Mud2012

Neckbone:
I hate snakes.

Mud:
That's because God made them for us to fear. It's a thing we knew to be afraid of before we even got into this world. Cherokee would wrap snake skin around their pregnant women's bellies. Induce labor, scare the child out. Here. [He fetches a length of rope out of the duffel bag and tosses it to Neckbone.] Set that 'round your bed at night. Snake won't cross braided rope.

Neckbone:
Thanks. [nods to Mud's snake tattoo] So what's that for then?

Mud:
A reminder. Don't get bit. I was 10, swimmin' 'bout a mile up from here. Me and Juniper. Sonofabitch swam right up under me, bit me just below the armpit. June got me out, got me to a clinic. Doctor said I shoulda been dead in twenty minutes. Took us an hour just to get back to town.

Neckbone:
What'd they do?

Mud:
Gave me antivenom. For a cotton mouth. See here. [Mud shows the tattoo on top of his right hand. He points out the two cotton blossoms bulging from the snake's mouth.] Problem with antivenom is they can only give it to you once. It's made from horse blood. Your body would reject it a second time. The cure ends up being more dangerous than the poison.

Ellis:
What happens if you get bit again?

Mud:
I die, or just sweat it out.