Mahoussian Beast by Jacques Perret, translated by D. H. R. Brearley (Argosy (UK), July 1955), is a story from the 1951 Prix Interallié winner that starts with a small boy called Leon walking beside a marsh where a legendary beast lives. He subsequently arrives home late, whereupon his uncle scolds him and sets him to his homework. Eventually, Leon tells his uncle Emile that he was detained by the beast in the marsh, which, from his description, appears to be a female dragon. Leon also passes along her complaint about the drainage works that are going on at the marsh. Emile is initially disbelieving, but Leon passes on other details about the dragon, and also mentions that it intends to disrupt the Prefect’s forthcoming visit to the site.
Emile later finds a footprint and droppings in the marsh, and so goes to see the Mayor. The latter doesn’t believe what he is told but, after talking to the boy, agrees to go and meet the dragon. During their subsequent encounter the dragon displays its fire breathing capabilities—but the Mayor doesn’t seem much impressed, so the dragon decides to leave the marsh.
The last part of the story sees Leon accompany the dragon on her journey and, when they get to the Seine, the boy rides the dragon as its swims along the river. Eventually, after some minor adventures (at one point the dragon takes part in a fireworks display), she reaches the sea and disappears (although there is a suggestion at the end of the story that she has metamorphosed into a butterfly).
This is a pleasant enough piece, but it’s essentially a plotless, wandering piece of whimsy (why set up the conflict between the dragon and the town’s politicians if she is just going to wander off?)
** (Average). 8,750 words.