Panache and the Great Hunt for the Acryli-Beast

[Panache]

Panache and the Great Hunt for the Acryli-Beast

A Victorian Tale of Horror told in Chapters

Chapter 5


Todd blinked and asked, “you want me to research some sort of an animal for you?” .

“Yes please”

“So this is a subject that has nothing to do with Military History?”

“Err…I’m afraid not”

“Perhaps you were interested in the heraldic aspects of this creature. If it has appeared in any form on a crest or coat of arms? I could use my connections with the Court of Lord Lyons to check on that.”

“No. Not as such. Sorry. The Acryli-beast is supposedly some sort of mythical creature of the North. Actually I just want to find out if it really exists, it’s habits, and exact location.”

He looked around the library and gestured to the rows and rows of neatly organized bookshelves. “I have over the years worked hard at making this the finest private collection on Military History and Heraldry in North America”

“It certainly is a very impressive collection” I answered in all sincerity.

“I have invested literally thousands of hours researching, acquiring, and cataloging all these books. I can tell you what General George Washington had for breakfast the day of the Battle of Brandywine, what color General Lee’s favorite monogrammed pocket square was, which famous British Admiral reportedly got most of his strategy from a yellow budgie named Sally Jo, and why the 657th Highlanders have a chartreuse salamander in an ecru tutu as part of their insignia.”

“That’s very impressive” I acknowledged.

“But you just want to know about some animal?”

“Yes please”

“Is this for some sort of scholarly pursuit? Are you perhaps writing a paper on this “Acryli-beast”?”

“Err, well not as such. Actually I want to find out about it so I can track it down and kill it”

“Personal grudge? Family feud? Did it cheat at cards? Steal your girl? Or perhaps you just woke up this morning with a bee in your bonnet to boldly go forth into nature and murder a few creatures and wanted to start alphabetically?” he queried in somewhat sarcastic tone.

“Err, well, I want to hunt it for it’s pelt to make a dress sporran” I acknowledged meekly.

“A sporran? Oh, well, that’s all right then.”

Todd stood and guiding me by the elbow took me to a particular bookcase towards the back of the library. ”Check the bottom shelf ,we might just have something“ he suggested and returned to his desk and papers. I regarded the eclectic group of works regarding various mythical creatures and removed them to one of the library’s sturdy oak tables for further study.

It took the better part of the afternoon to find a reference to the Acryli-beast. Frankly I had almost given up my search when I found a small pamphlet nestled between a rare copy of De Vermis Mysteriis and an ancient and disturbing tome written in Arabic.

This small pamphlet had been published privately by a professor of a small new England college in 1883. It concerned legends of the more obscure mythic creatures of North America. Just after a fascinating, though blood curdling account of the “Peremalfait” of the Bayou country, there was a short section regarding the very creature I sought. Of interest to me was this following passage:

…though those of that strange tribe who hunt at the top of the world dare not represent its image in their art and seldom can be persuaded to speak of them the reality of these terrifying animals is unmistakable. Their pelts are prized above all their material goods and items made of the soft and iridescent white fur are passed down from generation to generation. They are virtually never hunted anymore as the elders are wont to say that there are no more great hunters among their people. One ancient fellow did state that “He who travels to where the lights dance in the sky may find the beasts basking in their radiance. He will find them only in this light, but beware. Know as you hunt them, they hunt you!”

“The lights of the Aurora borealis” I mused to myself.

I walked to Todd’s desk and asked if he would be so kind to point me in the direction of all our resources concerning Zeppelins.

To be Continued…

[kiltedsawyer]

Bravo, Bravo!
Please continue, most entertaining, well written, a roller coaster for the mind.
Respectfully,
David