The Fox of Richmond Park Read online

  ‘I had to. I can’t be the one who stops you from being happy. I won’t,’ Laurie replied.

  ‘If this is because of what Theresa said, about you not being from a park…’

  ‘I don’t give a scat what that flying rat thinks.’ Laurie paused. ‘You don’t think that, do you?’

  ‘Of course not!’

  ‘Good. No, it’s not about that. It’s about you. And Rita. And this whole journey thing. I just don’t…’ She sighed and shook her head. ‘I don’t… want to get in the way. You had this big, exciting dream, and you found it. After nearly dying, how many times? You found it. Exactly what you wanted. And now you’re saying you don’t want it after all? Because of me. Because I turned up in some allotment, called you a poodle, helped almost get you killed… No. It’s not fair on you. I’m sorry, but I won’t let myself ruin this for you.’ She blinked and tears spilled from her eyes.

  Vince felt his heart shatter inside him. Laurie was the strongest, fiercest animal he’d ever met, and seeing her cry only made him want to be with her even more. ‘No, Laurie, that’s not how it is at all…’

  ‘You need to forget about me. You’ve got everything you wanted now.’

  ‘Yes, I have, because I have you now.’

  ‘I was there, Vince. At the zoo, remember? You thought about living in Hammersmith with me, then you changed your mind. And that was fine, because I knew you wanted more than that. I wanted you to be happy. I still do. So much. That’s all I want. That’s why I can’t let you walk away from Hampstead Heath. I saw your face when we arrived. When you ran across the grass, it was the happiest I’ve ever seen you. I won’t let you abandon that for me.’

  Vince shook his head and laughed. ‘Laurie, how can you not understand… I was happy because I was with you. The heath is… Look, there are other parks. There’s only one of you.’

  ‘Are there? How many parks have you been to, now? Four? Five? Hampstead Heath is where your grandparents were born. It’s the place you’ve been looking for this whole time. You won’t find anywhere better, Vince. You really won’t.’

  ‘Laurie, listen to me, I don’t—’

  ‘Don’t worry about me, please. I’ve still got Socks. And I’ll pass on the message, about the riot. I’ll make sure everyone at Richmond Park finds out, so don’t worry about it. Just enjoy your new life, okay? Goodbye, Vince.’ She turned and ran.

  ‘No, Laurie, wait!’ He chased after her, but she darted left down another street, widening the gap between them. ‘Laurie, stop!’

  Rita followed overhead, yelling for Arthur to hide and stay put. A female human ran along the pavement puffing from exertion, neon stripes on her clothes glinting in the sunlight. She gasped as the two foxes tore past her, one after the other. Her presence was a sudden reminder that it was no longer night-time, and no longer safe for them out on the streets.

  ‘Laurie, come on! It’s daylight! Let’s find somewhere to sleep then we can talk in the evening, okay?’ he yelled at her backside. Laurie kept running. The road curved around to the left and Vince’s ears twisted instinctively towards the hum of a nearby engine.

  ‘Laurie!’ On she ran. More humans dotted the path, but she weaved through them with ease. Unused to crowded streets, Vince began to lose ground. The engine noise thrummed louder. Where was it? Behind him? He couldn’t stop and look. He couldn’t lose sight of Laurie.

  The road straightened out again and Laurie was now far in front. More streets branched off on both sides, the paths ending abruptly. Laurie bounded across one and Vince held his breath, until she rejoined the path on the other side. Hot air blasted Vince as the car sailed past him. It was black, an orange light glowing on the front, grey smoke pouring from the pipe at the back.

  Laurie looked towards a turning up ahead on the right. It looked narrow, lined with houses. A good place to lose a pursuer. The black car was behind her. She hadn’t seen it. ‘Laurie! Stop!’

  ‘Laurie! Car!’ Rita yelled from the air, but Laurie either couldn’t hear or ignored them both. She darted off to the right, jumping from the pavement onto the road. She disappeared behind the car. A screech filled the air.

  ‘Laurie!’ Vince skidded to a stop, watching for Laurie to emerge on the other side.

  She didn’t.

  The car’s engine revved and it roared away, leaving behind a gritty cloud of fumes and Laurie’s body, unmoving in the road.

  No!

  Rita dived, swooping up to land on the road with a flash of her white-striped wings.

  Please be okay. You have to be okay. Please. Please.

  Vince checked for more cars before rushing to her. Rita touched Laurie’s snout with her beak, looked at Vince, then shook her head.

  No.

  He circled her body. Her eyes were closed.

  No.

  He nuzzled her snout. Nothing.

  ‘No…’ he whispered.

  Rita started to cry. Vince lay down next to Laurie. She was warm. He nestled his head into her, as she had done to him before they’d fallen asleep. He squeezed his eyes shut, but the tears fell anyway.

  *

  Rita watched from the pavement as Vince laid beside Laurie’s body. Another car arrived, red this time, but he refused to move, lifting only his head to stare blankly at the metal beast until it slowed and swerved around them.

  ‘Vince, I know you don’t want to leave her but—’

  ‘I’m not moving.’

  ‘You have to.’

  ‘I don’t.’

  ‘Well, maybe we can try to move her…’

  ‘No. Just leave me.’ His head dropped again.

  Rita didn’t know what to do. He had lost everything. Again. And Arthur was still waiting back near the heath. Who knew what might happen to a tiny hedgehog in broad daylight. But could she leave Vince alone? In the road?

  She hopped back and forth, trying to think, when a man appeared from one of the side streets. He saw Laurie and Vince, stopped, then headed straight for them.

  ‘Vince, a human’s coming.’

  ‘I’m not leaving her.’

  The man approached them slowly. The material on his legs was blue and ripped across his knees. His top half was covered with something thick, black, and woolly and the hands poking from it were dark and wrinkled like tree bark. A crooked smile beamed from within a fur-circled mouth, set within an equally dark and aged face. His head-fur was twisted into long rope-like strands and pulled back like a horse’s backside, with some of the shorter strands hanging down at the front.

  ‘What do we got ’ere then?’ He crouched down next to Vince. ‘Ah, ’ello there! Your friend ’ere don’t look too good. Let’s see…’ He reached his hand towards Laurie. Vince growled and thrashed his tail. ‘Easy, boy! Just tryin’ to ’elp.’

  ‘He’s friendly, Vince. Let him help,’ Rita said.

  Vince backed away, teeth still bared. The man pressed Laurie’s side with his fingertips. He pulled the black covering over his head and shook it free from his arms. Underneath his arms were bare, but another, thinner piece of black material covered his chest. He held the material in his hands and scooped Laurie into it, wrapping her tightly.

  Vince let out a whine. The man looked straight at him. ‘I’ll do my best, little fella.’ He picked up the bundle containing Laurie and hugged her close to his chest. ‘I’ll do my best,’ he said again, then began to walk back the way he came.

  ‘Follow him, Rita,’ Vince cried.

  He didn’t need to ask her twice.

  *

  Edward grunted as he paced back and forth in front of the pond. The squirrels were late with his breakfast. He liked his acorns in a pile on a nearby tree stump, ready and waiting when he woke up. He wasn’t particularly hungry, but that was beside the point.

  He’d had trouble getting back to sleep after the foxes’ intrusion. They’d rankled him more than he’d expected. Word travelled fast in Richmond Park. If the other animals heard that they were standing up to him and getting
off lightly, they’d start to follow suit. Destroying their dens and kicking them out wasn’t enough, but killing them both, as well as Alice, might cause ripples. He needed something else. A statement.

  Ugh. This was all Vince’s doing. He should have killed him seasons ago when he had the chance. But he would have to worry about the foxes later. First, he had to speak to Kara before the sun was fully risen and she disappeared for the day.

  She was late too, but he didn’t want to reprimand her more than necessary today. She was too useful, and making an enemy of her would be unwise. After some more impatient pacing, he spotted her in the sky. Oblivious of her misdemeanour, she swooped casually overhead and landed in a tree behind him.

  ‘You’re late,’ Edward said.

  ‘No, I’m not. You woke up early.’

  ‘It’s not important. Listen, as grateful as I am for your assistance with the Vince problem, I’m afraid I can’t let you hunt any more rabbits.’

  ‘You’re joking, right?’ Kara flexed her talons, gouging lines in the branch underfoot.

  ‘No. There have been complaints from the rabbits. One of them saw you. I told you to be discreet.’

  ‘There’s hundreds of them, it’s impossible. And you promised me one rabbit per moon. It won’t even make a dent in the population.’

  ‘Maybe not, but I have a duty to respect the needs of every animal in this park.’

  ‘Are you seriously giving me one of your “look how much I care” lines? Who do you think you’re talking to? You don’t give a scat about the rabbits. And we had a deal. A deal that almost got me killed, by the way.’ She turned and waved her patchy tail feathers at him.

  ‘Yes, very nice. But I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do.’

  ‘So, that’s it? I fly across London, have a fox killed for you, almost die, and I get nothing…’

  ‘You can hunt the big rats in the golf course, three times a week, as agreed, and you still have your usual privileges.’

  ‘Screw the golf course. I want my rabbits. As agreed.’

  Edward shook his head, about to speak, when the squirrels appeared, struggling along the ground with armfuls of acorns.

  ‘You’re late.’

  ‘It’s… It’s sunrise… Same as always…’ The lead squirrel quivered.

  ‘Don’t argue with me. I’ve been awake for an age. Be on time tomorrow or you and your family can find a new home in the car park.’

  ‘Yes, s-sir.’ They carried the nuts to the tree stump and fled into the trees.

  Kara watched them scurry away, then turned back to Edward, who was now nibbling at the pile of acorns. ‘Can I go?’ she said.

  Edward swallowed his mouthful. ‘Well, I do need someone to check on the foxes. Now that Jake is no longer willing and all this business with Vince… I need to make sure they’re staying in line.’

  ‘Unless you’re offering rabbits in return, then you can shove it up your fat rump,’ Kara said.

  Edward frowned. ‘Fine. Then that’s all.’

  He went back to his breakfast pile, the delicate scraping of Kara’s talons on the tree the only hint that she had gone. No matter. There were other animals who would be pleased to do the work, other promises he could make. Kara was getting annoying anyway. Too demanding. Too inefficient. How long had it taken her to find Vince? Two nights? Pfft. She was losing her edge. And something had to be done about those squirrels… Simply not good enough. Time to reassess the workforce.

  He smiled as a plan formed in his mind. Yes. The park needed a bit of a shake-up, and he knew exactly how to make sure his work got done while also dealing with Sophie. After today, no animal would dare even think to call him a twig-head, let alone say it out loud.

  *

  ‘A fox, Del? Jesus Christ.’ Rita watched through the window as the man she now knew as Del knelt on the floor and placed Laurie in a blanket-lined cardboard box. A woman stood with her arms folded. A long piece of flowery material covered her from neck to knees, splaying out at her waist. Her foot coverings were fluffy and pink, with ears like a rabbit’s. ‘I thought we agreed, no more animals? After that squirrel shat on my knitting, remember?’

  ‘This is an emergency.’ He stroked Laurie’s ears.

  After shouting to Vince to go and wait with Arthur, Rita had followed the man back to his home on the nearby street, where he’d disappeared through a bright purple door. The building was tall, and she’d rested on each windowsill in turn, waiting for a glimpse of him, until he’d arrived on the top floor. The window was open a crack; enough for her to hear them.

  ‘Shouldn’t you take it to a vet? Or call the RSPCA or something?’ the woman said.

  ‘A vet won’t ’elp a fox. Nah, they’d probably just put her to sleep. She’ll be okay with me.’

  ‘Fine, but this is the last one, okay? And if she shits on anything…’

  ‘I’m a dead man. Yes I know, darlin’.’ He smiled up at the woman, who smiled back.

  ‘Right, I’m off to work. See you tonight.’ She unfolded her arms, went over to him and kissed him on the forehead.

  ‘Bye, love.’ He watched her leave, then got up and wandered to another room, out of view. The house was messy but vibrant. Flowers filled pots on nearly every surface and the walls were covered with pictures: landscapes, animals and more flowers. Blankets hung over the back of chairs, and a large table was littered with objects she’d never seen before: thin wooden sticks with hair splaying from their ends; pots filled with brightly coloured liquid; large squares of fabric, stretched across wooden frames.

  Del returned with a bowl of something, placed it in the box with Laurie and went back to stroking her fur. ‘What shall we call you then, pretty lady? How about Scarlett? Like the actress, and because you’re red.’ He laughed to himself, a deep, friendly chuckle.

  The sides of the box were too high for Rita see Laurie clearly, but why would the man talk to her like that if she wasn’t alive? She had to trust him, and pray to Mother Nature that he could help her.

  She watched for a few more moments then, confident Laurie was in safe hands, fluttered in the direction of where she’d left Arthur, where, hopefully, he would be waiting with Vince.

  *

  Vince found Arthur sleeping under a bush in a front garden, almost exactly where they’d left him. Vince curled up next to him, being careful not to wake, or touch, the prickly creature. He couldn’t deal with telling him about Laurie. Not yet. Plus, it was daytime, and as good a place to rest as any.

  Sleep was not an option, though. His mind raced. Had it been his fault? Could he have shouted louder? Run faster? If he hadn’t chased her at all, she wouldn’t have tried so hard to get away, and wouldn’t have run into the road…

  Over and over it played in his mind – the car engine, the shouting, her lifeless body – until Rita’s raucous voice roused him from the nightmare.

  ‘Laurie’s alive! Wake up, Vince, Arthur! She’s alive!’

  His heart thumped hard in his chest as he slid out from under the bush. ‘Really? Are you sure?’

  ‘Yes! The man made her a bed and gave her some food. He wouldn’t do that if she were dead.’

  ‘Maybe, but… Do you think he knows for sure?’ Vince said.

  ‘Of course! Humans know these things.’

  ‘I hope so,’ Vince said. ‘So, now we just wait? What will he do with her?’

  ‘He’ll take care of her until she’s better, then release her, probably.’

  The bush rustled and Arthur emerged, yawning. ‘You came back! I thought you were both gone for good. Did you find Laurie?’

  Rita explained what had happened and Arthur’s face fell. ‘She’ll be okay, though? Won’t she?’

  Vince spoke before Rita could reply. ‘Don’t get your hopes up. Not everything is rainbows and sunshine out here, Arthur.’ He crawled back under the bush. All he wanted to do was see Laurie, but since he couldn’t do that, sleeping seemed like the next best option. All thoughts of sending a message b
ack to Richmond Park had vanished. Until Laurie was safe and free, nothing else mattered.

  Rita sighed. Vince listened from inside the bush as she spoke to Arthur. ‘You don’t have to stay with us, you know. If you’d rather just go back to Hampstead Heath—’

  ‘No!’ he replied. ‘I want to be with you and, um, Vince and Laurie. Besides, there are no hedgehogs in Hampstead Heath. I don’t want to be alone again.’

  ‘I’m glad you want to stay, and I know Vince is too,’ Rita said. ‘I’ll keep an eye on Laurie, and we’ll all decide what to do once it gets dark again, okay? Now, here’s an important job for you… Stay with Vince and make sure he doesn’t do anything silly.’

  Arthur giggled and Vince snorted from the bushes. ‘I heard that,’ he mumbled.

  14

  Laurie woke to the sound of running water and a tune, hummed softly by a human. She eased open her eyes and blinked away the grogginess. Something was not right. It felt like evening, but the light above was harsh and orange. Her ribs ached on one side when she breathed, the pain intensifying at any slight movement.

  Despite the light, she was comfortable. Wherever she was, it was warm, and the blanket beneath her was almost as soft as fur. A yawn escaped her mouth and a blinding pain cascaded through her bones. She yelped. The water and whoever was humming both stopped, and the sound of footsteps replaced them.

  ‘Ah, Scarlett, you’re awake.’ The human reached a hand towards her and gently stroked the top of her head. Too stunned and in too much pain to bark, she found herself rather enjoying it. ‘Let me get you some chicken.’ He disappeared, talking to himself as she heard some kind of packet being ripped open. He returned, a small plate in hand. It certainly smelled like chicken. Cooked, but not like the crunchy, sweet stuff she usually ate back home. The rats would approve. He placed it down in front of her and she gave it another sniff, just to be sure.

  Convinced that it wasn’t poisoned, she worked her way through the meat, wincing through every laboured swallow, pain erupting across her chest each time. The man watched her until the last morsel was gone and she dropped her head to the blanket, panting through the ache in her ribs. ‘It’s okay, you’re goin’ to be fine. Let me wash that up.’ He gave her ears a quick scratch and took the empty plate away. The water, and the humming, started up again.