It is December 3. Until today it had been balmy, now it is suddenly winter. Nat Hocken works part time on the farm doing light, easy jobs. He was disabled in the war, and he Hocken likes to work alone, along the edge of the sea. At lunchtime, he watches the birds.
The birds always become restless at the beginning of winter. They fly around hurriedly but without direction. They would follow Nat on his tractor. Both he and the farmer notice that there seem to be more birds this year. The birds have been getting very close to the farmer, unafraid.
Nat is awakened by a cold draft that night. He hears a tapping at the window. Nat goes to the window, opens it, and is suddenly pecked in the hand by a bird. His knuckles.....
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