HOME | DD

Description

Since I had a hard time deciding among multiple possible endings, I decided to break this story into two independent paths. Path A Part 12 gives one conclusion. Here, Path B part 12 directly follows Part 11. The events of Path A Part 12 have not happened in this Path B, though there may be some overlap in the future. Path B may have shorter chapters and continue as long as there is sufficient interest by my readers and me. The quicksand background is from the Jungle Book Cartoon. Thanks to all who have been reading this for your support.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning after Kaa uncoiled Mowgli and they had breakfast, Mowgli asked, “What are we going to do today? Do you have any more games you haven’t shown me?”

Kaa grinned. “Yes, I’ve got a good one planned. We’re going to explore the swampy part of the jungle some more.”

“What are we going to do?”

“Telling you would ruin the fun. I can tell you it’s something new.”

They set off deeper into the swampy part of the jungle, farther away from where the wolves raised Mowgli and at angle that kept them far from the man village. Soon the ground got squishy and made it difficult for Mowgli to walk. Turning in another direction, they came to a shallow slow-moving river.

“Grab on,” commanded Kaa, “it will go faster.”

That was fine with Mowgli, and he went on the snake ride. Kaa swam quickly in the river and adjoining reed-filled ponds. Mowgli had never experienced moving through water so quickly, and it was quite an enjoyable adventure.

This went on for a good half hour when they came upon the edge of a pond that was filled with muddy and sandy sediment, whereupon Kaa reached up while wrapping around Mowgli’s waist and began swinging through the trees. Mowgli took this as simply another part of the ride, understandable as the terrain had become impossible to slither and swim so quickly. Using this great length, the python made his way through the trees easily. Along the way he changed his grip on Mowgli several times, explaining that Kaa wanted to be sure not to drop the boy or bang him into a tree. Mowgli didn’t question the explanation.

After another half hour Kaa stopped and braced himself across two tree branches, acting as if he was tired. He maneuvered his coils so that they enclosed Mowgli’s wrists tightly, then let go of the rest of his body. This left Mowgli dangling by his hands over … wet sand?”

“What does that look like down there?” asked Kaa.

Upon looking, Mowgli gulped and realized he had probably been set up. “That looks like quicksand.”

“Could be. Let’s see if you’re right.” Kaa was holding Mowgli with coils in the center of the snake’s body and was able to poke the ground with his tail. “That’s a little firm for quicksand. Let’s try another spot.”

Kaa moved from tree to tree, maintaining his tight grip on Mowgli’s wrists, and poked the ground in several more places. “Ah, here’s a nice soft spot.”

As Mowgli feared, Kaa’s next move was to place him directly over the soft spot, about a meter over the unstable ground. Then Kaa held still for several minutes, reveling in the torment this caused. Mowgli had been certain Kaa was going to drop him in the quicksand, but this hesitation made him think that there was a small chance the snake really wasn’t going to do so. The man-cub couldn’t take the suspence any longer and broke the silence. If he was going to be dumped into the quicksand they might as well get it over with.

“Aren’t you going to drop me in the quicksand?”

Kaa grinned. “Maybe you can break loose and escape.”

“If I can get my hands out of your coils, I’m just going to fall into the quicksand immediately.”

“It certainly does look that way.”

“And if I don’t, you’ll just loosen your coils enough to let me fall.”

“So, what are you getting at?”

“No matter what, pretty soon I’m going to be in the quicksand.”

“That sounds like very good logic. Hold on a minute, let’s make sure.”

Kaa poked the soft spot in the quicksand with his tail again. “This spot is getting a little firmer. I got an idea: let’s stir this up a little.” Still bracing himself against the branches, Kaa used his powerful tail to stir the quicksand below Mowgli.

Looking down, Mowgli saw the quicksand become rather soupy. His face betrayed alarm as he became terrified. If Kaa dropped him then, he would probably sink very deep and very fast. Somehow he had to find a way to avoid being deposited into the quicksand. He would have to talk Kaa out of it.

“Kaa, this was a very fun game. We’ll have to do it again sometime, put it in the rotation of games we play. But we haven’t eaten in a while, so let’s go back home now.”

“That’s an interesting suggestion. I wonder what I’m going to decide.”

Description

Since I had a hard time deciding among multiple possible endings, I decided to break this story into two independent paths. Path A Part 12 gives one conclusion. Here, Path B part 12 directly follows Part 11. The events of Path A Part 12 have not happened in this Path B, though there may be some overlap in the future. Path B may have shorter chapters and continue as long as there is sufficient interest by my readers and me. The quicksand background is from the Jungle Book Cartoon. Thanks to all who have been reading this for your support.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning after Kaa uncoiled Mowgli and they had breakfast, Mowgli asked, “What are we going to do today? Do you have any more games you haven’t shown me?”

Kaa grinned. “Yes, I’ve got a good one planned. We’re going to explore the swampy part of the jungle some more.”

“What are we going to do?”

“Telling you would ruin the fun. I can tell you it’s something new.”

They set off deeper into the swampy part of the jungle, farther away from where the wolves raised Mowgli and at angle that kept them far from the man village. Soon the ground got squishy and made it difficult for Mowgli to walk. Turning in another direction, they came to a shallow slow-moving river.

“Grab on,” commanded Kaa, “it will go faster.”

That was fine with Mowgli, and he went on the snake ride. Kaa swam quickly in the river and adjoining reed-filled ponds. Mowgli had never experienced moving through water so quickly, and it was quite an enjoyable adventure.

This went on for a good half hour when they came upon the edge of a pond that was filled with muddy and sandy sediment, whereupon Kaa reached up while wrapping around Mowgli’s waist and began swinging through the trees. Mowgli took this as simply another part of the ride, understandable as the terrain had become impossible to slither and swim so quickly. Using this great length, the python made his way through the trees easily. Along the way he changed his grip on Mowgli several times, explaining that Kaa wanted to be sure not to drop the boy or bang him into a tree. Mowgli didn’t question the explanation.

After another half hour Kaa stopped and braced himself across two tree branches, acting as if he was tired. He maneuvered his coils so that they enclosed Mowgli’s wrists tightly, then let go of the rest of his body. This left Mowgli dangling by his hands over … wet sand?”

“What does that look like down there?” asked Kaa.

Upon looking, Mowgli gulped and realized he had probably been set up. “That looks like quicksand.”

“Could be. Let’s see if you’re right.” Kaa was holding Mowgli with coils in the center of the snake’s body and was able to poke the ground with his tail. “That’s a little firm for quicksand. Let’s try another spot.”

Kaa moved from tree to tree, maintaining his tight grip on Mowgli’s wrists, and poked the ground in several more places. “Ah, here’s a nice soft spot.”

As Mowgli feared, Kaa’s next move was to place him directly over the soft spot, about a meter over the unstable ground. Then Kaa held still for several minutes, reveling in the torment this caused. Mowgli had been certain Kaa was going to drop him in the quicksand, but this hesitation made him think that there was a small chance the snake really wasn’t going to do so. The man-cub couldn’t take the suspence any longer and broke the silence. If he was going to be dumped into the quicksand they might as well get it over with.

“Aren’t you going to drop me in the quicksand?”

Kaa grinned. “Maybe you can break loose and escape.”

“If I can get my hands out of your coils, I’m just going to fall into the quicksand immediately.”

“It certainly does look that way.”

“And if I don’t, you’ll just loosen your coils enough to let me fall.”

“So, what are you getting at?”

“No matter what, pretty soon I’m going to be in the quicksand.”

“That sounds like very good logic. Hold on a minute, let’s make sure.”

Kaa poked the soft spot in the quicksand with his tail again. “This spot is getting a little firmer. I got an idea: let’s stir this up a little.” Still bracing himself against the branches, Kaa used his powerful tail to stir the quicksand below Mowgli.

Looking down, Mowgli saw the quicksand become rather soupy. His face betrayed alarm as he became terrified. If Kaa dropped him then, he would probably sink very deep and very fast. Somehow he had to find a way to avoid being deposited into the quicksand. He would have to talk Kaa out of it.

“Kaa, this was a very fun game. We’ll have to do it again sometime, put it in the rotation of games we play. But we haven’t eaten in a while, so let’s go back home now.”

“That’s an interesting suggestion. I wonder what I’m going to decide.”