Not a Yeti, Yet: A Novel
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About this ebook
L. Don Jackson
L. Don Jackson is a retired Safety Manager from Portland, Oregon. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, he served in the U.S. Navy and is a decorated Vietnam veteran. An avid football fan and “Bigfoot” enthusiast, Don now lives in the Sacramento Mountains in southern New Mexico. This is his first novel, the result of an entertaining dream.
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Not a Yeti, Yet - L. Don Jackson
Not a Yeti, Yet
L. Don Jackson
© 2013 by L. Don Jackson
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or
mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems
without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer
who may quote brief passages in a review.
Sunstone books may be purchased for educational, business, or sales promotional use.
For information please write: Special Markets Department, Sunstone Press,
P.O. Box 2321, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-2321.
Book and Cover design › Vicki Ahl
Body typeface › Palatino Linotype
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Jackson, L. Don., 1953-
Not a Yeti, Yet / by L. Don Jackson.
pages cm
ISBN 978-0-86534-972-8 (softcover : alk. paper)
1. Civilization--Fiction. 2. Fantasy fiction. I. Title.
PS3610.A35276N68 2013
813’.6--dc23
2013035301
________________
www.sunstonepress.com
SUNSTONE PRESS / Post Office Box 2321 / Santa Fe, NM 87504-2321 /USA
(505) 988-4418 / orders only (800) 243-5644 / FAX (505) 988-1025
This book is written and lovingly dedicated to
Don and Bonita Schmidt,
Now guided by Angels,
Who taught us to follow our dreams and never give up.
A very special thanks to
Toni McNeill.
Her patience, dedication, hard work and seemingly endless hours
of re-writes and editing have resulted in this book being finished,
and ultimately published.
All my heartfelt thanks and gratitude forever.
1
Terenda and William were having a typical week-day evening at home, watching TV while dinner simmered on the stove. It was William’s night to cook, and Terenda was enjoying the break. It had been a long day, and she was unusually tired.
She noticed that the bottom of her tongue felt odd. It was a sensation she’d never experienced, tingly and strange. She also realized that she could smell dinner like never before.
"Babe, I know this sounds weird, but your stew smells so strong I can taste it," she said.
Hungry, love?
William asked, proudly smiling at her. Didn’t you eat lunch?
She had eaten. This was different, and not in a good way. The smell nearly overwhelmed her.
I ate salad with the girls at Tulie’s.
Not able to put her finger on it, Terenda shrugged and decided to drop it.
During a commercial near the end of their favorite crime show, William put the biscuits in the oven. He set the timer for twelve minutes; satisfied his meal would be ready at just the right time.
After a somewhat predictable ending to the show, Terenda set the table as William retrieved the perfectly-browned biscuits from the oven. She was almost nauseous as she fought off the magnified smells of what was usually her favorite meal. Freshly baked bread topped chocolate on Terenda’s list of favorite foods. And William’s mom had given them her ‘World’s Best Stew’ recipe; he always made it great.
Sitting down in their favorite places, William was eager to enjoy this meal and chat about their respective workdays. Terenda hoped her unusual sensitivity would quickly pass.
After buttering her biscuit and peppering the stew, she took a bite. Immediately sickened by the taste of preservatives and artificial flavoring, she struggled to swallow it down. What in the world? she thought. She took another bite, puzzled and curious to see if the second bite was any different. That one gagged her. She flung her napkin down and ran to the bathroom to be sick.
Looking in the mirror, she noticed tiny hairs that had appeared under the tip of her tongue, and she slumped against the sink in disbelief.
Babe, come here. Hurry!
yelled Terenda.
Just as William reached the bathroom, the doorbell rang. He tried to ignore it, concerned only about his wife.
Terenda insisted he answer it. Go, I’m okay, just go!
"I’ll be right back!" William was irritated at the mere thought of a sales pitch or folks with pamphlets.
Upon opening the door, a strange man stepped forward and began firing a battery of demands and questions at William.
"Is this the home of Terenda Nugent? I must see her immediately! Is she home? Bring her to the door, sir! I must speak with her, I have an urgent message that I must get to her! Let me in, sir!"
Beyond the man’s head, William noticed a black Hummer parked at the curb with dark tinted windows. He pushed the man back and slammed the door, deeply troubled.
As the door shut, Terenda’s blood-curdling scream echoed through the hallway. He ran frantically, banging down the hallway toward the back of the house, arriving just as two men drug her through the rear doorway.
In pursuit, he rounded the outside corner of the house as the door of the Hummer swung open and Terenda was pushed into the dark interior. Yelling to his wife, he caught a glimpse of the massive, heavily bearded profile sitting inside. William was terrified by the sight.
The door slammed shut. William frantically ran toward the vehicle. The Hummer swung from the curb and he was left running down the sidewalk screaming for his wife. She turned in the seat; he saw her face through the tinted window. He did not believe what he saw.
Realizing he must follow, William did an about face and ran back to his car parked in the driveway. His keys were on the ring attached to his belt. Fumbling to unlock the door, he threw it open and jumped in.
The engine roared to a start. Squealing the tires as he exited the driveway, his mind was inundated with the images of what he had just witnessed. Why were these men taking his wife? What was the strange hairy creature he’d seen inside the vehicle, and what the hell was happening to Terenda?
He couldn’t answer any of his own questions, so he tried to push them aside and focus on the only thing he could, follow the Hummer and get her back.
In the vehicle, Terenda found herself sitting across from a creature that she’d never believed even existed. Her heart was pounding in her chest, she was confused and disoriented. She sat motionless, staring wide-eyed.
Toukla introduced himself. I am the Finder, Toukla. I have been sent here to return you to your true home and family.
"You’ve just taken me from my home and family, she hoarsely whispered, struggling to speak.
What are you talking about?"
Toukla sighed deeply, and reminded her of the disappearance of her brother several years before. Terenda’s eyes welled with tears as he spoke. Her big brother had been her world, and he had vanished without a trace.
"I know this is frightening. I have no doubt you’re confused and have many questions—but I assure you that you are safe. Toukla paused briefly, then gently added,
I am taking you to your brother. He will help you understand."
He paused again, staring into Terenda’s eyes for several seconds, allowing his words to sink in. Now then, perhaps you’ve noticed that you are changing?
Terenda was trembling from head to toe, but she found something about this creature oddly soothing. A small part of her began to relax. She became aware that, in fact, she was changing. She could sense that Toukla didn’t wish her harm, and something about his warm, earthy smell was both familiar and comforting. She sank back in her seat and took a few deep breaths. Noticing that a soft, downy fur was beginning to grow on her hands and arms, she reached up, touched her face, and felt the same fur covering it.
Staring at Toukla she asked incredulously, Am I...am I...becoming...like you?
Toukla smiled. Yes, you are becoming like me. The change will come quickly now. You have been chosen to become part of the new race of humanity, one that will restore balance and health to Mother Earth. You are becoming...a Yeti.
Terenda tried to absorb what he was saying to her. Her rational mind couldn’t believe what was happening, yet she couldn’t ignore the obvious physical changes occurring right before her eyes.
Emotionally, she was changing, too. The fear waned, replaced with a sense of hope. Her racing thoughts slowed, and she was overcome with a feeling of tranquility. She felt a new, profound sense of assurance that soon all things would make sense.
She thought of William, whom she knew must be frantic with worry. She