All language subtitles for River.Monsters.S09E04.1080p.AMZN.WEBRip.DD+2.0.x264-VLAD_track3_[eng]

I'M JEREMY WADE --
EXPLORER, BIOLOGIST,

AND AQUATIC DETECTIVE.

FIGHT IT! FIGHT IT!
FIGHT IT!

I'VE FOUGHT BATTLES WITH RIVER
AND MARINE MONSTERS

ALL OVER THE WORLD,

AND I'VE BEEN PUSHED
TO THE LIMIT TIME AND AGAIN,

BUT ONE EXTRAORDINARY
ENCOUNTER STANDS OUT.

IT'S IN THE FAST WATER.

I'M TRYING TO RELAX
AND KEEP A BIT CALM.

ON MY FIRST-EVER
"RIVER MONSTERS" SHOOT,

I LANDED A RARE GOONCH CATFISH
AS BIG AS ME.

THAT IS A BIG FISH!

SINCE THEN, I'VE HEARD LITTLE
ABOUT THE GOONCH.

I FEARED THAT THEY
WERE GONE FOR GOOD.

BUT NOW, FROM INDIA'S NEIGHBOR,
NEPAL...

DO YOU HAVE ANY SCARS?

...INTRIGUING STORIES
ARE SURFACING

OF FISHERMEN DRAGGED
INTO MOUNTAIN RIVERS,

NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN.

BUT AFTER THAT,
HE'S JUST SO TERRIFIED

OF WHAT'S IN THE WATER.

HE'S NOW A FARMER.

MIGHT NEED THE BOAT.

IS MY OLD ADVERSARY,
THE DEADLY GOONCH CATFISH,

BACK FROM THE BRINK
AND BACK IN BUSINESS?

-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

A DECADE AGO, IN MY FIRST-EVER
"RIVER MONSTERS" INVESTIGATION,

I SPENT SIX GRUELING WEEKS
ON INDIA'S KALI RIVER

TRYING TO UNMASK
THE ELUSIVE MONSTER

BEHIND A SERIES
OF DEADLY ATTACKS.

I WAS EXHAUSTED
AND CLOSE TO GIVING UP

WHEN I WAS PROPELLED
INTO A RAGING RIVER

BY AN UNDERWATER BEAST.

AFTER AN EPIC STRUGGLE,
I FINALLY CAUGHT THE CULPRIT --

A 161-POUND
UNDERWATER OGRE

WITH A TASTE
FOR HUMAN FLESH --

THE GIANT DEVIL CATFISH
KNOWN AS THE "GOONCH."

CATCHING THIS FEROCIOUS FISH
MADE MY REPUTATION

AND LAUNCHED
"RIVER MONSTERS."

SINCE THEN, THE KALI RIVER HAS
EXPERIENCED RAPID DEVELOPMENT

AND POPULATION GROWTH.

PARTS HAVE BECOME SO POLLUTED,
THEY'VE BEEN DECLARED

A HEALTH HAZARD.

I FEARED THAT BIG GOONCH
HAD DISAPPEARED

FROM THE REGION'S RIVERS.

BUT NOW, AN UNEXPECTED REPORT

FROM THE HIMALAYAN COUNTRY
OF NEPAL --

A MYSTERIOUS INCIDENT

THAT FEELS STRANGELY FAMILIAR.

A LONE FISHERMAN ON A MOUNTAIN
RIVER DRAGGED OFF HIS FEET

AND INTO THE WATER
BY AN UNSEEN CREATURE,

HIS BODY NEVER RECOVERED.

COULD THIS BE THE WORK
OF THE GOONCH?

I HAVE TO FIND OUT.

I'M HEADING 4,500 MILES TO ASIA

AND THE MIGHTY
HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS.

THE TOP OF THE WORLD
IS NEW TERRITORY FOR ME.

MY DESTINATION, NEPAL,

IS HOME TO EIGHT OF THE WORLD'S
10 HIGHEST PEAKS,

INCLUDING THE HIGHEST OF THEM
ALL, MOUNT EVEREST.

THESE MOUNTAINS ARE THE SOURCE
OF MANY GREAT RIVERS.

I'M CURIOUS TO FIND OUT WHAT
LIVES IN THESE REMOTE WATERS.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

KATHMANDU IS THE SPIRITUAL
AND CULTURAL HEART OF NEPAL --

A PLACE OF GODS,
GHOSTS, AND DEMONS.

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

LOOKING AT ALL THESE
AMAZING CARVINGS,

IT'S NOT HARD TO IMAGINE
THAT THIS COULD BE A PLACE

WHERE YOU MIGHT FIND
SOME STRANGE MONSTERS.

**

THE FIRST STEP
OF MY INVESTIGATION

IS TO MEET MY SOURCE
FOR THE RECENT STORY...

MONSOON IS
DISAPPEARING FAST.

...COLONEL MIKE ALLEN.

MIKE SPENT 40 YEARS
AS A SOLDIER

WITH THE ELITE GURKHA REGIMENT

AND MANY DECADES FISHING
THE COUNTRY'S RIVERS.

LIKE ME, HE HAS A FASCINATION
FOR THE BEASTS

THAT LURK IN THEM.

ONE HEARS REPORTS
OF HUGE FISH TUCKED AWAY

IN SOME VERY DEEP POOLS.

MIKE STILL KEEPS HIS EAR
TO THE GROUND

FOR INTERESTING STORIES,

AND HE'S ABLE TO TELL ME
WHERE THE MYSTERIOUS CASE

OF THE DISAPPEARING FISHERMAN
TOOK PLACE,

ON NEPAL'S LONGEST
AND WILDEST RIVER, THE KARNALI.

GETTING THERE WON'T BE EASY,
SO I'VE ENLISTED

AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER, MAHESH.

THE JOURNEY TAKES ME THROUGH
THE FOOTHILLS OF THE HIMALAYAS,

WHERE ROCKFALLS
AND LANDSLIDES ARE COMMON.

THIS ROAD, IF YOU CAN
CALL IT THAT,

IS LITERALLY SCRATCHED
INTO THE SIDE

OF A VERY UNSTABLE MOUNTAIN.

AND EVERY MONSOON, HUGE BITS
OF THAT MOUNTAINSIDE SLIDE DOWN

AND END UP IN THE RIVER.

[ MAHESH SPEAKING
NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

MAHESH WARNS ME THAT THE
DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE OF 2015

MADE MANY ROADS HERE
IMPASSABLE.

LOOK AT THOSE BOULDERS
THE SIZE OF A HOUSE.

SO, AT THIS STAGE,

I'M NOT ACTUALLY SURE
IF I'M GONNA MAKE IT THROUGH.

WE FINALLY MAKE IT
TO THE VILLAGE OF KINO,

WHERE THE FISHERMAN
WHO DISAPPEARED LIVED.

THE VILLAGERS
ARE AWARE OF THE CASE.

ANYBODY ELSE HERE WHO MIGHT
KNOW MORE ABOUT IT?

THANK YOU.
[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

I'M DIRECTED TO THE OWNER
OF THE LOCAL TEAHOUSE.

[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]

NAWAL WAS ONCE A FISHERMAN HERE
ON THE KARNALI RIVER.

HE WAS FRIENDS WITH THE MAN
WHO DISAPPEARED

AND HAS AGREED TO TALK
ABOUT THE INCIDENT.

CAN YOU TELL ME EXACTLY
WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS MAN

JUST RECENTLY?

WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?
[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

AS I QUESTION HIM
ABOUT THE MYSTERIOUS CASE,

I CAN START TO SEE
WHAT HAPPENED.

THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE JUST
DOWNSTREAM FROM THE VILLAGE

AT A POPULAR FISHING SPOT.

ALI, AN EXPERIENCED FISHERMAN,
WAS THROWING A CAST NET

FROM THE SHALLOWS.

HIS MORNING HAD BEEN SLOW,

SO HE STAYED ON AFTER
THE OTHER MEN HAD HEADED HOME.

HE WAS NEVER SEEN AGAIN.

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

ACCORDING TO NAWAL,

ALI WAS A STRONG SWIMMER
AND UNLIKELY TO HAVE DROWNED.

AND IF HE HAD, A BODY WOULD'VE
TURNED UP SOMEWHERE DOWNRIVER.

BUT DESPITE A SEARCH
THAT WENT ON FOR 20 DAYS,

NO CORPSE WAS EVER FOUND.

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

THE CONSENSUS
AMONG THE VILLAGERS

IS THAT ALI WAS DRAGGED IN
TO HIS DEATH.

WHAT CREATURE COULD'VE BEEN
POWERFUL ENOUGH

TO DRAG A MAN INTO THE WATER
AND DEVOUR HIS BODY?

A BIG GOONCH CATFISH
WOULD HAVE THE POWER,

AND I KNOW IT HAS A REPUTATION
FOR DISPOSING OF THE DEAD,

BUT WOULD IT ATTACK A MAN
WHO'S FIGHTING BACK?

I CAN'T JUST ASSUME
A GOONCH IS GUILTY.

I NEED TO CONSIDER
OTHER BIG PREDATORS

THAT HAUNT NEPAL'S RIVERS.

THERE'S ONE I HAVE IN MIND.

BUT WHEN I ASK AROUND, I DON'T
GET THE ANSWERS I'M EXPECTING.

WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE
DISAPPEARING IN THE RIVER

IN THIS PART
OF THE WORLD WHERE, POSSIBLY,

SOME LARGE UNDERWATER CREATURE
IS INVOLVED,

TOP OF THE LIST OF SUSPECTS
IS NORMALLY CROCODILES.

THE THING IS, IF YOU'VE
GOT CROCODILES IN THE WATER,

YOU'RE GONNA SEE THEM
FROM TIME TO TIME

OUT OF THE WATER, AS WELL,

BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO COME OUT

INTO THE HEAT
TO WARM THEMSELVES UP.

AND THE PEOPLE HERE
JUST DON'T SEE THEM.

I HAVE A HUNCH WHY THE LOCALS
DON'T COME ACROSS CROCODILES

ON THIS PART OF THE KARNALI.

RIVERS HERE ARE EITHER RAIN-
OR GLACIER-FED,

AND THIS AFFECTS THE WATER'S
YEAR-ROUND TEMPERATURE

AND, ULTIMATELY,
WHAT LIVES IN IT.

THE CLOUDY GRAY COLOR
OF THE WATER,

THE RESULT OF SEDIMENT KNOWN
AS "ROCK FLOUR,"

TELLS ME THAT THIS IS MELTWATER
FROM THE MOUNTAINS

AND WILL REMAIN COLD ALL YEAR.

CROCODILES DISLIKE COLD WATER,
AND SINCE THEY'VE NOT BEEN SEEN

BY THE LOCALS --

WHO'VE FISHED THIS
RIVER FOR CENTURIES --

I'VE SCRATCHED CROCS
FROM MY SUSPECT LIST.

THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ELSE

LARGE ENOUGH
TO DRAG A MAN INTO THIS RIVER,

BUT WHAT IS IT?

I'VE GOT MORE QUESTIONS
FOR NAWAL...

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

...AND THIS TIME,
HE REVEALS MORE.

THERE WAS ANOTHER INCIDENT
ON THE SAME STRETCH OF RIVER,

AND NAWAL HIMSELF
WAS THE VICTIM.

I'M IN REMOTE WESTERN NEPAL
ON THE TRAIL OF A RIVER MONSTER

REPORTED TO HAVE DRAGGED
A FISHERMAN TO A WATERY GRAVE.

IS IT FAIRLY CLOSE
TO THE SIDE OF THE RIVER,

AND HOW DEEP
WAS THE WATER?

I'VE JUST UNCOVERED
A SECOND STORY

WITH INTRIGUING PARALLELS
TO THE FIRST.

[ SPEAKING
NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

A FEW YEARS AGO,

NAWAL WAS OUT FISHING
WITH A GROUP OF FRIENDS.

THEY HAD FISHED
THIS SPOT BEFORE

AND KNEW THE WATERS WELL.

SUDDENLY, SOMETHING VERY LARGE

BECAME ENTANGLED
IN NAWAL'S NET.

HE TRIED TO HANG ON BUT WAS
BEING DRAGGED AWAY DOWNSTREAM.

EVEN WITH THE HELP
OF HIS FRIENDS,

NAWAL WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL
WHATEVER WAS IN HIS NET.

HE WAS PULLED, HE TOLD ME,
ABOUT 100 YARDS DOWNSTREAM,

AND IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE
THESE OTHER GUYS

STOPPED WHAT THEY WERE DOING
AND CAME TO ASSIST HIM

THAT HE SURVIVED.

THE ORIGINAL VICTIM, ALI,
DIDN'T HAVE PEOPLE AROUND

TO HELP HIM.

BUT WHY DIDN'T HE SIMPLY
LET GO OF THE NET?

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

NAWAL TELLS ME THAT FISHERMAN
LOOP THE CORD TO THE NET

AROUND THEIR WRIST
SO THEY DON'T LOSE IT.

THIS ISN'T NORMALLY DANGEROUS,

BUT IF SOMETHING REALLY BIG
GETS IN THE NET,

THE CORD BECOMES
A DEADLY NOOSE.

NAWAL BELIEVES THAT
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ALI.

AND ONE EXTRA LITTLE DETAIL --

NAWAL HIMSELF,
HE DOESN'T FISH ANYMORE.

HE SAID, AFTER THAT,
HE'S JUST SO TERRIFIED

OF WHAT IS IN THE WATER,

HE'S NOW A FARMER,
DOESN'T GO NEAR THE WATER.

BOTH THESE STORIES REMIND ME
OF MY OWN EXPERIENCE

10 YEARS AGO IN INDIA.

I, TOO, WAS OVERPOWERED,
FORCED INTO A RIVER,

AND COULD HAVE DROWNED.

BUT I CAN'T BLAME A GOONCH
WITHOUT PROOF.

THERE COULD BE OTHER SUSPECTS
HERE ON THE KARNALI.

IT'S A MAJOR RIVER
AND FLOWS ALL THE WAY

FROM THE HIGH HIMALAYAS
TO THE MIGHTY GANGES.

IT CONTAINS MANY SPECIES
AND, NO DOUBT,

SOME SURPRISES
UNDER THE SURFACE...

NO, THAT'S NOT
WHAT I CAME FOR.

...BUT THINGS ARE BUMPY
FROM THE START.

THIS IS THE SECOND CAST.

TWO CASTS, ONE SNAG.

IT'S JUST THE NATURE OF
THIS KIND OF FISHING.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE PHILOSOPHICAL
ABOUT IT.

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE PLENTY
OF SPARE GEAR, AS WELL.

AFTER HOURS OF TRYING,
MY FRUSTRATIONS BEGIN TO MOUNT.

SLIGHTLY REVISING MY OPINION
OF THIS PLACE.

I HAVEN'T GOT THAT GUT FEELING.

I HAVEN'T GOT THAT SENSE
OF ANTICIPATION,

OF "SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN
AT ANY MOMENT."

I SWITCH UP MY GEAR JUST TO TRY
AND GET SOMETHING ON THE LINE.

YEP, YEAH.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

YES.

IT'S STUCK ON SOMETHING.

IT'S GOT SNAGGED.
THAT'S NOT MOVING.

IT'S A LINE OR A NET.

DAMN.

I'VE LOST MY LURE
ON SOMETHING IN THE RIVER.

YEAH, THAT'S THE LINE GONE.

THAT WOULD'VE BEEN...

THAT WOULD'VE BEEN
AT THE KNOT TO MY SWIVEL.

THIS IS A BAD SIGN.

I'M HOPING THE FISHERMEN
CAN TELL ME

WHAT'S PREVENTING ME
FROM GETTING TO THE FISH.

HERE, BIG FISH NOW?

-FIFTEEN KG.
-FIFTEEN KG?

Man: MM-HMM.
FIFTEEN KG.

IT QUICKLY BECOMES CLEAR THAT
THERE ARE TWO PROBLEMS HERE.

SO, NOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE
FISH IN THIS RIVER?

THE RIVER IS OVERFISHED,

AND THE EQUIPMENT BEING USED
IS LEFT HIDDEN IN THE WATER

FOR DAYS AND SOMETIMES EVEN
DISCARDED THERE.

SO, IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING LIKE
THAT THAT I GOT CAUGHT UP ON.

MOSTLY, THIS IS GONNA BE
UNDER THE SURFACE.

I'M GONNA DISCOVER ONE OF THESE
WHEN I HOOK UP ON IT.

A SINGLE ROD AND LINE
IN THIS PLACE,

I'M JUST NOT GONNA GET ANYTHING
OF NOTE AT ALL.

I NEED TO FIND
A STRETCH OF RIVER

THAT'S NOT RIDDLED
WITH NETS AND LINES

WAITING TO SNAG MY GEAR --

A PLACE WHERE FEWER PEOPLE
ARE FISHING.

WHEN BRIEFING ME ON THE REGION,
COLONEL MIKE TOLD ME

ABOUT AN AREA
HE'S FISHED BEFORE.

IN THE LOWER PART, WHICH IS
THE BABAI RIVER, WHICH...

HE SAID THE BABAI RIVER
IS ISOLATED

AND DIFFICULT TO ACCESS,

SO THIS SHOULD MEAN
LESS FISHING ACTIVITY.

FROM A NEARBY HIGH POINT,
THINGS LOOK PROMISING.

LITTLE EVIDENCE OF HABITATION.

ON THE RIVER'S EDGE, THERE ARE
OTHER ENCOURAGING SIGNS.

THESE MARKS WERE MADE
BY A SUCKERMOUTH FISH

SWIMMING OVER THE ROCK
AND FEEDING ON ALGAE.

HERE WE GO.
HERE'S THE HEAD OF THE FISH.

THE SUCKER IS HERE,
AND IT'S JUST MOVING ALONG,

SLOWLY SUCKING UP ALGAE.

AND WHAT THESE MARKS
TELL ME IS THREE THINGS --

FIRST THING IS THAT,
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO,

THE WATER LEVEL
WAS SOMEWHERE UP HERE.

TWO, THERE ARE SMALL FISH
IN THIS RIVER,

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
SOMETHING THIS SIZE

THAT WOULD'VE MADE
THESE MARKS HERE.

AND THREE, NORMALLY,
WHEN YOU'VE GOT SMALL FISH,

YOU'RE GONNA FIND
SOMETHING BIGGER

THAT WANTS TO FEED ON THEM.

AFTER MY FRUSTRATIONS
ON THE KARNALI,

I'M EAGER TO GET A LINE
IN THESE PRISTINE WATERS.

NOW I HAVE A REAL CHANCE
OF TRACKING DOWN THE MONSTER

THAT'S STALKING
THIS REGION'S RIVERS.

YEAH, THERE'S SOMETHING
PULLING THERE.

THERE WE GO.

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!
GOT A FISH!

I'M IN WESTERN NEPAL

INVESTIGATING MYSTERIOUS
INCIDENTS

WHERE FISHERMEN WERE DRAGGED
INTO RIVERS --

ONE TO HIS DEATH --

AND I FINALLY GOT A FISH
ON MY LINE.

Wade: LOOK AT THAT.
LOOK AT THAT.

**

THIS IS A MAHSEER.

I THINK THE FIRST THING
TO BE SAID ABOUT THIS

IS THAT
IT'S A VERY PRETTY FISH --

THESE LARGE GOLDEN SCALES,
A VERY STREAMLINED BODY.

THIS IS WHAT, BACK IN THE DAYS,
THE BRITISH EMPIRE,

THE COLONIAL GENTS
IN THEIR TIME OFF,

USED TO COME AND FISH FOR.

THESE POTENTIALLY GROW
TO OVER 100 POUNDS --

SOME STORIES EVEN
MAYBE 200 POUNDS.

I'VE CAUGHT
LARGE MAHSEER MYSELF.

I CAUGHT ONE OVER 90 POUNDS.

SO, THIS IS CERTAINLY
A FISH THAT,

IF SOMEBODY GOT IT
IN THEIR THROW NET,

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY CAPABLE
OF PULLING YOU IN THE WATER.

ALTHOUGH IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
IT, THIS IS ACTUALLY A PREDATOR.

IT HAS A VERY MUSCULAR MOUTH,
WHICH IS SORT OF TELESCOPIC.

IT'S QUITE CAPACIOUS THERE.

IT FEEDS ON THE BOTTOM,
GOING OVER ROCKS,

FEELING WITH THESE.

BUT THAT'S CAPABLE
OF TAKING QUITE LARGE PREY.

AND IT DOES HAVE TEETH,
BUT THE TEETH ARE NOT
IN THE NORMAL PLACE.

THEY'RE THROAT TEETH. THEY'RE IN
THE BACK OF THE THROAT.

OH!

A LARGE MAHSEER CAN BE
A FORMIDABLE FISH,

BUT I'D NEED TO SEE
HOW BIG THEY GROW HERE

TO BE CONVINCED
IT'S A SERIOUS SUSPECT.

THE BABAI RIVER IS CLEARLY
WORTH INVESTIGATING.

I'LL NEED A BOAT
TO TRAVEL DOWNSTREAM.

WHEN I EXPLAIN
WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR AND WHY,

I'M DIRECTED TO A MAN
NAMED FIRALAL.

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

HE HAS A REMARKABLE STORY.

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO,

FIRALAL WAS WALKING
BY THE RIVER.

IT WAS LATE IN THE DAY
AND GETTING DARK.

HE NOTICED SOMETHING
AT THE WATER'S EDGE

AND WENT TO INVESTIGATE.

HE COULDN'T SEE
WHAT THE CREATURE WAS...

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

...BUT IT WAS LARGE
AND SEMI-SUBMERGED.

FIRALAL THOUGHT IT WAS DEAD.

[ SCREAMING ]

IT WASN'T.

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

HE HAD TO TEAR HIMSELF FREE.

SO, IT'S HERE?

DO YOU HAVE ANY SCAR,
ANY MARK?

THE SCARS EXTEND
FROM HIS SHOULDER TO HIS WRIST.

THIS ANIMAL WAS BIG.

WHEN I ASK HIM
WHAT HE THOUGHT IT WAS,

HE USES A WORD
IN HIS LOCAL DIALECT

THAT I'M GUESSING
MEANS "CROCODILE,"

BUT THIS DOESN'T ADD UP.

IF THAT HAD BEEN A CROCODILE,

EITHER YOU DON'T GET
YOUR ARM BACK,

OR YOU'RE NOT AROUND
TO TELL THE STORY,

OR YOU'VE GOT GREAT BIG HOLES

IN YOUR ARM,
AND I'VE SEEN CROCODILE BITES.

THAT'S NOT A CROCODILE BITE.
THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE.

I REALLY NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT,
EXACTLY, THAT WAS.

COULD THIS SAME MONSTER BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INCIDENTS

ON THE KARNALI RIVER?

FIRALAL'S TERRIFYING ENCOUNTER
HAPPENED DOWNSTREAM

INSIDE A NATIONAL PARK WHERE
NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO LIVE.

I NEED PERMISSION TO GO THERE.

AT THE PARK OFFICE,

THE RANGER WARNS ME
ABOUT POTENTIAL DANGERS

ON THE BABAI RIVER.

SO, THE WATER WAS ALL THE WAY UP
TO THE BRIDGE, TO THE ROAD?

YES, YES.
[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

JUST TWO YEARS AGO,
THERE WAS A MASSIVE FLOOD.

FEW PEOPLE HAVE
VENTURED HERE SINCE.

TO HELP ME NAVIGATE
SAFELY DOWNSTREAM,

I'M ASSIGNED TWO GUIDES,
GANDHI AND KOTOK.

THEY EXPLAIN THAT THE RIVER
HAS NARROW SECTIONS

OF FAST WATER
PUNCTUATED BY WIDER,

SLOW-FLOWING POOLS
WHICH WILL BE BEST FOR FISHING.

I THINK THIS COULD BE
A GOOD POSITION TO FISH FROM.

RIGHT HERE?

YEAH.
I THINK I'LL TRY HERE.

THE RIVER TAKES US
THROUGH ALLUVIAL GRASSLANDS

AND THICK, SUBTROPICAL FOREST.

MY GUIDES WARN ME THERE ARE
RHINOS AND TIGERS HERE,

SO I'LL HAVE TO WATCH MY BACK
AS WE CONTINUE DOWNRIVER.

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

**

FOR GANDHI AND KOTOK,

EVERY TRIP DOWN THE BABAI
IS A NEW CHALLENGE

BECAUSE THE RIVER'S COURSE
IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING.

THIS IS JUST THE FACT THAT
THE RIVER FLOODS EVERY YEAR,

AND EVERY YEAR, IT'LL SUBTLY
REARRANGE THE RIVER.

BUT SOMETIMES,
IT'LL REARRANGE IT

IN QUITE A DRAMATIC WAY.

THE RECENT MASSIVE FLOOD
MAY ALSO HAVE CHANGED

THE UNDERWATER GEOGRAPHY
OF THE RIVER

AND DISPLACED SOME OF THE FISH,

WHICH COULD MAKE TRACKING DOWN
SUSPECTS A TOUGHER TASK.

TIE IT HERE.

OH, YEAH.
ALL RIGHT.

THROW IT, AND I WILL
TIE IT ON THE...

THERE?

I'M EAGER TO GET DOWN TO
THE SCENE OF FIRALAL'S ATTACK,

BUT MY GUIDES ADVISE
THAT WE STOP AND MAKE CAMP.

IT'S A GOOD THING WE DID.

THAT'S PRETTY DEFINITELY AN
ELEPHANT CROSSING PLACE THERE,

JUST AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POOL.

AND THEY COME OUT 75 YARDS
AWAY FROM OUR CAMP,

SO, GOOD JOB WE DIDN'T
PUT THE CAMP

A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN.

THEY MIGHT HAVE GOT A BIT UPSET,

AND YOU DON'T WANT
TO UPSET THESE GUYS.

WILD ELEPHANTS
COULD TEAR APART OUR CAMP

IF THEY STUMBLED ON IT
IN THE DARK.

MY GUIDES TELL ME THAT,
EVERY YEAR IN LOWLAND NEPAL,

PEOPLE ARE KILLED
BY ELEPHANT HERDS.

THE NEXT MORNING, I'M ITCHING
TO GET ON AND GET FISHING.

WHAT ABOUT THIS, THOUGH?

CROCODILE TRACKS. THEY INDICATE
THE WATER MUST BE WARMER HERE

ON THE BABAI
THAN ON THE KARNALI,

SO CROCS HAVE TO BE
ON THE SUSPECT LIST

FOR ANY ATTACK HERE.

BUT FIRALAL'S SCARS WERE LIKE
NO CROCODILE BITES

I'VE EVER SEEN.

THEY WERE MADE BY
A NARROWER-JAWED MONSTER,

MORE LIKE AN ALLIGATOR GAR,
MAYBE -- A FISH I KNOW WELL.

ACTUALLY LAYING HANDS
ON THIS PREHISTORIC BEAST.

BUT GAR ARE NOT NATIVE
TO THESE WATERS.

THERE'S GOT TO BE
SOMETHING ELSE OUT HERE.

WE CONTINUE DOWNSTREAM

TO THE AREA
WHERE FIRALAL WAS ATTACKED.

YEAH, LET'S TRY ONE
FROM JUST HERE.

WITH TIGERS AND CROCS
ON THE BANKS,

I'M STAYING IN THE BOAT.

I'M NOT SURE
WHAT ATTACKED FIRALAL,

BUT IT'S IN HERE SOMEWHERE.

OH. THERE WE GO.
YEP.

WHOA.

I'M IN REMOTE WESTERN NEPAL

INVESTIGATING THREE
MYSTERIOUS CASES,

AND I'VE GOT A FISH ON.

Wade: THERE IT IS.

I'VE NO LANDING NET OR ANYTHING,

SO THAT MIGHT IMPEDE ME
JUST A LITTLE BIT.

THERE.
THAT IS A SNAKEHEAD.

I'VE SEEN SNAKEHEAD
IN THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT,

NORMALLY JUST A FEW INCHES LONG.

I'VE USED THEM FOR BAIT.
BUT THIS THING,

THIS HAS GOT TO BE,
I DON'T KNOW,

AROUND ABOUT
THE 10-POUND MARK,

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WELL, I HAVE IT
ON GOOD AUTHORITY

THAT THESE GROW
CONSIDERABLY BIGGER --

A RELIABLE ESTIMATE
OF 90 POUNDS --

AND IF YOU GOT ONE OF THOSE
IN A THROW NET,

PARTICULARLY WHEN ONE OF THESE
IS FRESH, FULL OF ENERGY,

THAT COULD WELL PULL YOU IN.

I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE
IN THAT POSITION MYSELF.

A BIG SNAKEHEAD
COULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE

FOR THE DRAGGING INCIDENTS
ON THE KARNALI,

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE ATTACK
ON FIRALAL HERE ON THE BABAI?

IT'S ONE OF THE VERY FEW FISH

THAT WILL ACTUALLY
GO FOR A PERSON,

KNOWING THAT IT'S A PERSON.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT POOR
VISIBILITY, MISTAKEN IDENTITY,

REFLEX GRAB, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THIS IS ONE FISH THAT REALLY
DOES PUNCH ABOVE ITS WEIGHT.

PUTTING ON A BITE-PROOF GLOVE
HERE,

I'M GONNA TRY AND HAVE A LOOK
AT THE TEETH.

A LOT OF PREDATORY FISH
SWALLOW THEIR PREY WHOLE.

SOME PREDATORY FISH,

SUCH AS PIRANHAS,
BITE LUMPS OUT.

AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THEIR TEETH,
AND YOU CAN TELL THAT'S
WHAT THEY DO.

THIS IS A BIT MISLEADING.

THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE
CUTTING TEETH.

THEY LOOK LIKE GRIPPING TEETH.

THEY'RE LIKE --
THEY'RE LIKE NEEDLES.

BUT, IN FACT, WHAT THEY DO IS,
WHEN THEY GRIP THEIR PREY,

IF THEY SHAKE THE HEAD,

THOSE TEETH ACT RATHER LIKE
THE TEETH ON A SAW BLADE,

AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY
CUT A SMALL FISH IN HALF

IN A FRACTION OF A SECOND.

IT LOOKS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN
INJURED BY SOMETHING.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, AS WELL,
IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING'S

HAD A GO AT IT.

ANYTHING THAT ATTACKS
A 3-FOOT SNAKEHEAD

IS GOING TO BE
A SERIOUS PREDATOR.

AND THE TOOTH MARKS, AGAIN,

SUGGEST A
NARROW-JAWED ASSAILANT.

WHATEVER BIT INTO
THIS SNAKEHEAD

MAY BE WHAT ATTACKED FIRALAL.

**

HALF AN HOUR DOWNSTREAM,
I SPOT SOMETHING WAY UP AHEAD

AT THE WATER'S EDGE
AND DECIDE TO INVESTIGATE.

**

IT'S A LONG, DARK SHAPE.

IT'S HARD TO MAKE OUT
AT THIS DISTANCE, THOUGH.

THE CREATURE EMERGES,
BUT IT'S NOT A CROC.

THE KNOB ON ITS LONG,
THIN JAW IS UNMISTAKABLE.

I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE
WHAT I'M SEEING.

THIS IS A GHARIAL,

POSSIBLY THE RAREST
RIVER MONSTER OF THEM ALL.

THIS IS ONE OF THE SCARCEST
PREDATORS IN THE WORLD.

THERE'S BARELY MORE
THAN 200 OF THEM LEFT.

I AM NOW CLOSE ENOUGH

TO GET A REAL APPRECIATION
OF THE SIZE OF THE ANIMAL.

IT'S AT LEAST 15 FEET, BUT ALSO,
I CAN START TO SEE THOSE JAWS,

THE JAWS AND THE TEETH.
AND I'LL TELL YOU --

ALTHOUGH SCIENTISTS SAY
THESE ARE SPECIFICALLY

DESIGNED FOR CATCHING
AND EATING FISH,

WHEN YOU'RE THIS CLOSE TO ONE,

THE ADRENALINE
IS DEFINITELY PUMPING.

FOR ME, IT'S THE ENCOUNTER
OF A LIFETIME.

BECAUSE OF HUNTING
AND HABITAT LOSS,

THE GHARIAL IS CRITICALLY
ENDANGERED IN THE WILD

AND IS NOW PROTECTED.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS WAS
THE NARROW-JAWED ANIMAL

THAT SCARRED THE SNAKEHEAD,

BUT IS THE GHARIAL RESPONSIBLE

FOR THE ATTACKS
I'M INVESTIGATING?

IT'S TIME TO TAKE STOCK.

WELL, THE SUSPECT LIST
I'VE MANAGED TO ASSEMBLE SO FAR

CONTAINS SOME PRETTY
IMPRESSIVE BEASTS,

BUT SOMEHOW, I DON'T THINK
THERE'S A PARTICULARLY

COMPELLING CASE
FOR ANY ONE OF THEM.

THE MAHSEER CAN GROW BIG,

BUT I'VE NOT SEEN
LARGE ENOUGH ONES HERE.

THE SNAKEHEAD CAN DO
SOME REAL DAMAGE,

BUT I DON'T THINK
IT'S AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH

TO ACTUALLY KILL SOMEONE.

AND THE GHARIAL --
IT'S CERTAINLY BIG ENOUGH

AND HAS THE POWER AND WEAPONRY
TO BE SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS.

AND WITH A JAW
MUCH NARROWER THAN A CROC'S,

I'M PRETTY CERTAIN
THIS IS THE CREATURE

THAT SCARRED FIRALAL.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE INCIDENTS
ON THE KARNALI RIVER?

IN THIS CASE,
WATER TEMPERATURE IS KEY.

SINCE IT'S TOO COLD
FOR CROCODILES ON THE KARNALI,

I DON'T THINK GHARIAL
WOULD BE THERE, EITHER.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO KEEP
AN OPEN MIND,

BUT EVERY SIGN
POINTS TO THE BEAST

THAT DREW ME HERE
IN THE FIRST PLACE.

POSSIBLY, OF ALL THE MONSTERS
I'VE TANGLED WITH IN MY CAREER,

THE MOST MEMORABLE,
THE GOONCH CATFISH.

THE GOONCH RIPPED ME
FROM A RIVERBANK

IN JUST THE SAME WAY
THAT NAWAL WAS OVERPOWERED,

AND ITS TASTE FOR HUMAN FLESH

COULD ACCOUNT FOR ALI'S BODY
NEVER BEING RECOVERED.

THE GOONCH HAS THE MEANS
AND THE MOTIVE,

AND I KNOW THIS FISH
IS CAPABLE OF THE CRIME.

IT'S NOW MY PRIME SUSPECT.

MIGHT NEED THE BOAT.

TIME FOR A SHOWDOWN WITH
THE ORIGINAL RIVER MONSTER.

I'M IN WESTERN NEPAL

INVESTIGATING
THREE MYSTERIOUS CASES.

I BELIEVE I'VE SOLVED ONE,
BUT TWO INCIDENTS

IN WHICH THE VICTIMS
WERE DRAGGED INTO RIVERS --

ONE TO HIS DEATH --
REMAIN OPEN.

AFTER FISHING TWO RIVERS
EXTENSIVELY,

I'VE NARROWED MY FOCUS
TO THE GOONCH CATFISH.

A DECADE AGO, IT TOOK ME
SIX TORTUOUS WEEKS

TO TRACK DOWN A BIG GOONCH,

AND SUCH BEASTS
ARE NOW EVEN RARER.

I THINK I NEED TO GIVE THIS
A CLOSER LOOK.

MY JOURNAL FROM THE ORIGINAL
EXPEDITION DETAILS THE DEPTHS,

WATER FLOW,
AND RIVER CONDITIONS

THAT LED TO A SUCCESSFUL CATCH.

I'M HOPING
THIS HARD-WON KNOWLEDGE

WILL HELP FAST-TRACK ME
TO THE FISH.

GOING AFTER GOONCH REQUIRES
PATIENCE, PERSISTENCE,

AND PREPARATION.

AS LONG AS THAT BE FRESH.

BUT THE GOOD THING ABOUT
CATFISH, SUCH AS GOONCH,

IT'S GONNA HELP THEM LOCATE IT.

AND THEY'RE NOT FUSSY, REALLY,
IN TERMS OF THE FRESHNESS

OF THE STUFF THAT THEY EAT.

WITH ANY LUCK,
THE PUNGENT BAIT

WILL PROVE IRRESISTIBLE TO
THE SOMETIMES FICKLE GOONCH.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK
YOU'VE GOT TO HIDE THE HOOK.

YOU HIDE THE HOOK,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET THAT HOOK

TO PENETRATE IN THE MOUTH
OF THE PREDATOR.

SO, THE HOOK POINTS
HAVE TO BE VISIBLE.

AND WHAT I'VE DONE
TO HOLD IT ALL,

PARTICULARLY
HOLDING THE MOUTH SHUT --

WHEN THAT MOUTH IS OPEN,
THE CURRENT'S GOING TO PULL
THE WHOLE THING APART.

SO, I'VE USED
BITS OF LUGGAGE TAG,

AND THAT'S HOLDING EVERYTHING
NICELY TOGETHER.

NOW TO SCOPE OUT THIS POOL.

WHAT I'M GONNA DO
BEFORE STARTING FISHING,

I JUST WANT TO GET AN IDEA
OF DEPTHS.

SO JUST A BIT LEAD ON
A BIT OF LIGHT LINE.

JUST GONNA DROP IT OFF
THE SIDE OF THE BOAT.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR
IS DEEP WATER,

AND WHAT THE GOONCH LIKE IS,

WHEN THE CURRENT
PUSHES INTO A ROCK

AND THEN EXCAVATES
A BIT OF A HOLE.

BUT SOMETIMES
WHAT LOOKS DEEP ISN'T.

YOU CAST OUT, AND YOU'RE JUST
IN A FEW FEET OF WATER.

I'LL EVEN DO IT HERE.

3 FOOT, 6, 9...

THAT'S 12 FOOT.

THIS IS 12 FOOT OF WATER.

THIS COULD BE A GOOD SPOT HERE.
THIS COULD BE A GOOD SPOT.

**

GOONCH USE THEIR
WHISKER-LIKE BARBELS

TO CHECK OUT POTENTIAL FOOD,

SO A BITE MAY NOT BE
THE FIRST THING

I'LL FEEL ON MY LINE.

GOONCH, VERY OFTEN, WHAT THEY DO
IS, THEY INVESTIGATE BEFOREHAND,

AND YOU FEEL THIS SORT OF,
A BIT OF A JARRING.

IT'S ALMOST A
SORT OF METALLIC...

SENSATION.
IT'S VERY HARD TO DESCRIBE.

YOU FEEL A BIT OF
A RATTLING ON THE LINE.

FISHING LIKE THIS REQUIRES
COMPLETE CONCENTRATION,

AND EXPERIENCE COUNTS.

I THINK THIS IS, POSSIBLY,
MY FAVORITE FORM OF FISHING --

ONE ROD, AND YOU FEEL THE LINE,

AND IT'S AMAZING WHAT
INFORMATION YOU CAN PICK UP.

EVERY TIME I CAST, I'M HELPING
TO BUILD THIS MENTAL PICTURE.

OH, THAT IS SOMETHING.
THAT IS SOMETHING.

THAT WAS DEFINITELY
JUST A LITTLE BUMP, BUMP.

**

THE TANTALIZING TAP ON MY LINE
IS FOLLOWED BY HOURS

WITH NO FURTHER SIGN.

BUT I KNOW THAT
THE ELUSIVE GOONCH

IS RARELY CAUGHT IN A DAY.

FOR THE NEXT WEEK,
I FISH EVERY HOUR I CAN.

MAYBE FIRST IN HERE.

GOONCH ARE EASILY SPOOKED AND
SLOW TO SHED THEIR SUSPICIONS.

SO, ONCE I'VE FISHED A POOL,

WE LEAVE IT
AND HEAD FURTHER DOWNSTREAM.

MUCH CLEARER SKY TODAY.

IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF
DAYS BEFORE WE LEAVE THE PARK

AND RUN OUT OF UNSPOILED RIVER.

AFTER A WEEK OF FRUSTRATION,
I'VE CAUGHT NOTHING.

ACTUALLY, THE WATER CONDITIONS
COULDN'T HAVE BEEN BETTER --

SOME REALLY, REALLY CLASSIC
GOONCH SPOTS.

OKAY, THEY CAN JUST SIT AND NOT
FEED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME,

BUT, YOU KNOW,
IT JUST IS SO ODD

THAT I SPENT SO MUCH TIME

WITHOUT EVEN A TOUCH
FROM A FISH.

IT FEELS LIKE
THERE'S HARDLY ANYTHING HERE.

THE RECENT BIG FLOOD
MAY HAVE WASHED MANY FISH

OUT OF THIS AREA,

AND ALTHOUGH I'VE SEEN
A FISH-EATING GHARIAL,

IT'S ONLY THE ONE.

I'M REALLY STARTING TO WONDER
IF THERE ARE ANY GOONCH LEFT

IN THIS RIVER.

MY FAILURE SO FAR IS MAKING ME
QUESTION MY APPROACH,

AND, INEVITABLY, I'M STARTING
TO COMPARE THIS EXPERIENCE

WITH MY FIRST GOONCH EXPEDITION
10 YEARS AGO.

THE TIME THAT HAS PAST
SINCE I LAST FISHED FOR GOONCH,

HAVE I CHANGED IN THAT TIME?

AM I A BETTER FISHERMAN?
I DON'T KNOW.

IS MY ABILITY TO SEE
BELOW THE SURFACE BETTER?

IT WAS ONE OF
THE GREEK PHILOSOPHERS

WHO SAID, "YOU NEVER STEP INTO
THE SAME RIVER TWICE."

I COULD MODIFY THAT SLIGHTLY.

YOU NEVER CAST INTO
THE SAME RIVER TWICE

BECAUSE IT IS NOT THE SAME RIVER
AND YOU ARE NOT THE SAME PERSON.

BUT ONE THING IS THE SAME --

MY DETERMINATION TO
CATCH MY QUARRY.

I'M GOING TO FISH
'ROUND THE CLOCK.

**

GHARIAL HUNT DURING THE DAY.

MAYBE THE GOONCH WILL BE MORE
CONFIDENT TO FEED AFTER DARK.

SOMEWHERE DOWN THERE
IS THE FISH I'M AFTER.

I'M JUST TRYING TO IMAGINE
WHAT IT'S DOING RIGHT NOW

AT THIS MOMENT.

THE CHANCES ARE, IT'S PICKED UP
THE SCENT OF THIS BAIT.

MAYBE IT'S JUST
MOMENTS AWAY FROM TAKING.

I DON'T KNOW.

IT COULD BE VERY CLOSE
TO THE BAIT.

OH. YEAH.

IT'S COMING IN!

THERE'S SOMETHING THERE.
I'M GONNA SWING IT UP HERE.

AH, IT'S A TURTLE.

I'VE GOT TO BE A BIT CAREFUL
WITH THIS THING.

IT'S NOT WHAT I WAS HOPING FOR,
BUT THIS TURTLE

ISN'T A COMPLETE
DISAPPOINTMENT.

WHEN I CAUGHT THAT BIG GOONCH,
FROM THE SAME POOL,

I HAD ONE OF THESE FELLOWS.

THIS ONE'S PROBABLY ABOUT
SEVEN OR EIGHT POUNDS.

I HAD ONE OF THESE
ABOUT 200 POUNDS.

A TURTLE COULD BE A GOOD OMEN,
AND IT BETTER BE.

TOMORROW WILL BE OUR FINAL DAY
IN THE NATIONAL PARK --

MY LAST CHANCE
TO CATCH A GOONCH.

MY GUIDES SAY THERE ARE JUST
TWO FISHING POOLS LEFT

BEFORE THE RIVER
RETURNS US TO CIVILIZATION.

I PLAN TO FISH THIS ONE
THROUGH THE MORNING

AND MOVE TO THE SECOND
THIS EVENING,

BUT I HADN'T BARGAINED
ON COMPANY.

THESE ARE TIGER PRINTS
COMING ALONG THIS DIRECTION.

AND THIS IS A BIG ANIMAL.

AND THE OTHER THING IS,
THIS IS VERY FRESH --

PROBABLY THIS MORNING,

PROBABLY A MATTER OF JUST HOURS.

SO -- AND WITH THIS
LONG GRASS HERE, YOU KNOW,

IT MIGHT NOT BE
THAT FAR AWAY EVEN NOW.

WITH A POTENTIAL MAN-EATER
ON THE PROWL,

IT'S MAYBE NOT A GREAT IDEA
TO FISH HERE,

SO WE'RE MOVING DOWNSTREAM
TO THE FINAL POOL.

I WANT TO FISH
FROM THAT ROCK.

I HAVE ONE LAST OPPORTUNITY
FOR A SHOWDOWN WITH THE GOONCH.

A HIGH CASTING POSITION
COULD HELP PREVENT MY LINE

WRAPPING AROUND ANY LARGE
UNDERWATER BOULDERS.

**

THE HOURS TICK BY.

IT'S LOOKING LIKE ANOTHER DAY
OF PROMISE

FOLLOWED BY DISAPPOINTMENT.

**

OH.
THERE WE GO.

A DISTINCT TAP ON MY LINE.

**

I'VE HOOKED SOMETHING...

COME HERE.

...BUT I'M STRUGGLING
TO CONTROL IT.

THIS FEELS A BIT DIFFERENT.

MIGHT NEED THE BOAT.

[BLEEP]

I'M ON THE BABAI RIVER
IN NEPAL.

THERE'S SOMETHING ON MY LINE,
AND I NEED TO REACT FAST.

Wade: MIGHT NEED THE BOAT.

[BLEEP]

[ GUIDES SPEAKING
NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

[ Chatter ]

THE FISH IS STILL ON,
BUT I'M IN DANGER OF LOSING IT.

OKAY, GOT IT.

[ COUGHS ]

LET'S GO OUT.

IN THE CONFUSION,

THE FISH HAS TAKEN THE
ADVANTAGE AND FOUND A SNAG.

THE LINE IS AROUND A ROCK.

DAMN. IT'S GONE.

IT'S GONE.

AW, NO.

I HAD IT HOOKED, AND YET,
SOMEHOW, IT SNAGGED.

**

THE POSITION OF A ROCK
IN THE WRONG PLACE...

I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

IT'S IN THE FAST WATER.

AN OMINOUS TAP ON MY LINE...

A BIG FISH FORCING ME
INTO THE WATER...

[BLEEP]

...AND WITH ME
OUT OF MY ELEMENT,

EVERYTHING IN THE BALANCE.

[ GUIDES SPEAKING
NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

THAT TIME, VICTORY.

THIS TIME, DEFEAT.

I'VE REACHED THE END
OF THIS INVESTIGATION.

MY EXPERIENCE JUST NOW MAKES ME
THINK A GOONCH WAS RESPONSIBLE

FOR WHAT HAPPENED
TO NAWAL AND ALI.

OF COURSE, I'M DISAPPOINTED
NOT TO CATCH MY CULPRIT,

BUT PERHAPS THIS IS
THE RIGHT ENDING

FOR THE STORY
OF MY GREATEST ADVERSARY.

AFTER NINE YEARS OF CATCHING
ALL MANNER OF RIVER MONSTERS

ALL AROUND THE WORLD,
PERHAPS IT'S APPROPRIATE

THAT IT WAS FINALLY THE GOONCH

THAT REMINDED ME
OF MY FALLIBILITY AS AN ANGLER.

AND, OF COURSE, IN THE BROADER
CONTEXT, THIS IS A DRAW.

IT'S ONE-ALL.

I'M SORT OF HAPPY TO
CALL THIS QUITS.

AND, IN FACT, NOT ALWAYS AM I
ACTUALLY FISHING FOR THE FISH.

I'M FISHING FOR THE ANSWER,
AND I DID FIND THE ANSWER.

I CAME HERE
LOOKING FOR A CULPRIT

THAT I FEARED WAS GONE
FOR GOOD.

I GO HOME WITH
SOME SATISFACTION, AT LEAST.

IT SEEMS THAT THE GIANT,
OUTLANDISH GOONCH --

THE ORIGINAL RIVER MONSTER --

IS STILL OUT THERE.