Naomi and Heather were into ecology. They weren't fanatics about it, but they enjoyed nature, liked going camping and enjoyed hiking. They were both young, being in their early twenties, and quite fit.
Now they were on holiday and had arranged to go on a cross country hike, seeing the mountains and forests that still lay out there, substantially untouched by civilisation.
The idea was that they would fly into a remote camp and then be guided on a two day nature hike through the deep woods to some secluded lakes. They would camp at the lake for two more days and then make the hike back to the drop-off point, where they would be picked up and flown home.
Arriving at the drop-off point the two young women were introduced to Eric. Eric was only a few years older than the girls. He was quite a large man, and obviously very fit. He'd grown-up in a similar wilderness area in Canada, he told the girls, and had moved down here about five years previously. In the off-season he worked as a logger, but during the high season he was a guide, taking a fresh party out every week. His time was booked solid for the next two months.
If the girls cared to hunt or fish (they didn't) he could lead them to where they could do so successfully. However, if their reasons for coming were purely scenic, he would make sure the trails they took led past the nicest places, giving them ample opportunity for any photography they wanted to do.
"The first day of the hike is fairly strenuous," Eric explained. "We don't set up camp until late, as I want to get more than halfway to our destination on day one. This means that day two will be a much shorter hike, leaving us ample time to set up camp when we reach the lakes.
You should be aware that your phones won't work that far out, as there will be no signal. I will, of course, have a radio so that I can call for help in the case of emergency."
The following morning the girls were up bright and early, eager to get under way. With Eric leading, they set off at what Naomi suggested was a rather slow pace.
"Have patience," Eric told her. "You have to keep up this pace all day, and you're not strolling through a city park. If you rush now you'll wear yourself out long before the day is done. Just stick with me and you'll be surprised at how much ground we actually cover."
By the time it came for the lunch-break, the girls were in a far better position to appreciate Eric's advice. Although they both considered themselves to be fit and experienced hikers, this was their first time off well beaten paths, and they were starting to feel the difference.
Continuing after lunch, both girls were really starting to feel the effects of the hike, but neither of them wanted to ask for a rest or make a complaint, especially with Eric striding confidently along in front of them. As far as they were concerned, if Eric could do it, so could they.
Finally stopping for the night, the girls were relieved to be able to sprawl on the ground in front of the small camp fire that Eric had set up. They were enjoying some nice heated stew when Eric suddenly put a hand over his face and gave a heartfelt sigh.
"Eric, is there something wrong?" demanded Heather, worried.
Eric sighed again and shook his head.
"Just wait," he told them. "You should spot it shortly."
Puzzled, the girls returned to their meal. After a few moments, Heather lifted her head, looking puzzled, and sniffed the air. Lifting the stew to her nose, she sniffed it cautiously, shook her head and then seemed to be trying to smell the air generally.
Naomi looked at Heather, puzzled, though she noticed that Eric seemed amused. Then Naomi suddenly detected the scent of something rancid. Her nose twitched and she started scenting the air.
"What is that smell, Eric," asked Heather. "It's not a skunk, is it?"
"I wish it was," grumbled Eric. "You're about to meet the local hermit, known as Bearman, because he smells as bad as one."
A few moments passed and then the figure, the presence of who had been presaged by the breeze, appeared at the edge of the camp.
"'lo, Eric," came a deep rumble. "What'cha doin'?"
"Hullo, Bearman," murmured Eric. "We're hiking out to the lakes."
"Thought so," rumbled Bearman. "Any chance of some of that stew?"
"Of course," agreed Eric. "Help yourself."
Heather and Naomi watched as Bearman lumbered forward. It was obviously not just his smell that was behind his name. He seemed as big as a grizzly, a large grizzly, and he seemed to be wearing a coat made of fur.
As they watched, Bearman settled down across the campfire from the girls. Much to their relief, the slight breeze was now blowing away from him, although this did not prevent the occasional whiff from floating past.
Taking advantage of Bearman's presence, Eric quizzed him about current conditions, mentally running over his proposed route and ticking of the various points as he talked.
Tired after their extended hike, the girls retired to their sleeping bags as soon as they'd tidied up after their meal.
Lying there, nodding off, the girls both woke abruptly when Bearman started talking again.
"Nice couple of gals, you've got there, Eric," his deep voice rumbled. "Any chance I can have the use of one before I go?"
The girls looked at each other in shock. Surely he didn't mean that the way it sounded. Apparently he did, because Eric seemed to take the request seriously.
"Now, Bearman," he protested, "we've had this talk before. I can't just lend you one of the girls right now. Besides, they're city girls. They're not used to conditions out here, and let's face it, Bearman, you reek. When did you last have a wash. I won't say bath, because I suspect the answer would be never.
I'm sorry, but you have to understand that girls like this have delicate sensitivities. If you were to try to cuddle one smelling the way you do they'd probably be sick, and you wouldn't want that, now would you?"
Bearman glanced at the two nervous girls and then shook his head regretfully.
"No, guess not," he said. "And I had a bath at the beginning of the season just last year, and you know it. Never had a bath, indeed."
"Um, that was the season before, I think you'll find," said Eric with a smile, "but I bet you haven't even had a wash since."
"Haven't needed one," grumbled Bearman. With that he lumbered to his feet and head off.
"Eric, was he serious?" asked Naomi.
"Oh, yes, I think so. He asks me every year at the start of the season and I always have to turn him down. I don't think he expects success, but he works on the principle that if he doesn't ask, he won't get.
At times I'm tempted to find the biggest and ugliest woman I can and when he asks I'll offer her to him. The problem is, he might accept and then I'd be in real strife."
The girls giggled, and a short time later drifted off to sleep.
The next day started much the same as the first, with a slight difference of the hike starting off at a slightly faster pace.
"We don't have as far to go today," explained Eric, "and at this pace we'll reach the lake just in time for a late lunch. We can then set up our proper camp and the rest of the day is yours to look around and get acquainted with the area."
Things went as planned, and by three in the afternoon they had pitched their tents, organised their camp and were at leisure to explore.
And that's when things went a little off the plan.
The girls heard a cry of "'lo, Eric," and looking up they saw Bearman lumbering into the camp. A vastly different Bearman to the smelly old hermit they'd encountered the previous night.
He'd bathed, comprehensively. His hair was neatly combed, as was his beard. He positively glowed with health and cleanliness. His smell was completely gone, apart from a faint whiff of some sort of soap.
Unfortunately, the girls were not in a position to see if he'd cleaned his clothes up as well, for he hadn't bothered to wear any for this visit. They could see, however, that his male anatomy was cast on a scale that was as large as the rest of him.
"Well, how do I look now, Eric," boomed Bearman. "Clean enough to satisfy you?"
"Um, yes, Bearman," came Eric's reply. "You seem to have cleaned up very nicely. Even trimmed your beard and hair, I see."
"That I did," agreed Bearman. "Now, which of the lasses is mine?"
"Well, I guess since you've put all that work into it, you deserve some sort of reward. You can use the dark one," Eric said, indicating Naomi. "I've decided I'll be keeping the blonde for myself. Are you going to take her now or wait until tonight?"
"Now, of course," rumbled Bearman. "You can see I'm ready and waiting."
