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Keith crashed the lever into bottom gear； felt the van move forward； bumping over rough ground。 There was room enough to swing it around in a circle and drive straight out； much easier than trying to reverse all the way back through the overhanging trees and undergrowth。
'Two minutes； probably less； and we'll be out on the road。'
This euphoria was an unforgettable experience。 Suddenly everything had e right； they did not have any more worries。 If the snake stayed on for the whole way then that was fine； the police or the army would soon deal with it。
They bumped their way over more stones and deep ruts； Keith now going into a left…hand circle； hard over on full lock； 180 degrees； and now they were facing in the opposite direction。 Gathering speed so that he had to change up to second gear； the exit from this place of terror looming up in front of them。 He would take it at speed； go like hell all the way。
And that was when the engine suddenly coughed； lost its momentum； hiccupped again。 And petered out。
'Oh no？ Kirsten cried； and buried her face in her hands as the van slowed； rolled to a halt。
They sat there； saying nothing because there was nothing to say； staring at the red ignition warning light on the dashboard； hating it； blaming it。 Keith reached for the key； switched it off。
'What 。 。 。 happened？' Kirsten asked at length。 'We're out of petrol。' An admission of guilt was in his tone； a resignation to their plight。 An apology。 And the snake on the bonnet seemed to grin at them through the glass。 'I was nearly empty yesterday。 I should have filled up but 。。。 I didn't。 I'm sorry； Kirsten。'
'Then the battery wasn't fiat after all。' 'I guess not。 Probably a dicky lead or some dirt under the terminals。' What the fuck does it matter what it was？ We're back to square one； in almost exactly the same place except that we're facing in the opposite direction。
'If the battery's working again now then 。。。 then perhaps the horn will work。 We can blow it； attract attention。'
The horn did work。 A piping squeak rather than the expected klaxon blast。 The sound came back at them off the quarry walls； hurtful to the ears； remonstrated with them for breaking the silence。 Keith stopped after half a dozen goes； it was futile； no louder than their shouting some hours ago。
He did not look at Kirsten。 I'm sorry； darling； I wish the engine had never started up； at least then we knew what we were up against。 I gave you hope and immediately destroyed it。
'We're going to die； aren't we？' she said at length； her voice steady； not crying； staring out of the side window。
'I don't know。' He could not lie to her。 'Not if I can help it。 Look； I'm going to try and make a break for it 。 。 。'
'No！ Not with that monstrosity perched out there waiting 。 。 。'
'Not immediately；' he smiled。 'Probably in the morning when it gets light。 There's a sickle in the back； the blade's like a razor。 It would cut that snake in two at one stroke。'
'Unless it bit you first。' She clutched his arm； afraid that he might suddenly decide to make a run for freedom now。
'That's a chance I'll have to take。 Better that than both of us dying in here。 And； anyway； even if I do get bitten I probably won't die。 It isn't a python； it can't crush me； I'll make it to the village； send help back to rescue you。 You can bet your life that Doctor Brennan has at this moment got every available type of snakebite serum handy in his surgery。' Of course； there were certain snake poisons that had no known antidote。 He didn't tell Kirsten that； just hoped that the creature on the bonnet was not one of those。
'I want to e with you；' she said。
'Don't be bloody silly； there's no point in us both getting bitten。'
'I suppose you're right；' she sighed。 'But if I'm asleep wake me up before you go。'
'I promise。' He leaned across； kissed her。
'Oh； and there's something else；' she murmured； 'not that I suppose it makes any difference now。'
'What's that？'
'I'm not pregnant。'
A sudden pang of anxiety had him asking； 'But you will marry me； won't you？'
'Of course I will；' she smiled； brushed her lips against his； 'I was always going to anyway。 It was just that my folks made everything so difficult for me。 I guess it took these last few hours to make me realise that I don't have to do everything they say。 So some good has e out of it。 Don't spoil it all； Keith； don't let that snake bite you。'
'I'll be OK。' He kissed her again。 'I'd say right now its number's up if it's foolish enough to get too close to me。'
He felt light…headed； euphoric； wanted to open die window； shout out loud that everything was fine； that Kirsten Davis was going to marry him no matter what her folks said。
There was only one thing marring his happiness： that snake coiled up on the bonnet of the van…primed to kill。
Chapter 17
THE SNAKES were being restless down in their underground lair。 They had slept throughout the heat of the day and now with the ing of night they were stirring。 They were hungry； they were afraid。 But that was not all。
The inborn hatred of different species for each other was beginning to manifest itself。 Above all； most hated the huge African rock python that dominated them； ruled over them。 Nature's pecking order； it existed in every form of life。 I'm the biggest； the boss； so I can kick you。 But you can kick the next smallest。 And so on。
The python had stolen their prey； the Man that had dropped into their lair； it had driven them from him so that it could feast。 It had also made a foray into the open under the cover of darkness and they knew it had eaten again。 It was capable of killing them； too。
Throughout the day it had slept； curled up on a worm…eaten coffin in the far corner； the ancient wood creaking beneath its weight。 Asleep but alert； aware of every movement the others made。
There were five of them clustered together down in that tomb： a Russell's viper； a cobra； an African mamba； a western diamondback rattlesnake and the python。 The coral snake had gone off somewhere and had not returned； possibly it had been killed as its male had been。 None of them were concerned for anything but themselves； for this was a forced uniting。 Soon they would all go their different ways； seek out their own territory。 They had been too long in this place cooped up together。
They had been cunning enough to fool the hunters。 It was the python who had found this place； dislodged the flat stone with its weight； and they had followed it down； entered into a kind of truce which was now ing to an end。 Tonight they would all leave； but they would not flee like a defeated army because their anger and their pride would not allow it。 They would bee individuals again； hunt and kill in their own way。
They knew all about the village。 Man was easy prey except that he was not food； except for the python。 They would kill before they left； strike in the only manner they knew； swiftly and silently under the cover of darkness； moving from one victim to another； taking their revenge for a lifetime of incarceration； inflicting terror and pain on those who had e to mock them in their prisons。
In the beginning the snakes had been afraid； bewildered at finding unexpected freedom in a land where they became the hunted。 But now they had adapted； their terror was gone。
The python was the first to leave； sliding off the coffin and easing its long body up through that hole in the roof； the heavy stone pushed to one side so that the others might follow； the darkness swallowing it up。 It was gone； no longer their leader； each one on its own once they were in the open。 This was the parting of the ways。
The Russell's viper followed； the mamba close behind it； separating in the overgrowth； their ways diverging。 The rattlesnake left some time later and then the cobra which had been sleeping heavily； vacating that place below