Canticles of the Wolves: A Short Story

By Sean O'Hara

Goldboro backed away from the wolf slowly. The baby in her arms awoke and let forth a shrill shriek, which Goldboro stifled by pressing the infant's face against her breasts. Another wolf stepped from the darkness, followed by another and another, as though drawn by the infant's cries. Soon Goldboro was surrounded by wolves, even the smallest standing higher than her waist. She turned round, looking for some break in their ranks, a gap through which she could escape. The baby squirmed against her breast, as though trying to break free; Goldboro glanced down at it. If the priest hadn't forced it into her arms as he led her from the village, she would've left the damned thing behind. As she looked at the child, it gurgled and reached an arm toward her face.

It looked just like its father.

She hurled the infant at the nearest wolf, which jumped up to catch the baby in its jaws. Several other wolves joined it, tearing at arms and legs. For a moment the baby shrieked before one of the wolves tore its throat out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pulp Electronique
• Release date: May 19, 2011

Sean O'Hara

Sean O'Hara was born in London in 1961, and was educated in both England and Australia, which instilled in him a love of travel and a sense of wanderlust. He spent most of his working life in the UK financial services sector. While working at the United Kingdom Pensions Regulator he was the UK delegate to the OECD on private pension matters and was also the UK delegate to the International Organisation Of Pension Supervisors. Both those roles allowed him to indulge his love of international travel. Opting for a lifestyle change he relocated to Thailand in 2009, where he lives with his wife Fon and their three dogs. He now teaches Science and English at a Thai high school. It was while living in Thailand that he killed his first cobra. He takes no pleasure from killing snakes. But neither does he like to share his garden with them. He has written two novels. ‘Opening Shot’ is his second novel. His first novel, ‘The Curse Of The White Tiger’ is set in Thailand and is also a thriller. It will soon be available through the Smashwords platform.

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