Maurice worried with a twig that he'd snatched from the bank. He eyed the murky water but decided that she was right. What was a snake going to do to Heather? If it sank its teeth into her it might just burn up. Or perhaps she would poison it back.

"Well o-okay..."

In the sooty blackening water something moved against the birdmonster's feet and slithered deeper into the center of the pond.

"If you can't find it you can use mine..."