The Monster Book. Nick Redfern

I have to admit that Danielle’s story stretches credibility to the max—despite the fact that she came across as nothing less than absolutely credible, down-to-earth, and normal. And while many might be inclined to dismiss such a bizarre account, I don’t. Not because, in X-Files-style, “I want to believe,” but because of something very different. It may come as a surprise to a lot of people to learn that, in the distant past, huge insects—not unlike the one described by Danielle—really did exist.

      For example, in the Jurassic Period there existed in what today is the United States a dragonfly called Meganeura monyi. This was no regular dragonfly, however. It had a wingspan in excess of three feet. As another example, in 2001 Ohio State University geologists discovered the fossilized remains of a centipede in an old mine. It was a centipede five feet long. Then there were the ancient remains of a sea scorpion unearthed from a German quarry in 2007; an arthropod, the sea scorpion is of the same group as insects and spiders. There was something very notable about this particular sea scorpion, however: it was slightly more than eight feet in length.

      A fossil of a Meganeura monyi, a species of huge dragonfly that lived during the Jurassic Period. They could have wingspans over 25 inches (65 centimeters) wide.

      Of course, none of these oversized things were alive at the time of their discovery. Indeed, they lived, walked, and flew millions of years ago. But, is it feasible that in certain parts of the United States—and amid a great deal of stealth and, perhaps, underground caves and caverns—certain similar things exist, today? Most people might say “no.” But try asking Danielle and you will get a very different response. To this very day she has no doubt that these things are all too real. At the time of this writing, she is working on her own book; it’s a book that ties in the predations of these hideous things with the so-called “cattle mutilation” phenomenon, which has plagued and puzzled ranchers, police officers, and even the FBI for decades. And particularly so in the southwest. In Danielle’s scenario, the cattle-mutilators are not satanic cults, aliens, or covert military units conducting biological warfare operations. No. The mutilators are giant creatures from eras long gone that are feeding on the nation’s cattle herds late at night.

      Perhaps, one day, Danielle’s story will finally be vindicated. If such a thing does happen, let’s hope it’s not because the huge insects have decided to turn their predatory attentions towards us, the human race. The possibility that Them! may one day become reality—rather than the stuff of sci-fi—is as chilling as it is disturbing.

      INDIAN DEVIL

      In 1899, a decidedly curious creature was encountered in Alaska by a man named Alfred L. Dominy and a colleague named Weyhrich. It was a terrifying, shape-shifting nightmare that became known as the Indian Devil. Dominy, a resident of Los Angeles, California, told his story to the press, which was all too keen to publish his saga of the sinister kind. It went like this:

      “In the spring of 1899 myself and partner were going up the Francis River when we came across an animal which apparently had been drowned and left by high water on a gravel bar. It was about the size and shape of a small bear, would weigh about 300 pounds, snow white, hair about the same length and thickness as a bear’s, short stub tail, heavy neck, head, teeth and ears like a wolf, legs short, not over a foot in length, and feet and claws like a large dog or wolf. Mr. Weyhrich and I examined it thoroughly, but were unable to determine what it was. I am satisfied there are still living specimens of the same animal further to the north.

      “The following winter while hunting near the lower end of McPherson Lake I came upon queer fresh track which crossed the trail where I had been not an hour previous. The snow was pretty deep, and owing to the animal’s short legs it was dragging its body through the snow. Satisfying myself it was the same kind of animal I had found dead farther south, and being on a good pair of snow shoes, and this animal plowing through the snow, I thought it an easy task to overtake and capture the snow plow, as I called it.

      “I found it could plow snow and then beat me. After following it the entire length of Lake McPherson, about seven miles, and two or three miles up a small stream that flows into the north end of McPherson, darkness overtook me and I had to camp for the long night. I saw tracks afterwards but never gave chase again.”

      The strangest, and most monstrous, part of the story was still yet to come, as Dominy noted:

      “When I saw Indians the following spring near Deace Post, I described the animal to them, but could get no satisfaction out of them. They declared it was an Indian devil, said it had no heart and could not be killed by shooting: had the power of changing into the form of any other animal it chose. They told wonderful tales of its ferocity, and endurance. The Indians are very superstitious about it and seldom if ever visit this particular locality. It is carnivorous and not hibernating, as I saw signs of it during the entire winter, while the bear were taking their long sleep under the snow. What was it?”

      They declared it was an Indian devil, said it had no heart and could not be killed by shooting: had the power of changing into the form of any other animal it chose.

      What, indeed!

      KINIK (KOKOGIAK)

      “Nathaniel Neakok, the mighty hunter of polar bears, has quit scoffing at reports about the great Kinik being seen in this northernmost region of North America,” reported the Idaho Falls, Idaho Post-Register, on May 15, 1958. The story continued:

      “A Kinik is the name Eskimos give to a bear they say is too big to come out of the water. Its size varies with the individual story. But all agree he is a monster of great size and strength and appetite. Several weeks ago, Neakok laughed so loudly when told Raymond Lalayauk had reported seeing a 30-foot bear that his hearty guffaws echoed and re-echoed across the great, frozen polar wastes. But Neakok isn’t laughing anymore. He has seen a Kinik with his very own eyes.

      “This Kinik, Neakok says, was grayish white and only its head was visible as it swam through the water. It was so large he did not attempt to shoot it. Neakok said its head alone must have been five or more feet long—and almost as wide. This was not the first time a monster was reported by respected men of the village. Floyd Ahvakana and Roxy Ekownna, elders in the Presbyterian Church and men of undoubted veracity, tell of seeing a tremendous sea monster in 1932 while hunting with a third Eskimo, now deceased. All three thought it was a Kokogiak [another Eskimo word for Kinik] or 10-legged bear which occupies a prominent role in Eskimo legend.

      Kiniks are bears that are so large that they stay in the water all the time, presumably so that buoyancy of the water will allow them to move their huge bulk.

      “Until now there have been many scoffers in the village, especially about Kokogiak. And that white men have been known to make reference to the ‘coming tourist season’ or ‘another abominable snowman.’ But since the respected Neakok added his testimony, the scoffers are strangely quiet. Even fearful. You don’t even hear much about how the Arctic’s strange mists distort distances or size, creating weird optical illusions. But you do hear told and retold stories about Kokogiak, the 10-legged bear of Eskimo legend.

      The man ran and ran, dodging among the humps of ice but he could not shake his pursuer.

      “The