The Fabulous Beast Read Online Free

course by the wild strangeness of this turn of events. One would be. But I shall bring him round to my way of thinking, which is that this is a link that has been missing from Creation since Man came into the world.
    The first birth was a half-grown unicorn, its symbolic single horn unmistakable, though this appendage was pliable at first and only hardened later. There followed a griffin, then a fox-like creature but clearly one we would term ‘mythical’, followed by a senmurv and a winged lion known as a lammasu. All are fabled creatures that over the centuries have formed part of our different national cultures, but which most today regard as fictional. We all know the red dragon, and the green, both of which have been adopted as symbols of national pride. However, no one in today’s civilised world recognises the dragon as a real creature, living or extinct, and simply accepts that it was an invention of Man’s vivid creativity.
    A small cluster of ‘mythological’ animals have been given birth. All of these creatures are, it seems, sexless. They appear to have no means of reproducing themselves, which was obviously why there was a need for a ‘mother’ creature to provide the birthing function. The beast, the fabulous being which I have recreated, is the mother of those legendary creatures.
    William and I corralled our collection of fabled beasts in a large spreading outhouse once used for housing pigs, the individual stalls perfect for the job. Our minds were reeling with possibilities. Even William, in his state of ignorance, was now aware that we had the makings of everlasting fame and fortune in our hands. I needed time and space to think, it being crucial to make the right decision on how to present this discovery to the world. It is so big, so earth-shattering in its revelation, I know that even so-called incorrupt governments would have no hesitation in ignoring laws regarding ownership. I do not want my discovery taken out of my hands immediately I make it known to the world, which is what will happen if I do not take firm, prior steps to protect my proprietorial rights. I am uncertain how to do this, but I do not intend to proceed without establishing some sort of defence.
    As an aside, with each new birth the mother beast sloughs her skin. This shedding is not of the thickness of the original hides which I had fitted together to give life to my beast, but is nevertheless strong enough to serve as a fabric. I have made shirts out of the skins for William and myself to wear when we are out with the mother beast as she roams her pastures. I have also fashioned blankets for our horses. These provide camouflage and make us as invisible as she is herself on the rugged Wiltshire landscape.
    We are her outriders, ever watchful and jealous of her safety, our rifles always loaded and cocked ready for use. I have reached the point where I would have no hesitation in preventing anyone who tries to harm her. I am her protector. She is more precious to me, to the world, than any other living creature. There is not one other animal alive, including man or woman, who is more valuable to the heritage of our planet. A heritage lost until my discovery.
    ~
    The shirts have become impossible to remove. They first stuck to our bodies, then melded, and now they form a new skin over the old. I joke with William that we have become Maori warriors, but he is quite traumatized by this state of affairs and scrubs himself with a floor brush incessantly, trying to remove the indigo markings. For myself I am happy with this new situation. I feel it brings me closer to the mother beast and her offspring, as if they are my siblings, the unicorn, the griffin, the wonderful dragon. I feel refreshed in my mind and am experiencing a new beginning to my life. The rest of the world may rush by and headlong into new forms of music, pastimes and fashion, but we here in our hidden corner of Wiltshire are happy to wait for the right moment to