For a full minute no one spoke or moved, not even any of the bonobos.
Then bonobo number one repeated his cry: ‘Atah!’ Instantly, the animals
began to circle around the humans.
Candace moaned as she, Kevin, and Melanie backed into each other,
forming a tight triangle. The ring the animals formed around them began
to close like a noose. The bonobos came closer a step at a time. The
humans could now distinctly smell them. Their odor was strong and feral.
The animals’ faces were expressionless but intent. Their eyes flashed.
The animals stopped advancing when they were an arm’s length from the
three friends. Their eyes ran up and down the humans’ bodies. Some of
them were holding stone wedges similar to the one that had killed bonobo
number sixty.
Kevin, Melanie, and Candace did not move. They were paralyzed with fear.
All the animals looked as powerful as bonobo number one.
Bonobo number one remained outside the tight ring. He was still
clutching the clawhammer but no longer had it raised over his head. He
advanced and made a full circuit of the group, staring at the humans
between the heads of his compatriots. Then he let out a string of sounds
accompanied by hand gestures.
Several of the other animals answered him. Then one of them reached out
his hand toward Candace. Candace moaned.
‘Don’t move,’ Kevin managed to say. ‘I think the fact that they haven’t
harmed us is a good sign.’
Candace swallowed with difficulty as the bonobo’s hand caressed her
hair. He seemed enthralled by its blond color. It took all the resolve
she could muster not to scream or duck away.
Another animal began to speak and gesture. He then pointed to his side.
Kevin saw a long healing surgical scar. ‘It’s the animal whose kidney
went to the Dallas businessman,’ Kevin said fearfully. ‘See how he’s
pointing at us. I think he’s connecting us to the retrieval process.’
‘That can’t be good,’ Melanie whispered.
Another animal reached out tentatively and touched Kevin’s comparatively
hairless forearm. Then he touched the directional beacon Kevin was
holding in his hand. Kevin was surprised when he didn’t try to take it
away from him.
The bonobo standing directly in front of Melanie reached out and pinched
the fabric of her blouse between his thumb and forefinger as if feeling
its texture. Then he gently touched the locator she was holding with
just the tip of his index finger.
‘They seem mystified by us,’ Kevin said hesitantly. ‘And strangely
respectful. I don’t think they are going to hurt us. Maybe they think we
are gods.’
‘How can we encourage that belief?’ Melanie asked.
‘I’ll try to give them something,’ Kevin said. Kevin considered the
objects he had on his person and immediately settled on his wristwatch.
Moving slowly, he put the directional beacon under his arm and slipped
the watch from his wrist. Holding it by its bracelet, he extended it
toward the animal in front of him.
The animal tilted his head, eyeing the watch, then reached for it. No
sooner had he had it in his hand than bonobo number one vocalized the
sound: ‘Ot.’ The animal with the watch responded by quickly giving it
up. Bonobo number one examined the watch, then slipped it onto his
forearm.
‘My god!’ Kevin voiced. ‘My double is wearing my watch. This is a
nightmare.’
Bonobo number one appeared to admire the watch for a moment. Then he
brought his thumbs and forefinger together to form a circle while
saying: ‘Randa.’
One of the bonobos immediately ran off and disappeared for a moment into
the forest. When he reappeared, he was carrying a length of rope.
‘Rope?’ Kevin said with trepidation. ‘Now what?’
‘Where did they get rope?’ Melanie asked.
‘They probably stole it with the tools,’ Kevin said.
‘What are they going to do?’ Candace asked nervously.
The bonobo went directly to Kevin and looped the rope around his waist.
Kevin watched with a mixture of fear and admiration as the animal tied a
crude knot and then cinched it tight against Kevin’s abdomen.
Kevin looked up at the women. ‘Don’t struggle,’ he said. ‘I think
everything is going to be okay as long as we don’t anger them or scare