Chapter Two: Botswana Hostage Situation With Snakes

My neck hurt and my butt was sore. I slowly came to and my heart nearly stopped. Snakes! The big cage was only a few feet away from my feet but I could see it was teeming with Puff Adders. My wrists seemed to be raw from the from the rough ropes that bound me to a small tree. The hot morning sun was rising and I looked up. Bootslangs! Dozens of them. They dangled precariously in a net above my head and I knew I was in Botswana. Home to over sixty species of snakes, twelve of which are the most venomous on earth. I turned my stiff neck to the right and saw the luxury house with deck perched on the edge of the lake. I whispered loudly, "Ludmilla, are you there?" I could feel a feel warm fingers touch mine behind me against the tree, "Yes, I'm here Gretchen, we must have been kidnapped." I rotated my head slowly to the left and saw another large cage. Of course. Black Mambas. Their thick, shiny bodies writhed in their cage. Masses of beady eyes and pink tongues eager to find me with their long fangs. My head started to spin from fright and and I began to black out again. "Don't worry Ludmilla, Brenda will save us." Soft footsteps approached and I looked up at the tall thin figure. He was outlined against the bright sun so that I couldn't see his face. "Oh thank god mister,you came to save us!" I think we have been kidnaped!" A large hand gun was raised to my face and the spinning in my head increased...