A rattlesnake crossed the dirt road in front of us. We got out and went after the unhappy beast with survey rods. My reaction was shameful in that moment. My pulse raced. Terror and aggression lay their hold on me, while I beat the poor snake to death.
Rattlers are standard icons of horror.
I didn't react to the snake. I reacted to the icon. Rattlers are one kind of pit viper. Pit vipers have two holes, or pits, on their snouts. The pits look like nostrils, but they're not.