Zu Zhun
It was a rundown dilapidated district of back -to -back terrace housing, alleyways, yards and neglected spaces. Nan occupied an upstairs back bedroom overlooking a corner. She was bedbound, through old age and illness, and had herself raised enough to look through the window and see part of that quarter. Mostly she saw the back of Mr Cotton’s house, which had an eight foot fence along the rear, paths, and uncared for gardens. Old man Cotton had a dog, a big cross of some sort, as mean as himself what with his harsh treatment of it, that would jump the fence and terrorise the alley. It was always snapping and growling after anyone who used those back lanes. Cotton had to do something because the inhabitants were scared of being mauled. So he tied the dog with a length of chain and went and got drunk...