Nigel Richardson

The Rope Ladder

OUP, 2007.

It was really cold that day, so cold the edges of the canal had frozen. The ducks couldn't work it out. As I walked along the towpath I watched them trying to walk on the ice and falling over. The wolves were cool about the cold though because they came from the frozen north. There were eight of them visible, more than I'd ever seen out of their tunnel at one time. Eight breaths pluming in the wild cold air. Some of them stood, noses up, others turned and trotted and stopped. And trotted. All sniffed the air, smelling the Arctic coming towards them...Something was different, something was changing. That's what they told me. I watched my breath plume, and I felt it too

The 15-year-old's relationship with the wolves in Regent's Park Zoo has become increasingly important to him in the troubled period since the death of his father; trying to think 'wolf-thoughts' helps him to calm down. On a subsequent visit he finds the enclosure is being demolished: the wolves have been moved to the zoo at Whipsnade. He fills his backpack with provisions and returns to the park.

I veered off the path and headed for some bushes. I crawled in among them. In the middle was a body-shaped dip covered in dead leaves. I lay down to try it out. It was very comfortable. I was suddenly incredibly tired. I could have closed my eyes and just fallen asleep but I made myself sit up...I looked up through the leaves and branches. Even though it was almost dark, the sky looked quite bright compared to the branches. ..Nine fifteen. By now, I knew, the park gates had been locked and Mum would be in a major panic. I laid down my head on the pillow of leaves and closed my eyes

When his absence is discovered Mum suggests that the police search Regent's Park - "he used to love to see the wolves there" - and he is found next morning.