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She didn't want to look； never wanted to see a snake again as long as she lived but she had to check； make sure。
Cynthia climbed out of bed； crossed to the window； parted the curtains。 She had taken to leaving the exterior light on all night since Peter's death； a 150…watt bulb which illuminated almost the entire driveway。 And now there was no doubt in her mind that it was a snake that was making the noise。 Reality； no dream； a six…foot length of diamond…covered death flinging itself insanely at the door。
The thing was mad； crazy with anger； obsessed with a desire to force an entry； throwing itself at the polished oak…panelled woodwork； falling back； trying again； a whiplash of fury that had only one thought in its poisoned mind…to kill； to take revenge on those who had slaughtered its mate。 It knew； you could tell； knew that this was the place。 Cynical vengeance…it would take the life of the mate of he who had slaughtered its own mate。
But it could not get inside the house。 Or could it？ Cynthia clutched the window sill； her terror mounting。 Not through the door； certainly； but perhaps there was a ventilator somewhere through which it could pass by contracting its vile body。 Or a window left open。 When your husband was three days dead you could not rely on yourself to attend to detail。
She was safe； though。 All she had to do was to ensure that the bedroom door was shut； pick up the bedside phone and call the police。 They would e with guns； shoot the snake。
Even as she was turning away to check the door something out on the drive caught her eye； had her peering intently。 A cat or something； a creature which travelled in furtive darting movements； crouched low。 The snake will kill it！ She wanted to tap the window； shout； warn it before it was too late。 But she could not move； just stood transfixed。
It was no cat； it was too large； had a bushy tail like a fox but it certainly was not Reynard。 It was chattering； a sound that reminded her of a flock of birds feeding hungrily on a bird…table in winter。
The rattler had stopped hurling itself at the door； had fallen back and there was no mistaking the fear in its posture。 To flee or to stay and fight？ The serpent body was tense； head raised； looking about it as though seeking an avenue of escape。
It made a move to flee； covered no more than a yard before the furry streamlined creature was upon it； jaws moving with incredible speed； seizing the rattlesnake by the back of its head。 The attacker rose up on its hind legs； its prey still gripped in its teeth； shaking it； biting it。 Rattling it； death rattles that were frantic at first like a child's marbles box being shaken； dying away to the odd click。 And then silence。
Cynthia watched as the ferocious four…legged animal cast the snake to one side； a limp harmless corpse； sniffed at it as though making sure that there was no life there。 Then it bounded away； hurrying as though it had an urgent appointment somewhere； a purposefulness about those jerky movements until the shadows beyond the bright artificial light swallowed it up。
Cynthia Eversham was still standing at the window when the eastern sky began to lighten。 She had not phoned the police； she had no intention of doing so now because the rattlesnake was dead and she was in no danger。
Today was going to be a severe test for her； as it was for any woman who had to face the ordeal of a husband's funeral。
At first the mongooses had kept together； travelling side by side； picking up the fresh scent in the disused churchyard。 Gone was their domestication； they were back in the land of their ancestors where snakes were an everyday prey to be hunted down and killed； had cast off the mantle of captivity。
They found the Russell's viper first； the faint starlight glinting evilly on its greenish scales as it crossed the open tract of land in front of the church。 One of the most feared snakes of India and Burma； it instinctively smelled its hated foe in the vicinity； turned its toadish head； showed its half…inch fangs。 Fear； but that would not stop it from fighting； giving a good account of itself。 Sometimes a viper overcame and killed a mongoose； this could be one of those occasions。
It saw its pursuer； turned and waited。 e and get me； mongoose。 The mongoose stopped； began chattering loudly； danced in the manner which stoats sometimes employ in order to create a gathering of curious birds。 First one way； then another； always just out of reach of those terrible venomous fangs； a macabre ballet。
The viper's head darted； followed every move。 Just a little closer； mongoose； and you will be dead。 Intent； oblivious to all else。
Which was why the Russell's viper was unaware of the approach from behind of the second animal； until the fangs of Tick； the female； sunk deep into the back of its head； dragged it flaying and lashing from the fray； allowing Rick to move in for the death blow。
They left the mangled viper's corpse draped across the church steps； moved on with haste for this was to be a rare night of carnage； the like of which they might never see again。 They heard gunfire； made a detour of the Rising Sun even though the night air was heavy with the stench of snake's blood。
And then they split up； each following a different spoor； pointed noses close to the ground where reptile bellies had flattened and soured the dry undergrowth。
Tick came upon the African mamba in a shrubbery； surprised it and struck quickly； hurled the dead greenish body from the branches where it had been curled； heard it slump on to a bed of dead dry leaves； roll once and lie still； not even twitching。
Rick had the longest battle of all for the cobra was a large male； eighteen feet in length； its dark colour a perfect camouflage in the gloom of a silent garden。 Only inbred mongoose instincts and reflexes saved him from the lunging bite which is capable of killing an elephant in a few hours。 The head； as large as a man's clenched fist； missed by a fraction and for the next few minutes Rick was on the defensive； dancing another ballet of life and death； chattering ferociously； trying to lure his adversary into a headlong rush。
Possibly its lifetime of confinement in a zoo cage had robbed the cobra of that extra bit of cunning which would have swayed the oute of this battle in its favour。 Had it been jungle bred and born it may well have hung back for an extra minute or two； awaited an opening； an Achilles' heel in the bounding； cavorting creature that confronted it。 But all it knew was blind hatred and it struck viciously； missed a second time； enabling the mongoose to secure a hold on the underside of its hooded head。
Rick played his foe as a fisherman might play a fifteen…pound salmon； holding on； letting the other tire from its efforts and its wound； keeping his teeth firmly sunk in the reptilian flesh until at length the cobra began to tire。
It took the mongoose twenty minutes to overe its enemy and when it was all over Rick lay exhausted； panting； chattering softly。 He waited； and in due course Tick joined him and the deadly partnership was plete again。
They sniffed at each other； their way of checking to see if either had suffered wounds； asking questions and receiving answers in the manner for which Nature had equipped them。
Then they were lusting again for the blood of their hated foe； disappearing into the darkness。
For this night of snake death was not over yet。
Chapter 19
IT WAS starting to get light。 Keith Doyle stretched his aching and cramped limbs； was aware of the knotted fear in the pit of his stomach； his thirst…swollen tongue threatening to make him throw up or choke him。 He was cold； shivering； wondered if he had caught a chill but that was a minor inconvenience when pared with the ordeal that was to e； the gauntlet of death which he had to run。 This was it； the moment that could not be put off any longer。
He reached over into the back； picked up the sickle。 Sharp as its blade was it felt puny； a mere token weapon against the multi…coloured length of death that was coiled up on the bonnet watching him with unblinking eyes。 The bloody thing guessed； knew what he was about to do。 You could read the sadistic glint in its baleful glare。 e on； Man； you've kept me waiting long enough。 You'll soon be dead； your girl too。 Hurry up； I'm bored。
'Keith 。。。 no！ I don't want you to go。' Kirsten clutched at his arm； her fingernails gouging his sunburned skin。 'Please； let's give it another try； see if someone es。'
'We can't； we won't make it through another day。'
She closed her eyes； knew that he had to go； that it was their only chance of survival。 And that she had to stay here and wait。
'I'll go through the back doors；' he muttered。
The snake moved； unfurled a foot or so of its coiled length。 Damn it； the bloody thing had heard him； understood。
Not only that； it read your thoughts； knew what you were thinking； that he was g