The snake was mostly contented. Not much disturbance, since humans seldom crossed over from the other side. They came in bamboo rafts
but only to gather firewood. The island was big enough for the ulupong to avoid people.

Food was abundant. Mice, frogs and pugo (quail) were all over the place. The ulupong also loved preying on larger animals like rabbits
and ducks. He was never hungry and he passed the time happily exploring the island.

There was just one thing he had long dreamt of accomplishing. To be able to cross the water and spend some time on the other side. He often wondered what life was like in the barrio and beyond. But the water was too deep and stretched too far for the ulupong to tackle.

Once, the snake asked a duck if he could ride on its back to cross. But no matter how he implored, the duck simply refused. It was too
wise to allow such a lethal animal to ride on its back.

He almost succeeded on one occasion by slithering inside the bamboo raft and waiting for the owner to paddle across with the firewood.
But the man saw the ulupong and attacked it with a long pole. Its speedy escape into the bushes saved it from certain death. But its tail was severely bruised by the wooden rod.

One day, the ulupong saw a pawikan (giant urtle) getting ready to swim across.

"Mr. Turtle, how about letting me ride on your wide, solid back," the snake hissed.

"No, you might bite me," replied the turtle. "I have heard of your poisonous saliva."

"Your back is shell," explained the snake. "I cannot possibly penetrate your hard covering."

"That is true. But when I swim, my head and limbs are protruding."

"But just think...why in the world would I bite your limbs? I simply want to cross the river. If I bite you, we will both drown and perish. That would be foolish and unthinkable," reasoned the ulupong. Trust me, I can change.

After a while, the turtle acceded. "I guess you are right. Killing me while we're crossing the river would be like committing suicide. Hop
on and I will ferry you across. Promise not to bite me and keep still so you won't fall off."

The snake coiled itself into a neat pile atop the turtle's shell. At the middle of the deep waterway, the ulupong suddenly struck the
turtle's neck. A fatal dose of venom was njected through the sharp fangs.

As the turtle writhed in pain and desperately flapped its limbs, it groaned, "You promised not to bite me. Yet you did and now we will both drown. Why did you do it? Why?"

Before the ulupong sank into the dark, murky depths, it hissed loudly. "Because I am a snake, it is my nature."

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