Ben - Chapter Fourteen

Withered, weak and weary was the feeling of the hour. Ben had foraged and found a bounty of fox droppings and fresh carrots, engorging relentlessly.

A tasty meal was a rarity as the journey drew on. Old feet tapping and shunting would bring their own ordeals to the table. Stiff joints and pulled muscles.

Tummy movement was also not uncommon, although less heard of for rabbits of this age. Now was the time, unfortunate as that may have been given the ghastly weather that was approaching from the East.

Ben took off his glasses, as was part of his ritual, before settling down for a long and silent moment to himself. Privacy was of tantamount importance and Ben was a very private rabbit.

Finding and feeling a warm and welcoming shelter, hidden behind these stranded brown curtains, Ben entered without the trepidation or care one could observe from a rabbit in normal circumstances. When Mother Nature called, Ben needed to be ready.

Thinking of the large metal object spotted earlier in this series, Ben let loose with a healthy shudder of satisfaction as he made his contribution to the soil of Mother Earth.

As soon as he had completed his fill, a large black tip-shadowed snout appeared in his space to the left, shining and prodding in his face.

Ben quickly placed his withered eyeglass back upon, only to be greeted by tusk-like teeth barely larger than his own feet.

The eyes themselves could swallow him if he was not careful. They were sized larger than his long abandoned motorcar. Ben hesitated for a moment, as his fur was brushed aside by the inquisitive flow of air emanating and disappearing into two large black nostrils.