Chapter 3 - Case #3: The Yeti

An explorer climbed up the mountains in the Himalayas when he smelled something terrible. He covered his nose and fell down the hill halfway until he grabbed his rope again and climbed up it. Then, something with big feet and long legs walked up to the side of the mountain and saw the explorer's rope. Then the explorer started to hear growling and looked up. When he did, he saw something big growling down at him. Then the beast showed the explorer one of his claws, and the explorer got the picture of what he would do. The explorer said, "Please, whoever you are, whatever you are, please no." The beast then used one of his claws on one of his fingers to cut the explorer's rope. Once the rope broke, the explorer fell off the mountain, and the monster growled at him while he descended.

Meanwhile, The Clue Crackers were in Paris, enjoying themselves. They ordered their food and tied Jake's leash down when they sat down for lunch. While waiting for their food, Judy did a little research on her laptop. Judy said, "Hey, look at this. 'Yeti spotted in The Himalayas.' I knew he was real." Cassidy stated, "Hate to break to you, but he isn't." Judy stated, "Then how could anyone spot him?" Cassidy said, "They probably just spotted a snow leopard or a bear." Judy said, "I say we go to The Himalayas and investigate. Then we'll see who's right." Cassidy stated, "Fine. If it'll prove to you that Yetis aren't real."

The Clue Crackers all got onto the next flight going to The Himalayas. While on the plane, they put on coats, winter boots, gloves, mittens, hats, and earmuffs so they wouldn't freeze. When the plane landed, The Clue Crackers all hiked towards the mountains and started to hear growling. Brad said, "What's that?" Judy stated, "I know that sound anywhere. It's a yell of a yeti." Cassidy said, "Judy, There's no such thing as a yeti." The growling got quieter, but The Clue Crackers still heard it. Judy stated, "OK. Then what's that?" Ricky said, "Might be a yeti." Cassidy said, "Whatever it was, it wasn't a yeti." Jake sniffed around and howled. Ricky stated, "Jake, what is it?" Judy sniffed around, too, and smelled the same thing Jake did. Judy said, "Hey, do you smell something?" Brad, Cassidy, and Ricky all smelled around and sensed something yucky. Cassidy stated, "Yuck." Brad said, "It might be the yeti." Cassidy said, "There's no such thing. And besides, nothing that stinky can be real." The Clue Crackers then heard the growling again. Ricky said, "I bet we'll find him if we follow his growling." Cassidy stated, "Or not." Judy said, "Yeah. Then we can take its picture and prove yetis exists." Cassidy said, "Or prove there's no such thing." Brad said, "Ok, girls, stop arguing, and let's get marching. This time, we'll stick together, no splitting up." Judy said, "Fine." Cassidy stated, "Fine." The boys started walking and then stopped for a minute. Brad said, "This will be a long trip with those two always fighting." The girls began walking too and caught up with the boys.

The Clue Crackers started marching up the mountain and tried to decide which direction to go in. Ricky said, "Which way should we go?" Judy stated, "I say we head North. That's where it's cold and snowy, and Yetis love the cold and the snow." Cassidy said, "But which way is North?" Brad held a compass ahead of him, and the red arrow directed them in the North. Brad pointed straight forward and said, "It's that way." The Clue Crackers marched North and found some footprints on the ground. Ricky stated, "Look, tracks." Judy said, "I'd recognize those tracks anywhere. They're the tracks of the yeti." Judy took a picture of the footprints and put the picture and her camera back in her backpack. Cassidy said, "Oh, brother. Those aren't yeti tracks; it looks like somebody was stomping." Judy stated, "They are yeti tracks, Cassidy." Cassidy said, "There's no such thing as a yeti, Judy." Brad stated, "Maybe we should follow the tracks to find out who left them."

The Clue Crackers followed the tracks North but didn't see any yeti. Ricky said, "Brad, are you sure we're going the right way?" Brad looked at his compass and noticed the arrow still pointing North. Brad said, "The compass says we're still heading North." Judy stated, "And so are the tracks." While hiking, Ricky spotted something on the ground and pointed at it. Ricky said, "Hey, what are those?" Cassidy stated, "What?" Judy looked down and declared, "I'd recognize that anywhere. It's yeti fur." Cassidy said, "Hmm." Cassidy picked one up and held her magnifying glass up to it. Cassidy stated, "Actually, these are just raisins." Judy said, "It is too yeti fur. Yetis shed because their hands are hairy and sweaty." Cassidy stated, "Yuck." Brad stated, "We found our first clue, Yeti fur or raisins." Then, The Clue Crackers heard growling again. Judy said, "The yeti, it's coming." Cassidy stated," Guys, it's just the wind. And there is no mystery here." The Clue Crackers ignored Cassidy's statement and saw the growling from over the hill. Judy said, "It's just over that hill. Let's go over there and take its picture." Cassidy stated, "You can't be serious." Judy said, "We're catching up to him. Of course, I'm serious. Now, come on. Let's go find us that yeti." Judy ran up the hill, and her team followed her. Then they all marched up the mountain, and something growling with giant feet and long legs saw them. When they reached the top, The Clue Crackers looked at the view and tried to notice where the yeti was. Cassidy said, "I don't see any yeti." Judy stated, "But we were so close."

While The Clue Crackers were on top of the hill, the beast that saw them threw a snowball at the mountain they were on. When the snowball hit the hill, it rolled down the mountain, collected more snow, and rolled down the hill that The Clue Crackers were on. When the snowball came their way, The Clue Crackers started to hear rumbling that was getting louder and louder, and the hill they were on started to shake. Cassidy said, "Uh oh." All five of them looked behind them and saw a giant snowball headed their way. Judy stated, "Come on!" All five ran for their lives but didn't run fast enough. When the snowball got close to Cassidy, she looked behind her, saw it, and jumped onto the ice. Then Cassidy slid down the ice and passed her team on the way down. Cassidy said, "Wee." Judy stated, "Hey, good idea." Judy jumped onto the ice, too, and slid past the boys. Ricky said, "Wait for us." Brad, Ricky, and Jake jumped onto the ice and fell to the bottom of the hill while the giant snowball chased them. Brad said, "It's ganging on us."

All five said, "Wow!" while sliding left, then to the right, then to the left, then to the right, then to the left, and then to the right. The Clue Crackers slid everywhere on the ice but couldn't shake the giant snowball no matter where they slid. Then, they all jumped from one hill to the other. All of them said, "Wow." Then, they made another jump from one cliff to the other. All of them stated, "Wow." When they reached the hill's bottom, they all made one last jump off a cliff and landed in a pile of snow. Then they stuck their heads out of it and watched the snowball leap. When the snowball landed, it landed in a cold lake. Judy said, "Phew." Cassidy stated, "That was a close one." Ricky said, "It certainly was." Brad said, "The only question is, what caused that snowball?" Judy stated, "That's easy, the yeti. It must know we're here." Cassidy said, "Judy, even if yetis existed, what are the odds they'd be on this side of mountains?" Judy stated, "I don't know; maybe one lives here." Cassidy said, "But there's no such thing as a yeti."

The Clue Crackers walked down to the bottom of the hill they were on and stopped at a lake. Brad said, "I don't see the tracks anymore. They're probably on the other side of the lake." Ricky stated, "And how do you suppose we get across?" Cassidy pointed to some kayaks by the lake, and they rowed across the lake in them. When they reached the other side, Brad looked at his compass and pointed North. Brad said, "Guys, North is this way. Come on." Judy stated, "Yeah, come on." Cassidy said, "O brother, you come on." All five of them headed North but still needed to find the yeti. Ricky stated, "Come on, over here." All five walked further North and saw a tree with claw marks. Brad said, "Hey, look at this." Brad put his hand by the claw marks, and they all looked at them. Judy stated, "I'd recognize those anywhere. They're yeti claw marks." Cassidy said, "Those aren't yeti claw marks; they're bear claw marks." Judy approached Cassidy and stated, "They're yeti claw marks." Cassidy said, "But there's no such thing as a yeti."

While Judy and Cassidy were arguing, the beast spotted them and saw them fighting. Judy said, "Is too." Cassidy stated, "Is not." Judy turned her back and crossed her arms. Judy said, "Is too." Cassidy turned her back and crossed her arms. Cassidy stated, "Is not." Judy turned around and said, "Is too." Cassidy turned around and declared, "Is not." Judy said, "Is too." Cassidy stated, "Is not." Judy said, "We're going to find a yeti." Cassidy said, "And I say there's no such thing." Judy stated, "I say we almost have him now." Cassidy said, "And I say there's no such thing." Judy said, "Is too." Cassidy stated, "Is not." Judy turned her back and crossed her arms. Judy said, "Is too." Cassidy turned her back and crossed her arms. Cassidy stated, "Is not."

While they were arguing, they started to hear growling again. Judy said, "There's that yeti again." Cassidy stated, "I say that was not a yeti roaring." Judy stated, "And I say yes, it was." Cassidy said, "I say the yeti doesn't even exist." Judy said, "And I say yes, it does." Cassidy stated, "Does not." Judy said, "Does too." Cassidy said, "Does not." Judy said, "Does too." Brad said, "Ok, girls, stop with the arguing, and let's get marching." Judy stated, "Let's find us a yeti." Cassidy said, "That does not even exist." Judy said, "Does too." Cassidy stated, "Does not." Judy said, "Does too." Brad said, "No more arguing, girls."

The Clue Crackers went further North and started to get cold. Then, it began snowing, and it made them more frigid. Brad said, "Hey, it's snowing." Judy stated, "That's ok. A little snowfall what stop us." Then, the wind started to pick up. Ricky said, "It's windy here too." Judy stated, "That's ok. The snow and the wind can't stop us." Cassidy said, "Judy, we're cold in a blizzard, and you expect us to keep going." Judy stated, "Yes." Brad stated, "But our clues are gone. The snow's covering the footprints." Judy said, "Well, that could stop us." Cassidy took out her binoculars and looked around. Judy stated, "Cassidy, do you see anything?" Cassidy said, "No, only snow, not even one footprint." Ricky said, "And I don't hear that sound anymore, just wind." Judy stated, "And I don't smell that smell anymore. I'm just cold like all of you." Cassidy said, "Burr. It is cold." Brad stated, "We got to find shelter." Ricky looked further North and saw something. Ricky said, "I think I see something over there." Cassidy took out her binoculars and glanced at where Ricky was pointing. Cassidy stated, "It's an igloo." Judy said, "We can warm up there. It's not so far."

The Clue Crackers slowly walked to the igloo. They wondered if the owner was home when they got to the igloo. Judy yelled, "Hello!" Cassidy said, "I'm freezing. Let's go inside." When they walked into the igloo, they all saw it looked nice and warm inside, so they decided to warm up in it. Cassidy said, "This is a nice igloo." Judy stated, "It's nice and warm. I wonder who lives here." Brad stated, "I'm sure whoever it is, they won't mind if we just stay here to warm up for a little while." Judy said, "Maybe it belongs to the yeti." Cassidy stated, "Judy, there's no such thing. Even if there were, he would live somewhere cold, hairy, yucky, and creepy. A home that suits him, not a nice place like this." While the girls were talking, the boys found food on the table. Brad picked up a box of raisins and started to eat them. Judy began to smell something and said, "Wait. There's that smell again." Brad stated, "Yeah, I smell something too." Judy said, "Brad, what are you eating?" Brad stated, "Raisins." Judy said, "Raisins?" Brad stated, "Yeah, what some?" Cassidy said, "No, thank you." Judy gasped and declared, "The smell, the raisins, the sound." Cassidy stated, "What sound?" The Clue Crackers started to hear growling again.

While they were adding up their clues, the beast was stomping towards The Clue Crackers' igloo. While he was getting closer, his growling started getting louder. Judy said, "That sound. Guys, we're in the igloo of the yeti." Cassidy stated, "For the last time, there is no such thing as a yeti." Judy said, "Well, I say yetis are real." Cassidy stated, "And I say that's just silly. I also say there is no yeti, and there never was." Judy said, "Oh?" Cassidy stated, "Yes." Judy said, "Yetis are real." Cassidy said, "No way." Judy said, "Yes, way." Cassidy stated, "No way." Judy said, 'Yes way." When the beast got to the igloo, it growled loudly. Judy said, "There's that sound again. The yeti must be right outside." Cassidy stated, "It's just the wind, and I will prove it." Judy said, "I'm coming too. You can't go alone; if I'm right, it'll prove yetis exist." Brad stated, "Come on, guys. Let's go see that Yeti." Cassidy said, "There is no yeti; come on."

All five of them stepped outside and saw the blizzard was over. Then they looked down and saw more tracks. Ricky said, "Look, more tracks." Judy stated, "OK, Cassidy. If there's no yeti, then who made these tracks?" Cassidy said, "I don't know." Judy stated, "And who made those growling noises and that smell?" Cassidy said, "I don't know." Judy said, "And who left those raisins?" Cassidy stated, "I don't know. But I do know there's no such thing as a yeti. And whoever we're chasing, it's not a yeti." Brad, Judy, Ricky, and Jake all looked behind Cassidy and started to shake in fear. Cassidy said, "What? What is it?" Judy pointed behind Cassidy and tried to warn her. Judy stated, "The Yeti!" Cassidy turned around and saw the Yeti right behind her. The Yeti lifted its arm and tried to grab Cassidy, but she ran for it, and he missed. Brad said, "Let's get out of here." Brad, Cassidy, Ricky, and Jake all vamoosed, but Judy stayed and took a picture of the Yeti while he walked towards her. Then Brad came back, grabbed Judy, and ran off with her.

Once they ran off, the yeti chased them away from the igloo and up the mountain. Then they all ran down the hill, but Ricky returned to the top, put a flag with his face on top, and saluted, so now he can say he was the first one to get to the top. Then, they all ran across a small river of cold water across steppingstones. They all ran into a cave when they reached the other side, but The Clue Crackers screamed in terror, and the Yeti chased them out. When the yeti reached the exit, a bear tapped his shoulder, and the yeti turned around. Then the bear roared at the Yeti, and the Yeti screamed in terror and ran from the bear. Cassidy said, "That was close." Judy stated, "Ha, I knew the yeti was real." Cassidy said, "That Yeti isn't real. There's no such thing as a yeti. And I'll prove it once we catch that and figure out who he is." Judy said, "We'll see about that."

Brad saw something in the snow and grabbed it. Brad said, "Guys, look at this." Brad picked up a cable he had found in the snow and saw it had been bitten with razor-sharp teeth. Judy said, "Ha. The Yeti chewed through that chord." Cassidy said, "But why would there be a chord up here?" Brad stated, "If we answer that, we may solve the mystery." The Clue Crackers went further South, hoping the yeti wouldn't find them. When they got to a clearing, they encountered a town of igloos and saw they got smashed to bits. Ricky said, "Yikes, look at that." Judy said, "Igloos smashed to bits. That proves the monster is real." Cassidy stated, "No, it doesn't." When the yeti got to the Igloos, he found The Clue Crackers. Then, The Clue Crackers started to hear growling, and when they looked behind them, they saw the yeti. Then the Yeti roared at them, and they all ran for their lives. All five of them ran towards a set of totem poles. When they arrived, they hid behind one so the yeti wouldn't find them. When the yeti reached the totem poles, all four started climbing up them while Jake rode on Ricky's back.

Since he couldn't find The Clue Crackers, the Yeti left, and The Clue Crackers climbed back down the totem poles where they were hiding. Ricky said, "I say we ditch while he's gone." Brad stated, "I got a better idea. Let's follow him." The Clue Crackers followed the yeti to a cave made of ice and stopped at the entrance. Brad pointed in and said. "Hey, this must be his lair." Cassidy stated, "I thought that igloo was his lair." Judy stated, "It could have been, but let's go in anyway."

All five of them walked into the cave and followed the Yeti's footprints. Once they got in, the yeti spotted them and got mad at them. Judy said, "Gosh, this cave goes on forever." Brad stated, "Be careful; this ice is treacherous." Jake accidentally slipped on the ice and slid down towards The Clue Crackers. Then he knocked them over, and they fell off a cliff. Then they landed on an ice slide and slid down to the bottom of the cave on it. Ricky said, "Ok, we're doomed." Brad stated, "Maybe not." Brad gave Judy a boost, and she stood on his shoulders. Then Cassidy climbed up Brad and Judy and stood on top of them. Their tower became unstable, but Ricky climbed and reached the cliff's top. When he reached the top, Ricky looked up and saw the yeti. Then the Yeti roared at him, and Ricky screamed in terror. Then their tower collapsed, and all four fell to the cave's bottom again. Ricky said, "The yeti, and we're trapped." Brad stated, "Not necessarily. We need to find another way out." Judy pointed down a tunnel and said, "Maybe we should follow this tunnel and see where it goes." All five of them walked down the next tunnel and escaped the Yeti.

While they were walking down the tunnel, the yeti followed them. When they saw the Yeti, they all screamed in terror and ran down the tunnel while the Yeti chased after them. All five of them grabbed a giant icicle from the ceiling and slid down it. While dropping, the monster knocked the icicle off the roof and tried to destroy it before The Clue Crackers reached the bottom. When they did, the Yeti jumped down to the bottom and chased after The Clue Crackers while they ran down the tunnel. Brad hit the ceiling and purposely caused a rockslide of snowballs to block the yeti off, but the yeti broke through the wall of snowballs and chased after The Clue Crackers. While they were running, Judy found a secret passage on the floor, and they all ran down it. Then Ricky shut the door so that the monster would come after them.

Once they reached the bottom, they found a door and opened it. Once they did, they located the explorer the Yeti knocked off the mountain the other day. Judy said, "Who are you?" The explorer said, "My name is Fred Richman. I'm a mountain explorer. The monster cut my rope, and I fell off the mountain the other day and got knocked out." Cassidy said, "The monster must have brought you here while you were unconscious." Brad stated, "I think this case is close to being solved. All we need to do is capture that Yeti." Judy said, "Which will prove he's real." Cassidy stated, "Or fake. Because I think I got this mystery figured out."

All five of them left the ice cave and returned to the mountains. Judy said, "This better work, Cassidy." Cassidy stated, "It will." Once the yeti spotted them, he roared at them and chased them. The Clue Crackers returned to the ice cave and stopped by the entrance. The yeti tried to halt, but he ran into the ice cave, slipped on the ice, and slid to the ice slide. He bonked his head and landed upside down when he reached the bottom. The Clue Crackers slid down to the Yeti and saw him breathing in and out like he was defeated.

Cassidy said, "Well, that wraps up this mystery." Brad stated, "But who is it?" Judy said, "Nobody, he's real." Cassidy said, "Actually, Judy." Cassidy removed the Yeti's mask and saw he was a woman in disguise. Ricky stated, "Like, who is that?" Cassidy said, "She's Susie Vanderhaven. She's a famous book author who's known throughout the United States. She was looking for the Yeti herself and using the Yeti costume to make people believe in the Yeti and sell more copies of her latest book." Cassidy took a copy from Susie's backpack and said, "The Yeti of The Himalayas. A Novel to Prove It Exists." Susie said, "How'd you know?"

Cassidy said, "We found raisins throughout the mountains and in the igloo we were in, so I knew someone had to have been around recently." Judy said, "I bet that igloo belonged to Susie. And once she saw us, she saw us leaving; she thought we would figure her out." Cassidy said, "Exactly, so she used the Yeti costume to scare us away. Brad said, "What about the scratch marks and teeth marks we found?" Cassidy said, "The rope Susie cut belonged to Fred Richman, and she cut it with her claws, not teeth. And the scratch marks we found also came from Susie's costume." Cassidy took Susie's radio and pushed play, and it played the monster's roar. Cassidy said. "And the roaring we heard was just sound effects played back on Susie's radio. But I figured it out when I took off her mask and saw it was her." Susie said, "And I would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for you meddling kids and your dog."

The Clue Crackers hiked down the mountain together with Susie and Fred. And they were disappointed that they never saw a real yeti. Before they left, Judy took one last look at the hills and heard growling. Then she smiled because she still believed in the Yeti and got on the plane with Susie, Fred, and her team. Then, the pilot took them all back to Paris, France. Once The Clue Crackers arrived, they were happy to be back since they had solved another case and didn't have to worry about any more mysteries for a while.

The End