George Washington Werewolf (15 page)

“The General’s quarters are in the basement?” said Cornwallis. “How quaint.”

“Watch your step, my Lord…”

Once in the basement, Cornwallis saw General George Washington standing beside a huge iron cage.

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t bring my dancing bear…” Cornwallis smiled in the smug self-satisfied way of the well-heeled British aristocracy—precisely what the Colonists were fighting against.

“The cage, my Lord…” said Washington, “is for you.”

Since they crashed that party in Philadelphia in 1778, George Washington faced another dilemma. He knew first hand the destructive power of the curse placed upon him, and that it could be used for good, for the cause of freedom. But the risk was too great. The exhilaration and exultation he felt were false. It came from an external source that was evil and he couldn’t reconcile this. Even if it meant victory over the British, he couldn’t allow it to come about by some supernatural agent. Since that night in Philadelphia, Washington had kept the evil urge in check. He had confined himself for every full moon, showing the discipline and self-denial of a Spartan of antiquity. And the war from then on was fought on the battlefield, like it had always been. And thanks to Von Steuben’s training the Continentals gave a good account of themselves again and again. But it was now three years later and the war was still going on. And General George Washington knew what had to be done.

“I beg your pardon?” said Cornwallis.

“My Lord, as a gentleman I would rather you accede to my request without having to be compelled by force.”

“Am I to understand that you want me to step inside that cage? Like a beast?”

“No, my Lord, that is what I will do...” And then Washington turned to Hamilton. “Colonel Hamilton, would you please escort General Lord Cornwallis inside…”

“Yes General…”

“General Washington, I must protest at this… this barbaric treatment! I was led to believe that this was to be a parley…”

“That’s exactly what it is, my Lord.”

“Now if you would be so kind…” Hamilton pulled his pistol and aimed it at Cornwallis.

“If you think your precious independence will come about through coercion, through force…”

“Please sir, I insist.”

And moments later Lord Cornwallis was standing in the cage, and once inside he noticed bars in the middle which divided the cage in two.

“You’ll notice the bars there,” said Alexander Hamilton. “They may be slid out to the side if we so choose, allowing access to the other half of the cage.”

“Yes, thank you for stating the obvious,” said Cornwallis. “What, are you going to threaten me with a wild animal?” he laughed disparagingly. “You are the rustics!”

At this he noticed General Washington begin to remove his clothing and hand each piece to Alexander Hamilton. And when he was fully undressed, the General stepped into the other side of the cage, with Hamilton closing the door behind him.

“I must admit,” said Cornwallis, “that I am at a loss, General Washington.”

“It will all become clear momentarily,” said the General. “How much time, Colonel Hamilton?”

Hamilton looked at his watch.

“Exactly one minute, General.”

“In a minute’s time the moon will be full, Lord Cornwallis. I am very sorry that it’s come to this.”

“What? What are you talking about? Hamilton! Let me out of here at once! You’ve both gone insane! I’ll have you both shot!”

And then he noticed something strange happening to George Washington, and Cornwallis’s expression reflected what was unfolding just a few feet away. At first bewilderment, then disgust, then shock, then outright and utter terror. When the transformation was complete the beast rushed the bars to get at the British Lord. And Cornwallis shit his pants and began to whimper, as his entire being became fright itself—as though nothing else existed.

“LET ME OUT! PLEASE! I BEG OF YOU!” he yelled and pleaded.

“Imagine an army of these…” said Alexander Hamilton.

“PLEASE! LET ME OUT! PLEASE! PLEASE…”

Ten minutes later the door to the basement swung open and Lord Cornwallis, too petrified to even be concerned about his soiled breeches, fled the house and sent his horse at full gallop all the way back to British headquarters. The next day Lord Cornwallis eagerly surrendered his forces to General George Washington, and the war with England had come to an end.

Private Malcolm “Mal” Turner
survived the war, leaving the Continental Army as a Corporal. Although for the rest of his days he was plagued by bad dreams relating to ‘The Massacre’ and his ill-fated night of guard duty.

Baron Friedrich Von Steuben
, renowned for his significant role in transforming the ragtag Rebels into a formidable Army, returned to Prussia with Otto where he retired from public life (except for the first night of each full moon).

Aaron Burr
ran for President in 1800 against Thomas Jefferson, and in one of the closest elections in American history, barely lost to his rival to become the third Vice-President. Four years later he killed his nemesis Alexander Hamilton in a duel because Hamilton had threatened to disclose his dark secret. And a year after that, Burr tried to form his own monarchy with himself as King (in the territory recently acquired in the Louisiana Purchase) for which he was charged with treason—the “Burr Conspiracy” (although he was subsequently acquitted). And after the trial, disheartened and embittered, he lived a life of exile and seclusion in a remote forest on the frontier.

George Washington
, with the war for Independence won, went on to become the first American President and one of the most beloved figures in U.S. history. For the rest of his life he kept his secret, confining himself without fail during every full moon, despite the constant headaches and torturous pain. He would later confide to his wife Martha that his self-sacrifice was the
least
he could do to give America the chance of becoming a great nation, unsullied by scandal, smiled upon by God, and sent courageously into the future on the indomitable spirit and goodwill of its people.

Raised by wolves in a cave outside Rome (New York), Kevin Postupack is an internationally known novelist, existential philosopher, raconteur, and lover of women (as well as King of Spain from 1993-1997 when he was deposed by a right wing coup). When he's not driving old broken-down Italian sports cars, he spends his time resurrecting literature through
DEEP KISS PRESS
, the Number One Indie/Alternative press in the world!

Kevin Postupack is also the author of the literary novels
THE SERIAL KILLER'S DIET BOOK
,
MUDVILLE
, and
STILL LIFE WITH ABYSS
. Also coming soon: BLOOD OF THE SUN, & ANGRYNASTYHOSTILE.