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The Bloodstained Ship Heading WestAuthor: Yamamoto Shūgorō
| Original Title | 流血船西へ行く |
|---|---|
| Author | 山本 周五郎 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In the vast, mist-shrouded Pacific, a phantom vessel drifts—a three-masted ghost ship drenched in fresh blood, devoid of life. For months, rumors of this "Bloodstained Ship" haunt sailors, its westward path defying logic. Captain Kashihara, the hardened "Shark of the Pacific," and eager radio operator Ito Jiro embark on a perilous mission to unravel the mystery, spurred by cryptic distress calls and a rivalry with another rescue crew. As eerie fog envelops their ship, they encounter terrified fishermen whispering of a malevolent *Umi-bōzu*—a sea demon attacking vessels. Tension peaks when a frantic radio plea from a rival ship ends in screams and silence. Boarding the blood-soaked derelict, they find only grisly stains and silence… until a monstrous shape surfaces from the depths. Blending maritime folklore with chilling suspense, this tale weaves danger, betrayal, and a race against an unseen foe lurking beneath waves and lies. What awaits in the ship’s shadowy belly—and who—or *what*—controls its cursed voyage? |
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