ation came from dozens of snakes； coiling around his ankles； sliding between his legs； over his chest。 He felt a cool slithering motion across his forehead。 He closed his eyes； feeling horror as the snake body moved over his face； down his nose； brushed over his lips； then moved away。
He listened to the hissing of the reptiles and thought of how poisonous Beth had said they were。 Beth； he thought； where is Beth？
He did not move。 He felt snakes coiling around his neck； slipping over his shoulder； sliding between the fingers of his hands。 He did not want to open his eyes。 He felt a surge of nausea。
God； he thought。 I'm going to throw up。
He felt snakes under his armpit； and felt snakes slipping past his groin。 He burst into a cold sweat。 He fought nausea。 Beth； he thought。 He did not want to speak。 Beth 。。。
＇＇307＇＇ He listened to the hissing and then； when he couldn't stand it any more； he opened his eyes and saw the mass of coiling； writhing white flesh； the tiny heads； the flicking forked tongues。 He closed his eyes again。
He felt one crawling up the leg of his jumpsuit； moving against his bare skin。
〃Don't move； Norman。〃
It was Beth。 He could hear the tension in her voice。 He looked up； could not see her； only her shadow。
He heard her say； 〃Oh God； what time is it？〃 and he thought； The hell with the time； who cares what time it is？ It didn't make any sense to him。 〃I have to know the time；〃 Beth was saying。 He heard her feet moving on the deck。 〃The time 。。。〃
She was moving away； leaving him！
The snakes slid over his ears； under his chin； past his nostrils； the bodies damp and slithering。
Then he heard her feet on the deck； and a metallic clang as she threw open the hatch。 He opened his