According to my father, it was by that river that the heads of most of the killer beast's victims had been found. He had also told me that when the head of the first hunter to fall victim to the monstrous beast was found, the village hunters had tried to avenge the death of their colleague by engaging in a week-long group hunt for the beast but did no find it. Was it safe to be there all by myself? I asked myself, and almost immediately, a chill wind swept across the river. Then I heard the sound of the trees rustling on the other side of the river. "Father, is that you?" I asked, but got no response. Instead, the sound of feet movement, quite louder and heavier than normal and getting closer, is that you father ? I asked again but still the was no answer. Something told me to run away form that place but I refused and rather climbed one of the trees that provided shade to the river, with my gun still loaded I learned against a branch with my feet firmly on another branch. As the steps drew closer from the other side of the river, a wave of fright swept over me. But it did not put fear in me. This was because my father's encouraging words were buried deep down my heart. I aimed my gun at that direction and within seconds there appeared a huge and hairy monster of about 8 feet tall. He had oval shaped ears that dangled about. his nose pointed way above his stiff upper lip and his red eyes extended beyond their normal place on his face. He stood about 8 foot tall he was an ugly creature. My heart was burning with a wild desire to pull the trigger, but something told me to wait a bit since he might not see me. The ugly monster stepped into the river, picked a calabash from a nearby branch and drank three calabashes full of water he clenched his fists and banged his chest repeatedly like a gorilla probably to show that he was the boss of the thick forest, to announce to everyone that this was his domain. I watched him closely, trying to decide whether to aim at his chest or his head. But suddenly, an unknown force pushed my finger against the trigger and boom! went loud, deep sound from the gun. The monster stood still for a moment. Then his hands flipped from his chest to sides as is they had no life in them. When I saw his entire body swaying from side to side, anger struck me like thunder. "You deserve to die" I screamed and fired three shots into his chest. his whole body shook as if something was going to explode in him. His face turned pale, and his eyes were filled with the fear of dying. I reloaded my gun and engaged in a one sided shoot out. I fired several shots at him but this ugly monster was still standing. It took another round of firing before he fell to the ground as if struck by lightning. I felt like jumping down but something cautioned me again to be careful, Then suddenly, the evil monster sat up, clenched his fist again and beat his chest repeatedly. he attempted to get up but couldn't. I could sense that life was almost over for him but a kernel of something in him was refusing to die. After a while, and to my surprise this monster was able to get up but could not move. He stood rooted to the spot. Thank God I took my hunting bag which had his bullets. I loaded them quickly and fired from his head down and up several times until he began breathing more slowly.