Free George Washington Werewolf by Kevin Postupack Page A

distorted and his face became that of a wolf. George Washington watched in horror as the transformation became complete, and what stood before him now was not a man and not a beast, but an Abomination. Something evil and wretched. Something to be pitied and to be put out of its misery. And Washington drew his pistol and took aim, but stopped for a moment as he looked into the monster’s eyes. They were red and cold and devoid of all humanity, and only reflected the soul at its most base and depraved. Washington extended his arm and fired. The bullet hit the beast square in the forehead, but instead of falling back it lunged forward and grabbed the General’s arm through the iron bars, pulling him close. George Washington felt its claws rip through his clothing, rake across his skin, its terrible jaws snapping the air, ripping out pieces of flesh, his flesh. And it was all he could do to wrest himself free as he fell against the wall of the hut and collapsed to the floor.

 
14 March 1778
6 am
Von Steuben’s hut
     
    It was morning when George Washington awoke, finding himself on the cold wooden floor covered in his own blood. Being a soldier, the first thing he did was to ascertain the extent of his wounds. There were several deep gashes in his chest and what looked like bite marks on his arm. But they all seemed to be healing. The bleeding had stopped. And then he looked over at the cage and saw Friedrich Von Steuben standing naked against the bars.
    “I’m deeply sorry, General,” the Baron said.
    “What happened?” Washington tried to get to his feet but suddenly grew dizzy.
    “Don’t try to stand up, sir.”
    “But, I don’t understand… My head, I…”
    “Headache?”
    “Yes.”
    “It’s the first sign.”
    “The first sign of what? ”
    “Of the change…”
    “The change? What are you talking about? What happened here? What… What happened to me?” he motioned to his wounds.
    “Don’t you remember?”
    “No.”
    “You were attacked , General…”
    “ Attacked? By whom?”
    “By what…”
    “By what? ”
    “You were attacked by a werewolf.”
    “A were …”
    And then he began to remember. George Washington sat back against the wall and closed his eyes, and he could see it all in his memory as if it had just taken place. When he opened his eyes again he stared at Von Steuben for a long time without speaking, as it continued to sink in.
    “You… so you are…”
    “Yes, General… I’m so sorry, I… I tried to warn you…”
    “But, how… How can it be? How can…”
    “I don’t know. Who knows what terrible things God allows to exist…” said Von Steuben. “I only know that some things do.”
    At that moment Otto appeared, frantic, his flintlock drawn and aimed at General Washington’s head. The dwarf cocked the hammer and was about to fire when the Baron intervened.
    “No, Otto! No! ”
    “But sir…”
    “I said no . I’m fine , Otto. Now leave us, please. The General and I have some things to discuss…”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Yes, Otto. Thank you.”
    Otto nodded and turned to leave.
    “But first…” Von Steuben motioned to the lock on the cage. “The key, Otto… if you would be so kind…”
    And the dwarf brought the key from his pocket and unlocked the cage.
    “Thank you, Otto. We will have much to talk about later, you and I. But for now I’m sure General Washington has some burning questions for me.”
    “I understand, sir,” and Otto left the hut and closed the door.
    “Would you mind terribly if I put on some clothes?” Von Steuben asked.
    “No, of course not,” Washington replied. “I still… I still can’t…”
    “ Believe it?”
    “Yes.”
    “Hmm.”
    “I mean, we hear stories of demons, of vampires and werewolves but…”
    “They’re stories and nothing more…”
    “Yes,” Washington nodded.
    “I was eight years old,” Von Steuben began. “My father went outside to get wood for the fire. It was the night of a full moon