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REMORSE McTaggart's farm was subject to visits from a certain fox. This fox was friendly, but far craftier and more malevolent than he let on. He lived in a nearby forest. From time to time, he'd stop by the farm to talk with the animals there. The farmer, for his part, did not mind having the fox around. His was a welcome and familiar face; and with only an exception or two, he got along with all the farm animals well. Sometimes the fox would invite one of the animals into the forest for a walk. Because the forest was full of wolves and other predators, he was always careful to protect his animal guests. He stayed mainly to the safest paths. Other routes, like those that ran into predator territory, he avoided altogether. Therefore incidents were rare, though they did occur on occasion. Once while walking with his friend the pig, the fox realized his friend was being hunted. He adopted a menacing pose and warned the pig, who then retreated to the farm to safety. 
The two most delightful animals on the farm were McTaggart's sheep. Of these animals the fox was particularly fond. They were sweet in temperament and lovely in appearance. They led quiet lives. Like most sheep, they were naturally trusting. The fox struck up friendships with them and gained their confidence right away. Eventually his visits to the farm became more frequent. He began stopping by once or twice a day. Neglecting the pig and his other animal friends, the fox would entertain the two sheep on every visit, for the entire length of his stay. One afternoon he invited his sheep friends out for a walk in the forest. It was getting late—one of the sheep said she was too tired to join him. The other agreed to go. So the fox led her into the forest. They began their walk like any other, but before long they were in unfamiliar territory. "Where are we, Fox?" asked the sheep. "You'll know soon enough," he replied, and ran away, abandoning her. The fox returned to the farm a few days later. By now the other animals were visibly distraught. "What happened to the sheep?" they asked. "She was with you, Fox. Where is she now?" The fox ignored their questions and approached the remaining sheep. "I know where she is," he told her. "Come with me; we'll rescue her together." So the fox and the sheep entered the forest. They began their walk like any other, but just as before, they soon found themselves in unfamiliar territory. There arose the sound of snarling, growling, snapping. The sheep became terrified as she recognized where they were: standing at the entrance to a den of wolves. She began to cry. "What are we doing here, Fox?" Without a word, the fox smiled and ran away. This was the last time he saw either of the two sheep. He paid no more visits to the animals at McTaggart's farm. Can we agree that such violence is senseless? It was about a month after the disappearance of his second sheep that McTaggart was out baling hay in his field. Although the fox had stopped coming to the farm, on this particular day he was laying in the farmer's fields, relaxing in the hot sun, sleeping comfortably. There he lay, as the farmer worked his fields for hours. There he lay, as the farmer came into his path and crushed him underneath the baler. The farmer was surprised by this yelp attached to the sudden bump in terrain, so he stopped the machine. Jumping out of his baler, he discovered the body of the fox who had befriended the animals on his farm, who had run off with his sheep, and who now lay torn open on the ground, wounded beyond all calculation. The fox labored to breathe. Breathing was too difficult. He became sharply aware of the short time he had left to live. In his final moments, as the paroxysms of death beset him, the fox closed his eyes and heard the faint howling of wolves in the distance. And he felt remorse for what he'd done. -murrayjames 10/14/08 |