Chapters 1-10 Summary

Chapter 1 - An African Story: An old European man who operates a small farm in Africa becomes enraged when his simple-minded servant beats his dog, breaking his back. The old man is then forced to kill his dog with a crowbar. He notices a huge Black Mamba snake that comes out of the grass to suck milk from his cow's udder in the early morning hours. He orders the servant to stand watch by the cow. Next morning, the Mamba slides out of the grass, sees the servant, and strikes him, causing a hideous, painful death.

Chapter 2 - Only This: During World War II, a woman lies half-asleep in her bed in the early morning. She goes to the window and opens it to the chill winter air. A distant rumble becomes a deafening roar as bombers darken the sky on...