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Speaker 1: Yeah, Hello, my name's Josephine and this is the Animal

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Tales podcast, where you suggest the animals featured in our stories.

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There are new tales to enjoy every Monday and Wednesday,

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with a third premium only story every Friday. Please continue

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to share Animal Tales with your friends and leave us

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reviews where you can. Ahana is from Rajasthan in India

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and she would like a story featuring a Russell's viper,

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a rattlesnake, and a gray wolf. You can learn more

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about these creatures in the animal facts after the story. Okay,

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are you ready? That's good? Then I'll begin a rainy

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day on Artists Walk. There's a pretty alleyway in Rainforest

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City called Artists Walk. It winds between the trees and

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ancient buildings, allowing visitors to admire the colorful stalls and

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studio windows. It's where painters, illustrators, sculptors, embroiderers, quilters, writers, poets,

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and musicians find space to make, display and sell their creations.

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It's often busy, especially on a sunny day, when people

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are looking to be entertained and perhaps buy something truly unique.

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But today was not a busy day because it was raining.

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If there was anything guaranteed to keep people away, it

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was a downpour. The usually vibrant and bustling alley stood

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empty and gray, but not completely empty. There was one

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visitor walking steadily from window to covered stool. She was

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a gray wolf called Ahanna, and she was protected from

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the drizzle by a wide, purple umbrella. Ahana's attention was

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soon captured by a bright display of paintings in a window.

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They were of exotic fruits and blooms, each one painted

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as if bathed in sunshine with vivid colors. Do you

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like them? Asked a voice from the shop's doorway. It

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was a snake, a Russell's viper with a striking pattern

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across his skin. They're all my own work. They're very nice,

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Ahanna said. May I ask what brings you out on

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such a glum and gloomy day, The snake wondered, hopeful

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of making a sail. I have a little money to spend,

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explained Aharna. I thought i'd buy something to brighten up

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my room. The Russell's viper's eyes sparkled at the mention

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of money. Is there anything here that you like? The

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snake asked, hopefully, they're all lovely, said Aharna. I especially

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like the one of the dragon fruit and the one

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of the orchid. The viper tried to hide his smile.

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It looked as if he was going to make a

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sale here for sure. Do you erh have much money

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to spend? He asked, somewhat rudely. I've thought everything I have,

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replied Aharna. The snake couldn't believe his ears. She'd brought

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all her money. The dragon fruit painting is one of

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my favorites, he hissed smoothly. But the orchid one is

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also a very good choice, thank you, said Ahhna, suddenly

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turning away. But I think I'll keep looking. The Russell's

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viper couldn't believe it. He thought he'd as good as

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made a sail. But somehow the wolf was leaving, along

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with all her money. He watched as she crossed to

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the window opposite, where depressingly, his rival was watching. He

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was a rattlesnake, and his window displayed his sculptures and carvings. Frustratingly,

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the rattlesnake had overheard their entire conversation and now looked

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very pleased, indeed, that the wolf and her money was

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heading his way. Good morning, greeted the rattlesnake with an

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oily voice. I understand your looking to buy, that's correct,

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said Aharna. I'm after something that will look nice in

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my room. Your carvings of butterflies are very nice. Oh

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they are, nodded the rattlesnake. And the one of that

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beetle is really good too, Ahanna added. And such a

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wonderful price, grinned the rattlesnake. He was very pleased to

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see that the wolf was so interested. If he was lucky,

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perhaps she would buy one of each. So what's it

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going to be? Butterfly or beetle? I'm not so sure

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I could choose, smiled Ahanna as she turned to leave.

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But thank you for showing them to me. Are you

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going already? Blurted out the rattlesnake. The thought of the

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wolf leaving along with her money was quite a shock.

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Ahanna had intended to carry on a long artist's walk,

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but found her way blocked by the Russell's viper. Unlike

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when she'd first seen him, he was now splattered in

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paint and clutching a paint brush with the end of

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his tail. Ah there you are, he panted, a Um

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was hoping to run into you. You're the painter of

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the fruit and flowers, stated the surprised wolf. That's right,

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said the viper, as he guided a Hanna towards his studio.

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I've got something to show you. Ahnna was intrigued, so

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went with him into the dry leaving her umbrella by

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the door. Inside, the walls were covered in even more paintings,

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but it was the easel at the center of the

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room that the wolf was guided to. On it was

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a large canvas showing a delightful painting of both a

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drag and fruit and an orchid. What do you think,

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asked the Russells viper. Did you un just paint this,

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wondered Aharna. Er I might have done, admitted the snake guiltily.

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Do you like it? It's beautiful, said Ahhna. The snake

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looked very pleased to hear this and grinned greedily. He

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was so determined to get the wolf's money that he'd

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hastily painted the masterpiece. Then perhaps you might like to

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um buy it, he asked. It does combine my two

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favorite things from the paintings in your window, nodded Ahnna.

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It does, said the viper eagerly, and it would look

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very nice in my room. Aharna added, oh, it would,

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agreed the snake, but I'm just not sure it's for me,

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Ahna said politely, thank you, though all the same the

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Russell's viper was stunned. He'd rush to get the painting done,

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feeling sure he'd get the Wolf's money, but it was

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heading out of the door along with its owner. Mahanna

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was already opening her umbrella in the rain. She only

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made it a few steps before she was intercepted again,

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this time by the Rattlesnake. Miss Wolf, I thought I'd

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missed you, he hissed, clearly out of breath. I couldn't

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possibly let you go without showing you something very special,

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something special, repeated Aharna. Well, if you say so, She

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allowed herself to be led through the Rattlesnake's doorway. The

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inside of the little studio was a mess. On an

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ordinary day, the sculptures and carvings would have been neatly

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arranged to best show them off. But today was no

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ordinary day. The Rattlesnake had been working few curiously on

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a new carving, and had clearly done so in a hurry.

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There were tools and wood shavings all across the floor,

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and dust on every surface. Ahhna found herself stepping over

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chunks and splinters as the rattlesnake directed her to his

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newest creation, a large carving of a beetle and a butterfly.

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What do you think, he asked, with a flick of

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his tongue. Oh I like that very much, replied the wolf.

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Did you just do this? Can you tell? Asked the rattlesnake,

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looking worried only by all the mess, said Aharna. The

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actual carving is stunning. The rattlesnake was very pleased to

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hear this. The Wolf's money was as good as his.

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It would be my pleasure to sell it to you,

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he grinned. It is tempting, admitted Ahnna. After all, it

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does include both the butterfly and the beetle that I

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liked from your other carvings. Good good, nodded the rattlesnake.

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And it would look very nice in my room, Ahhna added,

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of course, agreed the snake. Oh though I'm not sure

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it's for me, Aharna said, politely, but thank you for

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showing it to me. The rattlesnake was so surprised that

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he couldn't even shake his rattle. He'd worked at a

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crazy pace to get that carving done so quickly, confident

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that he'd make the sale, but the money in the

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Wolf's bag was leaving with her. Once more. She was

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under her umbrella in the rain, where she immediately ran

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into the Russell's viper. Hello, miss Wolf, he blurted out desperately.

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Before you go, I just thought you might like to

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admire my window one more time. The window, once busy

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with a selection of paintings, now had only one, the

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still wet painting of the dragon fruit and the orchid.

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It does look wonderful there, acknowledged Aharna from beneath her umbrella.

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And if I may just direct you to the price,

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said the snake, pointing with the tip of his tail

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towards a hastily written price tag. It was for a

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lot of money. Now hold on just one moment, shouted

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the rattlesnake, as he too slithered out into the rain.

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That's no way to treat a visitor to artists. Walk.

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You can't go being all pushy like that. Ahnna was

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relieved that the rattlesnake had come to her rescue. Until

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that is, he used his coils to direct her attention

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towards his own window. Take no notice of that, talentless viper,

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said the rattlesnake. I'm quite sure that you'll agree that

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my window is far superior. He had cleared out all

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of his carvings and sculptures in order to display his

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butterfly and beetle carving. Oh my, that looks even better there,

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admitted Aharna. And if you look carefully, i'm sure you'll

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see that it's a very generous price, he said. Like

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the painting, it too, was a lot of money. Now

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listen here, you stinker. I saw her first. She doesn't

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want your dreadful carving, snapped the Russell's viper. Ha bit

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back the rattlesnake. I'm sure she's more interested in my

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fine craftsmanship than your blobs and splatters. How dare you,

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shrieked the viper. She said, my painting was beautiful. Clearly

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she's going to buy it. That goes to show what

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you know. You arty, farty fraud, bellowed the rattlesnake. She said,

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my artwork was stunning. It's obvious, she's going to buy

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my carving. No, no, no, protested the Russell's viper. It's

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me that's going to get all her money. Don't be

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such a dunderhead, yelled back the Rattlesnake. All her money,

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she'll be coming to me, No me, hollered the viper.

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Me me, me, me, me, granted the Rattlesnake. Oh, please

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stop your arguing, insisted Ahanna. I think they're both really special,

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but I just cannot afford to buy them. Just one

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of them is too much for me. Look, miss Wolf,

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it's been raining for days. An artist's walk has been

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very quiet, began the Russells Viper. Perhaps I've been a

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little greedy in what I've priced my painting at me too,

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me too, said the Rattlesnake urgently. Look you said you

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brought all your money. Yes, that's right, confirmed Ahnna. Then

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I'll accept whatever you've got, he said triumphantly. Surely that

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offer would seal the deal. I'll accept the same, announced

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the viper. Suddenly, but I can't choose between them, said Aharna. Honestly,

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I really do think I should look elsewhere. It pains

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me to suggest this, grumbled the rattlesnake desperately, But how

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about this, Give me half of all your money and

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the carving is yours. As far as he was concerned,

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half of all someone's money was better than none at all.

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Yeaya a good idea, nodded the viper frantically. And for

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the other half, you can have the painting. Are you sure?

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Asked a Hannah in surprise. It seemed too good to

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be true. Shake on it, offered the rattlesnake, presenting the

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rattle tip of his tail. All he could think about

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was getting hold of the wolf's money, even if it

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was just half. Very well, said Ahhna, and shook on

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it with both snakes. I'd best pay you, she said,

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rummaging in her bag for money. Half of all your money,

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said the viper, greedily, and the other half for me,

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giggled the rattlesnake. Of course, said Ahnna. She pulled out

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just two small coins. With such little money, she had

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only expected to get something very small for her room,

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But here she was getting two outstanding pieces of art

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for next to nothing. It was just as well it

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was raining, because as she gave each snake their coin,

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it made it harder to notice their tears of frustration.

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But a deal is a deal. This done, Ahanna gathered

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her purchases beneath her umbrella and went home to display them.

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Animal fact. The Russell's viper is found throughout in Pakistan,

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Bangladesh and into Sri Lanka and Nepal. It is very

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venomous and so it is a very good idea to

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keep well away from one. Rattlesnakes are found throughout North

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and South America from Canada to Argentina, made up a

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thirty six different species. The mussels that shake their rattle

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are incredibly quick, moving up to fifty times a second.

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The gray wolf is found across the top of North

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America and over much of Europe and Asia. Females give

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birth to four to six pups, raising them in a den.

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Those were great suggestions, Ahana. We hope you enjoyed the story,

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and thank you to all of you across the world

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for listening to it. Remember if you prefer your stories

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advert free, then please consider our premium service through Apple

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or Supercast for a tiny fee. The stories are advert free.

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Join us next time for another great animal tale. Goodbye,