Case #7: Gashadokuro

There is a Japanese urban legend of the Gashadokuro. It is said to be a giant skeleton which follows its victims late at night, then scoops them up into its hand and devours them, often by biting their heads off. This doesn't necessarily relate to the legend, but this case reminded me of it.

This story is not set in Japan, but in South America. In Colombia, to be precise. A group of FARC guerrillas came to a small village, where they proceeded to attempt to kidnap people. Those who tried to stop them or fought back were gunned down.

It seemed there was no hope.

Then the air was filled with an unbearable sound. Both the villagers and the soldiers covered their ears and looked into the sky above the jungle near the village to see a giant skeletal machine. When it was done screeching, they could see its grinding teeth and hear clicks and clanks as it drew closer.

It had no bottom half; it walked on its hands.

There was much shouting and the guerrillas tried to shoot at it, to no avail. It screeched again before grabbing in one hand several people, both terrorists and civilians. It consumed them, chomping them like clockwork, and their bodies were integrated into the machine, their blood and innards dribbling down between the ribs onto the ground.

The remaining guerrillas hopped back into their vehicles, hoping to escape, murdering any villagers who attempted to go with them.

The thing ate the FARC men, cars and all. They, too, were made part of the machine, presumably to build up the missing portions of the skeleton.

It is unknown what village this took place in, so it cannot be verified and the villagers cannot be checked on for their safety.

I was given this in another of those "Flame of Knowledge" letters.