Page 49 of Sheltering Instinct

“Tell me the story,” Enrico smiled.

That was a phrase that Tess loved to hear in southern Africa, “Tell me the story.” Gathering for stories was an important part of the culture.

“This woman was interested in learning about tourist encounters with our wildlife and what they could expect ifsomething should happen to them as they roamed around the country.”

“You told her that the hospitals are few and far between?” Enrico asked.

“I did and also that we can’t fly antivenom out to people. They need to have it in the hospital because an allergic reaction can be every bit as deadly as snake venom.”

“I was in the south at Sossuvlie climbing Big Daddy,” Tess said. “The nearest hospital was four hours and forty-nine minutes away.”

“That is quite a precise drive time,” Enrico said. “Did someone need the hospital?”

“No. I looked it up as the result of a conversation about wearing flip-flops to the bathhouse.” She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I guess my point was that five hours with a venomous anything bite is dangerous. But, excuse me, I’ve interrupted your story about the blogger.”

“Yes. Yes. She asked me an interesting question. You will enjoy this, Enrico. It is a question that is both far-fetched and yet—” He waggled a finger near his ear as if there was a subject to contemplate. “A question that has planted itself in my mind to be mulled. Here in Namibia, in the winter, during the night, it is typically too cold for reptiles to be out. Some days are warm, and they might wake enough to sun themselves.” He opened a hand toward Tess. “As your zebra cobra seems to have done. But, typically, from June to September, the reptiles rest.”

Levi pushed his hands into his pockets and pressed a shoulder against the wall, listening.

“This is not true for several of our more venomous snakes. For example, for the black mamba, it is mating season. The male snakes are out seeking a female. The female, she wishes to be found. To this end, the female mamba will secrete a pheromone and leave a trail that the males follow. Sometimes,two males will arrive at the same time, and they will fight. Rising up, they will entwine themselves, each trying to press the other one's head into the sand.”

“Until one of them says ‘uncle?’” Levi asked with a grin.

“Exactly so. The weaker of the two must slither away and allow the stronger one to mate. Knowing this brief backstory, this is what she asked, ‘Is it possible for someone to unwittingly walk along the pheromone trail of a female mamba and get the scent on their boots, go to their lodge room, and look up to find a bunch of male black mambas were chasing her down? And would this person be in trouble?”

The men’s laughter was loud and bawdy.

Enrico clutched his stomach and stammered out between guffaws, “Wow, that’s a vivid imagination.”

When the hilarity quieted to smiles, Tess canted her head. “So? Is it possible?”

“I do not know.” The doctor placed a hand over his heart. “No one has ever posed this to me before. I would like to find out for certain. Would I say possible?” He shrugged with open palms. “Why not? Would I say probable?” He shrugged again. “Since I have never heard of such an event, I think not. Surely, if it had ever taken place, there would be fire stories and songs about it. But when I return to my family’s village, I will ask the elders.”

A nurse came in with Tess’s lab work, and the doctor took a moment to review it.

“This looks to me to be a dry bite.” He stood. “Until tomorrow, I will not jinx these results by saying you were very lucky.” He tapped the folder on her bedtable. “I think you should go to sleep if you can.” He caught Tess’s gaze. “This has been a very anxious situation. But so far,” he tipped his chin down, “you have no signs that concern me. The nurse will monitor you onthe half-hour. We’ll draw more blood around five. And we will see what we see.”

Chapter Sixteen

Tess

The morning was still dark when Tess was handed her paperwork, and she walked out the door to find Levi and Mojo sitting exactly where the nurse had told her. “I can go home,” she said.

It was still cold out, and Levi handed her a wool blanket to wrap around herself.

She knew that Enrico and Goose had gone back to the vineyard, and Levi had stayed.

Tess wished he hadn’t. And she was immensely grateful that he had.

Dry bite.

All of that effort, all of the exertion was for not.

The long-ago face of her new friend in the new Ghanian village smiling down at Tess as she climbed the tree was vivid in her imagination.

Up the tree with laughter.

Back to the ground in agony.

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