July

Issue 46

“You’re setting yourself up for a fall,” they told me, as I suited up in khakis and boots. I slung traps over my shoulder, drove to a plateau and started setting up. I littered the land with bait, tripwires and sensors. Even rigged a fishing line. Wasn’t sure if my quarry would be one or a million. But I’d sure be ready. After a nap, I heard strings of bells having seizures: every tripwire had been sprung. But only one was occupied: a box I’d propped with a twig. As I approached, the soft wailing within tapered off. My cages and weapons ready, I lifted the box’s corner, just for a peek… …and staggered back to civilization, tagged but free-roaming for observation.