There Goes Another One
Plot: Sky Rigdon
Execution: M A Davis / Miko
Life was not easy for the Jusenkyo springs guide. Although the area he was responsible for, the Bayankala range in the Qinghai province, was about as remote a place in China as you could get, people still seemed to stumble across it nearly every day. Rarely did they realize the danger of the valley of cursed springs, and even when they did, they often ignored that danger.
Once, he'd tried to prevent tragedies. Now, he merely tried to warn them, and stayed the heck out of the way.
The guide pulled back the brush and stepped into the clearing. Just as he'd thought -- a young man was camped at the far end of the valley, within sight of several cursed springs. He shook his head as he stepped forward. Would they ever learn?
"Welcome, sir, to the valley of cursed springs, Jusenkyo. In this valley are more than one hundred spring, each with it's own tragic legend."
The man, busy building a fire, glanced up. "Excuse me?" he said. "Are you the local park ranger or something? I was just hiking through the area, and thought I'd stop here for the night... it's so darned cold. Is there anything wrong with starting a fire?"
"Is no problem sir," the guide said. "But is very bad you fall in spring...."
The man returned to his fire, but the flames slowly died down.
"Darn it!" the man growled, standing up. "This damp wood is never going to catch fire! I know just the thing!" He disappeared into his tent, then reappeared with a can of gasoline.
The Jusenkyo guide took several steps back. "Oh, sir, you is strange one, yes? Is very dangerous you pour gasoline on fire...."
The man ignored him, of course. They always ignored the guide.
WHOOOOSH!!! The flames leapt up, engulfing the less-than-intelligent traveler. He screamed, and ran straight for one of the pools....
"Oh sir!" the guide called out, but he was too late. The man had leapt into the nearest pool. The guide paused, trying to remember what curse was associated with that particular pool....
**FIVE YEARS LATER**
The guide watched as another unfortunate tourist struggled to the surface of a pool to confront his new curse.
"Oh, terrible sir!" the Jusenkyo guide exclaimed. "Very tragic story of man who, five year ago, catch on fire, jump in pool, and drown. Now, whoever fall in pool take form of burning man." He watched the traveler as he ran about, screaming, his clothing on fire. "Spring of Spontaneous Human Combustion. Is possibly most tragic spring of all."
FINI
Not Fuzzy, maybe, but very Warm, yes?
(PS: The title is a reference to a line in a song by The Bobs, called Spontaneous Human Combustion.)