A snake, cold-blooded and heartless? Idiocy. Say instead, a beaten dog, whipped until it bites at all, innocent and guilty alike. But scars fade, given time. So you wait, and wait some more. Hold out your hand, let it be bitten, until even the slowest realize that there will be no punishment. Give it all the kindness it never had. And then one day, the dog comes to your heel, loyal beyond words, beyond any mind can ever tell. If you turn it aside then, beat it, it will shatter forever. Do you really believe the dog protects the man?