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My story could hardly end without explaining my killing of that fox.
A week before my wedding I heard a fox in the chicken coop. At first I had
ignored the strange, weak cries of the chickens, thinking it was Tom (7
months) in his sleep. It was 2am. A feeling welled inside me
which I can only now think of very cautiously. It was destiny. The big boots
of destiny stomping inside me. I’d had a couple of cones.
My face curls up now as I relive the experience for the first time since it
happened. This is the real thing, the real smell of fear, the real smell of
reality. As I neared the back door I could smell the battle ahead.
Chickens squawking, in the final throes of terror.
Backlight snaps on. I see his green eyes.
I walk to the coop.
I open the door and slip inside.
Fox.
Bloody chickens. Squawking.
It is hell.
I want to grab the fox and wring its neck.
I see its teeth.
I let some chickens and ducks out behind me.
I kick the fox in the head.
It works.
I find an iron bar.
I jab and bash at the fox. It is hard to get the fox cleanly. It is inside a
box, but can’t get out. My blows only get fur, flesh and box. I want iron
bar on skull.
I rest. I want to kill this fox. It is in fear. It climbs up the cage, I
grab its tail, throw it on the ground and put the iron bar across its
throat. I am 007. The fox wrenches free and tries to bite my hand. I pull
away and as the fox returns to the box I bash down on its head. It falls.
Bash bash bash bash bash…bash…..bash……bash.
I turn and go into the house. I wake Jackie with the stunned, panting news.
When we go back the fox is rasping. Bash bash bash bash. We bury the
chickens. One wounded rooster looks pretty bad. I put the fox by the
backdoor but Jackie asks me to move it. I put it on the septic tank.
Everything stinks of fox – the chicken coop, my hands, my shoes, my mind.
I go to work the next day.
I tell everyone about the fox.
I come home and talk more about the fox.
I get up the next morning and I skin the fox.
I use the kitchen knife and my hands. I use the kitchen salt. I love this
fox. I bond with this fox. I feel its fat on my fingers. I get to know every
sinew. I admire its fur. I like every part of this lean, brave fox. He is
male. I respect that. I respect his smell. I look into my soul. I look out
of the fox’s face and take on its life. By killing this animal I am now fox.
I am fox. It’s life was for me. The chickens eat bits of fox meat. This
strange irony – victim and victor. He became me.
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