Howl of the Devil-Tiger

Tiger, tiger burning bright,

In the forests of the night,

What immortal hand or eye,

Could frame thy fearful symmetry? – William Blake

I.

It is well after midnight when Nakry leaves her modest house for

the dirty streets of Kampot Province, stepping out into the narrow,

moonlit lanes with the alleys radiating ominous shadows. She is a

pretty girl, with flowing black hair and large, sparkling green eyes.

Unsavory types gaze at her hungrily, making her feel uncomfortable.

She pulls her clothes more tightly around her and keeps moving towards

the bar. Like most nights, Nakry is prowling for her drunk of a

husband. She should just let him rot in the street, but he has all

their money and they need food. If he returns in the morning and there

is nothing hot for him on the stove, she knows he’ll beat her. He has

such a temper when he’s been drinking. She begins to see the drunkards

stumbling out of the bar and peers at them carefully. She rolls over a

man passed out in the street to get a good look at him and hears

someone say, “Heng, isn’t that your wife outside?”

Nakry looks up toward the sound to see her husband ambling towards

her, “Hey! What are you doing here!? Stop ruining my night. Go back

home and cook.”

The men watching from the doorway of the bar start to laugh, “You tell

her, Heng!”

Nakry frowns, “I didn’t come to bother you, just give me some money

and I’ll leave you alone.”

Heng looks surprised, holding up his coin pouch,

“Hey! I need this money to drink. Just get out of here and we’ll talk

about it at home!”

“No, please… just a little for food.”

She goes to grab the pouch and Heng becomes furious, his face turning

red.

“Don’t touch my money,” he yells, striking Nakry hard in the face.

She cries out and the men cheer.

“You sure showed her!”

Nakry covers her face and runs as Heng goes back to the bar.

Nakry doesn’t even know where she’s running to, she’s so

embarrassed she just wants to get away. It was one thing for Heng to

hit her, but to make her look foolish in front of the other men in the

province was just cruel. Through her tears she can feel the sting of a

cut under her eye that is bleeding, her fingers coming away tinged

with scarlet. She stops at a spring to wash her face and get a drink.

The ice cold water helps her to stop sobbing so hard. As she sits,

catching her breath, she hears footsteps behind her. She turns to see

who approaches and hears a soft, feminine voice, “Don’t be frightened,

dear. I heard you crying and came to help. Husbands can be such

trouble, can’t they?”

Nakry looks up, surprised, “How did you know?”

The woman is older, short and stout, with large, round glasses

and adorned with jade jewelry. Her black hair is tied in a long, tight

braid. She sees Nakry’s wounds and her eyes widen, but she stops

herself from saying anything about them,

“Oh, us women know each other. We can always tell.”

The woman reaches out to stroke Nakry’s hair. Nakry leans into it and

says,

“I am tolerant of him and patient, but it infuriates me to be

disrespected in front of so many people.”

The older woman seems concerned,

“He beat you like this, in front of others?”

Nakry nods sadly. The woman continues,

“Such things are beyond what a dutiful wife should be made to endure.

I cannot stand by and continue to let a beautiful girl like you be

harmed in this way.”

Nakry sits up, looking very serious, “What is there that we can do?”

The woman strokes her chin, thinking for a moment.

“Say, have you heard of the Devil-Tiger?”

Nakry is shaken by the thought of it, her face growing a little

pale. Children whisper of that horrible creature and it haunts their

nightmares… a savage fiend with a black heart devoid of mercy.

Nakry nods gravely, “The terrible jungle monster that devours the

souls of the weak and the cowardly? Of course, all children in

Cambodia know the tale. I could only pray that it would find my

husband in the night and put an end to his cruelty.”

The woman says, “There is a way, but you must have courage… for

he is a powerful being that thrives on fear. Many are so frightened of

the Devil-Tiger that they do not know that he also lives by very

strict rules, mandated by heaven. Bon Om Thook approaches, the Water

Festival. The Devil-Tiger is a shen of fire and his strength will be

diminished on that night. Yes… if we work hard we can prepare you to

face him, demanding he bring justice to you!”

Icy shivers streak down Nakry’s body and she shudders, the

thought of somehow working with the Devil-Tiger was revolting to her.

Could such a monster ever be trusted to keep its word? Even more, did

she have the courage to face him?

“How do you know he will keep his word?”

“The Devil-Tiger was once a disgraceful husband, even worse than your

own. His wife was very special, a treasure from heaven more precious

than the finest jade. He was a monster to her, committing unspeakable

acts of anger against his bride. One night, while stumbling home from

a night of drinking, he was killed on the road by thieves. His wicked

soul sank down into the depths of Yomi, the Thousand Hells, where the

Yama Kings tortured him endlessly. Then, when they had broken his

black spirit, the heavens offered him an opportunity. If he would

pledge his soul to wreak vengeance against the foolish and

dishonorable, they would return him to the middle-kingdom to live

again. Heaven is a severe master and dictates strictly how the Devil-

Tiger must live. One false step and they will end his life and return

him to Yomi… I can assure you he will never let that happen.”

The old woman’s words are almost too much for Nakry to accept.

Believing the Devil-Tiger to be trustworthy was difficult enough, but

to think that he was once married to a beautiful girl… it almost seems

a joke. Though, in the end it was not either of these things that make

Nakry hesitant, but instead the fear that she could not gather enough

courage to even look the Devil-Tiger in the face.

“I believe what you say… but, where will I find the courage to face

him?”

“You will see. Together we will prepare you for each of the Devil-

Tiger’s moves. Knowing he cannot harm you will give you courage

because you will have power over him. This will strengthen your

heart.”

Nkary nods, “I will do it.”

The old woman nods, “Good. Tomorrow evening, after your husband

leaves for drinking, come to my hut at the bank of the river, by the

north end of the village.”

Nakry nods, “I will come. Thank you for helping me… Lady…”

“Lady Rathana.”

“And I am Nakry.”

Lady Rathana gives Nakry another tight hug, “Now, be off. Here

are some coins so you can get some food at the dawn market for your

husband.”

Nakry looks over to the East and sees the first tiny glimpses of

light creeping up over the trees. She takes the coins and kisses Lady

Rathana’s cheek. “Thank you.” She stands and hurries off towards the

market, wiping a tear from her face with the back of her hand.

II.

The next night approaches quickly. Nakry is very excited about

visiting Lady Rathana, but Heng seems in no hurry to leave the house,

content to read his newspaper and comment foully about what is

printed. She has to fight the urge to shoo him out, lest he get

suspicious about why she wants him to go so urgently. Finally he

becomes so disgusted by the news he storms out, not bothering to say

anything to Nakry as passes by her hanging the laundry outside. He

just crumples up the newspaper and throws it in the walkway where

she’ll have to pick it up. She finishes hanging the sheets and picks

up the newspaper, tossing it in the bin of papers she uses the light

the fire. She puts a pot of fish stew over the flames to slow cook

while she visits with Lady Rathana. When she is sure Heng is far

enough away, she closes up the house and heads toward the Lady’s. It

is not far from her own home and soon she sees the little, riverside

hut and Lady Rathana bent over with a small broom, sweeping the area

outside of her door. She looks up when she hears footsteps,

“Ah, Nakry! I’ve been waiting, come inside.”

As Nakry approaches the house, she can smell a familiar aroma, a

savory broth with the faint tang of lemons, like a soup her mother

used to make. Nakry hasn’t smelled that scent in so long that she

quickens her pace to reach it, not even realizing it. When she reaches

the door, the woman is already serving her a bowl.

“Here, this ngam nguv is fresh, we can’t work on empty stomachs you

know.”

Nakry takes the bowl and has a seat, “Thank you, I’ve missed this

soup. I haven’t had it since I was a child.”

She puts the bowl to her lips, the warm, lemonish, chicken soup

tasting delicious and feeling so soothing as it goes down. Nakry did

not want to say it and risk disrespecting her mother, but Lady

Rathana’s ngam nguv was better.

“Your soup is wonderful. It strengthens the spirit as well as the

belly.” The lady acts shy, “Please, you flatter me too much.”

She pours them both cups of steaming tea from a pot nearby, “I

hope you are ready, for tonight we prepare you to face the Devil-

Tiger.”

Nakry nods solemnly, “I am ready, but I still do not understand what

we can do to protect me from a demon as wicked as him.”

The lady says, “Do not worry… remember what I told you? The

Devil-Tiger must live by a strict code and we can use this against

him. The Devil-Tiger can only gain power over you if he ingests your

chi. He will only have three chances to do this, and if he fails it is

you who will have power over him. The first way he will try to steal

your chi is by eating your flesh.”

Nakry looks horrified, “But I am not strong enough to fight him

off, how can I stop him from devouring me?”

Lady Rathana picks up a box of black lacquered wood, “With this.”

She opens the lid to reveal a gorgeous necklace of droplet shaped

stones of blue jade. Nakry’s eyes widen, “It’s so lovely… I have never

seen jade of that color before.”

Rathana pushes the box at Nakry, “Yes, blue jade, almost as rare

as the fabled yu ying jade. Here, put it on.”

Nakry pushes the box away, “No, I couldn’t… it’s much too valuable.”

Rathana insists, “You must, shen like the Devil-Tiger cannot

stand being too close to blue jade, it causes them harm. His favorite

way to eat flesh is to leap out at the unsuspecting from the darkness,

taking them off guard, and landing on them with his claws and fangs.

But… the Devil-Tiger will be in for quite a surprise when he tries

that on you.”

Encouraged by the Lady’s words, Nakry reaches for the necklace

and puts it on. Immediately she can feel the power Rathana spoke

about. Though it was subtle, Nakry could swear she felt it pulsing.

“Thank you… I will return it as soon as this business is done.”

Rathana shakes her head, “No, I wouldn’t dream of it. I have been

collecting jade my whole life while a sweet girl like you has none.

You deserve it, especially after you defeat the Devil-Tiger.”

Nakry makes a small smile, “I have not done it yet.”

“But I know you can,” says Lady Rathana, “believe in yourself! For the

next of the Devil-Tiger’s tricks you will need this.”

The lady pulls out another box, made of cardboard. She removes

the lid and opens the layers of tissue paper. Inside is an ivory

colored corset that laces in the front. Nakry has seen such things in

fine ladies’ shops, but the sight of it here confused her.

“It is very nice, Lady Rathana, but how can that stop the Devil-

Tiger?”

Rathana turns the corset over, showing Nakry the smooth back,

which looks very firm. She gives it a rap with her knuckles and it

makes a knocking sound. “See, it’s inlaid with whale bones to give

your back a lovely shape, but it also makes it very resilient. The

second way the Devil-Tiger will try to dominate you is by drinking

your blood. But… he is very cruel… preferring to lash his victims

viciously across the back with a whip, opening terrible wounds that

draw blood which he then licks off of the leather strap.”

She holds up the corset, “Thankfully, this garment will withstand

the strength of his lashings and he will become frustrated.”

Nakry looks at the item with wonder, thinking about how the lady

became so wise. Rathana adds, “The force of the whip may still knock

you to the ground, but do not fear. Simply stand up again and face

him.”

Nakry nods, “And the final way he will attempt to control me?”

Lady Rathana grins, “With a kiss… in which he will try to steal

your breath. But, the Gods forbid him to fool around with married

women. So all you must do is tell him you are married. He will sense

the truth of these words and it will be done.”

The lady begins to laugh, “Isn’t it funny that the same terrible

husband you wish to be rid of is actually helping to get rid of

himself by being married to you! It’s almost too good to be true!”

Nakry giggles too. It serves Heng right, she thinks to herself,

being part of his own demise… for too long did he beat and degrade

her, mocking the role of husband.

“Tomorrow night, when all the men from the village take their money to

Phonm Penh to bet on the Kompok Province boat at the festival, you

will take a boat up the river to the temple at Angkor Wat. It is in

the thick jungles around the temple that the Devil-Tiger prowls.”

Nakry shudders at the thought of entering the dark wilderness;

the jungles were savage places, certain death to the unprepared. “Will

you not come with me, Lady Rathana?”

“No, child, I cannot. You must make this journey alone. But my spirit

goes with you in every gift I have provided to evade the Devil-Tiger’s

grasp.”

She serves Nakry another steaming bowl of the soup, which Nakry

savors, letting the broth go down slowly, so she can feel every drop

of it warm the inside of her belly.

“Thank you, Lady Rathana. I go to prepare myself for tomorrow.”

“Good night dear. I will meet you at the river dock, just after the

men have left.”

As Nakry leaves the hut, she can hear Lady Rathana humming an old

song. Once at home, Nakry places a huge bundle of fresh incense on

their household shrine. The orange slices are there from the morning,

but she adds a few more flowers. Nakry never forgot her daily

devotions, but tonight she entreated the spirits for special

intervention, to give her the strength to face the Devil-Tiger. She

prays until she hears Heng come through the door, jumping up to serve

him his stew.

III.

Though the water festival does not start until sundown, it is on

everyone’s minds from the moment the sun rises. Many people wake up

early to follow the province’s boat, throwing flowers along its path

for good luck, as it travels to the capital city for the big race at

night. Larger families go to the city in carts pulled by oxen, the

children chattering excitedly about the fireworks and treats they will

have in only a few hours time. Heng leaves much earlier than usual to

fish this morning, hoping to make extra money off of the people

wishing to travel with food to the festival. After collecting a hefty

sum, he begins drinking early with his friends, in preparation for the

festivities. Nakry remains at home, deep in prayer before the shrine,

strengthening her spirit for what is to come. In her meditative state

time passes quickly and soon she hears the men departing for the

festival.

She stands and goes to the place where she hid the gifts given to

her by the lady. Carefully she slips on the whale bone corset, lacing

it tightly in the front. She then slips the fine, jade necklace around

her neck. Somehow the items help Nakry feel safe, as if they were a

kind of armor. Filled with a new found reserve of courage, she leaves

her home for the river.

At the river dock, Lady Rathana is waiting with a simple boat of

branches and reeds. She holds it steady so Nakry can step in.

“You found strength, I can feel it. Take the boat until you reach the

temple. It will not be long until you find him.” She kisses Nakry on

the cheek and gives the boat a small shove down the river.

Nakry looks back, smiling, “Thank you Lady Rathana. You will see

me again soon.” The lady nods.

“I know dear.”

The river is dark and lonely. Nakry’s mind wanders to the days

when she and Heng were first married. He has always been an excellent

fisherman and he was able to offer her parents a hefty dowry of money,

fish and other goods. He was not the most handsome man in the village,

but Nakry knew his fishing would give them a comfortable life. In the

beginning days he hid his drinking well. Nakry had no idea how much of

his earnings went to liquor. Soon after she discovered it, she also

discovered how horrible his temperament became while drunk. She still

wonders how he was able to hide his violent nature for the first year

of their marriage. Many women say they grow accustomed to being

struck, but it has never been this way for Nakry. Every time Heng hits

her she feels the same sense of shock and violation.

With her mind so lost in thought, the journey passes quickly on

the river and soon she can see the outline of Angkor Wat temple

against the full moon. The sight of it makes her cold, for she knows

she must face the Devil-Tiger, but there is anticipation as well… for

when it is over she will be free of Heng’s dominance. As she steps

foot onto the shore, there is the burst of large fireworks in the sky.

First, bright red, Nakry’s favorite color, and then green, their fires

lighting up the night. The warm glow of the explosions snap her

thoughts out of the past and provide a little comfort because she has

always liked fireworks. The lights fade from the sky as she steps

deeper into the jungle. Suddenly there is a near deafening howl, like

that of a terrible beast, which echoes through the jungle. Nakry

freezes, terror threatening to overtake her… she feels as though the

Devil-Tiger can smell her and is telling her he knows she is there.

Lady Rathana’s words come to her mind, reminding that the Devil-Tiger

gains power from fear. She touches the jade about her throat and feels

the corset hugging her body snugly, each a reminder that she is not

powerless against him. Lady Rathana’s gifts steel her against the fear

building in her chest and she presses on. The jungle is eerily quiet

and every step feels like a lifetime. Nakry has no idea where she is

going, focused only on finding him.

Suddenly, something like a fluid shadow leaps out from the trees.

Before Nakry can react, the thing is nearly upon her. She can see its

terrible man-like face baring its wicked maw of fangs and wild eyes

like a demon full of hateful fire. Her knees want to buckle at the

horror, but she gasps and remains fixed to the spot. It raises its

hand, sharp nails like knives tearing out from its fingertips. Just as

the beast moves to sink them into Nakry’s flesh, there is a bright

flash from the jade necklace and the shadowy form is thrown back from

her with great force, its body slamming into a tree and twisting limp

like a cheap doll. Nakry is thrown off guard, the force of the impact

nearly causing her to fall as well. She looks down in shock to see the

precious necklace crumble into dust and fall away. She looks back at

the Devil-Tiger and he is already up, nearly standing, but still

hunched over as if winded. His dress is nothing like Nakry expected

-- so modern: tight black pants, boots, black leather coat and a shirt

that looks like fishing net. The Devil-Tiger speaks in a strained, but

surprisingly human voice, “Blue jade… clever child… too bad I seem to

have broken it.”

He laughs darkly, quickly unsnapping an inky leather whip at his

side and cracking it in the air beside her. She turns to look in that

direction and he snaps the whip again, the leather grabbing her by the

arm and spinning her forcefully so that her back faces him. He draws

the whip back then theb rings it down again, giving her a hard lashing

with it across the back. Nakry jerks forward from the impact, but the

whip merely slashes through her clothes, the corset keeping it from

her skin. The Devil-Tiger growls, savagely striking her across the

back two more times in rapid succession. The force of the last blow is

too much and Nakry falls to her knees with a soft groan. The Devil-

Tiger rushes over with a hungry look, but hisses when he sees that her

back bears no blood. He grabs her by the arm, yanking her up

furiously, looking her in the eyes. Up close, Nakry is shocked to see

the Devil-Tiger is devastatingly handsome. His features are perfect,

skin like white porcelain and depthless eyes of black. There are no

signs of the fangs or bestial rage she witnessed before. At this

moment, he almost seemed tender. He says to her, “Since I could not

tear your flesh or make you bleed, you leave me no choice but to take

your breath.”

His red lips look delicious to Nakry, but at the same time she is

repulsed as they approach her mouth. She pushes the Devil-Tiger away

with her hand, “No, our lips must not touch. I am a married woman.”

The Devil-Tiger takes a final look into her eyes, a deep look

that Nakry can feel reaching into in her soul. An expression of

anguish crosses his face and he whispers “It is true…”

He sinks to the ground, howling that same terrible howl that

fills the jungle sky, except this time Nakry knows it is filled with

defeat. The Devil-Tiger looks up at Nakry, eyes penitent, “I have

failed to take your chi… thus I am indebted to your service. Is it

this cruel husband of yours that you wish brought to justice?”

Nakry nods. The Devil-Tiger stands and grins fiendishly, “I will

enjoy giving him the lesson in pain he deserves. You have endured much

suffering and from it found strength to face me. Be proud.”

The thought washes over Nakry like a ray of warm sunlight… she

had never thought that something good could ever come from Heng’s

beatings, but it was true… she was strong now. Strong enough to defeat

the Devil-Tiger is strong enough to defeat anything.

The Devil-Tiger says, “Before I go to fulfill my obligation, you

must tell me… how did you prepare to face me so well? Not only did you

know how I would strike at your chi, but you came during the water

festival and wearing blue jade. Such is more than luck or even careful

study.”

Nakry blushes, “I must be honest, I had help from a woman in my

village, the Lady Rathana.”

The Devil-Tiger begins to laugh uproariously, the laughter

filling the jungle just as much as his howl. “Now I know the Heavens

have a sense of humor! Let me tell you this story… Many decades ago a

sweet and delicate jewel of a maid married a pathetic fool. He was

terrible to her, not only beating her, but degrading her as though she

was worse than garbage. Little did the fool know that his bride was

actually one of the kami, a celestial spirit of earth sent to live

among humans. To disrespect one of the kami is to disrespect the

heavens themselves. One night he got what he deserved and was killed

by thieves. He was tortured in the Yomi world by the Yama Kings for

what he had done to his bride. The maiden was such a sweet natured

spirit that she prayed to the heavens on his behalf, telling them her

husband was poisoned by alcohol and that he should be given another

chance. The heavens chastised him endlessly, but in the end returned

him to the Middle Kingdom to wreak vengeance on the wicked.”

Nakry nods, “Lady Rathana told me that story. You are the fool.”

“Yes, it is true, I was the fool. But I am sure what she did not

mention is that my bride was the Lady Rathana herself!”

Though Nakry finds it hard to believe, it all makes sense this

way. How else would the Lady know so much about the Devil-Tiger and

have so many tricks to help her?

The Devil-Tiger laughs again and waves his hand. A large fire

springs forth before the two of them. “I will return you to your

village before stalking your husband. Take my hand and jump with me

into the flames. Do not be afraid, we will not be burned.”

The thought of it makes Nakry nervous, but she has endured so

many strange things tonight that this was not so different. She takes

the Devil-Tiger’s hand and they jump together into the fire.

Everything goes bright and a heat engulfs her body, hot, but not

burning. She feels the Devil-Tiger give her a gentle shove and

suddenly finds herself on the floor before the hearth fire in her

home, the Devil-Tiger nowhere to be found. Her body feels exhausted

and her emotions are drained. All she can do is make it to the bed and

collapse.

IV.

Nakry is awoken just before dawn by the sound of something at her

window. She gets up quickly to investigate and sees a swirl of inky

shadow slip out through the curtain, it moves just like the Devil-

Tiger did and the sight of it gives her a shudder. The thought of him

in her home makes her feel uneasy. Feeling like she won’t get any more

sleep she moves to the kitchen to make some tea. It is then that she

sees it. A large stone from the hearth had been moved aside to reveal

a secret hiding place. Nakry peers inside suspiciously, but to her

surprise she finds that it is full of money! Immediately she knows

Heng had been hiding it from her their whole life, making her beg for

the smallest thing. For a moment, she wants to be furious, but then

she realizes Hengis no longer going to disrespect her. Thereis a knock

at the door. Nakry pulls her robe tighter and opens it to see one of

the village elders, his face very serious. Everything is kind of a

blur, but he says he is sorry to tell her that her husband was found

murdered in the road by thieves. That is what she needed to hear… a

sudden weight leaps from her chest and she begins to cry. The elder

pats her on the shoulder then leaves her to her mourning… little does

he know that they are tears of joy.