they’ve been out here.’
‘Oh, shut up!’ Candace cried. ‘We’re prisoners of these beasts and you
two are having a scientific discussion.’
‘It’s more than a scientific discussion,’ Kevin said. ‘We’re
acknowledging a terrible mistake, and I’m responsible. The reality is
worse than I feared when I saw the smoke coming from this island. These
animals are protohumans.’
‘I have to share some of the blame,’ Melanie said.
‘I disagree,’ Kevin said. ‘I’m the one who created the chimeras by
adding the human chromosome segments. That wasn’t your doing.’
‘What are they doing now?’ Candace asked.
Kevin and Melanie turned to see bonobo number one coming toward them,
carrying the bloodied corpse of one of the colobus monkeys. He was still
wearing the wristwatch, which only underlined the beast’s odd position
between man and ape.
Bonobo number one brought the dead monkey directly to Candace and held
it out toward her in both his hands and said: ‘Sta.’
Candace moaned and turned her head. She looked like she was about to get
sick.
‘He’s offering it to you,’ Melanie told Candace. ‘Try to respond.’
‘I can’t look at it,’ Candace said.
‘Try!’ Melanie pleaded.
Candace slowly turned. Her face reflected her disgust. The monkey’s head
had been crushed.
‘Just bow or do something,’ Melanie encouraged.
Candace smiled weakly and bowed her head.
Bonobo number one bowed and then withdrew.
‘Incredible,’ Melanie said, watching the animal leave. ‘Although he’s
obviously the alpha male, there must still be remnants of the typical
matriarchal bonobo society.’
‘Candace, you did great,’ Kevin said.
‘I’m a wreck,’ Candace said.
‘I knew I should have been a blond,’ Melanie said with her own attempt
at humor.
The bonobo holding the rope gave a tug significantly less forceful than
the previous one. The group was on the move again and Kevin, Melanie,
and Candace were forced to follow.
‘I don’t want to go any farther,’ Candace said tearfully.
‘Pull yourself together,’ Melanie said. ‘Everything is going to be okay.
I’m starting to think Kevin’s suggestion was right. They think of us
like gods, especially you with that blond hair. They could have killed
us instantly if they’d been inclined, just like they killed the
monkeys.’
‘Why did they kill the monkeys?’ Candace asked.
‘I assume for food,’ Melanie said. ‘It is a little surprising since
bonobos are not carnivorous, but chimps can be.’
‘I was afraid they were human enough for the killing to be for sport,’
Candace said.
The group passed through a marshy area, then began a climb. Fifteen
minutes later, they emerged from the forest twilight onto a rocky but
grassy area at the foot of the limestone escarpment.
Halfway up the rock face was the opening of a cave that appeared to be
accessible only by a series of extremely steeply tiered ledges. At the
lip of the cave were a dozen more bonobos. Most were female. They were
striking their chests with the flat of their hands and yelling ‘bada’
over and over again.
The bonobos with Kevin, Melanie, and Candace did the same and then held
up the dead colobus monkeys. That resulted in hooting from the females
that Melanie said reminded her of chimps.
Then the group of bonobos at the base of the cliff parted. Kevin,
Melanie, and Candace were pulled forward. At the sight of them, the
females above fell silent.
‘Why do I have the feeling the females aren’t so happy to see us?’
Melanie whispered.
‘I’d rather think they were just confused,’ Kevin whispered back. ‘They
hadn’t expected company.’
Finally bonobo number one said ‘zit’ and pointed up with his thumb. The
group surged forward pulling Kevin, Melanie, and Candace along.