But I did have a lead on an ideal setting. The parents of a former coworker had a small pet-friendly farm that contained a few cats and dogs. Esmé was welcomed to stay there. So one day he was brought out to it and let loose.
I occasionally checked in to see how he was doing. One time I was told he had just decapitated a rabbit or two in the main field. He seemed to be happily living out his violent tendacies. He also seemed to be getting along with the other animals. One email update I received from the ex-coworker stated: "The cat is still hanging low....dad and joan have not seen him in a few days, but food in the hay mauls is going fast."
My travels lasted longer than expected and, well, I never retrieved Esmé from the farm. I probably still have some guilt over this (hence these pages?) but I truly believe that he was happier there, that he wasn't cruely abandoned. Unfortunately I don't know what his fate was. I moved across the country and loss touch with the ex-coworker. Esmé could have met some tragic end a few years ago. Or he could still be running around and decapitating bunnies.
Meow.
-LP November 2001