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We spent the hours before dark planning our next move. I understood the plans, I just didn't like them. The guys had come up with two potential places for us to find a way to contact the outside world—headquarters of a national park that was in the area or the airstrip where we flew in.
We talked about splitting into two groups but Chance thought we were probably several days hike from the park headquarters. Without our usual gear and supplies it would be a difficult hike in this environment.
The airfield option meant being in close proximity to the lodge, but we thought it was our best chance. We hoped we could find a radio in the control area or in a plane.
I pushed for trying to sneak back into the lodge and find our phones, but Chance pointed out that they wouldn't work out here even if we had them. "Do you think they'll just let us leave?" I asked as we got up and prepared to leave our hiding spot.
"We'll know soon enough," Chance said.
We walked over to where the entry was. The two male bigfoot approached from the other side of the clearing. They looked at us and grunted. Chance motioned toward the opening. "We need to go," he said, looking directly at the largest male. They both shook their heads. The larger one grasped Chance's forearm while the other hurried away from us.
"Should we just go?" I asked.
"Give it a few minutes," Jared said. "Chance is the bigfoot whisperer. We'll follow his lead."
The other male returned with the female. She touched each of us on the shoulder and nodded. I decided she was wishing us a safe journey. Of course, it was just as likely she was saying, "Make a run for it, I could use the exercise."
The two males lifted the cover and looked around. One of them stepped out and motioned to the rest of us. We were back in the jungle, and it was already dark.
"Can I see your compass?" Chance asked.
I pulled my necklace out of my shirt. He looked at it and made a karate chop motion into the forest. We walked single file, but the bigfoot popped in and out of the woods. I wasn't sure if they were leading us, following us, or escorting us, but I felt safer with them along. When I realized that's how I felt, the absurdity level ratcheted up again, and I nearly laughed out loud. I put my hand over my mouth to keep from making too much noise.
Our route was a mystery to me. I just concentrated on following Chance and keeping an eye on Gracie Layne. I was really worried about how this was going to affect her when we got back to our normal lives. Chance and I were involved in the cryptid world with our work, but she had no association with others who might understand what she'd been through. There were people and groups who might help her deal with Mark's death, but none where she'd be able to share the circumstances around what happened.
I saw the roof of the Lodge, but we stayed pretty far away from the building. The jungle was so noisy it was difficult to tell if there were noises we should be concerned about. I heard rustling in the vegetation and tugged on Chance's sleeve to stop him. We stopped and listened. A few minutes later, one of the bigfoot returned with a huge snake dangling around his neck. He held up the head for Chance to see. I don't know if he planned to keep it as a fashion accessory or dinner, but I was certainly glad he took care of it. Thinking about that, made me focus once more on this absurd situation. Here we were hiking through the jungle at night with two members of a species I still wasn't comfortable admitting existed. Now it seems they're helping and protecting us. This was really getting too crazy. Surely, I had suffered some terrible accident and these thoughts were the product of some drug-induced psychosis.