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."
One of the serpent heads left the reptilian cluster and glided
forward to inspect William's snouted face. Hard, reptilian eyes
examined his features as a long forked tongue darted in and out of
the salivating mouth. The mouth of the snake-if indeed, it was a
snake-opened wide, exposing two ghastly fangs. Abruptly, the
creature began to guffaw, horridly, a foul unearthly noise that
shook William's fast-beating heart and prompted him to draw back
in horror.
The comely maiden jerked the chain leash, and the serpent
monster retreated to its position, hovering silently, for the moment,
behind her.
But she too leaned forward and gazed with more intensity upon
William. Her breath is not felicitous, thought William. Her eyes
grew bold and harsh and glitteringly metallic-like. Reflected in
them was a pathetic, shrinking William and the deepening fog and
mist.
In general she stinks, thought William, as the maiden drew
closer. Perhaps she ought to consider bathing or perfuming.
The maiden had set down the quill pen and now her fingers
were closing around her staff. As she spoke again, William
remembered thinking how suddenly her face had become distorted
and grotesque, how loud and grating her voice had become, like . .
. like metal scraping against the sea bottom.
"So, my dear Pig William," she remarked, edging forward, "in
other words, you have no relatives, no mate, and nobody fool
enough to grieve for you when you are
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