The Windigo of Frigheim IX
-- a speculative fiction by Emily Chesley

..page 5..

Luckily for the smaller of the Fetish twins, Benjorn was already awake, and prepared for battle. Like some Norse god, Benjorn launched himself at the creature, erect with the fury of his race, rampaging with rage!

Jugg was savaged by the time the creature took Benjorn's onslaught seriously. By then, the wily Norwegian was wrestling with the creature. Howls of pain and anguish pierced the very heart of the night's darkness and Benjorn's manhood made itself known to all those in his virile presence. But the vile creature had the brawn of a dozen men, and Benjorn was no match for its eldritch strength.

But the supple Leila had prepared for just such an encounter. When the creature was on top of Benjorn, about to rip the gallant Norseman's head off, Leila hammered a massive stone upon the misshapen, hideous cranium of the beast. There was a sickening thud, a splash of xenocerebellum, and the battle was over. The whole while the other Fetish twin and Jeremy Tweedle were huddled cowardly at the far end of the cave.

Jugg was badly injured, and they treated the gaping wounds in his chest and arms as best they could -- the last tatters of Bogo's pixie costume served as bandages. They were left with the ugly task of what to do with the two bodies - that of the deviant diplomat, and that of the creature.

Having finished the last of their rations several days before, it seemed clear that the flesh of the creature was their only hope of surviving. Despite Leila's protests that they needed to save some of it for the remainder of their march to the south, the others consumed the beast as it had consumed their fallen comrades. Bogo's body lay sprawled at the entrance to the cave, as the grisly feast ground one through the night. Even the mutilated Jugg ate what he could. Leila, seeing that they could not be stopped without further violence, joined in devouring the creature.

The next day they were all quite unwell, and a back portion of the cave served as a makeshift privy. They languished in intestinal desolation while the harsh wintery winds continued to howl outside. By the end of the day, the worse of their squishy ailments were over, and Benjorn and Leila even felt well enough to comfort one another, oblivious to the jealous eyes of Jeremy. They all fell asleep before they could haul Bogo's lifeless shell outside for a proper burial. His head still lay at the threshold of the cave mouth, his eyes staring cavernously at the whiteness of the planet beyond.

<...Previous Page

Next Page...>