57

The neighbour lay listening to the rustle and careful movement of his boxes downstairs. He heard a footstep, then another sound by the back door. There was more than one visitor. He heard whispers and a sharp intake of breath as the first one tripped. They did not use their hands to identify the creaking spots. The floorboard a metre from the first of the stairs let out its groan. Unwelcome guests - what a pleasure. He knew what they were here for. He knew where they were going. He threw an old bone down into his deep to wake him up. It clattered on the ground, and he heard it rise, gnawing and clawing at the bone and thrashing at the door. He relished its hunger.