“How to Get a Head”

Long and long ago, the lands of a samurai lord were troubled by disturbances in a nearby forest. The road there used to be well-traveled, but lately not all those who entered the forest made it out again. Those who survived said their companions had been killed by an enormous head that fell out of nowhere, crushing them flat.

Like “In the Paradise of the Pure Land,” this story is inspired by a particular Japanese yōkai — in this case, a tsurube otoshi. And like “In the Paradise of the Pure Land,” it is due to be published by Flash Point SF!