Werewolf Stories to Tell in the Dark by Anthony Masters

minutes later, the steam-like substance cleared and to our amazement we could see a large man, completely naked, with an ape-like forehead.
    â€˜He’s neolithic,’ breathed Slater, but in seconds the body began to decompose before our eyes. Soon there was nothing more than a pool of dark stagnant water on the carpet.
    â€˜
It must have been really awful,’ said Terry. ‘Think of that thing in the iceberg all those years – waiting for someone to set it free
.’
    â€˜
Freedom’s something a lot of people don’t understand,’ said Aaron, the American boy, unexpectedly
.

9
Wolverine
    The girl had been discovered living with a wolf pack in Africa and had been brought to the San Diego Behavioural Study Unit at Sunset Beach so she could be examined. Brad’s father was one of the scientists involved, and had been examining Susan, as the wolf girl had been named, for a couple of weeks now.
    The unit was just at the top of the beach and Brad’s family lived in an adjoining house. Every vacation, he spent most of the time in the ocean with his surfboard. He loved swimming beyond the breakers, waiting for the right crest and then riding in on it, the surf spiralling under his board, giving not just the sensation of speed but a wonderful light-sparkling exhilaration that he never became used to – and knew he would never get tired of.
    Despite his father’s close involvement with Susan, Brad had never seen the wolf girl and his curiosity mounted. Although he understood why she was kept under such a strict security wrap, Brad often wondered what Susan was like. Was she covered in hair? Did she run about on all fours? Was she ferocious and aggressive? How did she communicate? The questions raced through his mind. But his father, Geoff, wouldn’t tell himanything, on the grounds that all the unit’s scientists were sworn to secrecy and that was the way it would have to remain – at least for the time being.
    â€˜Another problem’s arisen,’ said Geoff one day when he and Brad were walking along the smooth sand, the fingers of surf curling around their ankles. ‘A problem with the Guardian.’
    â€˜The Guardian?’ asked Brad in bewilderment. ‘Who’s the Guardian?’
    â€˜The man who found her. He adopted Susan and provided enough funds to get her here. His name is Gilbert Johnson and he’s – well, all I can describe him as is a showman. He runs a small private zoo in LA and has interests in a touring show called “Freaks”. It’s been banned here in the States, but it still travels in Europe. The show’s sick.’
    â€˜It sounds it. But do you mean Johnson could exploit Susan?’
    â€˜We’re worried that he might,’ Geoff admitted.
    â€˜Does he have plans?’
    â€˜He denies it all. Says he just wants Susan to be with him, to grow up a normal girl and he’ll take care of her.’
    â€˜But you’re suspicious?’
    â€˜We all are.’
    â€˜Aren’t there any laws to protect her?’
    â€˜Not that we can find. To all intents and purposes, Johnson just wants the best for Susan.’
    â€˜What
is
the best for Susan?’ Brad asked him.
    Geoff shrugged. ‘Probably to go back to her own kind. But that’s impossible now.’
    â€˜The wolves?’ Brad was amazed.
    â€˜She’d been with them for twelve years.’
    â€˜What does she look like?’ asked Brad eagerly, grasping the opportunity to ask some questions.
    â€˜Like any human being. I can’t tell you any more, Brad. You know why.’
    But Brad could sense that he wanted to. ‘You can trust me,’ he pleaded.
    Geoff looked at him thoughtfully for a minute and then his face relaxed. ‘I know I can. It’s a relief to talk to someone. I’m just worried that – we’re doing such a detailed assessment of Susan and her abilities that – well, my concern