Passage 2 It must have been around nine o’clock when I drove back home from work because it was already dark. As I came near to the gates I turned off the headlamps of the car so as to prevent the beam from swinging in through the window and waking Jack, who shared the house with me. But needn’t have done so, I noticed that his light was still on, so he was awake anyway--- unless he had fallen asleep while reading. I put the car away and went up the steps, Then I opened the door quietly and went to Jack’s room. He was in bed awake but he didn’t even turn towards me. “What’s up, Jack?” I said. “For God’s sake, don’t make a noise,” he said. The way he spoke reminded me of someone in pain who is afraid to talk in case he does himself a serious injury. “Take your shoes off, Neville,” Jack said. I thought that he must be ill and that I had better humor him to keep him happy, “There’s a snake here” he explained, “It’s asleep between the sheets. I was lying on my back reading when I saw it. I knew that moving was out of the question . I couldn’t have moved even if I’d wanted to.” I realized that he was serious. “I was relying on you to call a doctor as soon as you came home.” Jack went on.” It hasn’t bitten me yet but I daren’t do anything to upset it. It might wake up. I’m sick of this,” he said, “I took it for granted that you would have come home an hour ago.” There was no time to argue or apologize for being late. I look at him as encouragingly as I could and went out to telephone the doctor.