Chickens are a lot more stupid than humans, and don’t have the sophisticated mental filters that prevent them seeing what is truly there. It knew where it was and who was looking at it. He looked into its small and simple life and saw the last few seconds pouring away. He’d never killed. He’d taken life, but only when it was finished with. There was a difference between theft and stealing by finding. NOT THE CLEAVER, he said wearily. GIVE ME THE CHICKEN. He turned his back for a moment, then handed the limp body to Miss Flitworth. “Well done,” she said, and went back to the kitchen.
