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precarious perch high above us. The detail of its indescribable shapeless body was lost in a squatting mass, partially concealed by fog and branches. It blinked lethargically, making no attempt to escape the probing light. |
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"Holy shit," Madden muttered again, "what the hell is it?" |
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Words failed me. My stomach was churning and stale air was clogging my throat. |
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Slowly, almost as if oblivious to our presence, the thing worked its massive two-thumb, three-fingered claw up to its mouth and belched out a chunk of something, disdainfully discarding it like a piece of spoiled meat. |
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The boy with the torch leaped aside, then bent over and held the illuminating flame down to inspect the rejection. It was mangled and blackened, giving off a rancid odor. |
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Suddenly he reeled, his knees buckling. He stumbled forward in the dirt, vomiting. When he managed to look up, his eyes were glazed. The scream finally escaped. "Oh God, Jake," he screeched, "it's a man's hand!" |
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We all stared up at the beast in stunned, almost stupified silence. |
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Almost majestically, the creature raised its massive arm and pointed. The beam of my flashlight traced out the length of the |
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