Ssss

This entry was written by ML S., Mike

   Samie Hammon. She’d traveled from one end of the world to the other. She’d witnessed the mysterious death rituals of the Matis tribe from the darkest reaches of the Amazon to the colorful celebrations of the Masai. Life had left her prepared for any event. Or had it?

   Samie thought to herself that today seems like a good day to take care of all the menial chores she’d let slide. Her yard looked more like the wilds from which she’d just returned than she cared to admit.

   Why didn’t I hire that neighborhood boy this spring when he asked if I needed someone to mow my yard? There’s the added plus of his drool worthiness after he’s finished mowing. He is in college afterall so it wouldn’t exactly be cradle robbing.

   Oh well, I’d better get to the chores. It will be bad enough even if I finish before the hottest part of the day. As though mocking her, the clouds parted just then and the withering sun made its full presence known.

   Nature’s cacophony opened up full as the bright sun washed over the yard. A loud sigh escaped from between Samie’s lips and added to the enthusiastic blarings. Why must nature be so damned loud?

   Samie walked with a stuttered pace to the shed as though making her way to the gallows. She dreaded opening the doors to the old metal shed. The doors didn’t work so well any longer. Not only that but they also made the most horrendous grating noise that sounded like opening the gates to an old abandoned mausoleum. She shivered as the thought hit her for the millionth time. God, why do I think that every time I open these things? I should take them off and just lean something over the opening.

   Getting out the mower, Samie bent over to make all the mundane checks one must go through before embarking on the wonderful adventure that is mowing. Well, at least it’s an adventure with my lawn she thought to herself. I should get myself a hat and whip and play at being Indiana Jones.

   Samie stood back up and took one more quick survey of the yard around her. I guess it doesn’t really matter where I start as long as I start. Pulling on the starter cord, the mower coughed stubbornly to life. Thank God, I got the self-propelled one. I should have gotten the stupid electric start too.

   Pulling back on the drive engagement lever, Samie set a quick pace behind the mower. Hopefully I can keep this up and I should be done in no time. Samie and the mower made straight lines from one end of the yard to the other. Both labored under the strain of the grass that was just a bit too tall for the swath she was taking. Everything seemed to be going smoothly. Much too smoothly for a change Samie thought to herself.

   A couple passes from the end and a loud thud emanated from the mower. Great! I just got this darned thing and wouldn’t you know it. Samie pulled the mower back from the spot where all her efforts came to a halt. A scene of sickening carnage revealed itself slowly as the mower unrolled the ball of grass that lay under the deck. Trying to keep her meal down, Samie looked down on the mix of pureed grass and what must have once been a very large snake. Ewww echoed throughout the interior of her mind. I guess I’d better get a shovel.

   Returning with the shovel, Samie gingerly scooped up the remains. She carefully maneuvered herself, the shovel and the snake over to the garbage can. Dropping it in, she though good riddance to you mister snake. I won’t have to be freaked out by you now when I walk through the yard. It dimly registered that she could no longer hear any birds singing or any other sound of nature that had been there not that long ago.

   Samie got the mower going again with a couple pulls on the rope. The last few passes went quickly but not quickly enough to put the images of death out of her mind. Strange that I can watch some of the most horrifying rituals of man but one little snake can give me the willies. Putting away the mower, Samie thought that is surely enough for the day.

   She retired to the cool confines of her wonderfully air conditioned home and settled into her large reading chair with the cold drink she grabbed from the fridge. Taking up her current favorite book, the tension that had built up gradually while working in the yard slowly eased from her tight shoulders. Relaxation worked its way to contentment and from there into slumber. The last cognizant thought was of taking the last sip of her drink while laying the book aside.

   Strange dreams intruded on her slumber. Tossing from side to side in the large overstuffed chair, she tried to escape the images being projected in her mind. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead as scared mumblings escaped from her mouth. Shaking awake, she let out a small gasp. Wow, what a dream. Snakes crawling towards me from all directions chanting out with hissing sounds that I’d killed their king. That’s the last time I have Mexican food before working out in the heat.

   Her eyes slowly tried to adjust to the dim light that filtered through the lace curtains. Looking over at the mirrored table across the room, she thought something seemed out of place in the reflection. She spent several minutes trying to work out what it could be when realization dawned in her still sleep impaired brain.

   No. That is impossible. I must still be dreaming. Samie pinched herself and let out a soft cry from the pain. No, I must be awake. Turning on the light she was left speechless by what greeted her. All around her was a tangled mess of slithering bodies. Every surface of the floor was covered by all species of snakes. This can’t be. This simply can’t be. It must be a dream. It has to be. It has to be!

   Softly to her ears came the sound. The same sound that woke her from her dream.

   You killed our king. Now you musssst pay.