The Monkey Man: Tales from the Pearl Legends

By M.O. Olivares

Midel has a lot to be angry about. His father left when he was ten, forcing him to live with his miserable uncle. On top of it all, the girl he loves dumps him for another boy. But when she asks Midel for help to look for his missing rival, he can’t refuse. To his horror, he finds himself face to face with the amomongo, a legendary creature that is half-man and half-monkey. Can he escape the terrifying beast?

Short fiction at 15,000 words, THE MONKEY MAN is a teen and young adult fantasy tale from the PEARL LEGENDS. Start your adventure now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M.O. Olivares
• Release date: Nov 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370256600

M.O. Olivares

M. O. Olivares is a Pearl Islander, descended from the tribe of Zales, western Usnon. She remembers a childhood of balmy sweet-scented evenings, huddled over lamplight, listening to tales of a bygone era. Sadly, the aswangs, manananggals, and tikbalangs, as well as other creatures that used to roam the land, including the love-sick kapre who pined for Olivares’ mother through a window, have long departed. She writes so they will not be forgotten.For more information and to join the mailing list, visit: www.PearlLegends.com

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THE MONKEY MAN

TALES FROM THE PEARL LEGENDS

M.O. Olivares

Copyright 2017 M.O. Olivares

All Rights Reserved

Smashwords Edition

TALES FROM THE

PEARL LEGENDS

(Short Fiction)

The Monkey Man

The Octopus Girl

The Snake Enchantress

PEARL LEGENDS SERIES

(Novels)

The Cycles of the Moon

THE MONKEY MAN

TALES FROM THE PEARL LEGENDS

Copyright 2017 M. O. Olivares

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic (Internet), mechanical, photographic (photocopying), recording or otherwise—without the express written permission of the author. Exception to the rule would be in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction, inspired by Philippine myths, legends, and folktales. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is purely coincidental.

ISBN: 9781370256600

For more information and to join the mailing list, visit:

www.PearlLegends.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CHAPTER ONE

An owl hooted. A distance away, another responded. Crickets chirped in the shadows, their night song punctuated by a croaking frog behind a bush. The jungle was dark apart from shafts of moonlight probing the gloom through the treetops. Midel leaned against the trunk of a dao tree and searched the path below again. There was no sign of him.

How much longer do we have to wait? Gibo shifted his heavy frame, causing the branch he was sitting on to creak. The mosquitos are devouring me. He slapped his thigh and began to scratch vigorously.

Stop moving or you’ll make Reben fall off, Midel chided his friend.

My bum is getting numb, Reben moaned.

Quiet! Midel held up a hand.

The three boys paused to listen, except all that followed was the rustle of a lizard skittering away.

Gibo and Reben resumed complaining.

Midel knotted his long dark hair and wiped the sweat trickling down his bare chest. He was also uncomfortable, but they had waited too long to give up now.

Come on, Midel said. He adjusted his loincloth, and yet the dao’s rough bark continued to chafe his buttocks. Donolo should be here at any moment. Then he dug into the pouch at his waist and passed handfuls of pili nuts to his friends. After, he drew his dagger and scraped the bark off from where he sat.

Should we be out in the forest at all? Gibo mumbled. His mouth was full of nuts. The amomongo could be on the prowl tonight.

Yeah, Reben replied. I heard that Mang Huse recently lost a goat and two chickens. He found them dead one morning. Their stomachs had been ripped open and their insides gone.

Relax, Midel said. The amomongo is just an old wives’ tale. When I was younger, Uncle Eben would tell me stories of the monkey man just to frighten me. He puffed up his chest and stuck out his belly to imitate his uncle. If you stay out too late, the amomongo will come and get you, he said, mimicking his uncle’s voice.

Gibo and Reben laughed.

Midel scowled. So lame.

He treats you like a child, Gibo said.

I’m seventeen now. I’m not stupid, Midel answered.

But how can you be so sure the amomongo is just a tale? Reben asked.

Do you know anyone who’s actually seen one?

Gibo and Reben shook their heads.

Mang Huse lives at the edge of the village. I’ll bet it was the work of a wild dog and not the monkey man people keep jabbering about.

The three boys returned to watching the path.

Are you sure Donolo will be coming this way? Reben asked.

"Donolo prefers to take this shortcut instead of the open road