In the library, Snake confirmed that the mongoose was the predator that cobras and other snakes mortally feared. He learned it was a mammal and not a bird and that it was native to India. He slammed the encyclopedia shut in disgust.
He strode over to an isolated part of the library, and whispered softly, "Sorry, Ryan, but we're going to have to part ways now. I don't want to end up mongoose chow, if you know what I mean."
Snake slid his jeans down his butt exposing his jockstrap waistbands and straps. Then he opened the heel on his boot and removed the switchblade he had concealed there. The silver blade gleamed in the light as Snake deftly cut the straps and waistband of the jockstrap.
Ryan screamed in agony as he felt his body being hacked up. Snake slipped the knife back into his shoe compartment. He then reached into the front of his jeans grabbed the pouch and pulled the jockstrap out. He wadded it up in his fist, and then he pulled his trousers up.
Ryan who was now in shock could still sense Snake's thoughts through Snake's palm which held Ryan. Snake thought it felt good to go commando. He was going to have a last bit of fun with Ryan. Snake sat down at one of the central library tables with a stack of books in front of him. He arranged them in the shape of an inverted "U" facing him and set the cut jockstrap in the opening of the "U". The others in the library couldn't see the crumpled jockstrap unless they came over to the table. When Ryan changed back though, he'd be standing stark naked on a table in the middle of the library. Ryan was horrified at that prospect, but if it stopped the throbbing pain his body was still feeling from being severed, he wouldn't mind streaking all the way to the locker room.
Another horrible thought struck him as he lay immobile on the cold wooden table. What if cutting him meant that he'd reform as heap of dismembered body parts? At least Snake would probably go to jail based on the circumstantial evidence of being in possession of his body parts. Still he felt a pang of love for Snake, and didn't want his master to go to jail even if he had murdered him.
These confusing thoughts were in a way consoling as they distracted Ryan from the pain.
In the meantime, Snake was beginning to get nervous. He tapped his foot. Then he started tapping his fingers. He double checked his watch against the clock on the library wall. He muttered, "Ryan should have changed back by now."
Snake was tempted to walk away now, but Vinnie expected Ryan to be on the practice field this afternoon. Nervously, Snake leaned forward and watched the inanimate jockstrap intently. Then he had an idea.