The cobras, Nag and Nagaina, plot together to kill the people living in the bungalow. At first Nag wonders whether it will be necessary to kill the people. It is obvious to him that Rikki is a threat to them because he knows a mongoose's whole "business in life was to fight and eat snakes." Nagaina explains that killing the humans is a vital step to their supremacy in the garden and being able to raise their brood of young snakes in peace and safety. She points out that when there were no people in the bungalow, there was no mongoose in the garden. In this she is partially correct, for the people have encouraged Rikki to stay with them, in particular because the father knows mongooses are protective against snakes. However, Rikki happened to come to the bungalow by a flood that washed him from his home. He may have made his home in the bungalow's garden even if the bungalow had been empty. Nevertheless, in Nagaina's mind, the people are associated with Rikki, and her plan is to kill the people and then Rikki so that she and Nag can be "king and queen of the garden." Nag's plan is different only in that he believes after they kill the people, Rikki will leave of his own accord.
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