At one side of the long table, a spirited discussion springs up between a young girl and an armyofficer. The girl insists women have long outgrown the jumping-on-a-chair-at-the-sight-of-a-mouseera, and that they are not as anxious as their grandmothers were. The officer says they are,arguing women haven't the actual nerve control of men.

"A woman's reaction in any crisis," the officer says,"is to scream. And while a man mayfeel like it, he has that ounce more of control than a woman has."

The American scientist does not join in the argument but sits and watches the faces of theother guests. As he stares, he sees a slight, though strange look of anxiety come over the face of thehostess. With a small gesture she summons the servant standing behind her chair. She whispers tohim. The servant's eyes widen. He turns quickly and leaves the room. No one else sees this, nor theservant when he puts a bowl of milk on the balcony outside the glass doors.

The American understands. In India, milk in a bowl means only one thing. It is bait fora snake. He realizes there is a cobra in the room. The American's eyes move across the roombut he sees nothing. He realizes the snake can only be in one place - under the table.

His first reaction is to jump back and warn the others. But he knows any sudden movementwill frighten the cobra and it will strike. He speaks quickly, the quality of his voice so arrestingthat it quietens everyone."I want to know just what control everyone at this table has. I will countthree hundred - that's five minutes - and not one of you is to move a single muscle. Now! Ready!"

The 20 people sit like stone images while he counts. He is saying ..o.. hundred and eighty.."when, out of the corner of his eye, he sees the snake emerge and make for the bowl of milk. Four orfive screams ring out as he jumps to slam shut the balcony doors.