Gerald Kersh

Fowlers End

1957. Harvill, 2001.

This part of Regent's Park borders on Primrose Hill. "The Scotsman's Zoo" they call it, because here is Monkey Hill where the baboons live. To this part of the Zoological Gardens are relegated the creatures that were once beasts - an old wild boar, one or two scabby dogs...a moth-eaten bison...You could look at them free any time the park was open; that is why this part of the place was called "The Scotsman's Zoo"

Anything that's free appeals to David Laverock at this moment: he has just been evicted from his lodgings for failing to pay the rent. The thousand pounds left him by his grandmother had been invested in a Circulating Library that swiftly went bust.

I walked to the lake in Regent's Park with, I believe, some mad idea of stealing a duck. No doubt I was light-headed with hunger; floating away from my body. All the ducks were gathered about an eccentric old lady in withered skirts who was throwing them bits of cake. I toyed with the idea of going up to her and saying: "Madam, I am Curator of Ducks. It is strictly forbidden to feed ducks with cake. Cake is deadly poison to the duck. I am afraid I must confiscate that bag; and think yourself lucky!" But my nerve failed me. I walked, with dignity, to a drinking fountain, washed my face, filled myself up with water, and walked, swinging that nuisance of a cane, into Baker Street