Professional Documents
Culture Documents
AS TOLD BY BIGFOOTS
By DL Bittick
DRAFT
Chapters 1-7
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1
THE MOOGOOWAH
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CHAPTER 2
THREE-TOED TARTOO
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to where he had last seen his human friend but only found a
long abandoned camp. He howled in frustration, sat down
and leaned back against a tree. A few moments later, he
heard two wood knocks in the distance.
Tartoo limped slowly toward the origination of the knocks
until he sensed a human presence. He picked up a strong,
dead limb and slammed it into the side of a tree. A few
moments later, he heard a familiar whoop and started toward
it, dragging his injured foot.
Tartoo, my friend! My heart soars to see you again. But I
sense that you are in great pain, Gray Owl called out as
soon as he saw Tartoo.
Gray Owl. Again we brought together by wound caused
by human weapon, Tartoo responded.
You found a white mans traps, Gray Owl observed as
Tartoo dragged himself closer.
Can Gray Owl remove it? Tartoo asked as he sat down.
Gray Owl walked over to Tartoo.
It will hurt much, Gray Owl said as he stepped down
onto the sides of the trap to relieve the tension of the springs
and removed it.
Tartoo sighed heavily as the pressure from the trap was
relieved.
Let me check for damage, Gray Owl suggested as he
started examining the wounds.
Nothing mud and moss wont fix, Tartoo replied.
Two broken toes and they dead. If Tartoo were human,
Gray Owl say to cut off now, stop poison from killing you,
Gray Owl remarked.
What If Tartoo not let Gray Owl cut off? Tartoo asked.
Gray Owl not sure about moogoowah, but sure it kill
human, Gray Owl explained.
Tartoo not feel toes Gray Owl can cut them off, Tartoo
replied.
Before Tartoo could utter another word, Gray Owl had
taken out his tomahawk and whacked both of Tartoos dead
toes off. A startled Tartoo jumped up, growling loudly.
Now Tartoo can put mud and moss on them, Gray Owl
responded.
Tartoo hobbled down to a nearby stream and returned a
few minutes later with his lower leg and foot covered in thick
mud.
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CHAPTER 3
TOOGAH AND THE BUBBLEHEADS
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ever encountered. Not only were they much shorter, but their
heads were disproportionately large, as were their eyes.
They were completely clothed in a silvery material except for
their heads, which were covered by what appeared to be
clear bubbles. And they were staring directly at Toogah.
Finally, one of the bubbleheads stepped forward and
raised one of his gloved hands.
We mean no harm, the bubblehead said.
Toogah sensed that the strange, human-like creature was
sincere.
Why you on Toogahs island, Toogah responded as he
boldly stepped out from behind a tree and walked toward
them.
Sensing their fear as he towered over them, he raised
both of his hands as a gesture of peace.
Toogah not hurt you, Toogah assured them.
The bubbleheads glanced at each other and approached
Toogah.
Toogah not see humans like you before, Toogah said.
We are explorers from out there, bubblehead #1
replied as he pointed upward.
Out there? The clouds? a confused Toogah asked.
Beyond the clouds among the stars, bubblehead #1
replied.
In response to your first question, we were told to seek
out your kind that we could communicate with you,
bubblehead # 2 added.
You need to talk to humans they more like you,
Toogah responded.
Humans not as peaceful as the moogoowah,
bubblehead #3 replied.
We want to know more about your planet. Your species
is more symbiotic with it, bubblehead #2 added.
Symb? a confused Toogah asked.
Symbiotic your species lives in harmony with the Earth
without trying to change it, bubblehead #1 explained.
We sometimes forget that you dont know what we
know like some of our words. Just like we dont know what
you know, which is why were here, bubblehead #2
explained.
Toogah understand, Toogah replied.
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CHAPTER 4
THE MIGHTY KROM
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Krom made sure the beast was dead and went back to
check on the humans. He found the female holding the male
and sobbing over his dead body. The woman looked up at
Krom and uttered some human gibberish to him. Krom
grunted a couple of times and waved his arm to signal for her
to leave his territory. To Kroms surprise, the woman stood up
and started walking toward him. So he roared loudly at her,
turned and ran back into the woods.
Krom circled back to make sure that the woman didnt
follow him. She didnt. Instead, she wrapped a covering over
the dead male and dragged his body away. Krom followed
her from a safe distance for a while to make sure she was
safe and then returned to retrieve his prize.
He carried the dead grizzly across the river and deep into
the forest. Just after nightfall, he climbed to the crest of a tall,
wooded hill and laid the dead bear on the ground. The
location gave him an excellent vantage point to see in all
directions. It also carried his low, mournful howl through the
valleys below. It wasnt long before he heard the distant
responses from two female moogoowah coming from
opposite directions.
Krom began feasting on his prize as he waited for the
females. A while later, he heard a wood knock and
responded with a short whoop.
Ursa, announced a female moogoowah as she carefully
approached Krom.
Krom, he responded and added, Have some grizzly.
Ursa hear stories about Krom and grizzly bears, Ursa
responded excitedly.
Stories true, Krom replied as he puffed out his massive
chest.
Ursa walked over to Krom and started gently caressing
him. Krom gladly returned her caresses. They were soon
passionately, and loudly, mating wildly. Meanwhile, there was
another tree knock.
Who that? Ursa asked as she suddenly straightened
her back and looked up at Krom.
Krom.. not know, he replied as he quickly finished
with a loud WHOOP.
A few moments later, another female moogoowah
appeared. She looked at Krom and Ursa and casually walked
over to the dead bear and started eating.
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They walked over to the tree where the object that floated
down from the sky was hanging.
Gorgor, Dakdak said as he pointed up the tree.
Gorgor quickly climbed the tree, retrieved the object and
climbed back down.
The object was wrapped tightly with a clear cover. They
were standing there staring at it when Grraryl and Mokum
walked up.
What is that? Grraryl asked.
Dakdak and Lookoo shrugged their shoulders and
grunted. Mokum stooped down, slit the cover with his
fingernail and sniffed at it.
Hemp. It poison. Crazy humans inhale smoke and call it
pot. It sometimes makes humans think that they can talk to
moogoowah, Mokum explained.
Dakdak, Lookoo and Grraryl were even more puzzled.
How Mokum know this? a very curious Dakdak asked.
Long story. We need to go now. Humans will be back for
their poison, Mokum replied as he tore open the package
and spread its contents into the wind.
When is watermelon? Gorgor asked.
Sunrise. Dakdak know place to hide and rest until dark,
Dakdak replied as he motioned for Tandoo to climb back on
his shoulders.
Mokum tell story when we rest? Lookoo asked.
Mokum nodded his head to concur and ran back across
the wide trail. Grraryl took his position on the left flank as the
others continued along the tree line. Before dawn, they came
to a clear, sandy creek. Dakdak stopped, set Tandoo on the
ground and whooped for the others to join them.
We rest here follow creek to watermelons tonight,
Dakdak explained.
The thick brush surrounding the creek gave them a safe
place to rest for the day.
Gorgor and Tandoo hunt snakes and frogs? Lookoo
asked.
Gorgor want to hear Mokums story, Gorgor replied as
Tandoo nodded to agree.
They made themselves comfortable along the sandy,
pine straw covered bank along the creek.
It was about five summers ago. Mokum was hunting in
thick woods near Neches River, Mokum began.
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CHAPTER 5
MOKUM AND THE HAZE
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CHAPTER 6
PUPU AND THE WILD CHILD
Pupu lived long ago in the hilly, pine forest country. When he
was young, his mother got sick and died, leaving the halfgrown goowah to fend for himself. He soon developed a
fondness for armadillos, which were slow, relatively easy to
catch and plentiful in that territory.
It was early fall. The leaves on the hardwoods were
already in the early stages of changing colors, a warning to
those who paid attention to such things that an early winter
was coming.
Pupu was hunting along a sandy creek when he heard an
armadillo rustling through dead leaves and pine straw as it
rooted for insects. He followed the sound and soon found two
armadillos rooting next to each other.
Pupu catch two armadillos at once! Pupu said excitedly
to himself.
Pupu could have easily grabbed one with each hand, but
decided to make a game out of it. He had learned that
armadillos sometimes jumped high in the air when startled
and landed on their feet running. He had managed to snatch
several of the small creatures out of the air before, but never
two at once. Hed also learned the hard way to kill them
quickly or risk being cut up by their sharp claws he still had
the scars from that lesson.
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CHAPTER 7
NONEE AND THE BIG CAT
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There! Thats about how far away I could kill a deer with
a rifle, Chuck yelled.
Krah ran back.
And Im just a fair shot. My uncle could hit you from a lot
farther, Chuck explained as Krah returned.
Now you know why humans dangerous, Nonee added.
Humans are very curious, just like the moogoowah. But I
agree with Nonee that you need to keep your distance from
them us, Chuck explained.
Nonee cocked her head and asked, Was that signal?
I didnt hear anything. But Im sure you're hearing is
much better than mine, Chuck replied.
Nonee pointed to Chucks ears and shook her head.
Nonee take Chuck to gun sounds. Chuck can stay with
moogoowah if you want, Nonee said.
I really do appreciate the offer. But my people will be
worried sick if they cant find me and then come looking for
me, Chuck replied.
Climb on back Nonee take Chuck to humans, Nonee
suggested.
Chuck climbed up on her back, slid his legs under her
arms and grabbed a handful of hair to hang on to.
It was great meeting you, Lookoo and Krah. I hope we
meet again someday, Chuck said.
Lookoo nodded her head to agree as she gently patted
him on the shoulder.
Stay close to cave. Nonee bring food when return,
Nonee said as she turned to leave.
Nonee walked in a long, rapid, steady gait.
Chuck all right? Nonee asked.
This is the funnest ride that Ive ever had! Chuck replied
with a chuckle.
Nonee smelled smoke so she knew she was getting
close to the human camp. When she heard human voices,
she stopped and helped Chuck down.
Follow this trail to humans, Nonee explained as she
pointed down a dirt road.
Thank you for saving my life, Nonee. I am forever in your
debt, Chuck responded as he gave her a hug.
Debt? Nonee asked.
It means that I owe you something for saving my life,
Chuck explained.
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another pig. Gorgor and Tandoo finished off the stunned pigs
by biting them on the neck and tearing out their throats with
their sharp teeth. Mokum walked up carrying the dead boar
while Grraryl hopped down the bank to claim one of the
piglets.
Good hunt, Grraryl said as he sliced open a piglet and
gobbled down its entrails.
This much easier than hunting alone, Dakdak said.
They sat beside the creek enjoying their fresh pork
dinner.
Everyone eat enough? Lookoo asked as the last of the
pigs were gobbled down.
They all nodded.
At that moment, a tree knock was heard in the distance.
Who is that? Dakdak asked as he picked up a stick to
respond.
Wait! That might not be moogoowah. That come from
where the humans were, Mokum interrupted.
Mokum right. We wait, Dakdak said as he dropped the
stick.
A little while later, they heard a short howl coming from
the same direction.
Only human make pathetic howl like that, Grraryl
observed.
Humans trying to talk to moogoowah? Lookoo asked.
Humans hunting moogoowah? Gorgor asked.
Mokum find out, Mokum said as he started walking
toward the sounds.
Grraryl go, too, Grraryl added as he followed Mokum.
We wait here, Dakdak responded.
They continued hearing the pathetic human howling and
tree knocks for a while longer. Just before dawn, Mokum and
Grraryl returned.
Humans, Grraryl confirmed.
No guns but had strange red lights, Mokum explained.
Strange red lights? Dakdak asked.
Not like flashlight with wide white beam thin red
beam, Mokum explained.
Grraryl think humans hunting moogoowah. Knock on
trees and howl poorly but howl, Grraryl explained.
Also whooped like moogoowah, Mokum added.
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