I found myself drinking a martini in a bar in New York. One thing I love about bars is the mysterious people you meet, and the bartender, often more drunk than the patrons. My eyes caught a glimpse of a beautiful woman across the room, and I decided to strike up a conversation.
I asked, “What is your name?”
She replied, “Baca.”
I continued, “Where are you from?”
“I’m from California,” she said. “And where are you from?”
“I’m from Nepal,” I answered.
Her eyes widened. “Then maybe you can help me.”
“How?” I asked, intrigued.
“I’m searching for the Yeti,” she said. “You know, the snow monster that’s said to live in the mountains of Nepal. If we can get a picture of it, who knows? We might become rich.”
The idea was thrilling. The next morning, sober and with renewed purpose, we booked our tickets to Nepal. I had family there, but first, I wanted to complete this quest. We headed straight for Annapurna Base Camp.
When we asked locals about the Yeti, most dismissed it as a myth. Some even mentioned that Colonel Harry and his troops had ventured into the mountains years ago in search of the creature — and never returned. We started to lose hope.
That’s when a mysterious monk approached us.
“I know why you’re here,” he said, his voice calm and knowing.
Baca asked, “What do you mean?”
The monk replied, “You’re looking for the beast.”
The next morning, the monk led us to a monastery, where he showed us a femur bone. It was from a dead Yeti. Finally, we were convinced the Yeti existed.
With renewed determination, we packed our bags, grabbed a camera, and decided to venture deeper into the mountains. We hiked for two days, but our food and supplies were running low. Then, out of nowhere, an avalanche struck.
When we woke up, we found ourselves in a cave. Strange little figures, like puppies, crawled across the floor. Baca, without hesitation, began playing with them. They seemed to be the babies of the Yeti.
We ventured further into the cave and there it was — the beast. Twelve feet tall, covered in white fur, and unlike anything we had ever seen. The Yeti saw us and immediately began chasing us. Panic set in, and we ran as fast as we could.
Using what little military knowledge I had, I led us to a narrow junction where we hid. For half an hour, we waited, holding our breath, as the beast roamed outside the entrance. Eventually, it wandered off, and we made our escape.
When we finally made it back to camp, we realized our camera had been lost in the chaos.
Baca sighed and said, “If only our eyes had cameras in them. Then we would be legends.”
