Snake wife makes grand eggs-it

UDON THANI: The peculiar story of a man who married a python said to be a 600-year-old spirit from his past has taken yet another bizarre twist.

Satien Kenkudlung’s python wife (pictured, right, with her husband) slithered away last week, after a short marriage. The volume of curious visitors has dried up, but K. Satien has kept the interest of the public sated with the discovery of an egg, supposedly laid by his now-departed wife.

K. Satien hit the headlines in early April when his marriage ceremony to the python was publicized. It was said the snake had been his soul mate for six centuries.

The egg development seems “well planned”, said Udon Thani Governor Supoj Laowansiri. Gov Supoj suspects the snake was hidden when the “charlatans” heard experts were on the way. He suspects a “grand return” at some stage, too. If the snake comes back by the end of the month, the governor and his subordinates will be ready to pounce.

Experts have debunked a theory that the egg is the fruit of Satien’s union with the snake, as the gestation period for a python is 80 days. The marriage was just a fortnight long. Plus, snakes usually lay a nest of up to 50 eggs. A mother never abandons her eggs.