Snake soup and other delicacies

The conspirators looked around with an air of triumph. The scene was set for a sumptuous, stolen feast. Bread and jam were arranged in serried ranks and the feast began, reverentially at first and then with increasing hilarity at the audacity of the heist. Images of incensed girls did little to detract from the general exhilaration, and only served to sharpen the thrill of adventure. The gnarled woods added the element of enclosing secrecy that is the hallmark of great conspiracies.

On the other side of the stream a snake was caught, wriggling in a vain bid to escape the hands of the snake man, a formidable predator who ate anything edible, cooked in his own style, served with parboiled rice and dal. The snake was not on his menu though and the Biology lab was in need of a skeleton. Its fate was sealed. The PT Master took charge of the proceedings in his usual jovial way, eyes glinting with excitement behind his black rimmed glasses, knee dislocating from his energetic hopping. Popping it back into place he set the scene for the ceremony.

The first faint cries of "paaambu varaango, paambu varango" alerted the conspirators to the extraordinary events that were about of unfold before their very eyes. As the clamor grew louder they saw a motley crew of students and the PT Master bearing a large vessel with a lid, a big bucket of water, and terrifyingly, accompanying them, the stern Biology Teacher, with ever pursed lips, known for her sharp nails on tender ears. A big bonfire was built up and when the water started bubbling, the writhing snake was expertly tossed into the hissing water, the lid was put on and secured with a large stone. A collective gasp shook the forest and red bread crumbs dropped in slow motion onto the mossy forest floor.  

Some convivial talk of the virtues of hydrogen peroxide and obscure alchemical methodologies ensued. Water bubbled from under the lid, sending gusts of malodorous vapors into the air that made the onlookers retch. The crowd disappeared hastily and the vessel bubbled on. The conspirators quietly slunk away, ruing the ghastly end to their feast, sick to their guts at the spectacle.

The PT Master returned later that evening and came upon a curious  sight. The vessel had keeled over and most of the glutinous broth had soaked into the dark earth. The skeleton was fortunately whole. Around the vessel were scattered red soggy pieces of bread, and he knew then in his heart with dead certainty that the wood creatures had partaken of the broth so generously served to them, soaked in bread, just like his clairvoyant aunt had told him those many years ago.

He returned quivering with excitement, vindicated in his beliefs, and thus a legend was born, the story of the slimy snake soup, (a ghastly end to the poor snake though), but what all we do in the name of science... The conspirators hid the story in their hearts, but little did they know that the whole event was witnessed by the 'one who watched', and if the dastardly business is ever to be solved, he holds the key, a little boy smoking a Passsing Show in the deep Lantana bushes. The skeleton found a place of pride in the Biology Lab, and it was whispered that its mate came looking for it one rainy afternoon. The skeleton mysteriously vanished one day. Stanes has many skeletons in its cupboards...