A Brief Encounter

I met a Mamba today.

I was driving home after a short excursion onto a sandy ridge dotted with decrowned Marulas, to talk to an elephant.

It was right next to the road at the door of the Landie, six to eight feet of sleek, serpentine energy, with two feet of raised expectancy, and a flared readiness, lifted off the ground in anticipation of a confrontation.

I am glad we had a mutual understanding of self-preservation and interspecific respect.

After a brief moment of eye contact, I think we were both relieved to go our separate ways.