The Indictment of Artemis

The moon waited lazily upon the horizon while night breezes worked to freeze the blood of men. There was no need for lamps; she was full, and no one wanted to see anyway. Sebastian had come this time. Many had run out, guns in hand, when the screaming started, hurriedly throwing on their boots and rushing out the door in all manner of dress. He had come, and he was ready. His coat was buttoned, his hat covering his brow, and his pair of pistols hanging at his sides. Tonight he would start the hunt. It was good to see so many about, and Sebastian nodded to the little man at his side. The same was already at work, scribbling in his little book. The companion’s unblinking eyes darted from one terrified face to another, his hand striking out the names of different suspects.

Closing his eyes, the hunter drew in a long sniff: the smell, the odor was there; amid the blood and fearful sweat, the wolfish stench arose. He drew his pistols and raced off into the night.

Soon the whole town had departed on different trails, searching for the murderous creature. The companion stared down at his list: three names where left. He closed his book, and found he had wandered into the center of the scene. Alone, he began to speak.

“And you, you light the hunt; you cause it. Artemis, how you love blood. I fear they are all in your power. You stoke all men into madness, and from heaven laugh at us.” A howl in the night silenced him. He knew, from the echoes, it was far away, and yet he shivered, folding his arms about himself, hunching down as if the beast were soon to strike. “Your toy,” he said, “calls for you. But do you answer?” Opening his book, he again studied the names. “Is there anyone on my list you have not poisoned in your light? Why should I strike any name? Are not all men tonight on the hunt? Are not all men made lunatics tonight?”

Remembering some smattering of Latin, the companion said a prayer over the bodies, and then finished in his own tongue, “Eternal night has caught you now, but day’s eternal still.”

In the distance, the blast of guns sounded, and the howl of the beast replied, and the night was overcome with evil.