The Beast Folk

I woke early. Moreau’s explanation stood before my mind, clear and definite, from the moment of my awakening. I got out of the hammock and went to the door to assure myself that the key was turned. Then I tried the window-bar, and found it firmly fixed. That these man-like creatures were in truth only bestial monsters, mere grotesque travesties of men, filled me with a vague uncertainty of their possibilities which was far worse than any definite fear.

I woke early. From the moment I woke, Moreau’s explanation was clear and definite in my mind. I got out of the hammock and went to the door to make sure it was locked. Then I checked the window bar and found it firmly fixed. These man-like creatures were really only animal monsters, grotesque imitations of humans. I felt a vague uncertainty about what they might be capable of, which was far worse than any definite fear.

A tapping came at the door, and I heard the glutinous accents of M’ling speaking. I pocketed one of the revolvers (keeping one hand upon it), and opened to him.

There was a tap at the door, and I heard M’ling speaking in his thick, sticky voice. I put one of the revolvers in my pocket, keeping one hand on it, and opened the door for him.

“Good-morning, sair,” he said, bringing in, in addition to the customary herb-breakfast, an ill-cooked rabbit. Montgomery followed him. His roving eye caught the position of my arm and he smiled askew.

“Good morning, sir,” he said. He brought in a poorly cooked rabbit along with the usual breakfast of herbs. Montgomery followed him. His wandering gaze fell on my arm, and he gave a crooked smile.

The puma was resting to heal that day; but Moreau, who was singularly solitary in his habits, did not join us. I talked with Montgomery to clear my ideas of the way in which the Beast Folk lived. In particular, I was urgent to know how these inhuman monsters were kept from falling upon Moreau and Montgomery and from rending one another. He explained to me that the comparative safety of Moreau and himself was due to the limited mental scope of these monsters. In spite of their increased intelligence and the tendency of their animal instincts to reawaken, they had certain fixed ideas implanted by Moreau in their minds, which absolutely bounded their imaginations. They were really hypnotised; had been told that certain things were impossible, and that certain things were not to be done, and these prohibitions were woven into the texture of their minds beyond any possibility of disobedience or dispute.

The puma was resting and healing that day, but Moreau, who usually kept to himself, did not join us. I talked with Montgomery to understand how the Beast Folk lived. I especially wanted to know what kept these inhuman monsters from attacking Moreau and Montgomery and tearing one another apart. He explained that he and Moreau were relatively safe because the monsters had limited minds. Their intelligence had increased, and their animal instincts tended to reawaken. Even so, Moreau had planted certain fixed ideas in their minds that completely limited their imaginations. They had effectively been hypnotized. They had been told that certain things were impossible and that certain things must not be done. These prohibitions were woven so deeply into their minds that they could not possibly disobey or question them.

Certain matters, however, in which old instinct was at war with Moreau’s convenience, were in a less stable condition. A series of propositions called the Law (I had already heard them recited) battled in their minds with the deep-seated, ever-rebellious cravings of their animal natures. This Law they were ever repeating, I found, and ever breaking. Both Montgomery and Moreau displayed particular solicitude to keep them ignorant of the taste of blood; they feared the inevitable suggestions of that flavour. Montgomery told me that the Law, especially among the feline Beast People, became oddly weakened about nightfall; that then the animal was at its strongest; that a spirit of adventure sprang up in them at the dusk, when they would dare things they never seemed to dream about by day. To that I owed my stalking by the Leopard-man, on the night of my arrival. But during these earlier days of my stay they broke the Law only furtively and after dark; in the daylight there was a general atmosphere of respect for its multifarious prohibitions.

Some things were less stable, however, where old instincts conflicted with Moreau’s wishes. A set of rules called the Law fought against their deeply rooted, ever-rebellious animal cravings. I had already heard them recite these rules. I found that they were always repeating the Law and always breaking it. Montgomery and Moreau were especially careful to keep them from tasting blood. They feared what that taste would inevitably suggest to them. Montgomery told me that the Law grew strangely weaker around nightfall, especially among the feline Beast People. Then the animal in them was strongest. At dusk, a spirit of adventure arose in them. They would dare things they never seemed to dream of doing by day. That was why the Leopard-man had stalked me on the night I arrived. But during these earlier days of my stay, they broke the Law only in secret and after dark. In daylight, there was a general respect for its many prohibitions.

And here perhaps I may give a few general facts about the island and the Beast People. The island, which was of irregular outline and lay low upon the wide sea, had a total area, I suppose, of seven or eight square miles.² It was volcanic in origin, and was now fringed on three sides by coral reefs; some fumaroles to the northward, and a hot spring, were the only vestiges of the forces that had long since originated it. Now and then a faint quiver of earthquake would be sensible, and sometimes the ascent of the spire of smoke would be rendered tumultuous by gusts of steam; but that was all. The population of the island, Montgomery informed me, now numbered rather more than sixty of these strange creations of Moreau’s art, not counting the smaller monstrosities which lived in the undergrowth and were without human form. Altogether he had made nearly a hundred and twenty; but many had died, and others—like the writhing Footless Thing of which he had told me—had come by violent ends. In answer to my question, Montgomery said that they actually bore offspring, but that these generally died. When they lived, Moreau took them and stamped the human form upon them. There was no evidence of the inheritance of their acquired human characteristics. The females were less numerous than the males, and liable to much furtive persecution in spite of the monogamy the Law enjoined.

Perhaps I can give a few general facts here about the island and the Beast People. The island had an irregular shape and lay low in the wide sea. I suppose its total area was seven or eight square miles.² It was volcanic in origin and was now bordered on three sides by coral reefs. A few steam vents to the north and a hot spring were all that remained of the forces that had formed it long ago. Now and then a faint earthquake could be felt. Sometimes gusts of steam disturbed the rising column of smoke, but that was all. Montgomery told me that the island’s population now included just over sixty of these strange creations of Moreau’s art. That did not include the smaller monstrosities that lived in the undergrowth and had no human form. In all, Moreau had made nearly a hundred and twenty. But many had died, and others had met violent ends. One was the writhing Footless Thing Montgomery had told me about. In answer to my question, Montgomery said that they did have offspring, but these generally died. When they lived, Moreau took them and gave them human form. There was no evidence that they inherited the human characteristics their parents had acquired. There were fewer females than males, and they were often secretly persecuted, despite the monogamy required by the Law.

It would be impossible for me to describe these Beast People in detail; my eye has had no training in details, and unhappily I cannot sketch. Most striking, perhaps, in their general appearance was the disproportion between the legs of these creatures and the length of their bodies; and yet—so relative is our idea of grace—my eye became habituated to their forms, and at last I even fell in with their persuasion that my own long thighs were ungainly. Another point was the forward carriage of the head and the clumsy and inhuman curvature of the spine. Even the Ape-man lacked that inward sinuous curve of the back which makes the human figure so graceful. Most had their shoulders hunched clumsily, and their short forearms hung weakly at their sides. Few of them were conspicuously hairy, at least until the end of my time upon the island.

I could not possibly describe these Beast People in detail. My eye is not trained to notice details, and unfortunately I cannot sketch. Perhaps the most striking thing about their appearance was how short their legs were compared with their bodies. Yet our idea of grace is relative. My eye grew used to their shapes, and eventually I even came to agree that my own long thighs were awkward. They also held their heads forward, and their spines had a clumsy, inhuman curve. Even the Ape-man lacked the flowing inward curve of the back that makes the human figure so graceful. Most had clumsily hunched shoulders, and their short forearms hung weakly at their sides. Few of them were noticeably hairy, at least until the end of my time on the island.

The next most obvious deformity was in their faces, almost all of which were prognathous, malformed about the ears, with large and protuberant noses, very furry or very bristly hair, and often strangely-coloured or strangely-placed eyes. None could laugh, though the Ape-man had a chattering titter. Beyond these general characters their heads had little in common; each preserved the quality of its particular species: the human mark distorted but did not hide the leopard, the ox, or the sow, or other animal or animals, from which the creature had been moulded. The voices, too, varied exceedingly. The hands were always malformed; and though some surprised me by their unexpected human appearance, almost all were deficient in the number of the digits, clumsy about the finger-nails, and lacking any tactile sensibility.

The next most obvious deformity was in their faces. Almost all had jutting jaws, misshapen ears, large, bulging noses, and very furry or bristly hair. Their eyes were often oddly colored or oddly placed. None could laugh, though the Ape-man made a chattering titter. Apart from these general features, their heads had little in common. Each retained the character of its particular species. The human features distorted but did not hide the leopard, ox, sow, or other animal or animals that had shaped the creature. Their voices varied greatly too. Their hands were always misshapen. Though some surprised me by looking unexpectedly human, almost all had too few fingers, badly formed fingernails, and no sense of touch.

The two most formidable Animal Men were my Leopard-man and a creature made of hyena and swine. Larger than these were the three bull-creatures who pulled in the boat. Then came the silvery-hairy-man, who was also the Sayer of the Law, M’ling, and a satyr-like creature of ape and goat. There were three Swine-men and a Swine-woman, a mare-rhinoceros-creature, and several other females whose sources I did not ascertain. There were several wolf-creatures, a bear-bull, and a Saint-Bernard-man. I have already described the Ape-man, and there was a particularly hateful (and evil-smelling) old woman made of vixen and bear, whom I hated from the beginning. She was said to be a passionate votary of the Law. Smaller creatures were certain dappled youths and my little sloth-creature. But enough of this catalogue.

The two most formidable Animal Men were my Leopard-man and a creature made from a hyena and a pig. The three bull-creatures who pulled in the boat were larger still. Next came the silvery-haired man, who was also the Sayer of the Law, M’ling, and a satyr-like creature made from an ape and a goat. There were three Swine-men and a Swine-woman, a mare-rhinoceros-creature, and several other females. I never learned what animals the other females came from. There were several wolf-creatures, a bear-bull, and a Saint-Bernard-man. I have already described the Ape-man. There was also a particularly hateful old woman made from a vixen and a bear. She smelled terrible, and I hated her from the beginning. She was said to be a passionate follower of the Law. Among the smaller creatures were some spotted youths and my little sloth-creature. But enough of this list.

At first I had a shivering horror of the brutes, felt all too keenly that they were still brutes; but insensibly I became a little habituated to the idea of them, and moreover I was affected by Montgomery’s attitude towards them. He had been with them so long that he had come to regard them as almost normal human beings. His London days seemed a glorious, impossible past to him. Only once in a year or so did he go to Africa to deal with Moreau’s agent, a trader in animals there. He hardly met the finest type of mankind in that seafaring village of Spanish mongrels. The men aboard-ship, he told me, seemed at first just as strange to him as the Beast Men seemed to me,—unnaturally long in the leg, flat in the face, prominent in the forehead, suspicious, dangerous, and cold-hearted. In fact, he did not like men: his heart had warmed to me, he thought, because he had saved my life. I fancied even then that he had a sneaking kindness for some of these metamorphosed brutes, a vicious sympathy with some of their ways, but that he attempted to veil it from me at first.

At first, the brutes made me shudder with horror. I felt all too keenly that they were still brutes. But gradually I grew somewhat used to the idea of them. Montgomery’s attitude toward them also affected me. He had lived with them so long that he had come to regard them as almost normal human beings. His days in London seemed to him a glorious, impossible past. Only about once a year did he go to Africa to deal with Moreau’s agent, an animal trader there. In that seafaring village of Spanish mongrels, he hardly met the finest examples of humanity. He told me the men aboard ship had seemed just as strange to him at first as the Beast Men seemed to me. Their legs seemed unnaturally long, their faces flat, and their foreheads prominent. They seemed suspicious, dangerous, and cold-hearted. In fact, he did not like men. He thought he had warmed to me because he had saved my life. Even then, I suspected that he had a secret fondness for some of these transformed brutes. I thought he felt a wicked sympathy with some of their ways, though he tried to hide it from me at first.

M’ling, the black-faced man, Montgomery’s attendant, the first of the Beast Folk I had encountered, did not live with the others across the island, but in a small kennel at the back of the enclosure. The creature was scarcely so intelligent as the Ape-man, but far more docile, and the most human-looking of all the Beast Folk; and Montgomery had trained it to prepare food, and indeed to discharge all the trivial domestic offices that were required. It was a complex trophy of Moreau’s horrible skill,—a bear, tainted with dog and ox, and one of the most elaborately made of all his creatures. It treated Montgomery with a strange tenderness and devotion. Sometimes he would notice it, pat it, call it half-mocking, half-jocular names, and so make it caper with extraordinary delight; sometimes he would ill-treat it, especially after he had been at the whiskey, kicking it, beating it, pelting it with stones or lighted fusees. But whether he treated it well or ill, it loved nothing so much as to be near him.

M’ling was the black-faced man who served Montgomery. He was the first of the Beast Folk I had encountered. He did not live with the others across the island, but in a small kennel behind the enclosure. The creature was hardly as intelligent as the Ape-man, but was far more obedient. It was also the most human-looking of all the Beast Folk. Montgomery had trained it to prepare food and handle all the minor household tasks required. It was a complex trophy of Moreau’s horrible skill, a bear mixed with dog and ox. It was one of the most elaborately made of all his creatures. It treated Montgomery with a strange tenderness and devotion. Sometimes he noticed it, patted it, and called it names that were half mocking, half playful. This made it leap about with extraordinary delight. At other times he treated it badly, especially after drinking whiskey. He kicked it, beat it, and threw stones or lit matches at it. But whether he treated it well or badly, it loved nothing more than being near him.

I say I became habituated to the Beast People, that a thousand things which had seemed unnatural and repulsive speedily became natural and ordinary to me. I suppose everything in existence takes its colour from the average hue of our surroundings. Montgomery and Moreau were too peculiar and individual to keep my general impressions of humanity well defined. I would see one of the clumsy bovine-creatures who worked the launch treading heavily through the undergrowth, and find myself asking, trying hard to recall, how he differed from some really human yokel trudging home from his mechanical labours; or I would meet the Fox-bear woman’s vulpine, shifty face, strangely human in its speculative cunning, and even imagine I had met it before in some city byway.

I say I grew used to the Beast People. A thousand things that had seemed unnatural and repulsive soon became natural and ordinary to me. I suppose everything in existence takes its color from the general character of our surroundings. Montgomery and Moreau were too peculiar and individual to keep my general impression of humanity clear. I would see one of the clumsy, cow-like creatures who worked the launch walking heavily through the undergrowth. I would struggle to remember how he differed from some genuinely human country bumpkin trudging home from his mechanical work. Or I would meet the Fox-bear woman and see her foxlike, shifty face. Its calculating cunning was strangely human. I would even imagine I had seen that face before on some city side street.

Yet every now and then the beast would flash out upon me beyond doubt or denial. An ugly-looking man, a hunch-backed human savage to all appearance, squatting in the aperture of one of the dens, would stretch his arms and yawn, showing with startling suddenness scissor-edged incisors and sabre-like canines, keen and brilliant as knives. Or in some narrow pathway, glancing with a transitory daring into the eyes of some lithe, white-swathed female figure, I would suddenly see (with a spasmodic revulsion) that she had slit-like pupils, or glancing down note the curving nail with which she held her shapeless wrap about her. It is a curious thing, by the bye, for which I am quite unable to account, that these weird creatures—the females, I mean—had in the earlier days of my stay an instinctive sense of their own repulsive clumsiness, and displayed in consequence a more than human regard for the decency and decorum of extensive costume.

Yet now and then, the beast in them would reveal itself beyond any doubt or denial. An ugly, hunchbacked man, who looked every bit a human savage, might be squatting in the entrance to a den. He would stretch his arms and yawn, suddenly revealing scissor-edged incisors and saber-like canines, sharp and bright as knives. Or, on a narrow path, I might briefly dare to look into the eyes of a slender female figure wrapped in white. Suddenly I would see that her pupils were slits, and recoil in a spasm of disgust. Or I might glance down and notice the curved nail with which she held her shapeless wrap around her. By the way, there is a curious thing about these strange creatures that I cannot explain. The females, I mean, instinctively sensed their own repulsive clumsiness during the early days of my stay. As a result, they showed a more than human concern for the modesty and propriety of covering themselves extensively.