13

Hugo knocked over the computer stand, which crashed to the floor. I was already running to my brother’s side, but something stopped me cold. It was oily and slick and was pouring onto the floor in a slithering black tube. Suddenly it stopped and reared up, a good twelve inches off the floor.

The thing unfurled a hood at the back of its neck. Hugo flinched. It was a snake. A cobra, to be more precise. And this cobra was pissed off.

“Don’t. Move,” I said through my teeth.

I knew a lot about snakes. For instance, I knew that any movement was guaranteed to agitate the cobra. I also knew that if it struck Hugo, neurotoxins would likely kill him before an antivenom could be found.

“Tannnnnnndy!” he cried. “Help meeeeeee!”

“I’m thinking,” I replied, my heart slamming against my ribs. “Just don’t move.”

“You said that already,” he replied.

The snake began to sway. A very bad sign. I grabbed my phone from my pocket and called Jacob. He answered on the first ring. I tried to stay calm, but my voice was in its highest register.

“Jacob, there’s a snake in the apartment. A venomous snake.”

“Where are you?” Jacob was all business. The cobra eyed Hugo like he was a piece of meat.

“In my office.”

I heard fumbling. The sound of a door opening. “Your room?”

“No. My office. It’s past my room on the other side of the hall. I’ll open the door.”

“TandyTandyTandyTandyTandy.” My fearless little brother was keening in terror.

“Hugo, I’m right here. Just stay still.”

I dropped to all fours, keeping my eyes on the snake. It was only four feet from Hugo’s right foot. He was wearing shoes, but his naked ankle was within striking distance. I knew the snake wouldn’t attack unless it felt threatened, but that inch of bare skin still looked like a bull’s-eye.

“Don’t move, Hugo. Don’t even blink. I’m going to drag you out of here,” I said in a wobbly voice.

I moved toward Hugo, directly into the snake’s sight line. My plan was to pull Hugo around the fallen computer stand and put that between us and the snake. As if the cobra could read my mind, it flattened and started to slither against the wall in my direction.

I heard Jacob coming along the hallway.

“Tandy!” he shouted, pounding the wall with his fist. “Tandy! Where are you?”

I glanced at the snake, terrified. All that noise couldn’t be good. “Jacob!” Hugo screeched. “We’re in here.”

The door frame in the hallway was so well concealed, you could miss it even when you knew where to look. I crawled to Hugo and got right behind him, then rose to a crouch.

“Very slowly raise your hands up,” I told him.

He reached back and I clasped his hands.

“It’s looking right at me,” Hugo whimpered. “Look at its tongue.”

“Just don’t look at it,” I told him. “Pretend it’s not there. We’re just playing a game.”

“Yeah, right.”

I had begun backing up slowly, sliding Hugo with me toward the doorway, when suddenly it jerked open. Jacob hovered over us, and he was holding a very heavy-duty handgun.

“Where is it?” Jacob asked.

I pried one hand loose from Hugo’s and pointed to the snake.

“You two get out of here,” he said. “I’ll handle this.”

“You’re going to shoot it?” Hugo shouted, scrambling to his feet. “Cool! There’s no way I’m leaving now.”