Magic of The Golden Flower Chapter 27
Just as things all seemed to be going according to plan an unforeseen dilemma arose with the underground tunnel network.
Maurice, Spear, and Bad Ape had managed to dig and break through to the adult's pen by creating a path and dig a shaft upwards, but they could go no further.
Caesar waited patiently in his cage for news and what he got wasn't good.
A blockage in one part of the tunnels served as a dam so when Spear and Maurice hit the underground pool or stream the tunnel began to flood and rise at an alarming speed. Right now it was bearable, but if the trio kept on going it would be disastrous for them all. Maurice stopped the advancement by closing the entrance that led to this section of the tunnels. It solved one problem, but created a whole bunch of others in its place.
Kneeling low at the bars in front of the crowd where Caesar could see him, Rocket signed "We can't keep digging! It will flood the whole tunnel!"
"If we don't, we can't reach the children," argued Lake, empathetically.
Anxious parents grunted in agreement with Lake, sharing her concerns. All of them refused to go without taking their children with them.
The noise they were making became so pronounced that it attracted the attention of someone stationed in a guard tower directly above the pen. Catching the movement Caesar held up a hand and the other apes quieted instantly. Seconds later Boyle stepped out from the tower checking to see what all the commotion was about. Caesar waited with baited breath until Boyle decided that the apes weren't worth his time and stepped back into the warm confines of the tower glancing at him before he did.
"We must keep looking down there," signed Lake, careful to keep a low profile after that close call. "Find another way to reach the children."
Shaking his head, Caesar signed "We must leave now! More soldiers are coming! Humans will destroy each other! And us with them!" Caesar turned to look at where his lying asleep cold and alone in the children's pen behind him. A desperate resolve burned inside his heart. "We'll have to get the children out above ground!"
"Caesar, we cannot forget Aurora. She'll waste away if she's left here with these humans," signed Luca.
Caesar and Luca looked up at the Colonel's quarters where they knew Aurora would be.
"We'll figure something out for her, but right now our main priority is our own offspring. This is our last chance. We must get them out," signed Caesar.
"How," asked Rocket, confused.
Caesar took a second to think and then as only Caesar could do he had a plan just like that in the blink of an eye.
When Boyle came out on his next routine patrol of the yard on the catwalk of the guard tower he was in for a bit of a shock. Boyle was admiring the constructed wall, back facing the apes, sipping coffee from a thermos when something cold and wet smacked into the back of his head dripping down the neck and into his shirt. Startled Boyle spilled the remainder of his beverage all over the place. He pressed a hand to his head and when he held it in front of his eyes Boyle found his fingers covered in mud.
Enraged, storming over to the railing that stood over the apes, Boyle shouted "Hey! You animals!"
Boyle climbed down the ladder from the guard tower. Using his own key he unlocked the door to the adults cage and threw it wide open furious. He was so angry that he didn't even think to lock the door with the key tugging on it until he heard a click.
Brandishing his rifle, seething, Boyle demanded "Who did that? Who did that?! Huh?"
Shadow barked and lunged at Boyle.
"Shut it," bellowed Boyle, kicking at the dog in a fit of temper, but not landing a hit. "Who was it?"
The majority of apes shrunk back from Boyle, but one stepped forward out into the open. Rocket would act as a decoy drawing Boyle's attention away from the one who actually was responsible.
"Was it you," sneered Boyle.
In answer another wad of soggy mud smacked into the side of his side from someone other than Rocket. This time the mud traveled into his ear. It wasn't a pleasant feeling.
The real culprit was exposed when apes scattered out of the way as Luca rose on two feet from where he'd been crouched in the middle of a group of gorillas. They stood as a united front glowering defiantly at Boyle with Luca casually tossing a handful of mud up and down in his hand taunting the angered Alpha Omega soldier.
Unbeknownst to Boyle this was all a setup to trap him inside the pen in order to lure him to one particular spot. It was the last mistake this arrogant soldier would ever make in his life. As Boyle was preparing to fire upon Luca a pair of large shaggy hands reached up from beneath the earth where the shaft had been dug. Quick as a snake Maurice grabbed Boyle's ankles and dragged him below ground below ground before he could even utter a cry for help.
Boyle was dead before he even could catch a glimpse of his attacker. The heavy thump that was heard is an obvious sign that someone had acted with swift precision in disabling this troublesome human.
The ring of keys Boyle always wore on his belt were tossed up from the hole. The apes gathered around the hole to know for sure. Poking their heads over the opening Rocket and Luca saw Maurice's and Spear's faces staring up at them from the darkened tunnels. A quick check of Spear's hands showed he'd been the one to eliminate Boyle from the blood there.
Maurice handed his friends Boyle's loaded rifle and a pistol. The pistol was a welcome find. Boyle had never once shown any signs of having an extra gun on his person. Luca accepted the rifle while Rocket took the pistol as a weapon. It was good to have an extra gun on hand. They may need it for the escape should things turn sour.
Luca and Rocket went to the bars of the cage with their bounty. Rocket held the keys where Caesar could see them. Caesar gasped in relief his eyes lighting up.
Finally they'd caught a break.
After freeing themselves and everyone else from their chains Caesar and Rocket stealthily made their way to the children's pen. Luca stayed in the adult's pen with the rest. He was too big and probably would've gotten spotted by humans that were still awake at this hour. Once they accessed the children's cage the little ones were overjoyed they were being rescued. Cornelius had leapt at his father hugging him tightly. Caesar didn't want to let go, but time was of the essence. The children crawled across a thick electrical line strung high above directly over the heads of human soldiers that didn't have a clue of what was going on right under their noses.
The children dropped into the arms of the gorillas and then passed along to their anxious and delighted parents. One by one, beginning with the youngest child, the apes slowly disappeared from the yard and into the tunnels until only Luca, Rocket, Caesar, and Shadow remained. Rocket had unleashed Shadow from his tether and was keeping the loyal dog quiet so the operation wouldn't get blown.
"Now with the others safely out of the way we can get Aurora," signed Luca.
Shaking his head, Caesar said "No."
"What," signed Luca.
"Caesar, what's wrong," pressed Rocket.
"By the time the sun rises, you'll all be on your way. To a new home," said Caesar, turning to his friends, a resigned grim expression. "Hurry, you must go. I will get Aurora alone and we'll catch up with you."
"Without you? No…," signed Rocket.
"I still have a score to settle," said Caesar. "Maurice was right. He could not escape his hate." He then looked with vengeful eyes at the Colonel's abode. "And I still cannot escape mine. He took too much from me."
Caesar then grasped Rocket's head and pushed their foreheads together in friendship. With Luca he patted him on the shoulder and clasped wrists.
Caesar did all this sensing this might be their final farewell, but was fiercely determined it wouldn't be. They were going to see each other again.
Sharing in this sentiment Luca nodded at his leader trusting him to free Aurora before all hell broke loose.
"Go," ordered Caesar, softly.
Rocket and Luca went to the tunnel entrance and descended inside joining the others.
Caesar thought he was by himself until he felt something rub into his leg. It was Shadow. The German Shepherd was still with him. Caesar knew the reason why. Shadow wouldn't leave his mistress behind. Shadow was a dog so Caesar couldn't command Shadow to leave like the others. So it looked like these two were going to be a team to liberate Aurora. His people were safe. Now it's her turn.
Petting Shadow's head, Caesar said "Let's go, boy. Sunrise approaches. We mustn't keep Aurora waiting."
Authors Note:
I don't know about you guys, but Boyle getting hit in the head by that mud was one of the funniest parts of the movie. I mean the people who'd occupied the theater where I first saw it just cracked up like mad.
