The Hunters

“Not another mounted head,” Jill shrieked at her husband. “We have no room for that thing in this house. There are already animals staring from every direction.” Her gesture scanned Jason’s prized taxidermized lynx, the 12-point elk head above the mantle, the fox, the bear skin rug, and the various other trophy catches adorning the living room of their Wyoming log house.

Jason Schmitt glared at his wife. “I was going to sell this one, but you are not going to dictate to me what to put up in this house, woman. This one will nicely replace the photo of your parents above the T.V.”

Jill’s eyes moistened. She sputtered, “B-but…”

Jason interrupted, “Don’t you try my patience. Now, get in the kitchen where you belong.”

Jill rushed away in tears, wondering if God really meant, “Until death do you part,” when one’s spouse was so overbearing. She thought, not for the first time, how easy it would be to slip some laxative in his food, but she always preferred the high road. Instead, she focused on making a delicious bison burger and a garden salad for lunch.

Jason didn’t string two words together as he ate. When he finished, he belched and said, “I’m going fishin'. I want rice with my catch tonight.” With that, he left, not so much as taking his plate to the sink.

Jill sighed and began clearing the table. After washing the few items by hand, she went out to tend the garden. Watering, weeding, and harvesting were therapeutic to Jill. She got lost in her work, not realizing hours had slipped away, until she got thirsty.

Jill took a break to sip some iced tea and read the last two chapters of her library book. Just as she turned to the final page, the doorbell rang. She noticed through the frosted windows on the door, that it was their nearest neighbor from 1/2 mile down the road, Cooper Farley. He was a nice, young man with a warm smile.

“Hello, Cooper,” she greeted as she opened the door, “Come on in.”

“Howdy, Jill,” he said with a nod. Noticing a painting of a bull fight by the door, he said, “That’s new, isn’t it? Your husband sure is fond of anything man against beast.”

Jill sighed, “He bought that without my say-so. I don’t abide by that kind of treatment of animals. It’s one thing to kill for food, but I don’t much like hunting for sport.”

Cooper took another look at the macabre scene of the bull, speared and bloodied. He shook his head and turned to Jill. “I came to ask if you or Jason saw anything strange in the sky last night. I was taking out the garbage and I saw a green light flashing somewhere between our homes. I didn’t want to check it out on my own, so I just left it alone.”

Jill’s eyes widened. “No, Jason fell asleep in his chair after a couple of beers, and I went to read in bed. Do you think it’s a bunch of teenagers playing around?”

“Maybe, but I’m not sure what the green light was for.”

Jason walked in with four good-sized trout on a stringer. He grumbled, “What the hell are you flirting with my wife for, Farley?”

Cooper held his hands up as if in surrender, “We’re just talking. I came to ask you both if you saw the flashing green lights last night.”

Jason snarled, “You been hallucinating, I’d wager. Now, get your butt off my property before I get my .30-06 and drill you full of holes." He pointed at the gun case by the door.

Cooper tipped his cowboy hat toward Jill, said, “Ma’am,” then walked out and didn’t glance back.

*

The one thing Jill could think of which she appreciated about Jason was that he cleaned his own fish to boneless perfection. While he was doing that, she got water boiling for rice and cut up some broccoli to steam. There’s nothing like a fresh fish dinner to soothe the savage beast.

With a half-smile, Jason said, “Tomorrow, I’m gonna wash and wax your Chevy so you can do your grocery run in style.”

Jill’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Jason. It would look nice all spiffed up.” She stood and put a hand on his shoulder and then started clearing the table. That time, Jason even walked his own plate to the sink.

Jill gave him a half hug right in the kitchen, but she pulled away suddenly and shrieked, “Jason, look!” pointing at the kitchen window.

Outside, they saw a bright, neon green light. It flashed four times, then went dark for about four seconds, then repeated several times while they watched.

Jason whispered, “What the…” and ran for his gun case. He shouted over his shoulder, “Stay here, Jill. I’ve got some kids to run off.”

Jill watched the green light get closer. It was almost as if it was enticing them. She saw Jason slink around the corner. By then, the light was in the open area next to the house. No kids came into view.

Jill saw Jason as he approached carefully. The instant the light touched him, his body was pulled immediately upward in a flash, leaving behind his clothing and his gun. Jill heard a sound like spaghetti slurping out of a can. Then, many lights appeared right above, forming a giant cylindrical shape, and suddenly darting away, followed by a loud bang.

*

Jason’s eyes adjusted to the brightness of the room. He was in a tube, and he noticed strange creatures all around him, frozen, encapsulated in clear fluid. Some, he could tell, had frightened expressions. None wore clothing. That’s when he noticed his own clothes were missing. A being unlike any he had ever seen startled him by jumping in front of him. It landed on several appendages, glaring with green eyes, snarling with many fangs, circling with its red and green body. It held a weapon in another of its appendages with which it zapped Jason. The pain coursing through his body made him cry out. That’s how his body froze as liquid surrounded him.

*

Jill stood in the kitchen, staring dumbfounded at Jason’s clothing for several minutes. Slowly, she walked to her cell phone. As she dialed 911, she thought about the bonfire she was going to have after she dealt with the authorities. She pictured throwing into the flame every stuffed animal now in HER house.