by Stephen Finucane, St John Bosco, Kildysart

Jonathan cast a watchful eye over the very birds that were his life. The poultry in front of him, an odd assortment of turkeys, geese, ducks and chickens, were in their final stages before they were to be taken away. Then they would be slaughtered, cleaned and packaged, ready for Christmas. They would fetch quite a high price, people seemed mad for free-range birds. But aside from the money alone, these birds supplied him with a job, and also a lifestyle. But these birds were now under threat. Another local farmer had seen a fox prowling the fields, very close to Jonathan’s land. The fox wouldn’t usually come so near to the house, unless there was an easy meal to be had, namely a straying turkey or duck (the chickens or geese never seemed to go far from the house for some crazy reason). The winter had particularly harsh. The foxes, birds and nearly all the other wild animals were starving. Jonathan was leaving the house. He had to catch the bank before it closed and it was already nearly 4 ’clock. He had attempted to put the fowl away but the ducks wouldn’t go in because it wasn’t quite dark yet. Even after he had chased them for 10 minutes he was getting nowhere. The bird’s only protection from the animals was a6foot high electrified fence. It would have to do. He had to get to the bank. He climbed into his car and left the house, forgetting in his haste to turn on the fence.

A gaunt, four legged creature stalked through the long grass behind the enclosure. She had been sitting there for at least half an hour, and yet the birds before her had not yet sensed her presence, just lay there, quite literally Fast-Food! The breeze must be on her side. The creature knew how to reach them too. They hadn’t been locked away yet, and the fence had not been switched on, (which was very unusual). At least it saved her from receiving a very unpleasant and sore shock. She made for a hole in the fence, not a big one, but big enough to squeeze through. After a short struggle she was in. She lunged at a nearby duck, and ended its life in quick snap. She lunged at another, and grabbing both, she trotted over to her hole. She would eat these later, once she was sure they were safe to eat. She made an attempt to squeeze through the hole, but the ducks made it almost impossible. She became so engrossed in getting out, she hardly noticed a car drawing into the yard behind her.

The fox darted for cover, hauling the ducks with her. A door opened and Jonathan emerged from the car. He had been a bit longer in town than expected. He reached inside the car again and emerged with a torch. He flicked it over the flock, something was wrong. The birds were agitated, restless. He then saw the specks of blood, the feathers and a hole in the fence. He made his way over to the fence and shone the torch around a little more; the fox must have left, assuming it was a fox. He began to turn for the house when the beam reflected off something in the far corner of the enclosure. He shone the beam in the same direction again; two eyes glinted in the dark, menacing evil eyes, like burning coals. It shocked him, but it was a fox and it was to be eradicated. He picked up a stone and cast it at the beast. In seconds the fox was racing for the hole, its only escape, while Jonathan was racing for his rifle.

The fox could escape, but her dinner would have to be sacrificed. The hole wasn’t big enough for her whilst carrying two ducks, and the two legged creature was coming back, probably with something which would ensure her she wouldn’t see the light of day, or anything else for that matter again. She needed this food. She had two cubs relying on her, starving, as was she. A ‘bang’ announced the arrival of Jonathan again. She abandoned the prey and took off into the night.

Jonathan was tracking the fox, a skill he had picked up as a young boy, out hunting by his father’s side. He had been tracking the animal for at least an hour now and it would have been pitch black, if not for the dim light given off by the half moon. But he was finally gaining ground on the fox. It was slowing down and he was drawing closer minute by minute.

The fox collapsed. She was starving and exhausted. Normally she could have gone on long after the ‘man’ had given up, but he was persistent and she had not had food for a long time. It hadn’t been that long since she had given birth to her cubs. She was going to die today, she knew that, but she struggled to her feet instinctively. Thinking of those very same cubs.

Jonathan had a clear view of the fox through the scope of his rifle. It had collapsed on the ground and was panting. He was sweating and exhausted too, but he had to see this out to the end. He knew he must kill the fox. It would probably die of starvation anyway, but it seemed so desperate to survive. He moved closer. Slowly the fox began to climb to its feet. He made his decision and pulled the trigger.

The fox felt a searing pain in her leg and howled. She tried to stand up, only to fall again. She pulled herself forward, trying to escape the man, leave the pain behind her…. Jonathan cursed under his breath. It was meant to be quick. He aimed again and fired. He saw it all. The bullet entered the stomach. He saw the crimson explosion as the bullet exited. He saw the fox collapse, struggling for a moment before finally, it lay still.

Jonathan stood beside the fox. It was panting. Shallow breaths. It couldn’t move. He knew he had only one option. He pointed the gun at the fox’s head.

The final gunshot echoed through the valley.