The gator’s head emerged from the water, and without hesitation Scott struck it a second time, with the same accuracy and success he’d shown on the first swing. This time, the gator appeared to lose consciousness for a few seconds. Its huge head bounced, then lolled lopsidedly. Shortly, the gator came to, grunted, and slunk back into the lagoon and out of view.

The fawn panted at the water’s surface and Scott let out a desperate sound. He dropped his weapon, stepped farther into the water, and leaned down to grip the animal around its torso. He pulled it from the water, cradling it with both arms over his chest, like a baby. His wrists were covered in black slime from the lagoon. Blood poured from the fawn’s neck. Its legs were splayed, tiny and limp as ribbons, down over Scott’s belly. It wheezed. Its black eyes were glossy with pain. Blood and more blood, a steady torrent from its neck.

Scott looked down at the animal, his face stricken, and he didn’t make a move to bring it any closer to the others nor lay it to rest elsewhere. The fawn’s blood quickly soaked Scott’s shirt. Its mouth was open, pink tongue visible and erect, no bigger than a coin. Scott didn’t move.

Next to Poppy, John whispered, “For fuck’s sake,” which would have registered surprise in her—John never cursed—had it been under less shocking circumstances.

John said, “Pop . . . go now. And take them with you.” John nodded in the direction of the others on the bridge.

Still too stunned to speak, but understanding John’s intentions, Poppy made a move to corral everyone else back from the bridge, toward the path from which they had come. All of them left willingly except for Kimmy, who stood her ground until Lisa picked her up and wrapped her legs around her waist. She held Kimmy tightly, swaddled like a baby against her chest, and they all hustled away from the lagoon.

Tears streamed down Kimmy’s cheeks as she stared back over her mother’s shoulder, craning her neck to see. “What’s going to happen?”

Poppy walked quickly, trying to encourage everyone to keep pace, and said, “You don’t want to know. You don’t want to be there for it.”

Kimmy said, “Will they save it? Can they stop the bleeding? Can they bring it back and we’ll feed it with a bottle?”

Lisa said, “I don’t think so.”

“Why? What’s going to happen?”

Rae’s face was pale and drawn. She said, “They’re going to kill it, Kimmy. It wouldn’t be able to live, so they’re going to kill it.”

Lisa said, “Rae, for heaven’s sake.”

Ryan looked at Alex, attempting to gauge her response to all of this. Alex had been hunting and fishing with her father enough times for Ryan to assume that her reaction to a natural death would be measured, and it was. Alex shed no tears, and she had left the scene willingly, accepting the inevitable outcome.