Chapter 2. Meet Malachi

Something was certainly alive inside the strange glass tank, but Eve could see even from where she stood that it was not a cat, and that meant that it was not dangerous. She took a step closer, sniffing, but the glass kept her from catching the stranger’s scent. Finally she grew so impatient with trying to figure out what it was, that she went right up to the glass.

Immediately there was a loud Bump! and Eve started back. A strange face with a long neck moved up and down in front of her.

“Oh,” it said suddenly and stood still, “you’re on the outside.” A pair of bright black eyes examined her curiously. Eve thought she’d never seen so odd a creature.

“Please, sir,” she began hesitantly, “are you a rat or a human or…(she gulped) are you a cat?”

The stranger smiled. “I’m not any of those things.”

Eve looked confused. “What other things are there?”

“Well…there are snakes. I am a snake—a boa constrictor, actually. My name is Malachi.”

Eve digested this doubtfully. She was sure she’d never heard of any creatures besides rats and humans and cats. Still…he didn’t look like any of those. He certainly has a very long neck, she thought. Eve kept seeing more and more of his neck, but she couldn’t find where his body began.

“Where are you shoulders?” she asked.

“I haven’t any.”

“And your whiskers? Your belly, your tail?”

Malachi smiled. “I’m all tail.”

Eve thought this very odd indeed, and she was trying to imagine what it would be like to have her head attached to her tail, when the snake spoke again. “What is your name?”

“Eve.”

“You’re a very brave baby rat, Eve.”

Eve bristled. “I’m not a baby! I’m almost a month old.” (She was only two and a half weeks, actually, but she thought that was close enough.)

Malachi put his head down next to her. The distance from the tip of his nose to the back of his jaw was bigger than her entire body. “You’re not that old,” he said.

Eve was feeling sulky and didn’t answer him for a moment. When she did, she tried to change the subject. “The cat isn’t out tonight. I didn’t need to be brave to come across the room. I just needed a lot of energy.” (And with that she yawned.)

“Not brave,” laughed the snake. “Don’t you know who I am?”

“Yes, you’ve just told me. You’re a tail with a head, called Malachi.”

He laughed. “That’s not what I mean. I mean, don’t you know the relationship between you and me?”

Eve looked very much surprised. “I don’t think we’re related…and (she added) if we were, I don’t think I’d admit it.”

Malachi raised his head and cocked it on one side. “You really don’t know, do you?” He it said almost to himself.

“Don’t know what?” Eve came to the glass again and put her nose against it. She could see a stick inside and some water in a big dish.

The snake hesitated. “Nothing.”

“I do most certainly know many things!” retorted Eve. “I’ve been out of my glass tank, and not even my father will do that.”

“I’m sure he won’t.” Malachi seemed to be thinking of something else, and not really listening to her.

This annoyed Eve. “The boy must not love you very much,” she said slyly. “I can’t see that he feeds you.”

“Oh, he feeds me,” said the snake quickly, coming out of his reverie.

“Where’s your food, then? I don’t see any grain or apples or grapes in your tank.”

“I don’t eat very often—only every two weeks.”

“Oh?” Eve was much astonished. “You must eat a great deal at one time!”

“Yes…” said Malachi slowly. “I eat a great deal.”

“I’m tired,” said Eve, “and I shouldn’t be standing around in the open like this. The cat might come.”

“Oh, the cat won’t come here,” said Malachi. “He never comes on my shelf.”

“Oh? What makes you so sure? Aren’t you afraid of the cat?”

Malachi flicked his tongue and grinned. “Nope.”

“Why?”

He thought for a moment. “Because I’m bigger.”

This seemed to Eve like a good reason. She sighed. “Well, I’m not. I have to go home now. Good-bye, Malachi.”

He raised his head and watched until she was out of sight. “Good-bye, Eve.”