The Lake Monster and the Man

Lake Monster by Tom Gauld

There once was a village isolated from the world; surrounded on three sides by dense forests of blackened trees. Only one road led to this small and miserable place, but it was a long and dark road that people rarely rode (and with little haste). The villagers farmed as best as they could, but their crops always died, withered and taste like dried wood. They were forced to eat barely edible corn and brownish beets. Aside from this they had little more than a horse and three pigs. Miserable and doomed they waited anxiously for the arrival of their deaths, from malnutrition or un-kept gambling debts.

Than one day from the road, rode in a man on a horse. He talked to the villagers and asked how they fared. When they told him their plight, he did nothing but empathize with their despair. The man then entered a short meditation: thinking and twisting in deep contemplation. He tried to think of a way to help with their miserable situation.

Than with a look of confusion he asked about the lake.

“Three ways this small village is surrounded by blackened trees, but the fourth is a plentiful lake full of tasty fish you can catch and cook with ease.”

With quivering hands they all turned and pointed to the sign beside the road leading to the lake.

“Beware: lake monster and death ahead!” The sign read.

The man laughed with a start, mocking the villagers with his roar. He stopped with a pain in his heart as he saw, all the villagers stayed silent, all eyes wide open and gazing at him. Uncomfortable he noted their serious tone, he then drew out his sword and a very long bow.

“I shall slay your Lake Monster and allow you once more; to live and to prosper from the fish off your shore.”

They cheered him on as he rode towards his doom, promising him silver and gold upon his return.

The man reached the lake after a short gallop. He rode up a hill overseeing the large water.

“Come to me Monster of the Lake! Let me show you my mettle and give you disgrace!” Shouted the man on his horse.

With a large rolling wave appeared the giant Lake Monster; having a massive gaping mouth full of dulled razor teeth. With its uncountable eyes it watched the man, while bellowing a moderately long roar and a few unsettling grunts. It lingered 15 meters over the ledge where the man stood so proud.

Staring down the beast and returning its roar, the man jumped off his horse and bellowed once more: “I have come to slay you foul Monster of the Lake. I will be victorious this day, and march back into town with your severed hea-“

With its agitation amplified the monster simply leaned over and ate the man, and than his horse. He died in agony from embarrassment. 

The monster returned to the deep water, to continue its ruling over the lake. 

The villagers never saw the man again. They died several years later from malnutrition.

Fin.

Authors note: This story was based off the image created by Tom Gauld entitled: the Lake Monster. This image was created for the book: Beasts!

Creating a story from a single picture requires an imaginative perspective and imagination. With no text included aside from the authors name, image title and book that the image was made for, I had to base my creative thinking upon the task of enveloping my story around the image. To me, the man upon his horse with a sword staring down a many eye fiend should be a climax and transition of the story into a fierce battle. I however am a fan of irony and humor, so I decided to conclude the story where it should have heightened, along with a dreadful ending.   

Bibliography: "Lake Monster"; a cartoon by Tom Gauld from his book Beasts! Web Source: Tom Gauld