Cows by Stokoe Matthew

Author:Stokoe, Matthew [Stokoe, Matthew]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3, pdf
Tags: Fiction, General, Psychological, Literary, Mothers and Sons, Technology & Engineering, Animal Husbandry, Alienation (Social Psychology), Agriculture
ISBN: 9781936070701
Publisher: Akashic Books
Published: 2002-01-10T08:00:00+00:00

She woke sitting on her knees on the floor, bound and immobile. A rope ran around her forehead to her ankles, pulling her head back, stretching her throat out straight. The marks of Dog’s attack were turning blue. She had difficulty speaking, but that didn’t stop her.

“Do you think Doggie enjoyed that? I did. Fucking mongrel. No more dog suck-offs for Mama’s best boy now, eh?” She cackled and tried to twist her head to see Steven better, but the rope would not allow it and her eyes rolled in jagged circles.

“What’s the rope for, Steven? You know Mama’s going to be mad if you keep her here too long. Better let her up right now. Ooo, Steven, what’s that mark on your neck? Looks like a rope burn. Let Mama have a look at her poor boy.”

The Hagbeast stopped abruptly and ripped out a stream of phlegmy laughter. She started to choke and spat in a high curve back over her head. When she was breathing normally again, Steven wedged a small block of wood between her right rear teeth, jamming her mouth open wide. She gurgled and looked frightened.

“You were right, Mama, shit was too slow. But I don’t think you’re going to like the alternative.”

The pliers were heavy and had rubber grips. They were a solid man’s tool and he felt very confident holding them. The Hagbeast still had most of her teeth—they were a little yellow, but they were there. He started with the small lower incisors at the front.

The knurling on the nose of the pliers rasped off small pieces of enamel even before he applied much pressure. The Hagbeast whimpered and tried to swallow. Steven closed the pliers firmly and jerked them forward, splintering the tooth and snapping it off just above the gum. Her body went hard with the pain and she screamed. Blood ran backward over her tongue.

Steven let her relax a little before he crunched the pliers closed again.

The teeth at the sides were harder to break and some of them came out by the roots. There was a lot of blood and Steven had to push her over onto her side twice so she wouldn’t choke.

He was sweating by the time he finished. Fragments of tooth were embedded in the soles of his shoes, they grated against the floor when he moved. The Hagbeast was still conscious but her eyes were glazed and she had stopped making noises. Her gums were a pulpy red mess with the sharp remains of teeth poking through. The front of her dress was soaked.

Steven threw the pliers in the sink and picked up a file to smooth down the spikes. The Hagbeast passed out at the first screech of steel across enamel. It made it easier for Steven to finish his work.

When she came to, he stripped off his trousers and pants and looked down at her for one last moment—this mother who had never been a mother. She bubbled thickly up at him but he couldn’t work out what she was trying to say.

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