REVELATION

The ole ranch hand recently acquired the loan of a valued piece of history in the form of a buddy's ancient Marlin .22 single shot rifle.

The Book of Revelation (Rev 12:9; 20:2) makes use of a serpeant to identify Satan. Bein' plagued with "satans" down at the pond, your humble scribe sauntered that way with the bride and the little Marlin in tow.

Three shots later, they be three less fish eating reptiles slitherin' therein.

The triumphant mighty hunter then proceded his victory march back to the bunkhouse with the jubilant admiring bride in tow.

Said bride then entered the garage and promptly began furiously running in place and SCREAMING obscenities while pointing to a corner of the garage.

Being of normal curiousity, the accomplished woodsman "investigated" and observed a harmless four foot long rat snake. Relying upon a vast knowledge of the world of scaled sliders, the revered husband announced (FIRST MISTAKE) that it was a beneficial creature and should "live".

Bad move...the frantic foot stomper very efficiently redirected her rant toward her embecile mate and cut a blue streak toward the back pasture and assumed safety from the now six foot "killer".

Being never "rattled", the brave fat man picked up a nearby boat paddle and commenced to "shoo" the elongated one from the premises.....SECOND BAD MISTAKE....that eight foot instrument of Lucifer CHARGED at its tormentor with its jaws-a-snappin' like popcorn on a fiery griddle.

ALL machismo evaporated, yours truly started "running in place", and the ever larger predator repeatedly ATTACKED causing visions of fewer social security checks to loom equally as large???

Finally after a battle to the death of epic proportions, brother (ten foot?) snake cooperated and moved to an adjacent flower bed where his obvious appetite for "lead" was satisfied by Mr. Marlin.

Now if I can just get the kid's Mom to climb down out of that dang tree in the pasture?