Page 45 - Fables volume 1

How the Troglodyte was Tracked Down

the caves, his hands never far from camera and tape recorder. But of
the troglodyte he had seen or heard nothing. The mosquitos wouldn’t
leave him alone, despite his chemical protection. He was sick of
canned beans and crackers. The heat and humidity did not let up at
night. He was tired, hot, and dirty. His dreams, when he could sleep at
all, were filled with grotesque creatures leaping from darkened
windows toward nets they always missed.
I’ve got to catch that animal, thought the professor, squinting
against the noonday sun. If I don’t spot it in the next forty-eight
hours, I may never get another chance.
In the back of his mind was the realization that he would have to go
back with the jeep. Probably the provincial governor had revoked his
visa after learning of his separation from the locals he had agreed to
have with him at all times. And there might be a letter from his
secretary, notifying him that he would lose his job if he didn’t return
immediately to Fresno.
But the troglodyte! Where was it? Why hadn’t he seen it? Time was
running out. The thought of going back empty-handed made him
stand up straight, destroying the roof of his blind.
I’ve got to go up to those caves, decided Professor Planarius. It
might scare the troglodyte away if it’s in the area, but I’ll have to
chance it. Maybe I can find some traces of it in one of those caves.
Something…anything!
He picked up his binoculars and camera and walked out of the
jungle.
Two days later, the professor crouched in the shadow of a cave
mouth, listening to the last distant sounds of the departing jeep. He
stroked his dirty matted beard and ambled further into the darkness.
This really is the best cave, he thought. It’s almost high enough to
stand in, not very deep, and fairly dry. Haven’t seen any lizards or
wasps since the first day, either. Much better than lying all day in that
stinking hot jungle down there.
He waited until the sun was about fifteen degrees above the horizon
and the heat of the day had diminished. Then he cautiously emerged
from his lair, looking in all directions and sniffing the air. Nothing out
of the ordinary. The professor’s clothes and shoes were in filthy
shreds, so he made his way slowly and carefully down the

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