A Steampunk Guide to Hunting Monsters 14 | Page 17

heart had somewhat gone out of it. Th ere, alone in
the woods, I heard a strange and distant growl. I
felt that I was not prepared to meet a were-beast
alone. As I looked down a small valley cut by a
stream, I saw what looked like a wolf leaping
across the water some ways out. I had not come
to hunt wolves, and so I turned my steed and
meandered back to the start.
Winchester came back with the carcass of
the were-beast: a bloody body, distorted and
horrifying. I do not like to recall it. He was so
proud, but I felt that he had steamrolled me to
get his way. Maybe emotion and sport should not
marry, but I felt a little dejected anyway.
S UNDAY , A UGUST THE S ECOND
Tonight while I was wandering
through the corridors of the house,
I must have entered Lu Yan's wing
and left the guest wing behind. I
came to a door that was slightly
ajar, and therein I saw a man with
the most attractive eyes sitting by
the bedside of a beautiful and pale
young woman with a ribbon wrapped
around her neck.
Th e man heard me at the door, and looked up
sharply. “Do I know you?” he asked, which struck
me as odd; it seemed he recognized me, but he
could not have. I meant to leave him in peace.
He had a crushing sadness in his eyes. But I was
called in by a doctor and stood in the corner like
a silent soldier.
Th e woman spoke to the man. She said, “It is
my time.”
And he sobbed, “No.”
Which nearly caused me to sob with him. It was
one of those moments of emotion that you see, and
it is so raw that you become swept up in it.
“When we met,” she continued, “I told you
that you must never touch the ribbon on my neck.
But now it is the end, my love, and it is time for
you to undo it.”
He did not move. She guided his hand to
her ribbon.
“Please,” she said. “It is time.”
And, crying, he untied the ribbon. Th e woman’s
head fell off .
I collapsed against the wall, as the man
collapsed into sadness, sobbing and destroyed.
Th ere was no one in the room to comfort him.
My eyes welled up with tears and I couldn't stand
it. I swept out of the room, and was caught by a
doctor who told me, amid my confusion, to take
a note to the head of the household. I assume it
gave notice of the poor woman's passing.
I learned at dinner that this was indeed Lu
Yan. What a terrible way to meet somebody.
T HURSDAY , A UGUST THE F IFTH
A few days have passed. A
person could spend their entire
lives in this house without ever
running out of things to look at or
learn. It hardly seems worthwhile
for the tour to make any other stop,
truthfully. I think I could have managed
without all the crashing and sinking and
near-drownings and pirates. Herein are contained
devices, memorabilia, relics, etc. It all hurts my
heart, though, for each night I hear the famous
monster hunter weeping in the halls. Deep in the
night I swear I can hear strange roars and howls
coming from the monsters.
One night I saw the man carrying his dead
wife through the corridor. I simply cannot let go
of the sight of that man's sadness.
F RIDAY , A UGUST THE S IXTH
Last night proved to be awful well after my
initial experiences with our host. When the view