Chapter 4: Tracking Down The Silver Ape
Molly was packing herself some lunch as she thought back to the dream she had had last night, The waterfall. Always the waterfall but it was strange for Molly had never seen a waterfall apart from the illustrations she had seen in books,
"Where are you off too?" John asked curiously as he screwed up another piece of paper and threw it away,
"Just a hike. I'm not going too far." she explained and John nodded,
"Alright, Be back before nightfall" he told her and she nodded gently before giving him a kiss on the crown of his head,
"I will" she assured before heading off on her hike.
A short hike was actually an expedition to the far side of the valley,
"A Silver ape... I wonder weather he and Holme are connected" she murmured to herself with a frown before letting her gaze fall to a stick that lay on the ground,
"He said if I needed him to bang a stick against a tree" she murmured and retrieved the stick and hesitantly whacked the wood against the tree a few times and looked around but when she saw nothing she banged it three more times,
"Female must have patients. Holme heard bangs upon trunk first five beats" a voice said causing her to look up and she watched as he jumped down from the high branch and landed with ease,
"Holme... Good Morning." she greeted but saw that he looked at her puzzled,
"You speak more expertly every time we meet yet you struggle to understand me" she said more to herself and knelt down so that they were eye level,
"How are you learning so quickly?" she asked,
"Holme use symbol rectangles to learn. Holme learn the language of men" he told her.
Holme took Molly to the cliff side where they laid down and watched the clouds roll by,
"Holme... You said you're learning the language of men but... Aren't you a man yourself?" she asked and watched as he sat up before walking closer to the cliffs edge as a gorilla would,
"Holme not man. Holme gorilla. Men bring destruction and sticks that spout fire and bring death" he growled and Molly looked down sadly,
"How long have you been here, Holme?" she asked and he turned to look at her,
"Holme born here. Holme live with mother, Kala" he said and Molly couldn't help but smile,
"In the gorilla colony?" she pressed but frowned when Holme looked down sadly,
"Gorilla colony banished Holme... They say he not Gorilla for he share the features of men" he murmured and Molly stood, coming to his side,
"I'm sorry, Holme" she told him gently and he looked at her curiously,
"Female not have reason to show sorrow. Female not at fault" he said causing her to smile softly,
"Thank you, Holme... So, where do you and your mother live if not with the other gorillas?" she asked curiously,
"Holme and mother live in wooden nest within high tree" he said before pulling on her wrist,
"Holme show female" he insisted and Molly giggled before following him.
Holme carried Molly up to the 'wooden nest' and she couldn't help but look around stunned,
"A tree house" she murmured gently as Holme climbed up onto a window seat,
"Holme keep symbol rectangles here." he said before picking one up and Molly smiled gently,
"Where I'm from. They're called books" she told him gently as she walked over and sat next to him,
"Books" Holme mimicked curiously and Molly nodded as she opened the book he handed to her and her eyes widened,
"This inscription..." she murmured,
"Symbols not like others. Symbols larger and more curved" he said,
"Female translate?" he asked and she nodded after a moment,
"It... It says... 'This Journal is Property of Captain William Holmes'" she told him and he looked puzzled,
"Holme not read that book yet" he said and Molly looked at him,
"Might I read it first?" she asked and watched him nod.
Molly began reading the journal when she returned to camp, one particular entry caught her attention,
"The African Jungle is treacherous but myself and my beloved Adelaide have built ourselves and our son a sanctuary within the trees using debris from the ship wreck that has stranded us here... When my son is old enough to understand, I plan to present this journal and my pocket watch and this journal to him. My son shares my name and I hope one day he shall become a captain, a leader like myself.
I remain, Captain William Holmes." Molly read out loud and had a flash back that showed her the inscription that had been on Holme's pocket watch,
"It didn't say Holme... It said W. Holmes. The W and the S were scratched off but... Surely it couldn't be" she said to herself before heading inside the tent,
"John?... Father's friend that inspired his stories... What was his name?" she asked and her brother looked up from writings,
"William Holmes. You should know that" he told her with a chuckle and Molly sat down,
"Yeah... That's what I thought... He inspired the detective's last name but... Where did the name 'Sherlock' come from?" she asked curiously,
"Well that's easily answered. Captain William informed father that his wife was expecting a baby. A son." he explained,
"They named him, Sherlock?" she asked and her brother chuckled,
"No, they were naming him, William Sherlock Scot Holmes. William after his father, Sherlock for originality and Scot after Adelaide's father" he explained before looking down sadly,
"Captain William, his wife and their son were all lost at sea" he said but Molly frowned,
"Actually... That's half true" she said before holding up the journal and her brother looked curious.
The truth is out but how will Holme take it? Review to unlock chapter 5!
Kind Regards,
TheAuthor1996