MR T Norman Thomas

"A Clutch of Snakes" MR T Norman Thomas

There's trouble in Zoeta, "The Town of the Zoes" (Shamans.) Deadly vipers are coming into the village, killing people. Compellingly vibrant, colorful characters of villagers and expatriates alike are threatened by the infestation of snakes. The villagers; Chief and Elders, Snake Hunters, Zoes, Mandingos and the men at the Palm Wine Shop as well as the expatriates, including Missionaries running a Literacy Center, Peace Corps Volunteers building a road and an Anthropologist travelling with a wild animal trapper and Mercenary, all have their points of view as to why snakes are attacking the village. Anomalies, misunderstandings and unintended consequences plague all as they attempt to understand the problem and each other. The conflict between the people in these indelible stories leads to some striking psychological and cultural insights. These short stories will satisfy and delight the arm-chair Anthropologist in us all. Entertaining and thoughtful, these stories follow each character until they are trapped together by the Chief's Law: "No One In/ No One Out" of the village until the problem of the snakes is solved.