,! ,SACR$ ,BIRD 

#ahi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,OCTAVE ,MIRBEAU 

,TAGS 3 PHEASANT1 GAMEKEEP]1 FIELDS1 JU/1 MOTTEAU1 TREES1 BU%ES1 GAMEKEEP]S1 %OTGUN1 WOMAN4 

,TEXT 3 

  

,PHOTO BY ,MAURE5 ,B>L91,C,C ,B,Y-,N,C-,N,D ,LIC5SE ,TRANSLAT$ FROM ! ,FR5* BY ,ROB]T ,HELMS 

0,L',OISEAU ,SACRI0 FIR/ APPE>$ 9 ! LIT]>Y SUPPLEM5T ( ! ,P>IS AN>*I/ PAP] ,LA ,RIVOLTE _?#c 7,SEPT4 #b#g1 #a#h#i71 REPR9T$ FROM ,L',E*O DE ,P>IS4  

,A FEW LEAGUES FROM MY COTTAGE1 9 ONE ( ! MO/ F]TILE >EAS  
9 ,FRANCE1 !RE LIES A C]TA9 IMM5SE PROP]TY4  ,= ONLY ! PA/ T5 YE>S ! PLACE HAS BELONG$ TO A WELL-KN[N BANK]1 BUT IT ISN'T US$ = HUNT+ P>TIES4  ,! *ATEAU WAS P>TLY DEMOLI%$ DUR+ ! FIR/ REVOLUTION4  ,NO?+ REMA9S ( IT BUT AN UNCR[N$ BRICK T[] & SOME *>R$ WALLS ?AT 9VADE ! WE$S1 :I* GR[ 9TO TREES1 & ! MOSS4  ,! BANK] CONSID]$ REBUILD+ IT ACCORD+ TO ITS ORIG9AL DESIGN1 BUT !N AB&ON$ ! IDEA BECAUSE ( ! EXP5SE 9VOLV$4  ,HE ALREADY HAD AN HI/ORIC E/ATE NE> ,P>IS ?AT SUFFICI5TLY ACCOMMODAT$ HIS PRIDE4  ,BUT H]E ! BEAUTIFUL & WELL-PRES]V$ \TBUILD+S HAVE BE5 CONV]T$ 9TO RESID5CES1 & !Y MAKE SUP]B FIGURES 9 ! VA/ P>K1 PLANT$ ) GIANT TREES1 WOV5 ) ROYAL LAWNS ?AT ROLL D[N1  
WAV+1 TO MEET ! ,=E/ ( ,P.-.-.-1 :I* IS A ,/ATE ,=E/ R5[N$ = ITS HI< /&S ( TIMB]4  ,TO ! RI<T1 AT A DI/ANCE ( T5 KILOMET]S1 9T]SP]S$ H]E & !RE ) GROVES & ?ICKETS1 LIE ! L&S ?AT DEP5D ECONOMICALLY ON ! E/ATE4  ,! NEW [N] HAS MU* AGGR&IZ$ ! PRIMITIVE PLACE4  ,ALL >\ND ! *ATEAU1 HE HAS B\<T UP ! FIELDS1 ! F>MS1 & ! MEAD[S1 SO AS TO CREATE = HIMSELF A SORT ( 9VIOLABLE K+DOM1 :]E HE C\LD BE ! SOLE MA/] --A H>%1 IMPLACABLE MA/] :O DID NOT TAKE HIS PROP]TY RI<TS LI<TLY4  ,HE DID NOT HAVE ANY POLITICAL DESIGNS ON ! C\NTRY4  ,! PEASANTS1 LUR$ BY ! BANK]'S GOLD1 HAVE LITTLE BY LITTLE C$$ ! SOIL !Y ONCE POSSESS$4  ,!Y HAVE LEFT TO WORK ELSE:]E4  ,ONLY A FEW OLD PEOPLE L+]$1 ASIDE FROM SOME WOODCUTT]S & PAUP]S4  ,IT'S S9I/]1 & MAKES ONE %UDD]1 TO 5C\NT] ONE ( !M4   

,I RECALL LOOK+ !RE AS A *ILD1 & SEE+ ! FIELDS COV]$  
) CROPS1 ! GRASSY MEAD[S1 & ! F>MS1 FROM :I* ! AL]T & JOY\S S\NDS ( WORK-SONGS W\LD ESCAPE4  ,H[ IT'S ALL *ANG$1 TODAY6  ,I RECOGNIZE NO?+ ( MY OLD HAUNTS4  ,ONE C\LD SAY ?AT A BAD W9D HAS PASS$ BY1 :I* HAS DRI$ UP ! SAP ( BYGONE DAYS ) ITS P[]1 DE/ROY+ ALL ( ?AT G5]\S GAITY 9 ONE /ROKE3 ! :EAT1 ! B>LEY1 & ! OATS AS WELL4  ,EV5 ! H$GES1 BIG & LEAFY ALONG ! DRA9AGE DIT*ES1 HAVE BE5 RAZ$4  ,TO ! LEFT & RI<T ( ! ROAD1 UP TO ! $GE ( ! =E/1 ! FIELDS >E SYMMETRICALLY PLANT$ ) SOMB] GRAY ?ORN BU%ES1 & H]E & !RE1 SQU>ES ( BUCK:EAT & ALFALFA HAD BE5 PLANT$ & !N LEFT TO ROT ON ! /ALK4  ,! F5CES1 BRI/L+ ) !IR CLOSELY PRESS$ WOOD5 PICKETS1 DEF5D ! APPROA*ES ( ! UNTRESSPASSABLE E/ATE :]E ! PHEASANT /RUTS  
AB\T4  ,H]E1 ALL IS SACRIFIC$ TO ! PHEASANT1 & ! PHEASANT 5JOYS ! /YLE ( A SACR$ BIRD --A DEIFI$ BIRD1 N\RI%$ BY P]FUM$ B]RIES & PRECI\S GRA9S ?AT >E S]V$ BY GAMEKEEP]S1 DEVOT$ & VIGILANT AS ?OSE ANCI5T PRIE/S ) BRAID$ BE>DS :O WAT*$ OV] ! SACR$ IBISES 9 ANCI5T ,EGYPT4  ,9/EAD ( ! MOSSY-RO($ F>MH\SES1 !RE >E P9NACL$ K5NELS COMPRIS$ ( HUGE1 TURRET$ AVI>IES4  ,! RIGID TRELLISES ( /EEL WIRE N[ RUN ALONG :]E ,I1 9 ANO!R TIME1 W\LD SEE ! HAZELS & ! ASP5 TREES CLIMB1 EV] SO ?9 & LI<T AGA9/ ! SKY ) !IR SILV] LEAVES4  ,FROM PLACE TO PLACE1 ! GU>D H\SES FIRE !IR EVIL LOOKS ONTO ! C\NTRYSIDE FROM DREAD$ W9D[S4   

,! POOR PEOPLE :O W&] ALONG1 & ! VAGABONDS1 LOOK+ =  
! NI<T'S %ELT]1 PASS QUICKLY OV] ?IS PIECE ( E>?1 :]E !RE IS NO?+ = !IR FATIGUE & !IR HUNG]1 & :]E ! V]Y BANKS ( ! ROADSIDE DIT*ES >E HO/ILE4  ,IF BY *ANCE A SMALL-TIME TRAVEL+ SALESMAN1 ?AT MISUND]/OOD & PITIFUL W&]] ( ! M>KETS & FAIRS1 %\LD L+] ON !SE ?ANKLESS ROADS1 ! GAMEKEEP]S WILL SOON BE *AS+ HIM (F4  ,!Y'VE H>DLY GOTT5 UNHIT*$1 & TE!R$ !IR SK9NY NAG1 JU/ LIT A FIRE \T ( DEAD LEAVES & BRAN*ES BY !IR WAGON1 ) ITS POLES RAIS$ 9 ! AIR & ITS AWN+ TORN1 TO COOK SOME POTATOES = SUPP]1 & ALREADY ! GAMEKEEP]S HAVE >RIV$4 

0,MOVE ALONG1 Y\ ?IEVES6  ,:AT >E Y\ DO+ H]E80  

0,BUT ! ROAD BELONGS TO EV]YBODY4440 

0,& ?AT WOOD Y\'VE /OL5 --DOES ?AT BELONG TO EV]YBODY8   
,BULL%IT6  ,GET MOV+1 OR ,I'LL WRITE Y\ A SUMMONS60 

,SOMETIMES A PHEASANT WILL ACCOMANY !SE M5AC+ WORDS ) !  
MOCK+ S\ND ( ITS W+S4  

,ONE SEES ! SACR$ CREATURES 9 TROOPS BEH9D ! TRELLISES1  
RUNN+ UND] ! %AD[Y TUFTS ( ! ?ORN BU%ES 9 !IR LITTLE TRACKS1 SLIPP+ BETWE5 ! RU/L+ ALFALFA /ALKS1 & P]*+ PR\DLY ON ! F5CE RAILS4  ,!Y P[D] !MSELVES ) SUNLI<T 9 ! ROAD1 9SOL5TLY WE>+ ! PLUMAGE ( !IR ILL-GOTT5 WEAL?4  ,ONE IS OBSESS$ ) ! PHEASANT3 EV]Y:]E Y\ AIM Y\R EYESI<T1 Y\ SEE A PHEASANT4  ,) %\LD]$ RIFLES & A SAVAGE AIR1 ! GAMEKEEP]S /& ALONG ! ROAD AT 9T]VALS1 & KEEP WAT* OV] ! BIRDS :I* MI<T BE CRIPPL$ BY SOME PASS+ PEASANT :O BA%$ !M ) A /ICK4  ,!SE M5 9 MILIT>Y CAPS1 :O />E AT Y\ ) A BRUTAL GL>E1 !IR GUN-B>RELS GLEAM+1 & !SE FIELDS ?AT >E EI!R M[$ %ORT OR COV]$ ) D>K LEAVES1 ALL BECOME AN OBSESSION4  ,Y\ =GET :]E Y\ >E4  ,IT SEEMS ?AT Y\ WALK ON RAVAG$1 CONQU]$ SOIL1 9 5EMY T]RITORY4  ,IT BR+S BACK EVIL MEMORIES ( O!R TIMES & BLURRY1 PA9FUL VISIONS ( PA/ DEFEATS4  ,YES1 IT'S ! SAME SADNESS1 ! SAME SIL5CE1 ! V]Y B]EAVEM5T ( ! ,E>?1 ! SAME HEAV9ESS BEL[ ! HORIZON6  ,:AT'S GO+ TO HAPP58  ,:AT CORPSES1 :AT PANIC1 :AT DISA/]S WAIT1 JU/ PA/ A B5D 9 ! ROAD8  ,?IS RECOLLECTION ( SOMB] DAYS1 ( ! BROAD PLA9S WE M>*$ OV]1 IT 5T]S 9TO Y\R HE>T1 PURSUES Y\1 & T]RIFIES Y\4  ,& ! SPIKES ( ! F5CES BRI/L+ FROM EI!R SIDE ( ! ROAD1 ) ! PO9TS %9+1 HAD ME ?9K+ ( VICTORI\S BAYONETS1 WAV+ AS F> AS ! EYE CAN SEE1 UND] ! IMPLACABLE CRUELTY ( ! SKY4 

,IT WAS V]Y COLD ?AT DAY1 & S9CE ,I'D WALK$ = QUITE A  
:ILE1 ,I WAS ?IR/Y1 & SO ,I /OPP$ AT ! DOOR ( A LITTLE H\SE ?AT CR\*$ SADLY ALONGSIDE ! ROAD & ,I ASK$ = SOME MILK4  ,AT ! BACK ( ! ROOM !RE WAS A MAN1 EAT+ A MORSEL ( GRAYI% BREAD4  ,HE DIDN'T TURN >\ND4  ,SOME RAGG$ *ILDR5 W]E SW>M+ >\ND HIM4  ,A %OTGUN WAS M\NT$ ABOVE ! FIREPLACE4  ,\T ( ?IS SAD 9T]IOR !RE BREA!D A VIOL5T /9K ( POV]TY6  ,A BABY ) A T]RIFI$ FACE />T$ CRY+ :5 HE SPOTT$ ME4  ,!N A WOMAN1 ! LIKES ( :OM ,I'VE NEV] SE51 APPE>$ FROM \T ( ! %AD[S4  ,%E WAS BADLY EMATIAT$ & WORE A TORTUR$ EXPRESSION1 LIKE A SPECT] ( MIS]Y4   ,H] EYES C>RI$ A HATEFUL GL[ SO OP5LY MURD]\S ?AT ,I WAS 9TIMIDAT$ BY !M4  ,%E LOOK$ ME OV] = A FEW MUTE & T]RIBLE SECONDS1 & !N1 %RUGG+ H] %\LD]S1 %E SAID3 

0,SOME MILK6  ,Y\'RE ASK+ = SOME MILK8  ,WELL !RE'S NO MILK  
>\ND H]E6  ,!RE'D HAVE TO BE SOME C[S = ?AT6  ,BUT TAKE A LOOK >\ND6  ,!RE'S PL5TY ( PHEASANTS --! PHEASANTS ( SORR[60  ,%E GAZ$ 9 FRONT ( H] ) A F]OCI\S AIR1 & SAW ! FIELDS ( ?ORN BU%ES ?AT /RET*$ 9TO ! DI/ANCE1 PROTECT+ ) !IR %ADE & N\RI%+ ) !IR B]RIES ! 0BIRD ( SORR[0 ?AT HAD TAK5 BO? H] C[ & H] FIELD AWAY FROM H]4   

,! MAN HAD NOT LIFT$ HIS HEAD4  ,SITT+ ON A /OOL ) HIS  
BACK TURN$ & HIS ELB[S ON HIS KNEES1 HE CONT9U$ TO *EW ON HIS PIECE ( H>D BREAD4  ,ON ! PACK$ DIRT FLOOR1 CR\*+ 9 A TANGL$ HEAP ( SK9NY GOOSEFLE%1 ! *ILDR5 W]E /ILL T]RIFI$ BY MY PRES5CE & CONT9U$ TO CRY4  ,I 5T]$ ?IS HOVEL & WAS ,I MOV$ BY ITS POV]TY4 

0,Y\ C]TA9LY LOOK AWFUL1 MY FRI5DS10 ,I SAID1 H&+ \T SOME  
SMALL *ANGE TO ! KIDS4  0,:Y HAV5'T Y\ LEFT ?IS PLACE8  ,EV]YONE ELSE IS GONE40 

0,& JU/ :]E W\LD WE GO80 ! WOMAN ASK$ ME4 

0,I DON'T KN[ --IT DOESN'T MATT] :]E4  ,& Y\ HAVE NO WORK  
H]E1 RI<T80 

0,HE TRIMS ! TREES AT ! *ATEAU1 BUT ! BA/>DS FIR$ HIM  
BECAUSE1 ACCORD+ TO !M1 HE GOES \T AT NI<T1 WAITS BEH9D ?+S TILL A PHEASANT COMES ALONG1 & KILLS IT4  ,?REE TIMES N[1 ?OSE ?UGS HAVE GRABB$ HIM & LOCK$ HIM UP = EI<T DAYS AT A CLIP4  ,HE JU/ GOT \T AGA91 ! DAY BE=E YE/]DAY40 

0,%UT UP60 ! MAN %\T$ TO HIS WIFE1 TURN+ ! TRAGIC FACE  
( A HUNT$ ANIMAL 9 MY DIRECTION4 

0,:Y %\LD ,I %UT UP80 

0,%UT UP60 HE YELL$ AGA9 ) AN IMP]I\S VOICE4   

,AT ?AT MOM5T1 A GAMEKEEP] APPE>$ 9 ! DOORWAY4  ,! WOMAN  
?REW H]SELF 9 FRONT ( HIM1 %AK+ ) ANG]1 TO PREV5T HIM FROM 5T]+4   

0,:AT DO Y\ WANT H]E8  ,I WON'T LET Y\ 96  ,Y\ HAVE NO RI<T  
TO COME 9 H]E6  ,BEAT IT60 

,! GAMEKEEP] WANT$ TO COME 94   

0,DON'T T\* ME1 Y\ MURD]]10 %E %RIEK$1 0DON'T Y\ D>E  
T\* ME1 OR Y\'LL REGRET IT4  ,?AT'S ALL ,I'VE GOT TO SAY TO Y\60  

,! GAMEKEEP] ASK$1 0,IS ,MOTTEAU H]E80  

0,IT'S NONE ( Y\R BUS9ESS40 

00,IS ,MOTTEAU H]E80 

0,:AT DO Y\ WANT ) HIM ?IS TIME80 

0,AGA9 ?IS MORN+10 ! GAMEKEEP] SAID1 0,I F\ND A PHEASANT'S  
FEA!R ON ! ,:ITE ,ROAD1 & ,I RECOGNIZ$ ,MOTTEAU'S FOOTPR9TS ON ! GR\ND40 

0,Y\'RE LY+60 ! WOMAN YELL$4 

0,I'M LY+80 

0,YES1 Y\'RE LY+40 

0,NO1 REALLY1 ,I'M NOT LY+4  ,& TELL HIM TO WAT* \T1 BECAUSE  
! DAY WE CAT* HIM1 !RE'S GONNA BE ONE HELL ( A4440 

0,WAT* \T Y\RSELF1 Y\ MURD]]6  ,?IEF6  ,BECAUSE444 BECAUSE4440  

0,ALL RI<T1 %UT UP40 ,MOTTEAU SAID TO HIS WIFE4  ,!N1 ADDRESS+  
! GAMEKEEP]1 HE SAID1 0,Y\'RE MAK+ A MI/AKE1 ,B]N>D4  ,IT'S NOT ME4  ,I CAN'T TAKE ANY MORE ( Y\R JAIL4  ,IT A9'T ME4  ,I WAS SICK LA/ NI<T4  ,I HAD A FEV]4  ,IT ISN'T ME40 

0,I SAID :AT ,I SAID10 ! GAMEKEEP] REPLI$4  0,& ?AT %OTGUN1  
OV] ! FIREPLACE6  ,AT ANY RATE1 WE'VE GOT TO CONFISCATE Y\R4440 

0,?IS GUN80 

0,YEAH1 ?AT GUN4440 

0,?AT'S NO?+10 ,MOTTEAU EXPLA9$4  0,IT'S JU/ AN OLD %OTGUN1  
& IT DOESN'T %OOT4  ,NO1 IT'S NOT = Y\R PHEASANTS4  ,NOT ?AT GUN40 

,! TWO M5 EX*ANG$ A LOOK ( RAW HATR$4  ,!N1 AFT] ?R[+  
ME A SUSPICI\S LOOK1 ! GAMEKEEP] REPEAT$1  

0,I SAID :AT ,I SAID40 

,AS HIS WIFE MOAN$1 ,MOTTEAU RETURN$ TO HIS PLACE ON ! /OOL  
& GOT LO/ 9 A D>K DREAM4  ,/>+ AT HIS %OTGUN1 HE WAS SADD5$ BY ITS RU/$ B>RELS1 & HE LURK$ ON V5GEFUL NI<TS 9 AMBU%1 WAIT+ = ! BLOODY DRAMA 9 ! ?ORN BU%ES1 UND]NEA? ! MOON4   

,! ,5,D 

,FROM 3 ,MID-,ATLANTIC ,9FO%OP4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
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