"All right, here's how it works," Art Lassiter began, and instantly every flashlight in the little group was trained on his heavy, raggedly mustached face. "Hold out your plate in front of you and bang on it with the back of your spoon as you run."
"This is ludicrous," muttered Kathy, giggling as her boyfriend Luke wrapped his lanky arms around her shoulder. "A snipe hunt? You've got to be joking!"
"C'mon, Kathy, it'll be a blast," said Luke softly in her ear. "Besides, I already told you, Nick has no clue. Look at him over there! He's completely buying this!"
They chuckled together, glancing over at the thin, tousle-haired young man a quarter of the way round the campfire. Absently, Nick pushed his thick glasses up on his lightly freckled face, pretending not to hear their comments, though he found it hard not to. Had they had no idea he could make out every word they said? Did they even care if he heard their cruel barbs?
Probably not, he thought. At nearly twenty years of age, Nick was an incredibly perceptive guy, and yet was horribly naïve. This was his freshman year at college, and since he'd lived at home his entire life, he had absolutely no idea what to expect now that he was out on his own. He was smart, but had no social skills whatsoever. He seemed like he was always saying the wrong thing at the wrong moment, laughing well after the punchline of the joke had been delivered.
Perhaps some of the others in his dorm had taken pity on him, trying to include him in their activities, such as this weekend's campout. However, early on it was clear that the only reason they'd brought Nick was so someone didn't have to stay back as a hall monitor just for him. Better to just let him tag along and hope he stayed out of the way. Besides, they could tease him and play with his mind, and more often than not his gullibility led to some great laughs.
More than once Nick had wondered why he even put up with their antics. He was smart, and would probably wind up with a 4.0 average without any problems, but it seemed like no one cared about such things in the "real" world. The only things that impressed anyone were expensive clothes, glib words and athletic prowess, and Nick had none of these things. He just couldn't seem to fit in no matter how hard he tried. Every time he thought he'd figured out the right thing to say or do, he managed to embarrass himself even worse than the last time. He was smart enough to recognize his problem, and wanted to fix it more desperately than anything. He just didn't know how.
Perhaps that was why he stuck around, Nick thought, listening to Art drone on about running through the forest, making a ruckus and shouting out "Snipe!" as often as possible. Sooner or later, Nick knew he had to learn the trick of interacting with people, and he could look at this as useful practice. At least this crowd couldn't look down on him any further than they already did. After all, snipe hunts were a joke for young kids and cub scouts--even he knew that! The only reason they were setting this thing up was to make fun of him.
Finally, Art finished off his long-winded explanation and handed off the required equipment to the assembled group. The dozen or so who'd bothered to show up began to fan out, but it was obvious they didn't all intend to really proceed very far into the woods. Kathy and Luke were already kissing each other passionately, Nick noticed out of the corner of his eye. They were just looking for a chance to get out somewhere in the dark so they could make out.
Nick sighed resignedly. Kathy was sure pretty, he thought wistfully. Her long blond hair seemed to sparkle in the firelight as Luke ran his lucky hands through it, sucking on her lips as though trying to draw her tongue into his throat. Someday, Nick thought, shaking his head sadly. Someday, I'll have a girl like that, and I'll get to find out what that feels like!
"GO!" Art shouted, interrupting Nick's little fantasy. With flashlights on and shouts of "Snipe!" echoing from their lips, the group of excited co-eds raced out into the darkened forest.
The rusty bottle cap lifted up and Emily Johnson peered out of the tunnel, metal spear gripped firmly in a gloved hand. The sky far above shone in the glow of a nearly full moon, so she could see easily in the darkness. Giant blades of grass waved around her in the light wind, and she smiled. It was a perfect night.
Shutting the door to the access passage behind her, she took one more cautious look around and then jogged towards the massive roots of the nearest tree. The fresh air felt wonderful, she thought, and it was good to get out of the colony's confines. She figured the risk of encountering some nocturnal predator was well worth taking if it gave her a chance to get out on her own, away from her parents and all those other stuffy scientists.
Even though over a year had passed since she and her family had come to join the microcolony, being out in the giant-scale world was still amazing and awe-inspiring. She was one of the few in the little community who felt that way, actually. Most everyone else was scared to death of the Outside. Once they learned of her fascination, Emily's parents forbade her to leave, but what could they do? She was eighteen now, an adult in the eyes of the law, and could do whatever she wanted.
The colony was an experiment, really--an attempt by researchers to find out if miniaturized people could survive and prosper, should some plague or other apocalypse befall the rest of humanity. Being small did have its advantages--food was plentiful, comparatively, and because of the size difference between themselves and microorganisms, they were all but immune to disease. Still, Emily had to laugh every time she thought about what the experiment was supposedly "proving." Shrinking down a bunch of families to 1/20th scale was all well and good, but they were living in a prefabricated underground tank, with its own electricity and other technological comforts. If they wanted to REALLY try surviving in the giant world, why not try it someplace less controlled? Say, someone's basement, or a shopping mall, or a farm? Or in the wilderness like this, with nothing around but raw, unbridled nature? But no, she thought, they'd never be quite so bold as that, would they?
Emily jogged easily along, avoiding insects and keeping her eyes and ears open for clues that some animal might be nearby. Acutely aware of the danger from owls and other airborne predators, she ducked under weeds and leaves at every turn. She froze, spear at the ready, as the dry brush ahead rustled, but then relaxed as she saw it was only a field mouse. It would only attack something her size if starving, and it clearly wasn't. After a moment it moved off, paying her no mind at all. She continued along, following a route she knew well.
For the umpteenth time, she asked herself why she'd agreed to get involved in this crazy experiment. When her parents had explained where they were going and why, she'd just thought they were nuts. Why would anyone want to be shrunk down to a few inches tall and live in a secret underground colony for several years? Talk about your really perverse dedication! After a while, though, she'd thought more carefully about the offer they were making. They needed to find out the effects on younger people as well as old, which was why entire families were coming. Besides, when it was all over, her college education would be more than paid for with the salary she was getting!
There was more to it, though. After thinking about it for some time, she'd discovered she kind of liked the idea of being small. What an adventure it would be! The very idea of being three and a half inches high was incredible. She could sneak into houses and climb up on giant tables like those "Borrowers" she'd read about as a child! Oh, sure, it'd be dangerous, but so was getting in a car or walking around downtown at night. As long as she was careful, they assured her, she'd have nothing to worry about. It would be a blast!
The reality had been far different, though. They were out in a forest, miles from civilization, and way too far to try to walk to the nearest building or street. The only time anyone came out here was a rare camper looking for someplace to rest after a long hike. In fact, the spotting camera noticed a big group of them down on the south edge of the ridge the night before. Even now, as far away as they were, she could hear the faint echoes of their voices coming up the valley.
Of course, Emily had no intention of going anywhere near them tonight. She was heading for the river. It was a warm night, and a midnight swim would feel wonderful. There was something about the flow of the cool stream over her tiny body that just beat the hell out of a shower back in the colony.
As she crept noiselessly along, she began to whistle happily.
"Snipe! Snipe!" yelled Nick, as though he actually meant what he was shouting. In between calls, he listened carefully to the sounds around him. The rest of the group seemed to be moving directly away from him as quickly as possible, as if he were radioactive or something.
In due course he ceased his inane cries and slowed to a walk. His feet crunched through the underbrush for several long minutes as he meandered along, shaking his head sadly. In the distance, the voices of his supposed friends gradually died out as they either went back to camp or found a quiet spot to do whatever else they were planning.
In due course he came to a stream, which seemed to glint and flash under the moon like a cascade of diamonds. He turned off his flashlight and just stood there, awash in the beauty of what he was seeing. Let those idiots back there have their fun, he thought. It was worth it just for sights like this one!
He walked along further, following the rocky shore of the bubbling brook he'd discovered. After a couple of minutes, he found a spot where the water cascaded over a couple of rocks and fell about a foot or so into a little pool. Not bad, he thought appreciatively. This would be a good spot to just kick back and relax for a while. Who knows? Maybe if he rested quietly, a snipe would come out after all!
Chuckling at that crazy thought, he looked around for something comfortable to sit on, but the area was too rocky. He took a few steps up the nearby slope, pushed aside the long grass and settled back against the trunk of a tree. The undergrowth blocked most of his view from here, but it didn't really matter. He figured he'd just hang out for a while until enough time had passed that he could go back to camp without looking too stupid. Besides, maybe if he waited long enough, someone might actually get worried about him.
Nah, there was little chance of that, he decided, leaning his head back into the soft tree bark and letting out a long sigh.
Emily advanced cautiously. She'd heard some of the giant voices getting closer, forcing her to take shelter under the curve of a tree root, but after a while they departed. There was even something that sounded very much like banging, and the wind carried the word "Snipe" to her from beyond the trees.
That just cracked her up. An actual snipe hunt! They'd done that when she was in girl scouts, and afterwards, when she'd realized it was a big joke, she'd thought it was hilarious. She remembered even wondering what the heck a snipe really looked like, as if she'd known it was a trick but hadn't wanted to admit it to herself.
When she was sure the giants were gone, she pressed on. She deftly meandered between huge rocks and plants, avoiding bugs and other dangers with ease, but it still took another ten minutes to reach the river. Since by now she knew the route like the back of her hand, she arrived almost exactly at the spot of the waterfall. It looked as cool and inviting in the moonlight as it had every other time she'd visited the place, and she wasted no time hurrying up to it, where she removed her backpack and tossed it aside.
She thought she heard something and froze for almost a minute, looking around cautiously. She would be vulnerable once she got in the water, she knew, so it paid to be as careful as possible. After a bit she decided it was all right and continued to disrobe, pulling off the boots and gloves she wore and unzipping the form-fitting bodysuit that passed for clothing in the colony. The better to preserve body heat at their scale, they had explained, but she just thought it was boring wearing the same outfit all the time. Oh well, at least she didn't have to worry about keeping up with the latest fashion trends!
She slipped out of her underwear without the slightest fear of being seen in the nude. After all, she thought as she waded into the cool, inviting water, who was going to see her all the way out here?
The ground underneath Nick slid slightly, causing him to slip down and jerk his head just enough to wake him up. He blinked and opened his eyes, wondering just how long he'd been napping. His neck was already sore, so it must have been more than just a few minutes. A quick glance at his watch, which he could see just fine in the bright moonlight, showed it had been maybe half an hour. Well, he thought, that ought to be long enough to convince everybody I was taken in by their little game. If there was one thing he'd learned, it was best to humor them instead of argue that he really knew what was going on.
He started to rise, but then hesitated as his eyes fell on the little waterfall just ahead of him. Something was moving in the pool! He sat back down, trying to figure out what the creature was. It was definitely a bird or small rodent of some kind, by the size of it, but it seemed awfully familiar. It was almost like a--but no, that was impossible!
Nick continued to stare at the tiny thing in the water, which was moving around for all the world like a swimmer doing laps. Part of him wanted to get up and go see what it was, but something in the back of his mind told him to stay put lest he scare it away. He could afford to be patient, he decided, and settled back against the tree, pushing the grasses aside to afford himself a better view.
After a couple of minutes, the little thing swam over to the edge of the stream and climbed out carefully onto the rocks. Nick just shook his head, his mouth hanging open. There could be no doubt of what he was seeing, even in this light. It was a woman--a tiny, naked woman! From the look of her, she couldn't be more than a few inches high, either.
Nick had never seen a nude woman in the flesh before. His only experience with the female body came from adult magazines and the occasional R-rated film. Considering that this was his first time, he handled it rather well, staring in rapt fascination but maintaining control over his conscious, logical mind. The way her little behind swayed to and fro as she watched, the smooth curve of her hips, and the swell of her miniature breasts as she turned to the side were all totally entrancing.
Yet, even as he gazed in appreciation at her supple figure, the intelligent side of him was baffled by her tiny size. How could a woman be so small? Was he dreaming? He actually pinched himself to be sure, but the spike of pain seemed to prove he was wide awake. Was she a fairy or nymph or something like that? It seemed impossible, but then, so was a three-inch woman taking a midnight swim in the middle of nowhere!
Besides, that theory was spoiled the moment she'd dried off using the towel she'd brought in her little backpack. When she started pulling on her underwear, he knew this couldn't be anything but a tiny human being. As far as he remembered from mythology, woodland creatures didn't have any need for a bra and panties, did they?
He continued to stare, unable to look away, as she pulled on the jumpsuit and started on the gloves and boots. Then he suddenly realized she was preparing to leave! Any moment now she'd hurry off into the forest, and he'd never find her in the heavy underbrush.
Fumbling around at his side, he started looking for his flashlight.
Emily zipped up the boots, her skin still tingling from the sensations left behind by the cool water rushing over her. She stood and stretched, sighing happily, and yet not looking forward to the run back to the colony. There was no way she could get back inside without someone noticing her arrival, and by the next day her parents would be informed of her nocturnal journey. They'd have a few good words for her, she was certain of that.
Reaching for her pack, she started rehearsing in her mind what she was going to tell them, when suddenly an unbelievably loud crunching noise sounded just a short distance away. There was something there--something huge, and extremely close! But how had it closed in without her hearing it?
She whipped around in shock, afraid of what sort of monstrous creature she might see on the other side of the stream, when a tremendous brightness surrounded her. Wincing, she covered her eyes at the light, standing in complete surprise as though paralyzed.
Another crunch sounded almost directly in front of her and something huge landed just beyond the range of her vision. Held fast in the glare of the powerful flashlight, she still could only barely see, and too late she realized just what it was that had appeared before her. It was a shoe. A tremendous, gigantic, normal-sized shoe!
At once she turned to run, but it was too late. From above, a hand came down and clasped around her, and she screamed and screamed...
Nick emerged from the forest near the dying campfire and started towards his tent, hoping to get there without being seen. Of course, there was no chance of that. Art and a couple of his jock buddies sauntered over to him, huge grins on their faces. "Hey, Nick," said the much taller man, almost bursting with amusement. "You were out there a long time! Find any snipes?"
Nick just shook his head. "Huh? What's that? Oh, yeah," he replied somewhat absently. Raising an eyebrow, he said, "What if I had? What would I do with it?"
Art and his friends laughed at the joke they still thought was a private one. "Oh, if you got one, you should give it to me," he chortled. "We can all play with it, and when we get back to the dorm, we'll make it our floor mascot!" His friends thought this was uproariously funny for some reason.
Nick just nodded, a half-smile forming on his lips. "That's what I thought," he said. "Well, I didn't find any, all right?"
"Sure, whatever," laughed Art, who Nick could now tell was at least somewhat wasted. Whether it was from beer or some other drug, he had no idea. "Hey, geek, don't forget," he called out as Nick reached his tent, "early start tomorrow. If you're not up by eight we're leaving without you!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Nick climbed into his tent and zipped the mosquito netting shut. Carefully he removed his jacket, set it down on the floor, and opened up the inside front pocket. Inside, the tiny, terrified figure of Emily huddled in the bottom, looking up at him with fear and horror.
"Don't worry," said Nick comfortingly. "I won't let those meanies find out about you. I'll keep you safe. No one else has to know about you, okay?"
Choking back tears, Emily gave a weak little nod. Nick smiled at her, then closed the pocket back up, certain that she'd be safe in there for the rest of the night. Once he got her back to the dorm, he'd have to rig up a little house for her or something like that, but he was sure he'd figure it out.
As pulled himself into his sleeping bag, he began to chuckle to himself. They'd tried to make fun of him, hadn't they? The whole hunt was supposed to be a big joke to make him look like a fool, but he'd had the last laugh in the end.
After all, none of them could say they now had a pet snipe...