I STEPPED slowly through the grass and down into the creek. There was no water running but the soil smelled dank and wild. I stalked down into the bed of the watercourse, taking note of the odd split wedge tracks of fallow deer between rabbit diggings and dung. Focusing on the opposite bank, I saw a rabbit sitting up, ears torn and ragged, silhouetted by the soft afternoon light.
thumbed back the hammer on the old shotgun, raised it to my cheek, put the bead on the forequarters and pulled the trigger. The gun bucked and when the smoke cleared I could see the rabbit — it gave a couple of kicks and
