1705 01:41:52.119 --> 01:41:55.600 months ago. He had lost four family members in a 1706 01:41:55.680 --> 01:42:01.039 loyal and noble koboku. He was referring to goro. When 1707 01:42:01.039 --> 01:42:03.479 you fought the Kappa, you became an enemy of the 1708 01:42:03.560 --> 01:42:08.640 Yamaguchi family. It makes you family. The ororo contenta is 1709 01:42:08.680 --> 01:42:12.079 the key to defeating the Kappa. The metal is harmful 1710 01:42:12.119 --> 01:42:15.560 to them. It is even more harmful when forged into 1711 01:42:15.600 --> 01:42:18.359 a sword and in the hands of a master. It 1712 01:42:18.439 --> 01:42:22.920 is terrifying to them. The wizard that has gained control 1713 01:42:22.960 --> 01:42:25.880 of this clan was not able to control all of them, 1714 01:42:26.520 --> 01:42:29.079 but he has gained control of the Alpha, and at 1715 01:42:29.079 --> 01:42:33.119 the Alpha's direction, the clan is attacking my family. There 1716 01:42:33.119 --> 01:42:36.239 are only two ways to stop this. Either we discover 1717 01:42:36.439 --> 01:42:39.399 who the wizard is and force him to reverse the spell, 1718 01:42:39.920 --> 01:42:43.399 or we kill the Alpha. He let me absorb that 1719 01:42:43.520 --> 01:42:48.039 for a second, and then added, your new friend, Missus Estrata, 1720 01:42:48.119 --> 01:42:52.000 is aware of this. The Psia is actively working on 1721 01:42:52.079 --> 01:42:55.600 the wizard angle. She is researching ways to find and 1722 01:42:55.640 --> 01:42:59.600 destroy the Alpha or the entire clan. The problem is 1723 01:42:59.640 --> 01:43:02.680 that these creatures live in caverns under the river, and 1724 01:43:02.720 --> 01:43:05.720 there's no way to determine their exact numbers or the 1725 01:43:05.760 --> 01:43:09.760 exact location of the Alpha. Legend tells us that they 1726 01:43:09.800 --> 01:43:12.119 live in groups of up to one hundred or more. 1727 01:43:13.039 --> 01:43:15.960 About one third of those are warriors, the rest of 1728 01:43:16.000 --> 01:43:19.199 the females and the young. I took the liberty of 1729 01:43:19.239 --> 01:43:22.319 asking Akimi to come here tomorrow to set up a 1730 01:43:22.359 --> 01:43:25.680 research office. I'm sure you will be pleased that she 1731 01:43:25.720 --> 01:43:29.079 will have a room here in the house. He rose 1732 01:43:29.159 --> 01:43:31.800 and told me to get some rest before I started 1733 01:43:31.800 --> 01:43:34.439 my training in the morning, and he shook my hand 1734 01:43:34.479 --> 01:43:38.720 and he thanked me and he left. Afterward, Master Rikagi 1735 01:43:38.840 --> 01:43:42.199 looked at me with a big smile. My name is Theodotus, 1736 01:43:42.520 --> 01:43:47.079 Please call me THEO, he said. At O six hundred hours, 1737 01:43:47.159 --> 01:43:50.279 I was at the breakfast table. Kenda put a bowl 1738 01:43:50.319 --> 01:43:52.520 of eggs, rice, and bacon in front of me and 1739 01:43:52.600 --> 01:43:56.359 managed to say protein and carbs, and I smiled and 1740 01:43:56.439 --> 01:44:00.199 thanked him. At O six thirty hours, Jonah found me 1741 01:44:00.279 --> 01:44:03.560 at the fountain and told me to follow him. He 1742 01:44:03.640 --> 01:44:05.880 led me behind the school to what looked like some 1743 01:44:06.000 --> 01:44:09.920 sort of workshop, and inside I recognized the smell of 1744 01:44:10.039 --> 01:44:14.239 forged hot steel. A plump old man was standing there 1745 01:44:14.279 --> 01:44:18.640 waiting for us. His name was Tetxgen, which means sage 1746 01:44:18.760 --> 01:44:23.439 or philosopher. He told a story and Jonah translated it 1747 01:44:23.479 --> 01:44:27.439 for me. There was once a noble samurai fighting against 1748 01:44:27.520 --> 01:44:31.479 a ruthless warlord. His men were ambushed on a bridge 1749 01:44:31.520 --> 01:44:35.840 by a ninja clan hired by the warlord. Seriously injured, 1750 01:44:35.880 --> 01:44:38.319 he fell off the bridge and into the swift current 1751 01:44:38.359 --> 01:44:42.119 that swept him away. The ninja pursued him on both 1752 01:44:42.159 --> 01:44:46.000 sides of the bank and finally completely exhausted, he sunk 1753 01:44:46.079 --> 01:44:51.399 under the water, nearly slipping into unconsciousness. He was about 1754 01:44:51.399 --> 01:44:54.439 to drown when something grabbed him and pulled him above 1755 01:44:54.479 --> 01:44:58.319 the surface and into the bushes. As he came to 1756 01:44:58.399 --> 01:45:03.399 his senses, he saw creature. There was a kappa. It 1757 01:45:03.439 --> 01:45:06.439 had learned to speak Japanese by hiding in the bushes 1758 01:45:06.479 --> 01:45:10.439 and listening to men talk. The kapa told the samurai 1759 01:45:10.600 --> 01:45:13.039 that it had a cruel master who had taken his 1760 01:45:13.079 --> 01:45:16.199 wife and made him a slave. He tried to kill 1761 01:45:16.239 --> 01:45:19.359 his master, but he was seriously injured and barely managed 1762 01:45:19.399 --> 01:45:23.199 to escape. The samurai said that he was fighting a 1763 01:45:23.239 --> 01:45:27.600 cruel warlord who did a similar thing. The kappa talked 1764 01:45:27.600 --> 01:45:30.079 about the blue steel and the caverns that could harm 1765 01:45:30.119 --> 01:45:33.520 the kappa. He said that this steel could cut through 1766 01:45:33.600 --> 01:45:36.880 other metals, and then he told the samurai that he 1767 01:45:36.960 --> 01:45:39.399 had brought some with him and that he could get more. 1768 01:45:40.399 --> 01:45:42.840 They agreed to become friends and to help each other. 1769 01:45:44.079 --> 01:45:47.399 Over time, the samurai healed, and the kappa taught him 1770 01:45:47.439 --> 01:45:51.279 how to make swords from this blue steel. He forged 1771 01:45:51.399 --> 01:45:55.079 five swords, and he took them to his men. As 1772 01:45:55.119 --> 01:45:58.279 he told this story, he demonstrated how the steel cut 1773 01:45:58.319 --> 01:46:02.359 through their Samurai swords. He and the four best warriors 1774 01:46:02.439 --> 01:46:05.800 led their men to the territory of the cruel Warlord, 1775 01:46:06.079 --> 01:46:08.680 where they began to kill the warlord's men and cut 1776 01:46:08.720 --> 01:46:13.319 their swords in half. Eventually, the Samurai sent a challenge 1777 01:46:13.359 --> 01:46:15.920 to the warlord to do battle with five of his 1778 01:46:16.039 --> 01:46:21.439 best men, and the warlord accepted. The Samurai easily defeated 1779 01:46:21.479 --> 01:46:24.800 the warlord's men, who bowed to them and placed their loyalty. 1780 01:46:25.680 --> 01:46:28.319 The cruel war Lord was put to death and the 1781 01:46:28.359 --> 01:46:32.239 Samurai was made the new leader. He recruited his best 1782 01:46:32.239 --> 01:46:34.640 warriors to go with the Kappa and get more of 1783 01:46:34.640 --> 01:46:37.560 the blue steel, and many more swords were made in 1784 01:46:37.640 --> 01:46:41.800 preparation for the battle against the Cruel Kappa. Master the 1785 01:46:41.880 --> 01:46:45.119 Kappa taught the Samurai and his men how to hold 1786 01:46:45.119 --> 01:46:47.760 their breath so they could go into the river and 1787 01:46:47.920 --> 01:46:51.319 enter the cavern. He taught them the weaknesses of the 1788 01:46:51.399 --> 01:46:54.479 Kappa and how to use blinding power from a plant 1789 01:46:54.600 --> 01:46:58.680 against them, and when the Samurai attacked, one fourth of 1790 01:46:58.720 --> 01:47:02.399 the Kappa were killed or injured. When they arrived at 1791 01:47:02.439 --> 01:47:04.800 the main chamber of the cave, the Kappa told his 1792 01:47:04.920 --> 01:47:08.239 brethren to surrender and hand over their cruel master so 1793 01:47:08.319 --> 01:47:12.239 they could be free, and to everyone's surprise, they did. 1794 01:47:13.520 --> 01:47:17.279 The master was handed over and beheaded by the Samurai leader. 1795 01:47:17.960 --> 01:47:20.960 The samurai's Kapa friend was made the new leader, and 1796 01:47:21.000 --> 01:47:25.000 the Samurai and the Kappa lived in peace. Then an 1797 01:47:25.039 --> 01:47:28.039 evil wizard found a way to enchant the Kappa with 1798 01:47:28.199 --> 01:47:34.359 underground plants that had hallucinogenic properties. That's what was happening now, 1799 01:47:34.640 --> 01:47:38.239 and I realized it. I looked around and saw that 1800 01:47:38.279 --> 01:47:42.640 Tetsujin had forged two more blue swords. It was all 1801 01:47:42.720 --> 01:47:45.640 of the steel he had left, save one small piece. 1802 01:47:46.560 --> 01:47:48.680 I asked if he could make a small knife for me, 1803 01:47:48.720 --> 01:47:52.520 and he agreed. The swords, which were made for Jonah 1804 01:47:52.520 --> 01:47:56.199 and Theo, would be ready by the next morning. Tetsugen 1805 01:47:56.359 --> 01:47:59.319 said that we would practice together to learn the feel 1806 01:47:59.560 --> 01:48:03.159 and the of these weapons. You will learn the kapa 1807 01:48:03.239 --> 01:48:06.560 weakness and lead other warriors into their chamber to kill 1808 01:48:06.600 --> 01:48:09.880 the alpha, he said. We thanked him and went to 1809 01:48:09.960 --> 01:48:14.079 the dojo to commence training for the day. We rolled 1810 01:48:14.079 --> 01:48:16.880 out the scrolls onto the floor and began reading the 1811 01:48:16.920 --> 01:48:20.319 sketches and diagrams, and I learned that the Kappa had 1812 01:48:20.359 --> 01:48:23.960 sensitive ears and their eyes were vulnerable to bright light. 1813 01:48:24.800 --> 01:48:28.239 The skin around their small ear cavities was thin and delicate, 1814 01:48:28.479 --> 01:48:30.520 and the backs of their legs from their knees to 1815 01:48:30.560 --> 01:48:34.840 their ankles were points of great weakness. The ribs under 1816 01:48:34.840 --> 01:48:38.119 their arms near their waist weren't a stick, making an 1817 01:48:38.159 --> 01:48:42.920 easier access point to their vital organs. The scrolls also 1818 01:48:43.079 --> 01:48:46.199 contained a recipe for a fire bomb, but the moisture 1819 01:48:46.239 --> 01:48:50.319 of the tunnels made them almost impossible to light. Another 1820 01:48:50.439 --> 01:48:53.800 recipe for a powder made from another plant could blind 1821 01:48:53.840 --> 01:48:57.680 them when it was thrown directly into their eyes. When 1822 01:48:57.720 --> 01:49:01.079 we stopped for lunch, Akimi was at the damad. I 1823 01:49:01.119 --> 01:49:03.760 told her all that we had studied in the scrolls. 1824 01:49:04.640 --> 01:49:07.159 She said that she had had her own copy of 1825 01:49:07.239 --> 01:49:10.439 them and was studying them as well. And then she 1826 01:49:10.560 --> 01:49:15.359 said Tanaka had brought some incendiary grenades. Someone tipped off 1827 01:49:15.399 --> 01:49:19.560 the US Army about these incidents, minus the details. She warned, 1828 01:49:19.760 --> 01:49:22.960 you should expect a visit. I took her hands in 1829 01:49:23.039 --> 01:49:25.720 mine and looked her in the eyes. Are we in 1830 01:49:25.800 --> 01:49:31.159 this together? I asked? She nodded. My afternoon was reserved 1831 01:49:31.159 --> 01:49:35.640 for practicing attacks. When I re entered the dojo, mister 1832 01:49:35.880 --> 01:49:39.439 Sumiyoshi was there. With a life sized model figure of 1833 01:49:39.479 --> 01:49:43.319 a Kappa on the floor at his feet. Gentlemen, he said, 1834 01:49:43.680 --> 01:49:48.039 you will practice attacking the Kappa's vulnerable spots For the 1835 01:49:48.039 --> 01:49:51.920 next four hours. We repeated our attacks, improving and refining 1836 01:49:51.960 --> 01:49:54.640 them until it was time to stop and the Kapa 1837 01:49:54.640 --> 01:49:59.039 figure was toast. Meanwhile, we were to have some dinner 1838 01:49:59.079 --> 01:50:02.039 and get some rest. When I went to shower, I 1839 01:50:02.079 --> 01:50:07.119 discovered that Akimi's room was next to mine. Part nine, 1840 01:50:07.359 --> 01:50:12.239 the task at hand. At eighteen hundred hours, I knocked 1841 01:50:12.279 --> 01:50:16.600 on Akimi's door, Come in, she said. I opened the 1842 01:50:16.640 --> 01:50:19.520 door to find her seated at her computer with papers 1843 01:50:19.560 --> 01:50:23.319 scattered around her table. She looked up at me reluctantly. 1844 01:50:24.119 --> 01:50:28.279 You know this is a suicide mission, right, she said, huh, 1845 01:50:28.359 --> 01:50:31.399 I said. The only way for this plan to work 1846 01:50:31.439 --> 01:50:35.520 will be for you, THEO agent Tanaka, and the Semiosha's 1847 01:50:35.520 --> 01:50:40.000 security force to die. According to the Plantanaka shared with me, 1848 01:50:40.199 --> 01:50:42.560 you're going to have to fight your way into the 1849 01:50:42.560 --> 01:50:45.760 tunnels and get to the main cavern. There, you'll be 1850 01:50:45.840 --> 01:50:50.600 expected to set explosives and collapse everything. She hesitated for 1851 01:50:50.640 --> 01:50:55.960 a moment before continuing, there will be no time to escape. 1852 01:50:56.159 --> 01:50:59.279 She leaned forward and begged me with her eyes. Please 1853 01:50:59.359 --> 01:51:03.479 don't go. I don't go on suicide missions, I assured her. 1854 01:51:04.800 --> 01:51:09.039 Later at dinner, mister Sumiyoshi, Jonah, THEO, Akimi, and I 1855 01:51:09.119 --> 01:51:12.680 sat at the dinner table together. We sipped saki and 1856 01:51:12.880 --> 01:51:16.640 toasted our health and success. The alcohol burned in our 1857 01:51:16.680 --> 01:51:20.000 throats as we drank it down. You need another plan. 1858 01:51:20.319 --> 01:51:24.279 You're all gonna die, Akimi said to the room. Mister 1859 01:51:24.359 --> 01:51:28.359 Sumiyoshi and Jonah looked at her in surprise. There's a 1860 01:51:28.399 --> 01:51:33.000 better way, she insisted. Everyone at the table began to 1861 01:51:33.119 --> 01:51:37.439 argue with her, besides me. Damn it, she shouted. After 1862 01:51:37.479 --> 01:51:40.159 several minutes, what good would it do for you to 1863 01:51:40.279 --> 01:51:43.359 die in honorable death? She stood up and ran out 1864 01:51:43.399 --> 01:51:45.560 of the room, leaving the rest of us staring at 1865 01:51:45.560 --> 01:51:49.359 each other in silence. After a moment, I stood up 1866 01:51:49.399 --> 01:51:54.000 and followed her. I found Akimi in her room, furious 1867 01:51:54.039 --> 01:51:57.560 and crying, and I pulled her into my arms. What's 1868 01:51:57.560 --> 01:52:01.119 your plan, I asked her. She told me that they 1869 01:52:01.159 --> 01:52:03.800 had used infrared to track the kappa that I had 1870 01:52:03.800 --> 01:52:07.800 wounded back to the river. There they located an underwater cave. 1871 01:52:08.720 --> 01:52:11.720 I asked the US government to provide assistance with ground 1872 01:52:11.800 --> 01:52:15.479 penetrating radar to map the tunnels and hopefully locate the 1873 01:52:15.520 --> 01:52:18.760 main cavity. We can use you to lure them out, 1874 01:52:19.000 --> 01:52:22.279 she said. They have your scent and they hate you. 1875 01:52:23.239 --> 01:52:26.399 She explained that the US military has a type of 1876 01:52:26.560 --> 01:52:29.600 seismic bomb that they can drop over the cave and 1877 01:52:29.680 --> 01:52:33.119 panic the reptilians. It was the same one they used 1878 01:52:33.119 --> 01:52:36.520 to flush out and kill the giants of Kandahar. How 1879 01:52:36.560 --> 01:52:40.159 do you know that, I asked her. Everybody knows that. 1880 01:52:40.439 --> 01:52:43.880 She said, you want to use me for bait, I ask, 1881 01:52:44.600 --> 01:52:48.399 Don't worry. There will be back up, she said. The 1882 01:52:48.479 --> 01:52:50.560 next morning, I was back at the dojo at o 1883 01:52:50.680 --> 01:52:54.560 seven hundred hours. Mounted on a small platform was one 1884 01:52:54.600 --> 01:52:57.800 of the Kappa we had killed. It was almost seven 1885 01:52:57.880 --> 01:53:01.199 feet tall and its steink like hell. A brave man 1886 01:53:01.239 --> 01:53:03.720 would piss himself if he ran into this thing in 1887 01:53:03.760 --> 01:53:07.920 a dark alley. Mister Sumiyoshi and agent Tanaka were there. 1888 01:53:08.960 --> 01:53:12.600 You have this for today, only Tanaka informed us, and 1889 01:53:12.640 --> 01:53:17.279 then we must return it to cold storage. Tetsagen delivered 1890 01:53:17.279 --> 01:53:20.560 our swords in my knife. Our catanas are in the scabbard, 1891 01:53:20.680 --> 01:53:24.479 so our strikes would not completely destroy the Kappa. THEO 1892 01:53:24.640 --> 01:53:28.359 went first, followed by Jonah. When it was my turn, 1893 01:53:28.479 --> 01:53:30.159 I took a moment to get a feel of my 1894 01:53:30.279 --> 01:53:34.479 sword before striking the Kappa. As we sat down for lunch, 1895 01:53:34.760 --> 01:53:38.000 Kenda entered the room and announced that we had guests. 1896 01:53:38.560 --> 01:53:42.359 It was Lieutenant Kobe Ellis and my old teammate Tim Ross. 1897 01:53:42.840 --> 01:53:45.039 I sprang out of my seat to hug him, and 1898 01:53:45.079 --> 01:53:48.359 we both teared up. I would learn that Kobe's mother 1899 01:53:48.600 --> 01:53:52.800 was from Kobe Japan. I heard you've been catching spring lizards, 1900 01:53:52.840 --> 01:53:56.439 Tim said. I pointed at a Kimi. It's her fault. 1901 01:53:57.159 --> 01:54:01.119 Tim looked at Akimi. So this is the sculpted goddess 1902 01:54:01.159 --> 01:54:05.159 you emailed me about, he said. Both My and Achimi's 1903 01:54:05.159 --> 01:54:08.920 face turned brilliant. Shed's afraid. I understand you have a 1904 01:54:08.920 --> 01:54:14.479 wildlife exhibiting the dojo. Kobe interjected, First we eat, THEO 1905 01:54:14.680 --> 01:54:18.640 told him. Then we will see the kappa. As we 1906 01:54:18.880 --> 01:54:22.640 ate our lunch. Kobe explained that a specialized Navy seal 1907 01:54:22.760 --> 01:54:27.319 unit was dedicated to managing these humanoid reptiles. They would 1908 01:54:27.439 --> 01:54:32.039 arrive in Osaka around zero dark thirty. Tim was tasked 1909 01:54:32.039 --> 01:54:36.439 with liaising between us and the seal team. After lunch, 1910 01:54:36.560 --> 01:54:39.119 we walked down to the dojo for a moment of truth. 1911 01:54:39.600 --> 01:54:42.760 Kobe and Tim got their first look at the Kappa. Well, 1912 01:54:42.800 --> 01:54:46.319 I'll be Tim mumbled under his breath, while I got 1913 01:54:46.359 --> 01:54:49.279 back to work. Akemi explained the scrolls and the blue 1914 01:54:49.319 --> 01:54:53.359 steel swords to Kobe and Tim. After a couple of hours. 1915 01:54:53.399 --> 01:54:56.960 The Katana felt like an extension of my arm. It 1916 01:54:57.000 --> 01:55:01.119 was light, but strong and well balanced. Remembered the importance 1917 01:55:01.159 --> 01:55:04.640 of allowing my mind's eye to direct my movements. It 1918 01:55:04.720 --> 01:55:07.680 seemed easier to do with this new sword. I felt 1919 01:55:07.680 --> 01:55:10.479 as though I had a personal connection with it. At 1920 01:55:10.479 --> 01:55:13.800 eighteen hundred hours, we reconvened at the dinner table and 1921 01:55:13.880 --> 01:55:17.880 we discussed strategies and decided on a dry run simulation 1922 01:55:18.079 --> 01:55:21.840 in the dojo for our attack on the tunnels. Akimi's 1923 01:55:21.840 --> 01:55:25.279 plan started sounding better as we ironed out the details. 1924 01:55:26.159 --> 01:55:28.880 At twenty one hundred hours, we called it a night. 1925 01:55:29.840 --> 01:55:32.520 Back in her bedroom. Akimi clung to me tightly and 1926 01:55:32.560 --> 01:55:37.800 we fell asleep in each other's arms. At one five hours, 1927 01:55:37.840 --> 01:55:42.079 the dojo alarm sounded and gunfire erupted, and I sprang 1928 01:55:42.159 --> 01:55:45.479 up and grabbed my tack vest in ar. Stay here, 1929 01:55:45.720 --> 01:55:50.159 I told Akimi and shoot anything with scales. I entered 1930 01:55:50.159 --> 01:55:52.600 the hallway to find Tim and Kobe already there with 1931 01:55:52.640 --> 01:55:56.800 their weapons slung together. We entered the dojo, hugging the 1932 01:55:56.800 --> 01:56:01.479 walls as we moved cautiously forward and began screaming. As 1933 01:56:01.520 --> 01:56:05.239 a hissing screech echoed through the building, I motioned to 1934 01:56:05.279 --> 01:56:09.239 Tim to slide right while I pushed forward contact to right. 1935 01:56:09.359 --> 01:56:13.000 Two o'clock. Tim shouted. We opened up and put one 1936 01:56:13.039 --> 01:56:16.720 down as the other ran off screaming. I heard another 1937 01:56:16.760 --> 01:56:19.119 scream behind me and turned to see one of those 1938 01:56:19.159 --> 01:56:22.640 things attacking Kobe. He had knocked him to the ground 1939 01:56:22.720 --> 01:56:26.359 and was slashing at him. Before I could fire, Tim 1940 01:56:26.399 --> 01:56:29.840 put two rounds into his ear, spraying brains and slime 1941 01:56:30.000 --> 01:56:33.159 onto the wall, and Kobe was cut up badly. But 1942 01:56:33.279 --> 01:56:36.720 before I could check him, another scream split the night. 1943 01:56:37.720 --> 01:56:40.479 One of them beheaded a security team member at the 1944 01:56:40.560 --> 01:56:44.960 dojo entrance. Tim and I opened up simultaneously and put 1945 01:56:45.000 --> 01:56:47.960 it down. As the creature fell to the ground, I 1946 01:56:47.960 --> 01:56:51.439 heard Akimi scream from inside the house. Tim and I 1947 01:56:51.560 --> 01:56:54.319 rounded the corner to the front entrance to find three 1948 01:56:54.359 --> 01:56:58.279 of the reptilians. One of them had Akimi and I 1949 01:56:58.359 --> 01:57:01.720 darted down the driveway as the other two charged us. 1950 01:57:02.279 --> 01:57:05.000 We put rounds into their mouths and throats, and then 1951 01:57:05.199 --> 01:57:09.000 sidestepped and ducked and rolled, and we went after Akimi, 1952 01:57:09.439 --> 01:57:13.520 but they were already gone. Tanaka arrived and announced that 1953 01:57:13.600 --> 01:57:16.920 two of his men were dead. Kobe was in need 1954 01:57:16.960 --> 01:57:21.640 of medical attention and would require an immediate injection. I 1955 01:57:21.720 --> 01:57:25.199 started screaming at Tanaka that I was going after Akimi 1956 01:57:25.279 --> 01:57:27.760 and that he'd better tell me where that entrance was 1957 01:57:27.800 --> 01:57:31.640 to the cave. We will go after her. He said, calmly, 1958 01:57:32.119 --> 01:57:34.960 but this attack was a diversion to abduct her and 1959 01:57:35.039 --> 01:57:38.239 pull us in, to pull you into a trap. I'm 1960 01:57:38.279 --> 01:57:42.560 sure she's still alive. He walked back inside, his words 1961 01:57:42.640 --> 01:57:46.920 doing nothing to placate me. I followed him into the house, 1962 01:57:47.319 --> 01:57:51.239 and a security guard lay dead in the fouryer sitting 1963 01:57:51.239 --> 01:57:53.920 on the floor next to a dead Kappa Jonah was 1964 01:57:53.960 --> 01:57:57.359 bleeding while one of Tanaka's men tended to his wounds. 1965 01:57:58.159 --> 01:58:02.560 Kenda had been beheaded. Master Rikagi Jonas said, when he 1966 01:58:02.600 --> 01:58:06.720 saw me upstairs, I took the steps two at a 1967 01:58:06.800 --> 01:58:09.800 time and discovered theo on the floor in front of 1968 01:58:09.880 --> 01:58:14.239 my room. Next to him was a decapitated kappa. He 1969 01:58:14.279 --> 01:58:18.479 looked into my eyes. We fought well, he said, grabbing 1970 01:58:18.520 --> 01:58:22.279 my hand in his, and then he breathed his last. 1971 01:58:22.800 --> 01:58:26.239 The window frame in Akimi's room had been destroyed, and 1972 01:58:26.279 --> 01:58:30.000 another dead kappa lay with its feet still on the sill. 1973 01:58:30.520 --> 01:58:32.880 Bullet wounds riddled the side of its head and neck. 1974 01:58:33.760 --> 01:58:36.840 I picked up the pistol next to Akimi's bed and 1975 01:58:36.840 --> 01:58:40.239 I examined it, and my mind raised with guilt. I 1976 01:58:40.279 --> 01:58:42.960 should not have told her to stay here. This was 1977 01:58:43.039 --> 01:58:47.000 my fault. Memories of praying with my mother sprang up, 1978 01:58:47.039 --> 01:58:49.560 and I grasped my hands together and leaned my head 1979 01:58:49.600 --> 01:58:52.800 against them, and I started to pray. Show me what 1980 01:58:52.960 --> 01:58:55.760 to do, I said, and then I stood up and 1981 01:58:55.800 --> 01:58:59.760 grabbed my gear and headed downstairs. The sealed team is 1982 01:58:59.760 --> 01:59:03.119 in a Osaka, Kobe said, as I walked past. They'll 1983 01:59:03.159 --> 01:59:06.119 be here around three thirty, and in f twenty two 1984 01:59:06.239 --> 01:59:09.880 is scrambling out of Okinama with percussion bombs. It was 1985 01:59:10.119 --> 01:59:13.479 two hundred hours. I'm not wasting time waiting on the 1986 01:59:13.520 --> 01:59:17.520 seal team, I spat, before turning to Tanaka. Where is 1987 01:59:17.560 --> 01:59:21.199 your helicopter? I can have it here in fifteen minutes, 1988 01:59:21.319 --> 01:59:24.840 he said, then gather your men. There's no time to 1989 01:59:24.920 --> 01:59:32.039 waste Part ten Fukushi Vengeance. I told Tanaka to gather 1990 01:59:32.119 --> 01:59:34.640 up the carcasses of the dead lizards and have the 1991 01:59:34.680 --> 01:59:38.039 helicopter drop them on the bank above the underwater entrance. 1992 01:59:38.720 --> 01:59:43.319 Texagen entered and said in Japanese, how can I serve you? 1993 01:59:43.359 --> 01:59:45.800 Get some rope and go with a helicopter. I told 1994 01:59:45.840 --> 01:59:48.720 him cut the kappa into big chunks and throw them 1995 01:59:48.720 --> 01:59:53.439 in the river like bait. Jonah, bandaged and struggling, said 1996 01:59:53.840 --> 01:59:57.479 take Master Akagi's katana and I'll join you. We can 1997 01:59:57.520 --> 02:00:01.399 cut them up well. I turned back to Tanaka. Have 1998 02:00:01.520 --> 02:00:04.800 your men drop flares on top of the main cavern coordinates, 1999 02:00:05.159 --> 02:00:08.520 and then I turned to Kobe. Are we good to go? Affirmative? 2000 02:00:08.720 --> 02:00:12.079 He replied, you got a high band portable radio so 2001 02:00:12.119 --> 02:00:14.479 we can talk to the F twenty two in the seals. 2002 02:00:14.720 --> 02:00:18.359 I asked, yes, sir. He snapped, Tim, you up for 2003 02:00:18.399 --> 02:00:21.600 a little swim, I asked, turning to him, Oh yeah, 2004 02:00:21.760 --> 02:00:25.279 he answered. By the time the chopper sat us down, 2005 02:00:25.319 --> 02:00:28.560 it was almost three hundred. I jumped off the skids 2006 02:00:28.600 --> 02:00:32.840 with Tim and Kobe on my six. Jonah, Texigen and 2007 02:00:32.880 --> 02:00:35.840 Tanaka along with three of his men were ready to 2008 02:00:35.960 --> 02:00:40.279 join us. They had sophisticated goggles. Two of them were 2009 02:00:40.279 --> 02:00:44.520 wearing James Bond looking spear guns. The plan was for 2010 02:00:44.680 --> 02:00:47.600 Kobe to remain there with the two security guards while 2011 02:00:47.680 --> 02:00:52.880 Jonah chunked bait. Kobe, bring it, I commanded. He nodded 2012 02:00:52.920 --> 02:00:56.319 and keyed the mic on his portable banger two to one. 2013 02:00:56.399 --> 02:01:01.039 This is Angler. Make some noise, he said, Bang one. Roger, 2014 02:01:01.239 --> 02:01:04.920 the voice answered, I said a silent prayer that the 2015 02:01:04.960 --> 02:01:08.760 bombs wouldn't kill a Kemi. When Kobe yelled, cover your ears. 2016 02:01:10.439 --> 02:01:14.359 Thirty seconds later, we heard an explosion, and a harmonic 2017 02:01:14.479 --> 02:01:18.279 shock wave swept under us, vibrating the ground beneath our 2018 02:01:18.319 --> 02:01:22.000 feet and throwing us off our equilibrium. For a few minutes, 2019 02:01:22.880 --> 02:01:29.159 Kobe's radio cracked. Angler copy package delivered Spearfisher inbound Eta 2020 02:01:29.319 --> 02:01:34.159 twenty five. A voice said Roger that six souls to beach. 2021 02:01:34.640 --> 02:01:38.319 Kobe answered, take a deep breath, I said, and we 2022 02:01:38.359 --> 02:01:42.600 went feet wet. Even with the powerful lights, it was 2023 02:01:42.680 --> 02:01:46.640 hard to find the cave entrance. After forty seconds, one 2024 02:01:46.680 --> 02:01:49.960 of Tanaka's men said something over the radio in Japanese 2025 02:01:49.960 --> 02:01:54.039 that I think was several Kappa ascending. Damn they could 2026 02:01:54.079 --> 02:01:57.720 swim fast. At that moment I got to see what 2027 02:01:57.760 --> 02:02:01.520 those spear guns could do. The tip was a phosphorus 2028 02:02:01.560 --> 02:02:05.720 flare that ignited on contact with the kappa. The murky 2029 02:02:05.760 --> 02:02:09.159 water lit up, and we heard the kapa shriek. Three 2030 02:02:09.239 --> 02:02:11.399 or four of them seemed to freeze when they came 2031 02:02:11.439 --> 02:02:15.039 into contact with the bait lines. Tim swam over and 2032 02:02:15.079 --> 02:02:19.479 put his tack knife in one's ear. Konnata Tanaka shouted 2033 02:02:19.520 --> 02:02:23.399 over the colms this way. He directed everyone to follow 2034 02:02:23.479 --> 02:02:26.880 him where he could see a cave entrance illuminated, and 2035 02:02:26.960 --> 02:02:29.680 at the entrance he paused and fired something out of 2036 02:02:29.680 --> 02:02:33.760 a large tube. In seconds, the passage was lit up 2037 02:02:33.840 --> 02:02:37.680 so intensely we had to cover our eyes. I called 2038 02:02:37.760 --> 02:02:40.319 Kobe over the cons to have the F twenty two 2039 02:02:40.479 --> 02:02:44.680 drop round two. I started a thirty second countdown as 2040 02:02:44.720 --> 02:02:48.359 we entered the tunnel. We emerged into an area now 2041 02:02:48.399 --> 02:02:52.560 dimly lit by Tanaka's flare. When we had been under 2042 02:02:52.560 --> 02:02:56.840 the water for a minute, I shouted brace. We covered 2043 02:02:56.840 --> 02:03:00.760 our ears as another shockwave hit. This time it felt 2044 02:03:00.800 --> 02:03:04.279 like our eyes and ears would pop. I turned around 2045 02:03:04.319 --> 02:03:06.760 to take a head count and one of Tanaka's men 2046 02:03:06.920 --> 02:03:10.880 was missing. We got on solid ground and slung weapons. 2047 02:03:11.359 --> 02:03:13.600 We still had one man with a spear gun and 2048 02:03:13.680 --> 02:03:17.399 one man with an intense light beam. I told them 2049 02:03:17.439 --> 02:03:20.319 I would take point and brandish my katana to put 2050 02:03:20.359 --> 02:03:23.760 fear in them, and it apparently worked. As one of 2051 02:03:23.760 --> 02:03:26.680 them approached it froze at the sight of the katana, 2052 02:03:26.880 --> 02:03:29.840 giving me time to slide under it and sever its 2053 02:03:29.920 --> 02:03:33.840 legs while the others opened fire. The screeches were deafening 2054 02:03:34.000 --> 02:03:38.760 as the remaining Kapa retreated. As we penetrated further into 2055 02:03:38.840 --> 02:03:42.039 the passage, I heard a garbled message from Kobe, but 2056 02:03:42.119 --> 02:03:46.119 I couldn't understand it. Above the ground, two security guards 2057 02:03:46.159 --> 02:03:48.760 had shot several Kappa that were coming out of the water. 2058 02:03:49.760 --> 02:03:53.880 Jonah and Texigen had managed to kill one. The combination 2059 02:03:54.000 --> 02:03:56.079 of the bombs and the blue steel had given us 2060 02:03:56.119 --> 02:04:01.399 the advantage. A black Hawk emerged down river unannounced, spear 2061 02:04:01.479 --> 02:04:07.159 fisher on station. Within six minutes, six seals fast rope down, 2062 02:04:07.319 --> 02:04:11.920 equipped with more James Bond looking type equipment. Kobe briefed 2063 02:04:11.960 --> 02:04:15.640 them and they prepared to get wet. Below ground, we 2064 02:04:15.720 --> 02:04:18.840 inched down the passage while pressed against the walls, using 2065 02:04:18.840 --> 02:04:23.039 a red light. The ear piercing screeches and hissing began 2066 02:04:23.079 --> 02:04:27.680 to hit us. It was annoying and confusing and disorienting 2067 02:04:27.760 --> 02:04:31.039 all at the same time. It was as if they 2068 02:04:31.039 --> 02:04:34.560 were all trying to blast us at once. So I 2069 02:04:34.600 --> 02:04:38.079 stood there and took some deep breaths, remembering Master Akagi 2070 02:04:38.119 --> 02:04:43.720 and Jonah's words, use your mind's eye. I turned to Tim, 2071 02:04:43.840 --> 02:04:47.680 who was behind me. Close your eyes and breathe. Imagine 2072 02:04:47.680 --> 02:04:49.520 a little dot of light in front of you and 2073 02:04:49.600 --> 02:04:53.399 concentrate and breathe. Then follow me, I said. I told 2074 02:04:53.399 --> 02:04:56.359 Tanaka that we were advancing, and he informed me that 2075 02:04:56.479 --> 02:04:59.439 the seal team had entered the cave. So I directed 2076 02:04:59.439 --> 02:05:02.039 one man go back to brief them and bring them 2077 02:05:02.039 --> 02:05:05.479 to us. Tanaka told the man with the spear gun 2078 02:05:05.560 --> 02:05:08.960 to fire at the first kappa we saw. We inch 2079 02:05:09.039 --> 02:05:12.880 further under the onslaught of the hissing until several kapa 2080 02:05:13.000 --> 02:05:16.760 rushed forward. The spear gunner managed to fire one round 2081 02:05:16.800 --> 02:05:20.520 before one of them slammed into him. The phosphorus light 2082 02:05:20.640 --> 02:05:25.359 illuminated the chamber to reveal dozens of the sobs. Tim 2083 02:05:25.520 --> 02:05:28.000 opened up as I drew the katana off my back 2084 02:05:28.039 --> 02:05:33.359 and started striking. Tanaka threw an incendiary grenade, and Tim 2085 02:05:33.439 --> 02:05:36.119 followed suit, and a few of them were engulfed in 2086 02:05:36.159 --> 02:05:40.119 the flames. It lit up two side tunnels that revealed 2087 02:05:40.119 --> 02:05:43.720 more Kappa than I could count. The Kappa who were 2088 02:05:43.840 --> 02:05:47.359 close enough to see the blue steel hesitated. They were 2089 02:05:47.399 --> 02:05:51.479 afraid and confused about what to do next. I raised 2090 02:05:51.479 --> 02:05:53.560 the blade over my head as if I were about 2091 02:05:53.560 --> 02:05:56.560 to strike, and they backed away. And at that moment 2092 02:05:56.600 --> 02:05:59.119 I heard a voice in my head say I'm going 2093 02:05:59.159 --> 02:06:03.319 to kill her. I turned and shouted, Tim, she's alive. 2094 02:06:04.680 --> 02:06:07.880 The Kappa surrounding us stayed back to avoid the flames 2095 02:06:07.880 --> 02:06:11.520 from the grenades. Tanaka's man was dead from a deep 2096 02:06:11.560 --> 02:06:15.119 cut to his throat. Tanaka grabbed the spear gun and 2097 02:06:15.199 --> 02:06:19.039 started firing into the side passages as he shouted, go 2098 02:06:19.119 --> 02:06:23.560 get her. Tim chucked another phosphorus grenade way out in 2099 02:06:23.560 --> 02:06:27.560 front of us, and we slowly advanced. This ain't your fight, Tim, 2100 02:06:27.680 --> 02:06:31.560 I shouted, you can lay back and wait for the seals. Well, 2101 02:06:31.600 --> 02:06:34.279 with all due respect, Captain, shut the hell up and 2102 02:06:34.359 --> 02:06:37.960 move out, he yelled back. I nodded, and we moved 2103 02:06:37.960 --> 02:06:40.560 to the edge of the phosphorus light, where the passage 2104 02:06:40.600 --> 02:06:44.439 opened into a huge cavern. With rocks and debris everywhere, 2105 02:06:44.960 --> 02:06:47.960 and we slowly moved forward until we could see the 2106 02:06:48.039 --> 02:06:51.800 outline of dozens of Kappa standing around what looked like 2107 02:06:51.880 --> 02:06:56.159 a stage or an altar. I could hear that voice again, saying, 2108 02:06:56.840 --> 02:07:01.159 enter inter. As we got closer, I could see the 2109 02:07:01.199 --> 02:07:04.760 Alpha standing on the altar, surrounded by four other Kappa. 2110 02:07:05.439 --> 02:07:08.800 He was holding Achimi with one hand as the claws 2111 02:07:08.800 --> 02:07:12.399 of his other hand pressed against her neck. The other 2112 02:07:12.520 --> 02:07:15.079 kappa on the stage were bigger than any I had 2113 02:07:15.119 --> 02:07:18.800 seen so far, and the Alpha was over seven feet tall. 2114 02:07:19.399 --> 02:07:23.000 He had an aura of pure evil about him. The 2115 02:07:23.039 --> 02:07:26.279 air feels like it weighs a ton. Tim whispered from 2116 02:07:26.319 --> 02:07:30.920 behind me, I've never felt so uneasy. The Alpha had 2117 02:07:31.000 --> 02:07:34.680 yellow eyes with vertical pupils and was difficult to look at. 2118 02:07:34.720 --> 02:07:38.479 As we got closer, what do you want? I shouted 2119 02:07:39.520 --> 02:07:43.720 Somewhere in the distance behind us. Loud gunfire cracked the air, 2120 02:07:44.000 --> 02:07:48.279 followed by minor explosions and the sound of kapa suffering. 2121 02:07:49.000 --> 02:07:51.840 Look at the kappa around the altar. They're scared, I 2122 02:07:51.920 --> 02:07:56.039 told Tim, get ready to toss those phosphorus grenades. I'm 2123 02:07:56.039 --> 02:07:59.960 about to do something. The voice in my head spoke again. 2124 02:08:00.680 --> 02:08:03.760 I want you, the Sumiyoshi family, and the rest of 2125 02:08:03.800 --> 02:08:08.840 the worms dead. Slowly, I moved forward, displaying the sword 2126 02:08:08.920 --> 02:08:12.039 in front of me. I know you hear my people 2127 02:08:12.119 --> 02:08:15.399 coming there, killing all the Kappa. If you want to 2128 02:08:15.439 --> 02:08:18.720 save your kind and keep your throne, release her and 2129 02:08:18.880 --> 02:08:22.199 keep me. I made it to the edge of the altar. 2130 02:08:22.800 --> 02:08:26.000 Look around you. You see the fear in the kappa's eyes. 2131 02:08:26.279 --> 02:08:28.960 They know you're about to die. It's up to you 2132 02:08:29.000 --> 02:08:32.159 to save them. And as I got closer, the other 2133 02:08:32.239 --> 02:08:35.359 Kappa on the altar started to move back in fear 2134 02:08:36.760 --> 02:08:41.159 Part eleven a faithful gamble. The Alpha looked at me 2135 02:08:41.239 --> 02:08:44.880 with hatred and rage. I looked around as I moved 2136 02:08:44.880 --> 02:08:47.960 my body from side to side and displayed the sword. 2137 02:08:49.000 --> 02:08:52.119 They're afraid, I shouted. They want to live and they 2138 02:08:52.199 --> 02:08:55.640 know it's up to you to save them. At that moment, 2139 02:08:55.720 --> 02:08:59.000 the gunfire from the seal team drew closer. Many of 2140 02:08:59.000 --> 02:09:02.159 the Kapa flinched and looked in that direction. Some of 2141 02:09:02.199 --> 02:09:05.880 them hid behind each other in this now, I said, 2142 02:09:06.279 --> 02:09:10.479 take me and let her go. The Alpha nodded, and 2143 02:09:10.520 --> 02:09:12.880 the voice in my head directed me to lay the 2144 02:09:12.920 --> 02:09:16.760 sword on the altar. I breathed, and allowed my mind's 2145 02:09:16.800 --> 02:09:20.680 eye to dictate my next move. I heard the voices 2146 02:09:20.720 --> 02:09:23.840 of the seal team calling out. I looked over at 2147 02:09:23.840 --> 02:09:27.039 Tim and he was ready. I inched closer to the 2148 02:09:27.079 --> 02:09:30.760 Alpha and he towered over me. His teeth were like razors. 2149 02:09:31.079 --> 02:09:34.720 His claws were three or four inches long. I inch 2150 02:09:34.800 --> 02:09:38.039 closer and pulled back my collar and exposed my neck. 2151 02:09:38.960 --> 02:09:42.199 His grip on a kimi loosened. She fell forward off 2152 02:09:42.239 --> 02:09:45.960 the altar, and the Alpha wrapped his fingers around my neck. 2153 02:09:46.840 --> 02:09:51.199 Tim grabbed a kimi. My hands were still loosening my 2154 02:09:51.359 --> 02:09:54.520 clothes as if to offer him my neck. I looked 2155 02:09:54.560 --> 02:09:57.720 at the Alpha and his ugly face, and I sneered. God, 2156 02:09:57.800 --> 02:10:03.199 you're ugly, I said. His body tensed as rage flooded 2157 02:10:03.239 --> 02:10:07.439 his face and his eyes burned with pure malice. He 2158 02:10:07.520 --> 02:10:10.119 picked me up by my neck. I heard a chemi 2159 02:10:10.239 --> 02:10:12.800 scream as he pulled me close and opened his big 2160 02:10:12.840 --> 02:10:16.960 mouth to reveal those razor sharp teeth. He was preparing 2161 02:10:17.000 --> 02:10:19.279 to rip my face off, but I needed him to 2162 02:10:19.279 --> 02:10:23.159 pull me just a little bit closer. His mouth gaped 2163 02:10:23.199 --> 02:10:27.359 wider as the fetid smell of putrid breath engulfed my senses. 2164 02:10:28.279 --> 02:10:31.439 I pulled Tetchigen's knife from inside my lapel and I 2165 02:10:31.560 --> 02:10:35.199 thrust it into his neck. He slashed at me with 2166 02:10:35.279 --> 02:10:38.920 his free hand, and I fell backward. The impact left 2167 02:10:38.960 --> 02:10:42.079 me idled as blood poured into my right eye, leaving 2168 02:10:42.119 --> 02:10:45.439 me unable to see out of it. Roll right. Tim 2169 02:10:45.520 --> 02:10:48.920 screamed as he threw a phosphorus grenade onto the altar. 2170 02:10:49.880 --> 02:10:52.520 I rolled as quickly as I could, covering my head 2171 02:10:52.560 --> 02:10:55.560 as I did, and a loud bang, followed by the 2172 02:10:55.560 --> 02:10:59.199 most hideous screeching I had ever heard, fill the air. 2173 02:11:00.640 --> 02:11:04.800 I regained consciousness to the sound of Akimi's voice talk 2174 02:11:04.880 --> 02:11:08.279 to me, Harry, I heard her say. She and e 2175 02:11:08.399 --> 02:11:11.840 Medic were tending to me. She was holding me, looking worried. 2176 02:11:12.520 --> 02:11:16.479 What happened? I asked. She told me that the Seal 2177 02:11:16.560 --> 02:11:19.239 Team had secured the place and what was left of 2178 02:11:19.279 --> 02:11:22.399 the Kappa didn't want to fight anymore. They had brought 2179 02:11:22.479 --> 02:11:25.159 someone with them who could communicate with the Kappa and 2180 02:11:25.199 --> 02:11:29.560 discovered the identity of the evil Wizard. Some people had died, 2181 02:11:29.640 --> 02:11:33.000 but thanks to our efforts, many more had been saved. 2182 02:11:33.760 --> 02:11:38.680 That's not too bad for a hillbilly, she said. Part twelve, 2183 02:11:39.279 --> 02:11:44.239 Dream and Duty Tanaka had lost four men in this fight. 2184 02:11:45.039 --> 02:11:49.840 Mister Sumiyoshi had lost four family members, three security guards, 2185 02:11:49.880 --> 02:11:53.920 and two servants, but I had found my soulmate. I 2186 02:11:54.000 --> 02:11:57.000 was pretty sure I'd also found my new calling after 2187 02:11:57.279 --> 02:12:02.239 mister Sumiyoshi offered me a position Master Jonas' second in command. 2188 02:12:03.439 --> 02:12:05.960 Three days after it was all over and we had 2189 02:12:06.039 --> 02:12:09.239 honored our dead, Achimi and I were having dinner at 2190 02:12:09.239 --> 02:12:12.079 the Big House. Where did you get the idea to 2191 02:12:12.119 --> 02:12:16.399 cut up the reptilian like fish bait? She asked, Vlad 2192 02:12:16.439 --> 02:12:20.560 the Impaler? Do you know Dracula? I told her she 2193 02:12:20.680 --> 02:12:24.199 wasn't familiar with the story, so I explained Vlad would 2194 02:12:24.279 --> 02:12:28.000 impale his enemies on pikes on the battlefield to terrorize 2195 02:12:28.000 --> 02:12:32.039 opposing armies. He and his men would drink their blood 2196 02:12:32.079 --> 02:12:35.159 so the opposing forces would see it. That was how 2197 02:12:35.199 --> 02:12:39.840 the whole vampire legend began. Vampires aren't exactly a legend. 2198 02:12:40.039 --> 02:12:43.079 You know that, right, she said, with a serious look. 2199 02:12:43.560 --> 02:12:46.840 I shook my head, and by the way, she added, 2200 02:12:47.159 --> 02:12:49.359 I've invited a few people to come for dinner, and 2201 02:12:49.399 --> 02:12:52.800 I hope you don't mind. Why would I mind? The 2202 02:12:52.880 --> 02:12:57.680 sides of my face were still bandaged. I wasn't going anywhere, Abby, 2203 02:12:57.880 --> 02:13:01.680 the new servant ushered in our gifts. It was Tim 2204 02:13:01.800 --> 02:13:07.119 Tanaka Kobe, General Edwards of Army Intelligence and Director Smithwick 2205 02:13:07.159 --> 02:13:11.079 of Interpole entered the room. I leaned over to a Kimi. 2206 02:13:11.680 --> 02:13:14.279 What are you up to? I asked her in a whisper. 2207 02:13:15.279 --> 02:13:18.039 She squeezed my arm and gave me a sheepest grin. 2208 02:13:18.119 --> 02:13:24.039 While Kobe handled the introductions, Doctor Smithwick spoke first, Bloody, 2209 02:13:24.039 --> 02:13:26.640 good to meet you, Captain, he said, glancing at the 2210 02:13:26.680 --> 02:13:32.720 General beside him. We have a proposition for you. Epilogue. 2211 02:13:33.119 --> 02:13:37.720 What threatens us most is what we ignore. Thanks for 2212 02:13:37.840 --> 02:13:40.760 joining me on this podcast. I certainly do appreciate it. 2213 02:13:40.760 --> 02:13:43.079 It was longer than most. If you made it to 2214 02:13:43.119 --> 02:13:45.279 the end, drop a comment let me know you made 2215 02:13:45.279 --> 02:13:47.920 it to the end. I love to see those people 2216 02:13:47.960 --> 02:13:51.840 who listened to two or three hour long podcast. You 2217 02:13:52.479 --> 02:13:56.239 deserve to have your name shaved in my back. I 2218 02:13:56.359 --> 02:13:59.760 might do that if I get enough people to get 2219 02:13:59.800 --> 02:14:02.479 my old backshaved. Does that make sense? That make any 2220 02:14:02.560 --> 02:14:05.520 sense at all? Does it anyway? I'll shave your name 2221 02:14:05.720 --> 02:14:08.319 in my back hairs. If you drop a comment and 2222 02:14:08.439 --> 02:14:10.760 say that you made it to the end, it's gonna 2223 02:14:10.760 --> 02:14:12.439 be a little hard to get my wife to do that, 2224 02:14:12.560 --> 02:14:15.000 but I'll try. I'll do my best anyway. Thanks for 2225 02:14:15.039 --> 02:14:17.640 listening this long. I appreciate you, and we'll see you 2226 02:14:17.640 --> 02:14:19.399 guys on the next podcast. Thank you so