Werewolf Origin

By Alex Cullison

Werewolf Origin was inspired by the 1941 movie, “The Wolf Man.” This classic film starred Lon Chaney, Jr. A clan of gypsies comes into a village in Wales. Lon Chaney is bitten by a werewolf in his attempt to save a girl. The girl dies, but he did kill the monster, who was Bela, a gypsy fortuneteller. Unfortunately for Lon, he becomes a werewolf, and so begins the genre. What is not revealed is how Bela first became a wolf man; this book is a prequel to the movie and reveals this mystery.

The story takes place in Llanromney, Wales. The year is 1851. The main character is Dr. Paul Thomas; who practices in a small village. He treats both humans and animals in his capacity as a veterinarian and a family physician. His young, attractive, female assistant, Larene Lester, has worked by his side for many years. Captain Frederick Wellen is the local magistrate and law enforcement officer for this village as well as true friend to Paul.

True to its title, the tale reveals how the first werewolf was created. But this story is much more. Werewolf Origin is about love, friendship and determination. Larene is a strong independent woman. Dr. Paul is a driven committed man, trying desperately to save his village from an epidemic. Captain Wellen is the town magistrate and Paul’s best friend. Together they share a very engaging experience. Illustrated.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alex Cullison
• Release date: Jun 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9780997685329

Alex Cullison

Alex was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He is the son of a Chesapeake Bay pilot, and comes from generations of sea captains. He grew up in the suburbs of Maryland.Upon completion of high school, he enlisted into the Air Force.He later went back to school to become a U.S. Merchant Marine engineering officer. He sailed as a marine engineer and subsequently worked for the organization that represented marine engineers.He was passionate about learning, and was constantly attending night classes and taking college courses. He first received his BA degree from Antioch University. Then he got his BS degree from Excelsior College of NY. Later, he obtained a Masters of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Empire. Lastly, in 1997, Alex became "Dr. Cullison" having received his Ph.D. from the Union Institute & University located in Cincinnati, Ohio.Dr. Cullison has worked as an engineer, contract negotiator, mediator & arbitrator, substitute teacher, college instructor, and author.He is happily married (Diana) and their son, Alexander, who is also writing a book (Twilight Sun). Alex enjoys travel, literature, education, politics, photography, boating, writing, and learning new things.Alex has traveled much of the United States and the world. He volunteers his time and talents to worthwhile groups, such as fraternal related charities, his community, and Fairfax County.He believes that people should share their experience and knowledge with others.

Book preview

Preface

Werewolf Origin©

Werewolf Origin was inspired by the 1941 movie, The Wolf Man. This classic film starred Lon Chaney, Jr. A clan of gypsies comes into a village in Wales. Lon Chaney is bitten by a werewolf in his attempt to save a girl. The girl dies, but he did kill the monster, who was Bela, a gypsy fortuneteller. Unfortunately for Lon, he becomes a werewolf, and so begins the genre. What is not revealed is how Bela first became a wolf man; this book is a prequel to the movie and reveals this mystery.

The story takes place in Llanromney, Wales. The year is 1851. The main character is Dr. Paul Thomas; who practices in a small village. He treats both humans and animals in his capacity as a veterinarian and a family physician. His young, attractive, female assistant, Larene Lester, has worked by his side for many years. Captain Frederick Wellen is the local magistrate and law enforcement officer for this village as well as true friend to Paul.

The small village of Llanromney is home to about 500 villagers. Dr. Thomas has a satisfying, but not especially lucrative practice. When he does get paid, it is usually with chickens or other livestock. His office and laboratory are in his rural home. Dr. Paul, as most everyone addresses him, enjoys the respect and friendship of most all of the villagers.

The biggest problem that Dr. Thomas and the villagers face is an epidemic of rabies. It may have started with bats, but has quickly spread to both farm animals and humans. The doctor has made it his life's work to research and study this horrific virus. He has learned that it is spread through the saliva of the infected mammal. He also learns that once the animal or person is bitten, that they will not show symptoms immediately, other than the wound of the bite. He knows the wound gets itchy and, as the days go by, the animal or the person gets more anxious and sickly. Death is imminent. It is a horrible way to die. Dr. Thomas and his assistant Larene have been working for years trying to find a cure for the terrible problem plaguing their village.

Chapter 1.

He heard the commotion and wondered what had gotten his fellow villagers all riled up on this balmy spring morning. Dr. Paul, as most of his patients and friends referred to him, was busy burying his latest test subject in the field behind his house. The mixed terrier in the grave was a victim of rabies; another in his long line of failed attempts to find a cure for this disease.

It may not have rained for a month, but somehow the land behind his house stayed muddy. The cuffs of his pants and his old black leather shoes were caked with mud. He wasn’t quite finished, but his curiosity got the best of him. What was all the excitement about? He knew from experience that the yelling was coming from the village square. Pulling himself together, he made his way around the back of his house, which served as his doctor’s office and held his research laboratory in the basement, to the front road. He left big footprints in the soft soil all the way to the hard dirt road. The center of Llanromney was about a kilometer away, down an open rural road. He could usually walk it in less than ten minutes. Dr. Paul looked at his silver pocket watch. It read 11:35 in the morning. Feeling a bit of foreboding, he felt the need to walk faster than usual.

The village square was typically a social gathering place for just about everyone living in or near the village. Although he knew most of the people in the screaming crowd, he did not recognize their behavior. This was a lynch mob.

What’s going on? Dr. Paul asked Robert, who ran an import/export business in town. Llanromney, Wales, wasn’t far from Bristol Channel, which led out to the Celtic Sea.

I believe they are about to burn the old gypsy lady, Maleva for being a witch! Robert replied excitedly.

This was worse than he thought. Where was Captain Wellen? Captain Frederick Wellen was their local magistrate, law enforcement officer, and on occasion, judge. He usually handled situations like this. No matter, the crowd was getting out of hand and it would take a persuasive voice to calm down these vigilantes.

Dr. Paul pushed his way through the crowd into the center of the square where all the turmoil was taking place. Dr. Paul Thomas was very well known in the village, as his practice included both people and livestock. People recognized and respected him as an educated man because he had attended medical school.

He finally broke through the front line of people into the center of the village square. There he saw a little old lady tied to a post with a pile of tinder at her feet. This was Maleva, the queen of her gypsy clan. She was dressed in the traditional gypsy clothes with a lot of jewelry and a headscarf. Although old and small of stature, she held her head up high in defiance, and was absolutely stone faced.

Dr. Paul stood in front of Maleva and held up his hands.

Why are you trying to execute this woman? his voice carried over the crowd.

She’s a witch, came a yell from the crowd, She puts curses on people and they die! The townsfolk of Llanromney were generally nice, hardworking folk, but they were very superstitious.

Last spring when they came into town, she predicted the death of Nicholas Townsend, the accident Edward Jules had, and that the Middleton’s little girl, Francis, would be bitten by her dog and get rabies!

She’s a witch!

Burn her! the crowd screamed.

Dr. Paul scanned the crowd. He saw their anger-twisted faces. He kept an eye on Farmer Stewart, who was holding a lit torch. He also glanced at Maleva; she looked back at him with those stubborn blue eyes, and then glared at the mob. Where was Captain Wellen when you needed him?

Dr. Paul had been to the gypsy camp before, and had his fortune told by Maleva. She didn’t need Tarot cards or tealeaves; she truly had a gift of insight. She didn’t curse or cause the tragedies she predicted; she just saw them as part of her fortune telling. When the predictions’ came true, which they always did, they suspected her of witchcraft.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the two Cattrall brothers, both blacksmiths, holding on to Maleva’s son, Bela. It was all they could do to keep him from helping his mother.

Hold it, all of you, Dr. Paul demanded, Settle down!

The gypsy clan has been coming into the village for as long as I can remember. We’ve never had this kind of trouble before. Maleva has helped many of you; you forget about all the times she has given you good advice about love, money, your children, what and when to plant, and even warned us about that drought a few years back. And you, Drake, he pointed to a man in the crowd, Remember when Maleva told you not to make that last fishing trip? You stayed home, and the boat sank at sea? No one wanted to burn Maleva at the stake then! This is foolishness people, we need to put a stop to this right now!

The crowd mumbled, grumbled, and looked at each other. Just then, you could hear a horse riding up to the outskirts of the square. Captain Wellen, with an air of aristocratic authority, looked sternly at the mob and immediately grasped the situation. With the agility of a much younger man, he leapt off his horse and made his way to where Dr. Paul was standing. The crowd