I and others had been warding off violent attacks in the dark. We were engaged in a desperate battle to save our lives. Then the lights went on and I could see many people who, in one way or another, were defending themselves against attacking snakes. There were several snakes that were being held off at arms length, or foiled in other ways.

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Kadmos, Phoenician prince of Greek mythology, fighting a dragon (from Italian vase, ca. 350–340 BCE)

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