So finally the fox (gender neutral here) is surrounded by the hounds, blood thirsty hounds that love to chase, always breathe down the neck of their prey and ultimately corner even the cleverest of foxes before tearing it into pieces. It is not that the fox is by any measure less smart than the hounds, it’s the shear number of hounds which out-smarts the fox. I wish George Orwell could be asked to write another ‘Animal Farm’ in Pakistani context. The book may have been a blockbuster as all the ingredients of drama, thrill, love, hate, betrayal, intrigues, counter-intrigues, and above all sting operations make a fascinating reading.
Here is how it would read: There was a farm which was long ruled by hounds. The farm had a herd of sheep and goats. Hounds told the herd that they were facing imminent threats from packs of jackals and hyenas. Hounds took it upon themselves to protect the sheep and goats. Soon after, they formed an alliance with the ‘wolves’.
Although the wolves lived in a far off land but after the demise of ‘Lions’ they became the most powerful animals of the jungle. The hounds established a strong government in the farm. Assuming that the wolves are at their back the hounds attacked hyenas, the help from wolves never came and the hounds could barely save the onslaught of hyenas.
The goats were unhappy and uncomfortable with the rigid and stiff rules laid down by hounds and one day they rebelled against the hounds. A number of goats were killed but with the help of hyenas they managed to breakaway from the farm and formed their own separate farm. Hounds were crest fallen and defeated, a leader emerged from the sheep and told the hounds to give it a rest, and all the sheep were inspired by the leader to become masters of their destiny.
Things started moving and the farm life started retuning to normality. Wolves were watching all the developments from the distance; they were never comfortable with the fact that sheep are now the rulers. In the vicinity of the farm, wolves had an old score to settle with the jackals. Wolves needed hounds at helm, unrest was created in the farm and soon there was trouble in the farm.
The popular sheep leader was removed and the hounds took over the charge of the farm, this time on the premise that the jackals were interested in the disintegration of farm and the farm must join hands with the wolves to eliminate the threat. Full blown war was fought, the jackals were made to run away from the proximity of the farm and the rule of hounds was perpetuated with no resistance from the sheep.
Meanwhile, some hounds cohabited with sheep and a new breed of animals was born. This experiment was tried a few times before but not at the same magnitude. The results were heartening for the hounds. The new breed looked like sheep and enjoyed great acceptance amongst the sheep. Some years passed and the sheep became uncomfortable again, a young she-sheep took the task of challenging the hounds and the hybrid sheep at the same time.
After great struggle and with the help of other fellow sheep, the young sheep assumed the charge of the farm. The hounds and the hybrid managed to take a part of farm. The power struggle between the sheep and hounds carried on. Once when the hybrids were in power, they realised that although they have to face the criticism of the sheep, the real power is enjoyed by the hounds. The hybrids turned against the hounds breaking the unholy alliance.
The struggle between the hounds and the sheep went for years till somehow a fox managed to become the leader of the sheep. Hounds were extremely perturbed by this development but certain events had ended their power.
Hounds always knew how to get the fox, although there were events when the incompetence of hounds was exposed beyond a shadow of doubt and once the hounds were so brutally exposed that the fox had to intervene and pacify the sheep who were demanding accountability of hounds. Hounds gave the impression that they were grateful but in fact they hated more than anything attempts from the fox to form alliance with the wolves ignoring hounds.
The hybrids were called and the hounds made up with them, some other very powerful animals also came in to play and operation “Get Foxy” was launched. A case was registered against the fox. The fox is cornered, the sheep are unhappy with the performance of fox as king of the animal farm.
There is not a single ally to protect the concerned fox; the wolves being longtime allies of hounds are indifferently watching the developments. Any day fox will be torn to pieces, the hounds will become the de-facto rulers and life in farm will go on. Long live the farm, long live the sheep.
The writer is a senior police officer.