The Spooky Tanuki (Tah-nookie)

6/17/07

I walk back up to my cabin from the Takahashi’s house. It’s dark, as dark as the inside of a nurse whale. Crickets chirping, lizards slurping, bats burping….. My only weapons are a flashlight and my cat like reflexes. I shine the light back and forth, trying to avoid the millions upon millions of spider webs that, despite my best efforts, always find their way into my mouth. Suddenly, I see two cold yellow eyes peering back at me about 50 feet ahead. I stop, watch and listen as the beast slowly saunters sideways in my direction. I keep the light in his eyes trying to make out his shape and size; trying to gauge the length of his huge incisors and disproportionate claws. I take a few steps closer, crouching down, ready to attack if need be. He turns and I see his immaculate coat swish and sway to and fro like the gentle waves of an alga covered pond. He looks back once more as he ambles away; our eyes lock in a struggle for dominance. It’s as if time stands still. No more chirping, slurping or burping only silence. He looks away and scurries down a slope. I walk quickly up to the hill and shine my light everywhere…searching…but he’s gone like birthday money when you’re seven.

That was the second time I saw the Tanuki. I was lucky to escape unharmed seeing as how the tanuki is the most aggressive of the canine family, responsible for more than 10,000 deaths each year in Japan alone (Look it up, I dare you). Until a few nights ago, I didn’t even know they existed much less that they inhabited the very grounds upon which I live. I was never warned or cautioned. Never told to beware of the lurking tanuki. Apparently, the Takahashi’s assumed I knew. I’m hoping to see him again and perhaps invite him to tea, but only the tanuki can decide that.

Tanuki aside, things are going quite well at camp. I have spent most of the time chopping firewood or working as a Brush Pile Transplantation Specialist. My duties include but are not limited to moving massive amounts of woodland garbage from one location to another to ensure safe and efficient burning, avoiding poisonous snakes and frogs that wish me harm, and last but not least acquiring as many mosquito and black fly bites as possible with hopes of building an immunity. The last one requires the most concentration.