A few days after the three fugitives had left Central City, having reassured Galen of his father's continued good health, Ann answered her nephew's knock at the front door. It was early, and Yalu had just left to attend to council duties. This was as Pergis intended - he wanted to speak with Ann alone.

"Aunt Ann, I need to speak with you about something most urgent," Pergis began, then amended, "Well, urgent to me, anyway," giving his aunt a slight smile.

"Come in, come in, Pergis. Something tells me that this may take awhile; will you have something to drink or eat?" asked Ann, while holding her nephew's elbow and leading him to a chair.

"No, no, thank you," said Pergis, and sat down.

"Very well, then. What can be so urgent?" asked Ann as she lowered herself into the seat next to Pergis.

"I noticed when Galen was last here with his two friends that you and one of the humans - Burke, is it? - seemed to get along rather well," Pergis began.

"Yes, I suppose so," Ann agreed mildly.

"Yes, well…I was wondering…" Pergis said, glancing at Ann, then down at his lap.

"Pergis, I am a busy woman, and although I'd like nothing better than to while this day away with you, I don't have the time. Now, you tell me exactly what is on your mind, and I'll try to help," said Ann firmly.

"Very well. Galen spoke to me of equality between apes and humans. What do you make of such an idea?" asked Pergis.

Ann sat silently a long moment, eyes far away. "There are many things my son has done and said that I have not, in the past, understood. And yet, do you know, Pergis, that every time I see him, I find myself understanding…more?" Ann paused. "I would never speak to you of such things if you hadn't discovered so much on your own. You understand, don't you, the great secrecy involved. Yalu's career…our lives depend upon it." Pergis nodded. "Quite honestly, I am not convinced it is best that I speak my mind even now. However," she said, affectionately rapping her knuckles against her nephew's chest, "I can see that there is no turning back for you. So finally, in answer to your question….I do not believe that all humans are equal to apes. But some…a few, I believe, can be regarded as equals. And so I wonder where that leaves the rest of them…" Ann trailed off.

"You believe Virdon and Burke are our equals." At Ann's nod, Pergis continued. "But how can you believe in the equality of man and ape if you believe in the teachings of the Lawgiver? 'Beware the beast man, for he is the devil's pawn….let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours,'" Pergis quoted.

"I believe what my eyes and ears tell me… Those men are my son's friends. They have risked their lives for him, as he has done for them," Ann said firmly. "I've seen their loyalty, and kindness…their bravery."

"Does Yalu know you hold such heretical viewpoints?" Pergis asked, bewildered.

Ann smiled. "Dearest nephew, if you had wanted Yalu's viewpoint, you should have asked him. You did not. You asked me."

Pergis shook his head, as if to clear it, and sighed. "You are right, of course," he said, reaching for her hand, "I can't go back now. I don't want to. I must know the truth. From you, from anyone, however I can."

Ann's eyes probed her nephew's. "I see that you must." She sighed. "I helped Galen and Virdon to rescue Burke some time ago from the clutches of Urko and Zaius. They'd tortured the boy cruelly," Ann said, looking indignant, ignoring the shocked look on Pergis's face at her admission. "From the nightmares he had - something Galen tells me he still has with some frequency - and the things he'd uttered in delirium, I was sure he would never recover his emotional faculties. Which is something I am happy to be wrong about," she added, smiling slightly. "I wonder why apes must sometimes act so much like the animals they claim to despise… as I was saying, I helped nurse Burke through his recovery. That was when Galen first told me that the chimpanzee who wielded these techniques against Burke learned them from books…written by humans. Books from the time before time, when humans still ruled the Earth. My son tells me some of these books are terrible - filled with unimaginable wars, death…and some are wonderful, full of wisdom and beauty." Ann paused before continuing. "Pergis, even though humans originated this 'brainwashing', as Galen called it, apes did not hesitate to use it for their own means. Given equal opportunity, one species would seem no better than the other…and so I see the potential for humans to be our equal in all things… terrible and wonderful."

"But what of the inherent evil of man?"

Ann looked sharply at Pergis. "Don't ask your questions if you can't hear the answers, Pergis."

Pergis looked back at Ann, intent. "Help me to hear, then. To understand."

"Do you know for a fact that humans are intrinsically evil? Are they more so than we?" Pergis was silent, musing. Ann continued softly, patting her nephew's hand. "What I have come to fear most in humanity is their creativity and intelligence in the service of evil. But I have also come to fear our capacity to do the same."

"These books from the past…they truly exist? And Zaius knows this?" whispered Pergis.

"Pergis, my son flees for his life because of a book his friends had when captured. A book that he read, and that caused him to question our lives as we live them now…that taught him blasphemy…or truth, as you will. Zaius has the book in his keeping." Seeming almost to grieve, Ann stated simply, "Now you know, Pergis. I believe it all. Every word. I believe Virdon and Burke are not of this time. I believe they are as intelligent as we are - perhaps more so. And now, Pergis, you must discover what it is that you believe."

"If Zaius has these books in his possession, then he and Urko have many things to answer for," Pergis said, staring at his aunt, his mind a chaotic whirl. Ann gazed back steadily at her nephew. He rose from his seat and walked numbly to the front door.

"Where are you going?" Ann asked, following him.

"I have to…I have to think, Aunt Ann," Pergis said quietly. "I need time."

"I have one more thing to say, and I want you to listen. I have already lost my son to this - be it truth, or heresy. Whatever you decide to do, or believe…don't let it take you away from this family," Ann said softly, patting his face. "Remember that we need you."

Pergis looked into Ann's eyes a moment, then nodded. He kissed her cheek. As the door shut behind him, Ann stood motionless at the door, knowing that she'd done the right thing, telling the truth…and fast becoming convinced that she'd made a terrible, terrible mistake.