The Rattlesnake

The merchant’s wagon rolled into the sunset. It would be dark soon, and that was going to be a problem. This part of the desert wasn’t kindly to strangers, especially those who had goods to sell.

The wagon hit a log that the horses had managed to step over. A spoke in the front left wheel snapped, collapsing the whole damn thing. The merchant hopped down from his seat, sweating. Changing a broken wheel in the dark wasn’t easy, especially when doing it alone. He decided he would camp for the night.

 

The merchant made no fire, for fires in dangerous country can attract dangerous persons. But that wouldn’t matter tonight; a dangerous person arrived all the same.

 

As the merchant curled up in the back of his wagon, surrounded by potions and knick-knacks, he heard a young woman’s voice in the night.

 

“Hello there! Is anyone home?”

 

Now, the merchant wouldn’t usually respond to callers in the dark of the night, but the voice sounded friendly enough. The old salesman poked his head out the back and saw a young lady, no older than twenty.

 

“Why, hello there good sir! I’m so sorry to disturb you upon this dreadful hour, but I fear I had no choice. A rattlesnake spooked my horse when I was relieving myself not an hour ago, and I haven’t found the old donkey. Might I join you in the back of your wagon for warmth?”

 

The merchant was new to these parts, but naive he was not. The desert had neither wolves nor sheep, but the old man could recognize a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

 

“I don’t meet a lot of young ladies these days who speak of their bowel movements with such liberty” he said. “I’m sorry to hear about your horse, but I’m afraid I barely have enough space back here for myself.”

 

The young woman frowned. “Are you certain, mister? I don’t take up much space at all, and your generosity might save my life!”

 

“I’m certain as the setting sun. But, I can spare a tonic to help carry you through the night.” He reached into the back and pulled out a bottle harboring a viscous clear liquid.

 

The lady reached out to accept the old man’s offer, when the man chucked the bottle at her feet. Before the woman could respond, black bile started pouring from her mouth, eyes, and ears. She wailed a wail that would keep the old man up at night for the months to come. 

 

As the “lady’s” body emptied of bile, she shrank and shriveled up until she was nothing but a a four-foot serpent. The reptile hissed at the old man and took off into the darkness.

 

The merchant shook his head. “Hm. Rattlesnakes.”

----------------------------------

Thanks for reading!

Rudolph