4/15/99 Definition A Blood & Fur story By Christian O'kane --------------------- William ran down the length of the tent his long razor sharp claws flashing in the lamplight. He was on the Japanese soldier in a heartbeat. He felt his claws sink into flesh and the smell of warm blood came to his nostrils. He pulled his claw up in a swift stroke and he felt muscle and flesh cutting and tearing with a delightful ease. Blood spurted onto his hand, chest and all over his face. William reveled in the feeling of power and bloodlust as he slowly licked the blood from his claws. Looking around he couldn't see anymore Japanese, just long rows of American and Filipino patients laying there helpless and defenseless in their beds. Since there were no Japanese to kill, the helpless patients would do just as well. With claws extended he advanced on the closest one, a young brown haired boy barely eighteen years old. This one couldn't fight back so William could take his time and really enjoy the slaughter. William raised his clawed hand and looked into the terrified face of the boy. He swept his hand towards the patients throat. Corporal William woke up with a start and sat bolt up right. He was sitting in small cabin. There was no Japanese soldier, no hospital tent and no helpless victims; just himself, sergeant Hamilton, Captain Nicholas, and the three others he was traveling with. Standing up he grabbed his rifle and headed for the door. He found the sergeant leaning against the wall, a rifle in his hands. William stepped out into the cool, clear air of the Filipino night. "Hello Furry, why aren't you sleeping?" the sergeant asked. "Not sleepy," was the curt answer. William didn't feel like talking or explaining. The sergeant shrugged and returned to his guard duty. William looked at hands. Each finger was tipped by a long, razor sharp claw, a non-human claw. "John, what am I?" he asked in a quiet voice as he gazed at his long deadly claws. "You're William R. Harper, corporal, 56th Coast artillery regiment, United States army," Sergeant Hamilton replied in a matter of fact tone of voice. "That's not what I meant," William snapped in return. "I know exactly what you meant," Hamilton countered. "A long time ago I learned that what mattered most was how a person acted, not how they looked." "I don't know what I am anymore, but I'm not human," the furry creature said. "What are you worried about? Just because you grew some long hair and fingernails doesn't mean you're a monster," came the retort. "John, do you know what happened to me at the hospital last night?" William asked. "Yeah, you were a hero. You killed a dozen Japs and saved the lives of twenty wounded soldiers." "No. I didn't just kill those Japs, I literally ripped them to pieces. When I saw them killing the wounded I went berserk, I was in a blind rage. All I wanted to do was kill Japs," William said in a voice filled with emotion. "The first one I just slit open his chest, from crotch to throat. His blood sprayed all over me." The memory of that scene overwhelmed him and he had to stop. He was shaking so badly that he could barely stand. Sergeant Hamilton handed something to the corporal. It was silver hip flask. William unscrewed the top and took a long drink. The liquid went down his throat in a rush. When he handed the flask back to its owner, Hamilton shook the now empty flask. "You were supposed to just take a sip. There are no answers at the bottom of a bottle of scotch," The sergeant commented. William ignored him. He could feel the alcohol working it's way through his body, calming him down. After a moment he continued his tale. "Three more Japs came into the tent and I went after them. I bit the one Jap's throat so hard that his head came off and rolled out of the tent. I became a monster, a brutal, killing machine. I came out of that tent and butchered anything in a Jap uniform." "That's the important point," Hamilton said, interrupting William. "You went after everything in a Japanese uniform. You were a tent full of helpless people and what did you do? You ran outside and killed Japs, you didn't touch a single American or Filipino. That tells me you were still human where it counts, right there, in your heart," he said and tapped William on the chest. "John, I'm a monster, complete with long claws and sharp teeth," William replied. "Bullshit," sergeant Hamilton countered. "You're no monster. I don't give a damn what you look like." The sergeant went silent for a moment and stared off into the distance. When he spoke again it was in a soft voice, totally unlike his normal tone. "I was stationed in China back in 37. I was part of the soldiers guarding the international zone in Nanking when the Japs attacked the city in December. The Chinese put up one hell of a fight and really hurt the Japs badly. When they finally took the city the Japs went on a rampage. For six weeks they looted, tortured, murdered and raped. They murdered over three hundred thousand Chinese and destroyed most of the city." The sergeant shook his head. "The things I saw I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Just because you grew some fur and killed a few enemy soldiers doesn't make you a monster. The Japs are the monsters, not you." William snorted. "You say don't judge by looks alone, yet you condemn all Japanese for what a few did." The sergeant nodded. "I know what I saw. Nanking wasn't the only place. You heard what they're doing to the Filipinos?" The furry nodded. "Yeah. Some of the bodies washed up onto Corrigedor." "Now you tell me who the monsters are?" Sergeant Hamilton asked. "You're human, you just need a shave and a haircut, really badly." The corporal laughed, and hugged sergeant Hamilton. "Thank you," was all he could say. Hamilton smiled. "Go on, go to bed. We're going to have a long day tomorrow." As the furry soldier turned and headed back to his sleeping spot, the sergeant called after him. "Pleasant dreams." He curled up under the blanket and quickly fell asleep. William dreamed of many things, all of them pleasant. End Definition