WALKING WITH COBRAS

摘要

The gerbils exploded from their burrow - five, six, maybe more - too fast to count. And then they w ere gone. All became still and silent, with the exception of a nearby Cape mountain zebra mare that appeared to be suffering from flatulence.1 crouched low, eyes fixed on the burrow exit from 11 ich the rodents had erupted. Two minutes passed before the warm morning light picked out a slight movement: a black tongue flickered and glinted in the sun, followed by a golden head. One of my oldfriends, a Cape cobra I call Copper, was emerging.From just 3m away, I noted a number of things. Copper had spread her hood only partially, and her head swivelled slowly, bright eyes scanning the ground ahead. She was alert and very cautious.