The Mountain King Read Online Free PDF

about?” Mark shouted, but then he checked himself, sat back, and forced himself to relax. Then, against his will, he started snickering softly to himself. “Oh, I get it. You don’t believe me, do you?” 
“Well, I think you maybe—” 
“Are delirious, right? Maybe a little out of my mind or something, is that it?” 
“Not at all.” 
Mark set his coffee cup down carefully on the desk beside him, fighting hard to keep his hand from trembling. 
“Well you’ve got it wrong, Guy! Dead wrong!” He clenched his hands into fists and pounded them in frustration against his legs. “I know what I saw, all right? I know it!” 
“Yeah. You say you saw Bigfoot.” 
    “Jesus Christ, Guy! I don’t know what the hell it was! I just know I saw this ... this thing that had no right being there. It sure as shit looked like some kind of bear or ape or something, but . . . but—fuck! I don’t know ...”  
Guy let loose a small laugh that fueled Mark’s anger. 
    “You won’t think it’s so fucking funny after you send someone out there and find Phil’s body, now, will you?” 
“No, no,” Guy said, suddenly sobering up. “It’s not that at all. It’s just—for a second there, I had this image of Bigfoot, you know, hitchhiking from Oregon to Maine.” 
“Jesus Christ! This is Phil Sawyer we’re talking about!” 
“I know, I know,” Guy replied. “Look, Mark. As soon as you agree to let me take you into the emergency room for a quick checkup, then I’ll get on the horn to the Forestry Department and—” 
“No! I want you to do it now!”  
Guy sat back and rubbed his hands down the side of his face. “Christ, it’s dark as shit now. We can’t get someone up there till morning, anyway.” 
“I don’t give a shit! Don’t they have helicopters with searchlights or something?” 
Guy nodded. “Well, yeah—I suppose they do, but still, I don’t know if I—” 
“Forget what I said about what I saw or what I think I saw, all right? Just report a missing hiker and get those Forestry assholes out there so they can earn their pay this week!” 
    “Yeah—well,” Guy said, “they earn their pay as it is, I suspect. Hell, just last July they more than earned their pay when they spent nearly the whole month looking for those two hikers from New Jersey that went missing. Remember that?” 
    “Shit, yes. I was out there beating the brush a few days, myself. But this is Phil we’re talking about! This is the guy I work with at the mill day in and day out!” 
“Okay, okay,” Guy said, reaching for the phone. “I’ll give Fred Gibbons a buzz.” 
Guy held the receiver tightly while he looked up the number, then punched the buttons. While he was waiting for someone to answer, he added under his breath, “And right after that, I’m taking you down to the hospital . .. even if I have to cuff you to get you there.” 
“All right . . . all right! I’ll go!” 
    Mark stayed where he was while Guy made the call. He was thankful that Guy omitted any mention of the “huge, dark, furry shape” he had seen. Then, once he was assured that a group of rangers would organize a search and go out first thing in the morning, he followed Guy out to the cruiser for the short drive to the hospital. He thanked Guy and told him he didn’t expect him to wait while the doctor checked him over. Once the brief examination was completed, Mark got dressed and walked out into the lobby. He intended to phone home for Polly or Sandy to come and pick him up, but he saw Guy sitting there, waiting for him. 
“I told you you didn’t have to wait for me.” 
“Hey!” Guy said with a shrug. “What are friends for? So, did you get a clean bill of health?” 
“Just what I told you. Dr. Blaine said all I needed was some rest.” 
“Cruiser’s waiting.” 
“Let me give Polly a quick call, let her know I’m on my way home.” 
    After phoning home, Mark and Guy walked back out to the police