Blurb:
In the darkness, he knew he was going to die. The venom of the Sky-Piercing Python would gradually rob a person of their senses, then turn their whole body to mush.
He heard an argument close by:
A hoarse female voice said, "You'd better get this straight. If it weren't for my protection, you'd have been tied to a stake and burned alive countless times by now for your daily grave-robbing!"
The sharp male voice that answered showed no mercy. "Go ahead and kill me, then. Let's see who else will clean up this mess for you!"
Were they going to give up on him? He only sensed someone approaching. Someone roughly hauled him up and pried his lips apart. The bloody taste of his bitten tongue immediately filled his mouth.
"There," he heard her say, sounding like a child who had just pulled off a successful prank. "Now I'm poisoned too. You'll hand over what you have, won't you, my esteemed doctor?"
Theme: Working together to build a better life.
