The Ancient Enmity Summary

Rawlings believes the fear of snakes is not inherent in humans but rather, learned. She is quite afraid of them until she holds one and sees its beauty. She skins it and learns later it was a poisonous coral snake.

During an emotional time of her life, Rawlings is numb enough to go out with a herpetologist friend to. As her friend, Ross, catches and bags snakes, she becomes ill from fear. Ross asks her to hold a water snake, and she is comforted by its living, breathing mortality. Due to the rattlers' limited vision, they only strike what moves about them, which allows Rawlings to feel freer and less afraid.

A large kingsnake who lives at the gate of her property is almost friendly and allows Rawlings and her cat Jib to touch him. Black snakes are not...