Digger Doyle's Real Book of Monsters

by Daniel Warriner

  Digger had been waiting for the right moment. Everyone watched him as he went to get his rucksack by the minka entrance. He picked it up, unzipped it, then pulled out the book.

  As soon as Mrs. Doyle saw it, tears filled her eyes. “It can’t be,” she said under her breath. “Is it, Digger?”

  “It is. It’s The Book of Real Monsters. That’s the title—here.” Digger traced the invisible words with a finger.

  “He left his book?” Mr. Happer was as surprised as the others.

  “For you, Digger,” the professor said warmly. “He left it for you to find.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe he did. But what I do know is we can’t give up. We have to keep searching for him. He’s out there—somewhere in the world. And needs our help.”

  A silence fell over the table as Digger leafed through the seemingly blank pages . . .

  He saw it all . . . Astonishing in-depth descriptions of unseen creatures, the do’s and don’ts for dealing with them, strict warnings and detailed instructions, recipes for potions, and countless maps of many shapes and sizes. A whole sea of secrets. And monsters—all types. Every monster you could imagine, and lots more! The cave-dwelling Grootslang . . . The lightning-striking Impundulu . . . The Maricoxi of African jungles . . . The one-footed Patasola . . . Basilisks . . . Toothy Wolpertingers . . . Blood-drinking Strigoi . . . Mongolian Death Worms . . . The hairy Almases . . . Man-eating Manticores . . . And on and on and on and on . . .

  * * *

  The voyage back to Westwood would, Digger anticipated, be pleasant and peaceful. Before Wendy set off for home, he would wave goodbye to Yukiko and Professor Satori, with a hunch they’d all see each other again someday.

  In the meantime, he would have plenty of reading to do.

  There was so much to learn from his book, about who he might be, and about what he could do with the treasure of knowledge that mysterious book contained.

  He still had fears. Maybe even more than before. But with those fears was a strong sense of hope, and newfound courage to find his father.

  Whatever monsters were out there—good, bad, rejected, weird, innocent, ugly, hungry, lonesome, angry, beautiful, dangerous, sad, cruel, in need of help—Digger would face them.

  Yes, he promised himself, that is exactly what I will do . . .

  The End

  Digger Doyle’s Mini-Bestiary

  Almas These shaggy reddish-brown animals wander the wastelands and woodlands of Central Asia. Almases walk on two legs and appear human, so they may in fact be wild people and not monsters at all. How many exist is UNKNOWN. And no one has studied them, or even tracked one down. It is possible the Almas is related to the white-furred Yeti of the Himalayas.

  Barghest A monstrous black dog with fiery eyes and knife-sharp teeth and claws, Barghests have brought fear to Northern England for ages. There are those who believe this ghostly beast can change shape. Others have reported it can turn itself invisible, and then only reveals itself through the spine-chilling sounds of rattling chains. Barghests must be avoided at all costs, for they are dreadfully dangerous.

  Basilisk Found in distant corners of Europe, Basilisks are capable of killing with a mere glance. They are the serpent kings, with reptilian skin and bird legs. Most grow to the length of a basketball court and become as mighty as any dinosaur. Their presence is enough to wither plants, so if you happen upon a trail of dead vegetation in a field, watch out—a Basilisk could very well be close by.

  Bunyip One of Australia’s most terrifying of terrors, Bunyips are now and then spotted lurking around mucky swamps. What exactly these monsters look like is UNKOWN, but they have been described with horse-shaped heads, crocodile flesh, and fearsome fangs. No one knows what they eat, but quite a few people have disappeared in places where Bunyips creep about.

  Chupacabra The blood-sucking Chupacabra is less of a threat to children than it is to farm animals, specifically sheep, goats, and cows. Encountered mainly in Mexico and across Central America, these nocturnal critters are roughly the size of a hellhound. They have green scaly skin, quills along their spine, and glowing-red eyes. Whatever you do, do not corner a Chupacabra, as it will almost certainly attack.

  Daitengu Daitengus live alone in murky mountain valleys and are gigantic compared to Tengus, which are giants themselves. Daitengus are barbaric and cruel, and can even cause earthquakes. If you come across one in the woods, run fast. But remember, the Daitengu will run much faster, so find a cave with a small entrance and hide inside until the brute goes away. Why Daitengus and other Tengus live apart remains UNKNOWN.

  Grootslang This humungous monster is in some ways similar to an oversized elephant but has a serpent’s tail and scary mouth of snakes. The Grootslang’s lair is a complex system of caves in South Africa. Down there it devours (whole) both animals and people who dare to enter its home. This vicious creature also collects gems, especially diamonds, which can be useful should you wish to trick the beast.

  Impundulu Also known as a Lightning Bird, this black-and-white fiend has red tail feathers and a rooster’s beak. Every so often one is spotted in the southern region of Africa. They can control thunder and lightning with their magical wings, and witches absolutely adore them as pets. Furthermore, Impundulus have a huge appetite for blood, so if you see one, be sure to keep your distance.

  Kappa Kappas smell like fish and spend much of their time underwater. They are sneaky pests and have been known to lead people of all ages astray in the forest. Kappas have the body of a monkey with a round bump of a back that is as hard as hardwood. At the very top of their heads is a dip, as deep and as round as a tea saucer. However, the purpose of a head with a dent is UNKNOWN.

  Kraken Krakens are colossal squids. These sea-dwelling monsters are the biggest creatures to have ever lived on Earth, apart from dragons. Hundreds of years ago, Krakens were frequently sighted in the waters between Greenland and Norway. More recently, though, people have reported seeing them in seas around the world. They play with ships like little toys and might even sink a smaller sailing vessel with their eight strong slippery arms and two massive tentacles.

  Manticore This winged beast has a human-like face, a lion’s body, a scorpion’s tail, and venomous spikes along its back. While there have not been any sightings of Manticores for half a millennium, their habitat once spanned Southwest Asia. They are one of the wickedest predators, and even other monsters are most fearful of them. It is UNKNOWN if Manticores still exist.

  Maricoxi Extremely hairy and described as a half-man, half-ape savage, the Maricoxi may still be living in the wilds of South America. It is likely they are related to the North American Sasquatch, otherwise known as Big Foot. No one has reported seeing a Maricoxi since 1914, but in the 1800s there were many stories of Maricoxi attacking tribes in the rainforest. Additionally, these creatures are terribly afraid of loud noises.

  Mongolian Death Worm Dark red, poisonous, and able to produce electricity, Mongolian Death Worms strike fear into those who cross the Gobi Desert. They grow as long as a bus and tunnel under the sand to get from place to place. As a matter of fact, sandy waves are a sure sign this deadly monster has been burrowing through the area. Mongolian Death Worms are hungriest in June and July. Never, ever, let one smell you.

  Patasola Patasolas are one-legged monsters that are dreaded in Colombia, South America. They are believed to be demons of one kind or another, and some say they are related to the revenge-thirsty Sayona of Venezuela. But what they truly are remains UNKNOWN. The Patasola lives in thick jungles and can appear as a woman. So, if you see a ghastly lady hopping about the jungle on one foot, do not follow her.

  Pishtaco The blood-thirsty Pishtacos have done horrific things to people—far too gruesome to describe here, in fact. These evil beings are found around the Andean Mountains in South America, and no one can say for sure if they are vampires, ghosts, or some other type of beast. They look somewhat like humans with frightening eyes, but little else is known about the mysterio
us Pishtacos.

  Sea Serpent Bat Scarcely ever seen, Sea Serpent Bats sleep in underwater crevices off the coast of Lombok, Indonesia. Inhabitants of nearby islands claim to have also seen these strange creatures, which are easily identified by their resemblance to teensy-weensy dragons with purplish-yellow skin. They are not in the least bit dangerous, but they will make horrible shrieks if startled.

  Strigoi In Romania, Strigoi spirits rise from their graves to take form as animals, including humans. Beware! They will attack and have a particular hunger for young people. Cryptozoologists have written that the Strigoi can become invisible, but whether or not they can fly is UNKNOWN. Like vampires, the Strigoi detest garlic, which should be eaten daily as a means of staving off all such monsters.

  Tengu Tengus are hefty mountain goblins that live in remote Japanese forests. They have heavy wings, reddish cheeks, and tremendously long noses. There are several kinds of Tengus, and countless warriors amongst their various tribes. Usually they stay away from towns and villages, and so they are not considered a threat to people. Nevertheless, they will fiercely deal with any troublemakers they bump into on their lands.

  Wolpertinger About the size of a rabbit, Wolpertingers have been sighted in German forests for hundreds of years. These silly-looking beasties have the tail of a squirrel and the body of a hare, not to mention antlers and wings. If you see a Wolpertinger, do not be afraid. This peculiar monster is a gentle sort that will make you laugh out loud rather than scream.

  Yeti Taller than the average person, Yetis roam the high mountains of Nepal. They have white fur and make their homes in secret caverns. It is UNKNOWN what they eat. Seldom seen, they are sometimes called abominable snowmen, and patches of their fur have been discovered by mountain climbers. Keeping away from Yetis is strongly advised, since they are notorious for having nasty tempers.

  Daniel Warriner was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario. After graduating with a degree in English Language and Literature, he moved to Japan, where he has worked as a writer and editor since 1996. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys playing the guitar, cycling, reading, and traveling to experience cultures and foods around the world. Currently he lives with his wife, daughter and son in Tokyo.