The Thing That Walked on the Wind

"The Thing That Walked on the Wind" is a short Cthulhu Mythos story by the late American author August Derleth. It was first published in Strange Tales of Mystery and Terror in January 1933. It has since entered the public domain, and has been reprinted many times in both periodicals and anthologies.
The story is notable as featuring the first appearance of the Great Old One Ithaqua, a creature which has been extensively reused in later Mythos works, perhaps most notably in Brian Lumley's Titus Crow series, where it acts as the main antagonist.
== Synopsis ==
The story is framed as a senior law enforcement officer's report on the disappearance of one of his constables, a man named Robert Norris, and the subsequent discovery of his frozen corpse. 
Norris had been investigating the disappearance of an entire village in the Canadian wilderness. During the course of his enquiries, three people who had gone missing the previous year miraculously appeared from the sky. Although one was dead on arrival, the two survivors related the tale of the missing townsfolk, revealing the secret of a community which worshiped an ancient and malevolent being which showed its displeasure with its followers by abducting them to enact an unknown punishment.
Whilst on the case, Norris glimpsed the creature, a colossal caricature of a man with glowing red eyes, and this marked him for a cold death at its hands.
== Characters ==
* Constable Robert Norris, a highly-trained officer in the Mounted Police.
* Dr. Jamison, a provincial doctor and friend of Norris's.
* Allison Wentworth, a traveller through the wilderness.
* James Macdonald, Wentworth's companion.
* Irene Masitte, a young woman chosen by the townsfolk as a sacrifice.
* John Dalhousie, a division chief in the Mounted Police and Norris's superior.
* Wind-Walker, a local name for Ithaqua, a Great Old One.
== External Link ==
* "The Thing That Walked on the Wind" complete text at Librarium Cthulhuvius
Category:August Derleth works
Category:Lovecraft Circle Works