actress," Park said, shifting uncomfortably. "Man, I need to get to a toilet something awful."
"Could this be a practical joke?" Sol asked.
"Those snakes don't look like they've got much of a sense of humour," Park said. "Lena, could your dad have arranged this to get back at us for Robin's illness?"
"He doesn't have the imagination to think up this kind of scene. And even though we don't get along, he's never mentioned wanting to feed me to snakes."
Kerry began to scream. She had just woken up. She wasn't forming intelligible words, but she was making a lot of noise.
"Shut up!" Lena snapped. "This room is soundproof. Even if Robin were awake, she couldn't hear us."
"There must be someone else in the house, then," Shani said, unable to stop trembling. Deep-rooted impressions began to surface: the red light and flames, the darkness, the serpents. She knew it was not so, but she could not totally dismiss the idea that they had all died and gone to hell. She began to hyperventilate but fought for calm.
"What are those snakes for?" Kerry cried.
"For us," Lena said grimly.
"I hate snakes," Park said.
"So who are you, Harrison Ford?" Sol muttered, pulling at his handcuff, his straining muscles visible even in the poor light. "Damn, these are on tight."
"If they were all set loose," Angie wanted to know, "are we all goners?"
"If we get bitten a few times and we don't receive treatment," Park said, "we will die."
"You're doing wonders for our morale," Sol grunted, using his legs now to push against the wall, getting nowhere. "Damn!"
"How many are there?" Angie asked.
Kerry began to panic again. "Help! God, please help me!" She fought with her handcuff, probably scraping the flesh off her wrist. Her screaming was exciting the snakes.
"Someone shut her up!" Lena yelled.
"Kerry," Shani said, with her best imitation of calm, "I am as frightened as you, but we can't panic. We have to find a way to get free." She turned to Flynn, who had blood running from the side of his head. He must have banged it when he blacked out. "Are you okay?"
"I'll live," he said, as cool as ever, alert and watchful.
"Do you have your gun?"
"I'm afraid not."
"They took my knife," Sol said, leaning back against the panelling, giving up on an immediate escape.
"I wonder what they want," Park said.
"I wonder whothey are," Sol said.
As if on cue, a voice answered. It was heavy and thick, slow and laden with unnatural weariness, indistinguishable as either masculine or feminine. Shani had to wonder if it was entirely human, and not from the other side of the grave.
"We must have the truth of that night," it said.
"Whoever you are, you can go to hell!" Lena shouted.
A motor hummed. The pole rose slightly. The lid of the snake bin shook. The rattlers went nuts. They were anxious to get out. Every muscle in Shani's body tightened.
"We'll cooperate!" Park said hastily. The lid was lowered back into place. He added, "I should have guessed. They want to know who poisoned Robin."
"But who are they?" Angie asked, repeating Sol's question.
"Does it matter?" Flynn asked. "I suggest that all of you tell them what you know."
"What can we say that we didn't say to the police?" Shani said, knowing there might be plenty. But even ifthey learned the truth, would that satisfy them?
"The police didn't give us this incentive," Park said.
"That's one hell of a way of putting it," Sol said.
"With the police, we were all trying to downplay our own parts," Park said. "At least, I was. It was your party, Angie; you start."
"Start what? We've got to get free. Whoever's doing this is psycho. They'll kill us all."
"Whoever's doing this can hear everything we're saying," Park said. Shani had to admire his cool.
However, he looked desperately uncomfortable, a shade green. Was the one behind this voice also responsible for their illness? And was it indeed Robin, and had she brought in outside help?
"Angie was the one who said, 'Just one drink, it won't kill you,' " Kerry blurted, addressing their mysterious examiner.
"I did not! Liar!"
"Actually, you did," Shani said. "But - "
"I never did!" Angie said, exasperated, frightened. "You traitorous - "
"We'll get nowhere this way," Park interrupted. "We have to piece the facts together. We should start with what we know. Sol gave her the beer."
"I gave hera beer. How do you know it was the poisonous one?"
"That's the same excuse you gave to the police," Angie said.
"Robin took my beer, sure, but she