For us it is a potent symbol. A symbol of life and regeneration. In the eastern countryside the barren nature of the land means there are few snakes. ...hey tattoo their women this way to summon their spirit. These are their traditional designs."I looked more closely at the swirling patterns that curled around Cora's body. There were indeed stylised snakes, intricately wound about each other like the patterns on some Saxon illuminated manuscript. Forked tongues twined around each of her cheeks.. I saw a spool of cow-chain lying on the floor. I grabbed it and held the spool under my arm as I reached up to grab a shop-hammer from the workbench. I couldn’t run and hold everything, so I hurried as fast as I could to the GMC. I piled all the rope, the crowbar, hammer, and the roll of chain in the floorboard on the passenger side, then ran around to climb up the steps into the cab.I released the air brakes and made a hard right turn to come out between the house and barn. I had to circle. Turning on the shower I adjusted in just enough hot water to knock the chill out of the shower spray, then stepped in, closing the shower curtain behind me. I had just finished soaping up my hair and scrubbing my face when I heard Mom calling "That you, Hut?" I rinsed the lather off of my head and face and turned to see her standing naked in the doorway of the mudroom watching me.Now she could clearly see me thru the shower curtain, so I don't know why she asked, but I answered "Yeah Mom, it's. " He frowned. "The ice there sucked; I caught a rough spot and fell. If I hadn't done that, the pass never would have gotten by me." You can't do everything. And isn't that what your defense is for?" Yeah, I know." Brody shrugged. "Anyway, we're not here to talk about me." What do you want to talk about, then? The Tigers are looking good."Brody was saved having to reply when the food arrived. He tried to organize his thoughts, buying more time by drowning his onion rings in ketchup. "Nice try,.