“Where did it go?” Bongani asked.
I pointed at the bush, and like some fearless gazelle, he jumped off the walkway into it.
“I’m going to call for an airlift ambulance!” the manager said, running off.
Max cradled my head in his hands and I could feel the poison working, feel the tingling in all my extremities and my vision went blurry.
“Max . . .” My voice was soft; it was taking all my energy just to talk. “I don’t want to die. There are so many things I haven’t done. So many things I regret. I mean, I want more time with my friends. I want more cats. I want to travel and I want to overcome my fear of roller coasters so I can go on one at least once before I die and I want to go to Bali and walk on the beach at sunset and I want to eat real curry in India and I want to swim in the Maldivian Sea and it would be great, just bloody great, to no longer be cursed and to have one, just one actual orgasm with a human being, and to have good sex at least once in my life before I die! Oh my God, I am going to die!!!” I started sobbing just as Bongani emerged from the bushes holding a snake.
“Is this the snake?” he asked.
My sobbing ceased as I looked at the evil thing. Clown-like, still mocking me with its red smile. “Yes! That’s the one.”
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“I’ve never been more sure about anything before in my life.”
“Oh. Cool!” And with that, he released the snake back into the bush.
“What the hell are you doing?” Max shouted.
“It’s a red-lipped herald, totally harmless. Very, very aggressive snake—not surprised it bit you—but totally harmless.”
“Harmless!” I managed. “But I can feel it. My heart is racing. I’m sweaty, dizzy. I feel faint. I’m tingling all over. I’m struggling to breathe. I don’t feel well at all.”
The manager came running back down. “Helicopter will be here in fifteen minutes.”
“No need, red-lipped herald.”
“Oh, thank God!” The manager gripped his chest and exhaled loudly. “I’ll go and cancel it.” He sprinted away.
“You’re in shock.” Bongani walked over to me. “The sweat, racing heart, dizziness, tingling, it’s indicative of shock and panic. I don’t blame you, but you’re going to be totally fine. Put the bite under running water for five minutes, and I’ll go and get the first-aid kit. There’s some antiseptic cream in there and a plaster.”
“Are you sure?” Max asked. “Shouldn’t she just go to the hospital, in case something happens?”
“I’ll even give you some antibiotics to take if you’re worried about infection,” Bongani said to me. “But I promise the snake is totally harmless.” He turned to Max. “Help her to the tent, get her some Coke for the shock and I’ll be back soon.”
Max threw his arms round me and I felt my body being lifted off the ground as he buried his head in my neck and squeezed me so hard I thought I was going to break.
“Thank God. I thought I was going to lose you again,” he said, lips pressed into the side of my face. “And I can’t lose you again, Ash.”
CHAPTER 30
Max
I carried her to my tent while trying to fight back actual tears. I didn’t want her to see them, though. They would only make her panic even more. But for a moment there I’d imagined losing her. I’d imagined her dying in my arms and never getting to say, or do, the things that I was so desperate to say and do to her.
“Let’s get your ankle under some water.” I carried her over to the bath and sat her down on the lip. She still looked ashen. “Hold on to the basin tightly. I’m going to get you some Coke.” I rushed off and returned seconds later, helping her sip it. I pulled her slippers off and then angled her ankle so that the stream of water hit the bite perfectly. I watched the water run over the wound, taking a lot of blood with it and then held it in place like Bongani had said. I timed the five minutes, and just as I was turning off the water, he arrived with a first-aid bag.
“Antiseptic lotion, plasters, and antibiotics if you want to take them, just to be sure.”
I thanked him and he left. But not before mentioning that this was the reason why guests should never walk around without him, and making me swear that neither of us would do it again.
“How are you feeling?” I asked Ash, now rubbing her back in gentle circles.
“I don’t know,” she said, her eyes tearing up. “I thought I was going to . . .” The first tear escaped her eye and I quickly wiped it away. She didn’t have to say any more to me; I knew exactly what she was feeling. And I knew why.
“It’s okay. You’re alive and you’re okay. Just in shock. I’ll help you to the bed and we can put this cream on. You think you can walk?” I asked her, and she nodded.
