Chapter Eight: Kim’s Kumiho Story
Many hundreds of years ago
He loved his people and loved the land, trees and mountains and was one of the first Buddhist friendly monarchs. The King and his Queen had three sons and one (the youngest) daughter.
Because he had three heirs that vied for the heir ship of the throne, the King doted on his daughter. She gave him only love and wanted nothing further in return, unlike her older brothers. So for a Korean Princess she was given a lot of leeway and would often travel the countryside, visiting newly built Buddhist temples. She also had a love for flowers, especially the white ones that grew in the wooded hills north of the Sang (Castle).
The beautiful Princess one spring’s morning left the castle, with her father’s blessing and headed north to the mountain woods in search of the snow white orchids she cherished. A botanist monk and two guards went as her bodyguards and guide, as the
After a lunch in a sunny glade, they continued in good spirits up the hill ‘til they came to a cave. Growing at either side of the cave mouth were two swathes of snow orchids, like nature itself had designed a garden.
Yet nature had not, the dweller in the cave had and she was not pleased when the Princess and monk, merrily began digging them up to transplant them to the Princess’ royal garden.
Out of the cave sprang an evil spirit, long thought of as legend; even in these ancient times. The Monk and Princess scrambled back in fright, as the two guards advanced to protect the Princess drawing their swords.
That night the Princess did not return home for the evening banquet, the Royal parents were worried. Even her squabbling brothers forgot their feuds for the time being, as each, like their father, doted on their younger sister. In fact the King had to practically bar the gates to stop them riding off into the night to find her.
It could just be that her daughter wished to watch the stars or forgot the time and distance she had travelled, suggested the Queen.
Or it was a trap by the Southern Kingdoms to lure the King and Princess into an ambush, warned the King of Koguryo. Either way, she had the Monk and guards to protect her, and they would begin their search at first light.
The youngest son would remain at the castle to protect the Queen and Kingdom, if this was indeed a trap to assassinate the King and his heirs. The eldest son would head east, the middle son west and the King and his men would head north.
For three days and nights they searched, but not even the slightest trace of her could be found. With heavy hearts they returned on the fourth day back to the castle, the Queen broke down in tears and the youngest son who had remained behind, wept openly. The
A week, then weeks, then a month went by with no news and the Royal family feared the worst. The King became desperate and sent personal pleas to the Kings of Shilla and Paekcha, for information on his daughter’s whereabouts. Just in case she had been kidnapped for ransoming. The Kings would normally be enraged by such suggested allegations, but both had daughters too and empathised with the other King’s loss.
In an unprecedented act they swore an oath that if the Princess turned up in their Kingdoms, she would get a swift and safe escort home.
Another month passed without any news, so the desperate King ordered a proclamation to all corners of his realm. Any man who found his daughter alive would win his weight in gold and his daughter’s hand in marriage.
Suddenly fifty percent of the male populace of the Kingdom was mobilised into finding the Princess. Most out of their love for the Princess and respect of the King, others out of lust and greed.
One such man, we shall call him Kunin, wanted the gold first and a beautiful wife second. His grandfather had been a General many years ago, yet an act of cowardice had blighted his once lofty career. He had grown too fond of his men and refused to send them into a battle, where he knew even a victory would mean the loss of two thirds of his men. His men were alive, but he was disgraced and his rank and lands taken away. His son bore the shame and the family had to become farmers to survive. When he was eighteen Kunin’s father died working the land, his grandfather had already taken his own life many moons ago.
The day after his father’s funeral, his mother found her son dressed in his grandfather’s armour and weapons. She wept as he told her farming would not kill him. He would regain the family’s wealth and honour and seek his fortune in the world. From that day his name was Kunin (soldier) and he travelled the three Kingdoms in search of employment as a mercenary.
Now he was twenty-one and scarred and hardened by battle: when he heard of the King’s proclamation. He swore he would be the one to find the Princess and regain his family’s honour. Taking the gold and Princess from the King whom stripped his family of its status, spurred him on further.
A month into his search he found himself in the mountains to the north of the Kingdom. It was midsummer and his horse trod lazily up the wooded slope. The sun shone in dapples through the tall trees and flies buzzed around the sweaty man and horse.
Both man and beast were hot and weary and Kunin decided to make an early camp at the next clearing. Ten minutes later they came to a gladed area and Kunin slid, almost fell off his horse. He unsaddled his trusty animal and fed and watered it before himself.
So it was not until he sat cross-legged on the floor to eat, he noticed as he chewed the remains of a three month old camp fire. Suddenly with renewed vigour he crawled around the glade on his hands and knees, searching for further evidence. He found a wooden bowl with the mark of the royal household on it by a small brook. Plus evidence of horses, a food sack and a brush and a latrine twenty or so feet away.
He found no evidence of a struggle, but this had been the luckiest and most significant clue to the Princess’ whereabouts since he had begun. He knew of the Princess’ love of plants, so he would camp here tonight then search for flowers in the morning. He may have a chance of finding out what happened to her in the cooler morning.
He and his mount awoke refreshed in the early morning light and after a hurried breakfast they set off. Kunin led his horse by a rope through the bridle so he could examine the ground and vegetation ahead for clues: without fear of his horse trampling them.
By midmorning they had come to a clearing, ahead was a shadowy cave mouth, with two swathes of almost cultivated vegetation on either side of the cave. Kunin’s farmer’s upbringing knew these plants were the famous snow orchids, by the foliage alone.
Tying his horse to a tree, Kunin drew his sword and crept slowly up to the cave’s entrance. Peering in, he could see, not far in a pile of bones with two skulls atop. Next to them were two sets of armour, but no weapons: most likely the remains of the two guard escort.
Suddenly from deep with the cave came a roar and Kunin back-pedalled as a tall furious white-furred bear came towards him out of the darkness. Kunin heard his horse scream in fright and pull at her rope as the bear attacked the lone warrior. Kunin had little time for thought as the tall bear bore down on him. Kunin lifted his blade above his head and with both hands pushed the sword into the bear’s snarling mouth. The keen steel went up through the palate of the bear’s mouth, slicing through its brain and out the top of its skull.
Kunin only winded himself as he dove and rolled from under the dying beast, as its bulky frame crashed to the ground, dead.
He was bent, his boot on the bear’s head, retrieving his weapon, when a figure ran out of the cave. Kunin raised his bloody blade and then lowered it in shock as the Princess ran into his arms.
“You saved me from the beast, it killed my escort and kept me prisoner three very long months!”
Kunin could not help, but be taken with the Princess’ beauty and all thoughts of gold and revenge temporarily left his mind.
“You’re safe now, come let me take you home.”
Yet they had to walk as Kunin’s mount had bolted during the fight with the white bear and was never seen again.
Three days later Kunin proudly walked through the gates of the castle with the beautiful Princess at his side. Happy crowds gathered at the roadside and followed their progress.
Ahead stood the smiling King, Queen and Princes, overjoyed at their daughter’s/sister’s safe return.
“I love you,” whispered Kunin to the Princess as they approached the royal family.
“Do you?” The Princess questioned, “Then promise to love me no matter what.”
“I promise with all my heart.” The lone warrior smiled as they reached the royal entourage.
The Princess rushed into her family’s arms and a great cheer went up around the castle.
Presently the King came up to Kunin and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you for rescuing my only daughter, so you shall have your weight in gold and more precious, my daughter’s hand in marriage.”
Kunin smiled, his family honour was now restored, he was rich and to marry the most beautiful woman in all
The wedding of the Royal Princess and Kunin lasted all day and when the new wedded pair were finally alone in their marital bed chamber they felt exhausted. Kunin fell upon the bed full of joy, rice wine and food; watching his beautiful bride approach the low bed.
“Do you remember you promised with your heart to love me, no matter what?” The Princess asked, slowly disrobing from her ceremonial clothes.
“I do,” said Kunin and smiled at the Princess’ love talk.
“Then let us see if you are a man of honour,” the Princess grinned, but with an unvirginal twinkle in her brown irises.
The Princess let her final wrapping of silk flutter to the floor and stood before her new husband naked.
Kunin’s smiling lips dropped open to form a stunned O shape. It wasn’t the dowdy hair that spread up like brown fur from her vagina, that paralysed him with shock, but the three sets of small, perky breasts that covered her chest, abdomen and tummy.
“Love me Kunin,” the Princess creature spoke in a raspy whisper.
“No!” Kunin wailed and grabbed his ceremonial dagger which still hung at his bejewelled belt and stabbed the creature in the side as it lent over him.
Kunin turned and scrambled over to the other side of the bed, but was not quick enough to escape the clawing attack on his back. Kunin fell to the floor, his wedding clothes on his back in shreds, blood running from the wounds.
“Help!” He screamed as the Princess creature rounded the bed. Yet it was not the Princess whom he had wed, but a creature born out of primeval nightmares. The Princess’ beautiful face had gone, replaced by that of a vixen fox, her body entirely covered in browny-ginger and white fur. Yet this five foot fox had not one but many tails, that undulated like snakes behind her.
“Kumiho.” Kunin whispered as the nine-tailed fox bore down on him.
“Yes.” The Kumiho hissed and brought down one powerful hind leg down on the warrior’s left leg: breaking it with ease.
Kunin screamed in agony as the creature laughed. Suddenly the door flew in and in entered the King and his sons armed with swords, fearing some ill had befallen their daughter/sister. Seeing it was outnumbered and out of its usual safe habitat, the injured Kumiho crashed through the nearest window and bounded with inhuman agility, from wall to wall ‘til it had fled the castle.
The duped husband’s wounds were tended and the King made him draw a map of where the Kumiho’s cave was. Kunin begged to go with them, but with his injuries he could not get out of bed.
That night the King, his three sons and a troop of guards galloped from the castle, making all haste for the Kumiho’s lair. Kunin lay in his bed on his side and wept, he had brought the creature to the castle: what fate would befall him on the King’s return?
By morning the King’s troops had reached the camp that both his daughter had stayed at and Kunin had later found. A low-lying mist enveloped the hilly forest as he, his sons and his men dismounted. Leaving two men to guard the horses, they proceeded on foot through the mist.
At last they came to the clearing and the entrance to the cave. They were about to enter, when a wailing moan was heard from inside and a female figure rushed out. She was naked, yet covered in dark mud and bits of fur, her fingers like talons reached out before her and her face was that of the Princess.
“Kumiho!” Shouted the youngest Prince in fear as it ran towards the King, its eyes wild with madness. With a swift strike the King sliced off the mad creature’s head, before it could attack him.
The King and his entourage lit some torches and plunged into the dark cave. They passed the bones and armour of his daughter’s guards. Further and deeper into the cave they crept until they came to the Kumiho’s lair. The place was piled high with human remains and treasures they had once possessed.
In an anti-chamber they found four posts imbedded deep into the floor. Two were empty, one had rope hanging from it, but the last had a pale occupant on its knees in filth, tied to it.
It was the monk and he was still alive, yet very malnourished and thin.
“Where is my daughter?” The King demanded not too gently.
“She gnawed through her bonds, have you not seen her? She has only just escaped.” Spoke the Buddhist monk.
The King fell to his knees in anguish. “What have I done?” He wailed: which echoed through the Kumiho’s cave.
The opening of his chamber door work Kunin from his slumber. As his eyes cleared he saw the Queen standing at his bed chamber door, a strange startled look on her worried face.
Suddenly her head whipped violently around with a sickening crack, until she could look at her own back. Pain racked his body as he sat up in bed, as the Queen’s body fell to the floor dead. Into the room stepped his bride, once more in her almost human form.
Without a glance she stepped over the twitching corpse and moved next to the bed. A beautiful and serene look on her delicate face.
“What do you want spirit?” The warrior asked in mortal fear.
“What rightfully belongs to me.” The Princess/Kumiho smiled and plunged her hand through her husband’s ribcage and plucked out his heart.
The last image Kunin ever saw was the unimaginable sight of the Kumiho devouring his still-beating heart.
“Bloody hell,” Private London stated, “that was good.”
“Good one Sarge.” Private Hartnell nodded in agreement.
“Look at the time,” Sergeant Kim glanced at his watch, “our watch ended ten minutes ago.”
“Time flies when you’re being scared witless.”
“I will wake Regimental Sergeant-Major McConnell,” Sergeant Kim Jun Ho rose and headed for the trucks.
“A-Men to that,” Private Hartnell rose stiffly and stretched his back.
“I just hope I sleep now and don’t wake up with the screaming Abdabs.” Private Robert London said to himself, scanning the dark surrounding woods.
