I present a link to this story because I always strive to give everyone fodder for future horror stories. Don't say I never give ya anything... The Vancouver Sun is only one of many publications that ran a story the past few weeks about a furry 'gargoyle-like' creature dragged ashore from a northern Ontario lake by a dog. This occurred on the First Nations Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug reserve, located much closer to Hudson Bay than to Thunder Bay. For those of you unfamiliar with Ontario geography that's waaaayyyy up north.
Commentors on the article speculate the creature is a decomposed otter or perhaps a marten or fisher. The Kitchenuhmaykoosib website notes that "No one knows what it is, but our ancestors used to call it the Ugly One...Rarely seen, but when seen, it's a bad omen. Something bad will happen, according to our ancestors."
We used to have a small fish pond in our last house in Ontario. One day I found an odd creature floating in the water. It appeared to be a bloated squirrel with the fur mostly skinned from it's body. Needless to say, it didn't look very squirrelish any more....and I certainly didn't want to delve into why it was missing it's fur...
I don't know if the creature was sent off for testing by biologists or veterinarians or whatever, but something inside me says that some mysteries are best left vague and murky. Perhaps the story should be tucked away in the Loch Ness or Sasquatch files.Speaking of mysterious and the nether-regions of Ontario...I have heard from a reliable source that the enthusiastic and talented Cathy Olliffe will be starting her 'American week' tomorrow at Life on the Muskoka River. I must admit that I figured that she wouldn't get enough Americans submitting stories. I even submitted an essay for her to use during the week but was turned down flat. I'll stop now before I begin to sound bitter [sulks silently in corner...]
However, the same un-named yet moderately reliable source noted that Ms. Olliffe will kick off her American week with a special guest. I shall be breaking out the Bud (it's a long weekend down there, right?) and wrapping myself up in the 'stars and stripes' for the duration of the week. Drop in to her blog for a little bit of Americana...I know I will.
And speaking of big events...I am still seeking submissions to the Land's Edge flash fiction contest. Entries must be submitted by Sunday, June 20th (yes, this year!). Click on the link for all the facts.
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18 comments:
Oh migawd Alan, that is gross! I am SO going to have nightmares about that thing. And yes, i'm talking about the washed up creature. No, not ME. (although thanks very much for linking me with dead bloated gargoyle).
A big EW on that one!
Now. On to the important reason for this visit - Alan, the reason I can't run your story during American Week is YOU ARE NOT AMERICAN. OK? Man, I'm thinking you need some tough love, here. Stop your darned sulking, already.
But I am glad you're tuning in tomorrow. I think tomorrow's special kick-off for American Week might be, um, educational, to say the least. But not nearly as educational as that dead gargoyle.
EW.
If seen something bad will happen and you choose to show it to us. Isn't my life cursed enough as it is!!!
At first I thought, 'Ugly'. But I'm warming to it now and aiming for 'cute'.
I've seen this a month ago, it's the cutest little chupacabra :)))
I think it's cute....poor little thing. Real life is always throwing us things that are stranger than fiction!
I read an article on this bloated lil guy too. Apparently fur starts to fall out after a while when a body is submerged. Lots of story ideas in that little factoid too, I think. :)
That thing looks a little like my unce Marv on a Saturday morning after a few too many shots of Screech. Come to think of it, I haven't seen uncle Marv in a while...
Checking my Encyclopedia of Monsters as I type...nothing to report yet...
Want to submit, need to think of a flash idea. My ideas lately have been in a rather erotic vein, and I wish to spare you that ; )
That thing was creepy as all heck, Alan...
We don't think that's weird... We've had the Lockness Monster living in our part of the world for years.
Strange looking thing though, Alan
hmm..for real??
Cathy- I'm glad that you enjoyed and were grossed out by the dead gargoyle. Looking forward to all the US writers that you are going to feature.
Cate- I think you fluctuate between curse and charmed.
Dez- I have read about those recently. Are there any 'unseen' mythical creatures in your part of the world?
Akasha- Very true about the 'stranger than fiction'. I think it's a stretch to call it cute.
Laurita- Hope that Uncle Marv hasn't fallen into the bay or worse...the harbour...
Aaron- Wow! There's an encyclopedia of monsters?
Nat- Please whip up a story...as in the word humping or rogering...leave out the hard porn...you want to win the gift of fine Newfoundland literature, don't you?
Anthony- I try not to look at the photo too much in case I get bad dreams.
Jarmara- Britain has been the home for odd creatures for a long time. There was once dragons...right?
Michael- Good question. They can't be accused of making it up for tourism reasons as the region is very remote. I bet there are new and unusual species popping up every day...
"Are there any 'unseen' mythical creatures in your part of the world?"
well, we have a few pyramid shaped mountains which geologists and crazy historians suspect could be alien pyramids :) which doesn't have to be a joke having in mind that plants and herbs which grow around them have big healing powers.
Then there's also the fact that the word "vampire" has come into English language from Serbian, so it would seem that we are the ancient land of vampires (which makes sense having in mind that Romania and Transylvania are but a few miles away from us :)))
Oh, I could have SO done without seeing that grotesque thing. It's hard to believe it was ever good-looking....even in life.
I hope they've buried it and let it rest in peace.
What an interesting story. Thanks for sharing.
Dez- I had never heard about the pyramid shaped mountains before. I'll have to read up on that. And of course the whole world knows about vampires...from those Twilight movies! Do we blame Serbians for this?
Kathryn- I'm hoping it was a pleasant, rodent-like woodland creature at some point in time. Let's remember 'Chucky' that way!
Danielle- You're welcome. You must here stories in OZ about some of your odd creatures in that part of the world.
Oh yeah, that thing is DEFINITELY a sign of bad things to come. What. The. Hell.
Awesome. Cryptozoology ftw!
Yikes...I can only hope that this poor creature is not man made but a gift from the man upstairs.
How sad and oh how homely looking~
I really wish mankind would just do the right thing instead of continually doing the wrong in thinking they are GOD~
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