The narrator tells us that unlike humans, reptiles are not animals but creatures that pretend to be human. They eat people, and the reptiles especially like children. The narrator says that the snake's grandfather told him that he saw a snake bite a child and swallow the child. He says that he's going to look for evidence of this, but that the other teachers will refuse to believe it. He's also worried about the orphanage's head teacher, who's been refusing to believe the snake-bite-and-stomach stories. The head teacher is also gone, and he doesn't even know where she's gone. He wonders why she must leave now, and wonders if he'll be able to protect everyone from the monsters. He sneaks out of the orphanage without telling anyone, and now that he knows how to protect himself, he decides to sneak into the house. The orphanage is run by gentlemen who've been doing business in the reptile business. They say they'll soon run out of money, so they're giving the narrator a donation. The smell of burning and bleeding is too much for the narrator to bear. The snake growls and growls, but he can't help but think that it's a sign that he wants to die. He begs the snake to stop growling and growl, and to stop acting like a "tycoon." He tells the snake not to act so "meddlesome" and to take care of his own body.