Halloween Countdown 2009: Monster #3

Sailors have spun yarns about mermaids, ghost ships, haunted fog, and assorted sea monsters since the day after we ourselves crawled out of the primordial ocean and turned right around in an attempt to conquer the sea that birthed us.

One such mythic creature, sung in fisherman song and legend for thousands of years, is the ghost crab; a crustacean with claws of human skulls said to be those of men who did not heed the ghost crab's warnings.

Indonesian legend holds that ghost crabs are minions of the demon Noka-ai', and fishermen believe the mere sight of a ghost crab portends certain death if they do not cast off their nets and return immediately to shore. Even then, safety is not guaranteed and the demon Noka-ai' may still take umbrage upon the vessel and sailors that received the demonic warning.



[Illustration of the ghost crab based on ancient legend.]