Murder On The Waterway: The Case Of The Kanaima Demon

Chapter Twenty One

The idea of werewolves, deeply rooted in the ancient folklore of Europe, had taken shape over centuries, evolving alongside the Christian interpretation of these tales. As time passed, these beliefs transcended the Old World and sailed to the New World, carried by the winds of colonialism. The concept of werewolves walked hand in hand with the witchcraft trials, each era marked by its brand of supernatural hysteria.

In the early 15th century, the trial of supposed werewolves surfaced in regions like Switzerland, particularly in Valais and Vaud, and by the 16th century, this phenomenon had spread across Europe, reaching its peak in the 17th century before slowly receding by the 18th.

The witch hunts and the persecution of werewolves became intertwined, even though accusations of lycanthropy made up only a small portion of the trials. These early accusations often entangled allegations of wolf-riding or wolf-charming. One notorious case in 1589 involving Peter Stumpp created a significant surge in the interest in and persecution of alleged werewolves, mainly in French-speaking and German-speaking Europe. This peculiar phenomenon persisted for a longer duration in Bavaria and Austria, with records of the persecution of wolf-charmers extending well beyond 1650 and culminating in the early 18th century in Carinthia and Styria.

Following the witch trials, the werewolf piqued the curiosity of folklore scholars and the burgeoning Gothic horror genre. Werewolf fiction, as a genre, had its roots in medieval romances like "Bisclavret" and "Guillaume de Palerme" and further developed in the 18th century from the semi-fictional chapbook tradition.

In regions where wolves were scarce, the concept of the monstrous creature transformed to assume the guise of other formidable animals such as bears, tigers, or hyenas. In French folklore, the werewolf is called the "loup-garou." France, particularly during the 16th century, experienced a surge in reports of these creatures, leading to notable convictions and executions of "loups-garous." An intriguing twist to the lore suggests that werewolves can turn into vampires upon their death.

European folklore portrayed werewolves with distinct physical traits, even in their human form. These traits included eyebrows that met at the bridge of the nose, curved fingernails, low-set ears, and a peculiar swinging stride. The depiction of a werewolf in its animal form varied from culture to culture, with some renditions depicting a larger creature that kept human eyes and a human voice. However, the most common portrayal rendered the werewolf indistinguishable from ordinary wolves, except for the absence of a tail, a trait associated with witches in animal form.

One method employed to identify a werewolf in human form involved cutting the flesh of the accused, assuming that fur would be revealed within the wound. After transforming back into their human form, werewolves were typically described as becoming weak, debilitated, and suffering from painful, nervous depression.

Lost in the fascinating world of werewolf lore, I was interrupted by a woman's voice emanating from the doorway. It was Miss Walker, standing there with a stack of papers, engrossed in her late-night endeavours. As she approached, her fruity perfume wafted through the air, adding a layer of intrigue to the moment.

"What on earth are you reading?" she inquired, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Surprised, I stammered, "Oh, hey," attempting to explain my interest. "It's part of Kumar's papers; it's crazy to think of the stuff he believed in."

Miss Walker, seemingly undeterred, offered her perspective. "You never know; it could be real; I believe in ghosts, so why wouldn't there be many beasts?"

There was something about her that had escaped my notice before, something that drew me in with its warmth. My mind had been entangled in the complexities of our investigation. Now, I admired her quirks as she perched herself on the desk beside me, her legs swinging back and forth, catching my peripheral vision.