The Hanged Cow by Milly Reynolds

Author:Milly Reynolds
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: crime, mystery, british, detective, humour

Eleven

She stood at the edge of the field and watched the cows. The moon was hidden and a damp breeze was blowing around her ears and nose. Subconsciously, her hand found the necklace that he had given her as a memento of the consummation of their relationship. It was a small silver cow with diamante eyes, a small silver cow to remind her of their passionate love-making under the stars while the gentle lowing of Harold Chambers’ cows had serenaded them. Brushing all sentimentality from her mind, she shook the spray-cans vigorously and approached the herd. The others followed her, bringing the thick ropes with them. Covered by the rich velvet sky, the cows continued their chewing, oblivious to the figures that were creeping silently towards them. When she reached the edge of the herd, she looked around and selected her victim; the gentle dark creature was sitting with its back to the rest of the herd and was looking skywards, wondering why the moon was strangely absent. Using her spray can as a pointer, she revealed her choice to the others and felt a small stab of pity for the creature with the dark, soft eyes. With lightning speed, the others threw the rope around the cow’s neck and pulled. The knot tightened and the gentle creature tried to struggle to its feet, all the time bellowing in terror while one by one the rest of the herd got up and ambled slowly to another patch of grass, leaving their friend to its fate. By now the terrified cow had had its legs bound tightly and its cries rang out in the silence of the night.

She took a step forward, aimed and sprayed; silver dust hung in the air and then fell like drops of rain onto the cow’s hide. Slowly, the darkness melted and the moon now revealed itself, wanting to be a witness to the events unfolding beneath it. The cow had become a shimmering silver figure at the end of a rope; a silver pendant thrown upon the grass. With the cans empty, the others now took centre stage as they started pulling upon the rope. She went to join them and inch by inch, they dragged the helpless cow across the field. With each movement, the rope tightened that little bit more around the cow’s neck and its cries became heart-rending. When they reached the tree, they threw the rope’s end over the stronger branches and gathered their strength for the final act. With an evil gracefulness they pulled on the rope as if they were ringing church bells. They pulled and the rope bit deep into the bark of the branch as it slid across it. They pulled and inch by inch the cow’s head was lifted from the ground until once again it looked heavenward, although now with unseeing eyes. They pulled and secured the rope by running it round and round the tree like children dancing around a maypole. The cow hung lifelessly, its windpipe compressed by the rope which had cut into its flesh.

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