The Trophy Wall

I am told that Uncle Mortimer was a hunter who went on safaris and always came back with a trophy.

Judging by the heads of exotic animals stuffed and framed on the wall, he must have been a very good shooter.

Among the vast collection, one could see the medium-sized head of a springbok, that of a panther and even one of a snarling crocodile.

I wish I could have met him. I would have liked to hear him recounting his adventures but, as he had departed to happy hunting grounds, I had to be content with my Granny’s second-hand account.

How he had relentlessly pursued an elephant and finally managed to bag its head.
It was in his opinion the biggest triumph and his proudest moment.

It had taken pride of place on the wall with the other victims, but was now absent from the trophies’ parade. An empty shield was the only indication that at one time or another that had been the chosen location.

It was the result, Granny said, of the ‘incident’.

Uncle’s stunts had generated a great amount of outrage for the slaughter of endangered animals but also a lot of interest from the press.

Despite demonstrations, a celebration of the feat was organised by the villagers who were in sympathy with the lord of the manor.

While posing underneath the pachyderm’s skull, with photographers snapping away, the heavy frame fell from the wall and crushed Mortimer.

“You see”, Granny concluded, “elephants never forget”.
 

© Luigi Pagano