Trahern and Pergis carried Gathor several miles back into the residential
area of the city. The chimp had lost a lot of blood, but remained
conscious. He tried to stifle his groans at the jostling journey, but
sometimes couldn't help himself. Trahern and Pergis winced, sympathizing,
and tried to comfort their young friend. As the houses surrounding them
crowded each other in their lots, the trio decided to ask for help. Trahern
shrugged and picked out a house at random, knocking on the door.
After some long moments, an elderly female chimpanzee answered the door, pulling it wide with little regard for safety. She was stooped and much of her fur had gone gray. Blinking behind thick glasses, she examined the two young chimps supporting a third in her doorway. "What do you want?" she asked, sounding irritated. They'd woken her out of a sound sleep, and that wasn't so easily come by these days, with all the aches and pains of old age.
"Please.. we don't wish to alarm you, but our friend is hurt. We'd hoped to get help getting him to the hospital," said Trahern hopefully.
"Hurt!" the elderly chimp asked, startled. "What's happened to him?"
"Well, he. he was shot," answered Pergis hesitantly. He raised a hand to his face and scratched nervously.
"Shot." the old chimp repeated, as seemed her wont to do. She stood thoughtfully at the door. "What in the name of the gods have you young chimps been doing to get shot!"
"Can you help us?" asked Pergis quietly. He was exhausted, and Gathor seemed to weigh more with each step they took. The old female regarded him shrewdly for a moment, hand holding the doorknob for support.
"I have a horse and wagon. You may take it. I'll have your names first, and that of your families, of course," she said gruffly.
A broad grin covered Trahern's face. Forgetting himself, he reached out to Gathor's shoulder and clapped it. Gathor yelped. Pergis said, wryly, "If you can keep from hurting him further, Trahern, I'd like you to take him into the hospital. Find a Doctor named Kira. Tell her you are a friend of Galen's. I'll go on."
"Yes, yes, I heard that from Virdon," said Trahern, nodding enthusiastically. "Are you really going...?"
"I'm going to see Zaius, of course," Pergis answered, looking at his friend. "It's the only thing left to do." The old female chimp's eyes widened with interest behind her glasses.
--------------- --------------
The dry grass rustled underneath Galen's feet as he tramped to the far side of the old tree. Carefully he lowered Burke to the ground in what he hoped was a comfortable position and sat down next to him. It didn't bode well for the astronaut that he'd not yet awakened. Galen wasn't sure what he should do next.
The moonlight shone dimly through the sweeping branches and scarce foliage of the tree. Galen looked up. Clouds. He looked back down at his dark- haired friend and sighed. What had happened to Pete today? He draws trouble like a magnet, he thought, shaking his head. He'd have given anything to be there with him when the trouble started. Maybe he could have diffused the situation Burke apparently had not been able to extricate himself from. Galen was left facing some hard questions and a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach.
'Ape shall not kill ape' - the mantra of those who believed the Lawgiver's teachings. It was finally taking hold in Central City, although still not given much thought by those apes who lived outside its limits - those farmers and laborers who struggled with the land were still more likely to believe in the simplicity of gods ruling the elements. Galen had thought himself not affected by either religion, but he was shaken to the very core by the murder of the gorilla at Burke's hand. The beast man, his mind whispered. He shook his head, irritated.
Pete was so still. Galen looked up again at the fast-gathering clouds, and a light rain began to fall, making its way through the branches. He craned his neck around the tree-trunk, looking for Alan. They wouldn't be able to see if this kept up - then what? He turned back to Pete and impulsively shook his shoulder. His head rolled limply to one side. Galen's anxiety crept higher. Should he try harder to wake him? Maybe he needed to rest.
He rubbed his eyes, undecided, then dropped his hands down into his lap and stared fixedly at the astronaut. He looked at peace, features relaxed, almost innocent. Pale though, in the cold light of the moon breaking momentarily through the clouds. He watched his chest, waiting for it to rise. A fist suddenly squeezed Galen's heart and he dropped down on all fours, pressing his ear to Pete's chest. His own heart rate slowed at the sound of Pete's, beating strongly.
He'd recover, wouldn't he? What had happened to him after Galen had been captured? He looked down at his friend's face, tasting copper-tinged fear on the back of his tongue. He didn't want to think about this, but knew he would. It was more than self defense, wasn't it, Pete? At the very least, it felt like more than that to you. And you wanted me to understand, you confessed it to me. So I could decide the fate of our friendship. His heart dropped like a stone, fearing the implications.
The death of man or ape could never be an acceptable solution to a bad situation, and to ignore the fact that Pete had harmed another would be to give tacit approval. He had the feeling that Alan and Pete were going to be enduring some difficult growing pains in their friendship. Whether he would be there to weather them as well remained to be seen.
Galen blinked at the falling drops of rain, and wiped Pete's face. They were both getting wet.
Does it matter how it happened - the gorilla's death? Yes, his mind insisted, but his heart thought otherwise. Galen believed what Burke said was true, he'd have to have been cornered to do what he did, but had there truly been no way to save himself without violence? I know you, Pete, or I thought I did, but something changed. Suddenly the casual brutality, the stark reality of human life squandered at the hands of apes became more to you than a common evil of this world. It became personal in a way that it never had before, even when it threatened your own life. Chandar was the catalyst and when the gorilla came after you, you couldn't step back, could you? Not anymore, not after Kabon.after Liska.
You've never been good at stepping back from anything, not as long as I've known you. What did I think you'd do - what would I have done? Are you merely the first of us to be pushed into going all the way, to kill in order to live, knowing there is a price to be paid for our continued existence? Galen bowed his head.
The distant rattling of wheels in the rutted lane below brought Galen's head up. Alan leapt from the wagon and ran to the tree, heart sinking as he spotted Galen leaning over Pete, trying to shelter their motionless friend. Quickly he knelt down beside the dark-haired astronaut.
"Oh Alan, I don't know what to do to help him," Galen said.
Alan's eyes met his. "I know. I was hoping he'd be awake by now. I'm afraid he'll go into a coma. It that happens, we may never get him back." He patted Pete's shoulders gently. "Pete, Pete, you gotta wake up now." He turned to Galen. "We're going to try and wake him up, Galen, and get him in the wagon. You keep an eye on him back there. Look for slurring, talking off his head. personality changes. Hell, any kind of change. Got it?"
Galen nodded, hunkering down next to Alan. He hunched his shoulders at a sudden gust of wind. "Pete. wake up. Wake up," he said, calling to him. His eyes stung and he blinked rapidly.
Alan looked at him sharply. "Galen, he got into a helluva mess today, but we've always known something like this could happen. I'm upset, too - at him, at the circumstances - I'm worried about repercussions. but right now it just doesn't matter."
"What do you mean, it doesn't matter?" Galen said, voice raised.
Alan leaned towards Galen. "Who do you think he was trying to save when he got into this mess to begin with? Would you feel better if he'd been the one who'd died?" Galen threw him a hard look and Alan sighed deeply. "Sorry. What I'm saying is, he made a decision, right or wrong. And now you've got to decide if you can live with it and all of the damned after- effects involved for us all."
Galen stared at him. "Can you? Live with it, I mean?" he questioned Virdon.
Burke's eyelids fluttered open, and he turned groggy eyes upward, squinting. "Thank God," Alan muttered. He pushed damp hair from his forehead. "Pete. back in the land of the living, huh?" He smiled at Burke and then spared Galen a glance. "Yeah, Galen. I'll live with it, one way or another. Nobody would have thought twice about another human carcass, would they? But let me tell you something. It should matter. It matters to me."
Alan helped Burke upwards, who struggled to a sitting position and stifled a groan. Alan offered him his canteen and Burke took a long, thirsty pull from it. He threw Alan a weak but unmistakably ill-humored look as he took the canteen away. "Take it easy, Pete. Not too fast."
"One more thing you should know." Alan said, turning back to Galen and putting a hand on his shoulder. "It wouldn't be the same without you. Now would you help me get him into the wagon?" Galen ducked his head and nodded, at a loss for words.
They pulled Pete into a standing position, supporting him between themselves, and made their way to the horse and wagon. Galen rearranged the hay in the back into a comfortable pile to cushion Burke as much as possible and climbed in after him. Alan jumped into the seat of the wagon and urged the horse forward.
The rain had let up. At least they hadn't had to fight through mud, but the next few hours were a nightmare for Burke. In spite of all they could do, every jolt of the wagon reverberated through his head until he wanted to beg them to stop. He struggled to focus through the pain rising like a fog around him, telling himself it meant nothing, wouldn't last long. But each rut they bounced through crashed through his skull, shredding his nerve. He leaned over the side of the wagon and threw up the little water he'd taken in.
As the minutes dragged slowly on, Galen found Burke's struggle increasingly unbearable. Even the importance of putting distance between themselves and Central City faded next to the losing struggle unfolding before him. He called up to Alan, eyes locked on Burke, "We've got to stop. Now. He can't take any more," and muttering, to himself, "and neither can I."
Alan pulled the wagon off the dirt track and jumped into the back, examining Burke. "We've got to find some shelter and let him rest. We'll chance it here. Besides," he added, looking up at the sky, "dawn is coming. It's too dangerous to go much further." He looked at Galen, adding, "We've done all we can. Just pray we've made it far enough. Urko will be after us. soon."
------------------- --------
The sky began to lighten and the stars grew faint, then winked out at the first streak of rosy light in the eastern sky. Long, slanting rays of light and shadow striped across the landscape as night began its customary retreat before the rising sun.
In Central City, a young chimp in dusty black waited patiently at the front door of the venerable Counselor Zaius. A servant answered his knock, inquiring groggily about the nature of this early morning visit. He listened to the chimp's reply, nodding, before retreating inside the house. Yawning, Pergis turned, folded his arms tiredly upon his chest and gazed out at the coming dawn. Moments later, having delivered the message within, the servant returned to beckon him inside. The door swung shut behind him.
To the north of the city, a sagging Urko snapped upright against the support holding him captive, uneasy dreams interrupted by a rooster announcing the coming day. He blinked, trying to focus in the dimness of the barn. His jaws ached. He could not bring his teeth together. A cow mooed and his eyebrows rose in disbelief. Suddenly, the previous night's events flashed before his mind, and adrenalin flushed through his veins as he tugged at the binding rope.
The chimps dwelling at the farmhouse were awake and preparing for the first chores of the day. The youngest daughter stepped outdoors into the fresh air and shuffled sleepily to the barn, stopping to pick up the milking bucket. Suddenly she shrieked, dropped her bucket and ran back to the farmhouse, excitedly calling her father.
The farmer appeared quickly enough and followed his pointing, chattering daughter. He stopped short, dismayed. Someone had trussed a gorilla soldier up like a large and angry chicken and left him out in the barn. The chimp's eyes searched the dim recesses beyond the inflamed gorilla, dismay deepening at the realization that the horse was missing. And the wagon, he realized belatedly. His heart sank further, and he flashed an impatient glance as from the gorilla's throat there arose a deep, unnerving growl. "Shut up, you." he muttered and stomped further into the barn to see if anything else was gone.
------------------------------
Two days later. The sun shone hot and bright in the mid-afternoon sky. A seething Urko walked heavily from Zaius's office in Central City. Immediately upon his "rescue" by the belligerent chimp farmer, Urko had commandeered a horse from the closest neighbor and rode to Central City at great speed. Once there he'd organized an immediate search for the three fugitives.
The missing wagon and horse had been recovered and returned to the relieved farmer, but of the fugitives there'd been no sign. Urko hadn't given up, of course - he never would - but he felt the chances of their capture slipping from his grasp. To make matters worse, he'd been summoned by Zaius and practically forced into a plan hatched between him and the head of the student dissidents - that human lover, Pergis. Urko's lips curled at the thought, and he swung himself swiftly upon his horse and galloped away with more than necessary haste.
Back inside his office, Zaius arose from his desk. In his hand was the book that had first started the trouble with the university students. Pergis had returned it as a condition of their agreement. He placed it safely under lock and key and emerged from his office moments later, following Urko to the meeting of the councilors.
The Council Hall was packed. Emotions ran high as word of the gorilla's murder had spread. If the rumors were true - that a human was responsible - it was the first of its kind in Central City. Action would be taken, swift punishment meted out, and in the process, a terrible toll exacted upon humanity.
Zaius called Council to order - not an easy thing as the hubbub rose to a near roar. "You have all heard by now of the tragedy within our City two days ago. One of our soldiers was killed at Market Square during his pursuit of a fugitive."
"We all have heard that a human is responsible. If that is true, we must take action immediately," said an old orangutan, Ebram, who'd served honorably and well on this council for many years. He'd cut to the heart of the matter immediately.
"General Urko has investigated the incident and will now present his findings. General?" said Zaius, sitting down.
Urko stood and took a deep breath, surveying his audience. They looked back at him expectantly from their high-backed seats. The council body was composed of orangutans and a few chimps. There were no other gorillas here. If this had been an open meeting, the room would be flooded with gorillas demanding retribution.
"My soldiers were in pursuit of a renegade human - Burke. According to those humans and apes I've interviewed, Portis was the first to find him. He and Burke engaged in hand to hand combat." Urko paused, looking out over his enrapt audience. His eyes were drawn to Yalu, Galen's father. He snorted. Yalu should never have been allowed to remain on Council, no matter how faithfully he performed his duties. Urko would never understand why he was even allowed here today.
"Is it true that the human killed Portis?" said old Ebram with emphasis.
Urko swallowed, controlling his anger before he spoke. "It appears that someone else was responsible." Instantly, the hall was in an uproar. Orangutans and chimps alike pounded excitedly on the stone tables before them. Urko cleared his throat, feeling as if something was lodged there. Something large.
Zaius banged his gavel, but it did little good. When at last the hub-bub began to subside, Zaius spoke again. "You're sure?"
Again Urko cleared his throat, nodding. "There were many witnesses. A student from the demonstration killed Portis. A chimpanzee named Malachi."
"But why? Why would one of our own do such a thing?" asked old Ebram in a shocked tone. He stroked his straw-colored ruff.
Urko felt ill. He looked at Zaius for a moment, and a flash of loathing he could not contain transformed his face. This was Zaius's fault. He'd insisted that they name the chimpanzee as the murderer, to provide a foil, deflecting the pressure from council to punish humanity. In this way he'd fulfill his bargain with the students. Pergis had sworn all demonstrations would cease in return.
"He, er. apparently Malachi was the son of a prefect in Parga. He'd infiltrated the dissidents with the intentions of fulfilling a grudge he and his father held... against me."
For a moment, there was a shocked silence in the room. Zaius spoke. "Luckily, the young leader of the resistance came to his senses, realizing that Malachi misled them. If we'd believed what Malachi wanted us to believe - that the human had killed Portis - harsh restrictions would have been imposed against the humans today, and a clash between our military and the students almost inevitable. Malachi convinced the rebels that Urko threatened their cause. He wanted their help to eliminate that threat."
"But. a chimpanzee? Killed a gorilla? Ape shall not kill ape!" The youngest chimp in council spoke, protesting.
Zaius sighed. "In the future, perhaps.."
"For what reason did Malachi hold a grudge against you?" asked Ebram, eyes narrowed. The councilors looked at Urko expectantly.
Urko pulled in a deep breath. "It is of no consequence."
"Obviously it was," came the dry retort.
"Mere fantasies.he had an illness of the mind," Urko replied, shooting Ebram a grim look.
"And what has happened to this Malachi?" inquired the youngest council member.
"He was killed when he fired at the soldiers attempting to take him into custody," Urko answered.
Come now, Ebram. all of you! You question Urko as if he were a suspect. Remember, he and his soldiers remedied the threat posed by this unstable young chimp."
"Yes. a chimp provoked by the General to begin with." Ebram muttered. However, he had the good sense to keep it to himself.
"You know that someone in his position is at risk for such attentions. it's an unpleasantry to which high-profile leaders are susceptible," said Zaius. Several of the council members nodded.
Urko took his seat slowly. He'd survived the meeting with his career intact, in no small part due to Zaius's skillful handling of the Council. His eyes narrowed. He'd never have been in this position to begin with if not for Zaius. Urko felt an overpowering urge to snap the old orangutan's neck in two. Perhaps, someday, he'd arrange for it. Zaius had gone too far this time.
Urko's humiliation was complete.
After some long moments, an elderly female chimpanzee answered the door, pulling it wide with little regard for safety. She was stooped and much of her fur had gone gray. Blinking behind thick glasses, she examined the two young chimps supporting a third in her doorway. "What do you want?" she asked, sounding irritated. They'd woken her out of a sound sleep, and that wasn't so easily come by these days, with all the aches and pains of old age.
"Please.. we don't wish to alarm you, but our friend is hurt. We'd hoped to get help getting him to the hospital," said Trahern hopefully.
"Hurt!" the elderly chimp asked, startled. "What's happened to him?"
"Well, he. he was shot," answered Pergis hesitantly. He raised a hand to his face and scratched nervously.
"Shot." the old chimp repeated, as seemed her wont to do. She stood thoughtfully at the door. "What in the name of the gods have you young chimps been doing to get shot!"
"Can you help us?" asked Pergis quietly. He was exhausted, and Gathor seemed to weigh more with each step they took. The old female regarded him shrewdly for a moment, hand holding the doorknob for support.
"I have a horse and wagon. You may take it. I'll have your names first, and that of your families, of course," she said gruffly.
A broad grin covered Trahern's face. Forgetting himself, he reached out to Gathor's shoulder and clapped it. Gathor yelped. Pergis said, wryly, "If you can keep from hurting him further, Trahern, I'd like you to take him into the hospital. Find a Doctor named Kira. Tell her you are a friend of Galen's. I'll go on."
"Yes, yes, I heard that from Virdon," said Trahern, nodding enthusiastically. "Are you really going...?"
"I'm going to see Zaius, of course," Pergis answered, looking at his friend. "It's the only thing left to do." The old female chimp's eyes widened with interest behind her glasses.
--------------- --------------
The dry grass rustled underneath Galen's feet as he tramped to the far side of the old tree. Carefully he lowered Burke to the ground in what he hoped was a comfortable position and sat down next to him. It didn't bode well for the astronaut that he'd not yet awakened. Galen wasn't sure what he should do next.
The moonlight shone dimly through the sweeping branches and scarce foliage of the tree. Galen looked up. Clouds. He looked back down at his dark- haired friend and sighed. What had happened to Pete today? He draws trouble like a magnet, he thought, shaking his head. He'd have given anything to be there with him when the trouble started. Maybe he could have diffused the situation Burke apparently had not been able to extricate himself from. Galen was left facing some hard questions and a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach.
'Ape shall not kill ape' - the mantra of those who believed the Lawgiver's teachings. It was finally taking hold in Central City, although still not given much thought by those apes who lived outside its limits - those farmers and laborers who struggled with the land were still more likely to believe in the simplicity of gods ruling the elements. Galen had thought himself not affected by either religion, but he was shaken to the very core by the murder of the gorilla at Burke's hand. The beast man, his mind whispered. He shook his head, irritated.
Pete was so still. Galen looked up again at the fast-gathering clouds, and a light rain began to fall, making its way through the branches. He craned his neck around the tree-trunk, looking for Alan. They wouldn't be able to see if this kept up - then what? He turned back to Pete and impulsively shook his shoulder. His head rolled limply to one side. Galen's anxiety crept higher. Should he try harder to wake him? Maybe he needed to rest.
He rubbed his eyes, undecided, then dropped his hands down into his lap and stared fixedly at the astronaut. He looked at peace, features relaxed, almost innocent. Pale though, in the cold light of the moon breaking momentarily through the clouds. He watched his chest, waiting for it to rise. A fist suddenly squeezed Galen's heart and he dropped down on all fours, pressing his ear to Pete's chest. His own heart rate slowed at the sound of Pete's, beating strongly.
He'd recover, wouldn't he? What had happened to him after Galen had been captured? He looked down at his friend's face, tasting copper-tinged fear on the back of his tongue. He didn't want to think about this, but knew he would. It was more than self defense, wasn't it, Pete? At the very least, it felt like more than that to you. And you wanted me to understand, you confessed it to me. So I could decide the fate of our friendship. His heart dropped like a stone, fearing the implications.
The death of man or ape could never be an acceptable solution to a bad situation, and to ignore the fact that Pete had harmed another would be to give tacit approval. He had the feeling that Alan and Pete were going to be enduring some difficult growing pains in their friendship. Whether he would be there to weather them as well remained to be seen.
Galen blinked at the falling drops of rain, and wiped Pete's face. They were both getting wet.
Does it matter how it happened - the gorilla's death? Yes, his mind insisted, but his heart thought otherwise. Galen believed what Burke said was true, he'd have to have been cornered to do what he did, but had there truly been no way to save himself without violence? I know you, Pete, or I thought I did, but something changed. Suddenly the casual brutality, the stark reality of human life squandered at the hands of apes became more to you than a common evil of this world. It became personal in a way that it never had before, even when it threatened your own life. Chandar was the catalyst and when the gorilla came after you, you couldn't step back, could you? Not anymore, not after Kabon.after Liska.
You've never been good at stepping back from anything, not as long as I've known you. What did I think you'd do - what would I have done? Are you merely the first of us to be pushed into going all the way, to kill in order to live, knowing there is a price to be paid for our continued existence? Galen bowed his head.
The distant rattling of wheels in the rutted lane below brought Galen's head up. Alan leapt from the wagon and ran to the tree, heart sinking as he spotted Galen leaning over Pete, trying to shelter their motionless friend. Quickly he knelt down beside the dark-haired astronaut.
"Oh Alan, I don't know what to do to help him," Galen said.
Alan's eyes met his. "I know. I was hoping he'd be awake by now. I'm afraid he'll go into a coma. It that happens, we may never get him back." He patted Pete's shoulders gently. "Pete, Pete, you gotta wake up now." He turned to Galen. "We're going to try and wake him up, Galen, and get him in the wagon. You keep an eye on him back there. Look for slurring, talking off his head. personality changes. Hell, any kind of change. Got it?"
Galen nodded, hunkering down next to Alan. He hunched his shoulders at a sudden gust of wind. "Pete. wake up. Wake up," he said, calling to him. His eyes stung and he blinked rapidly.
Alan looked at him sharply. "Galen, he got into a helluva mess today, but we've always known something like this could happen. I'm upset, too - at him, at the circumstances - I'm worried about repercussions. but right now it just doesn't matter."
"What do you mean, it doesn't matter?" Galen said, voice raised.
Alan leaned towards Galen. "Who do you think he was trying to save when he got into this mess to begin with? Would you feel better if he'd been the one who'd died?" Galen threw him a hard look and Alan sighed deeply. "Sorry. What I'm saying is, he made a decision, right or wrong. And now you've got to decide if you can live with it and all of the damned after- effects involved for us all."
Galen stared at him. "Can you? Live with it, I mean?" he questioned Virdon.
Burke's eyelids fluttered open, and he turned groggy eyes upward, squinting. "Thank God," Alan muttered. He pushed damp hair from his forehead. "Pete. back in the land of the living, huh?" He smiled at Burke and then spared Galen a glance. "Yeah, Galen. I'll live with it, one way or another. Nobody would have thought twice about another human carcass, would they? But let me tell you something. It should matter. It matters to me."
Alan helped Burke upwards, who struggled to a sitting position and stifled a groan. Alan offered him his canteen and Burke took a long, thirsty pull from it. He threw Alan a weak but unmistakably ill-humored look as he took the canteen away. "Take it easy, Pete. Not too fast."
"One more thing you should know." Alan said, turning back to Galen and putting a hand on his shoulder. "It wouldn't be the same without you. Now would you help me get him into the wagon?" Galen ducked his head and nodded, at a loss for words.
They pulled Pete into a standing position, supporting him between themselves, and made their way to the horse and wagon. Galen rearranged the hay in the back into a comfortable pile to cushion Burke as much as possible and climbed in after him. Alan jumped into the seat of the wagon and urged the horse forward.
The rain had let up. At least they hadn't had to fight through mud, but the next few hours were a nightmare for Burke. In spite of all they could do, every jolt of the wagon reverberated through his head until he wanted to beg them to stop. He struggled to focus through the pain rising like a fog around him, telling himself it meant nothing, wouldn't last long. But each rut they bounced through crashed through his skull, shredding his nerve. He leaned over the side of the wagon and threw up the little water he'd taken in.
As the minutes dragged slowly on, Galen found Burke's struggle increasingly unbearable. Even the importance of putting distance between themselves and Central City faded next to the losing struggle unfolding before him. He called up to Alan, eyes locked on Burke, "We've got to stop. Now. He can't take any more," and muttering, to himself, "and neither can I."
Alan pulled the wagon off the dirt track and jumped into the back, examining Burke. "We've got to find some shelter and let him rest. We'll chance it here. Besides," he added, looking up at the sky, "dawn is coming. It's too dangerous to go much further." He looked at Galen, adding, "We've done all we can. Just pray we've made it far enough. Urko will be after us. soon."
------------------- --------
The sky began to lighten and the stars grew faint, then winked out at the first streak of rosy light in the eastern sky. Long, slanting rays of light and shadow striped across the landscape as night began its customary retreat before the rising sun.
In Central City, a young chimp in dusty black waited patiently at the front door of the venerable Counselor Zaius. A servant answered his knock, inquiring groggily about the nature of this early morning visit. He listened to the chimp's reply, nodding, before retreating inside the house. Yawning, Pergis turned, folded his arms tiredly upon his chest and gazed out at the coming dawn. Moments later, having delivered the message within, the servant returned to beckon him inside. The door swung shut behind him.
To the north of the city, a sagging Urko snapped upright against the support holding him captive, uneasy dreams interrupted by a rooster announcing the coming day. He blinked, trying to focus in the dimness of the barn. His jaws ached. He could not bring his teeth together. A cow mooed and his eyebrows rose in disbelief. Suddenly, the previous night's events flashed before his mind, and adrenalin flushed through his veins as he tugged at the binding rope.
The chimps dwelling at the farmhouse were awake and preparing for the first chores of the day. The youngest daughter stepped outdoors into the fresh air and shuffled sleepily to the barn, stopping to pick up the milking bucket. Suddenly she shrieked, dropped her bucket and ran back to the farmhouse, excitedly calling her father.
The farmer appeared quickly enough and followed his pointing, chattering daughter. He stopped short, dismayed. Someone had trussed a gorilla soldier up like a large and angry chicken and left him out in the barn. The chimp's eyes searched the dim recesses beyond the inflamed gorilla, dismay deepening at the realization that the horse was missing. And the wagon, he realized belatedly. His heart sank further, and he flashed an impatient glance as from the gorilla's throat there arose a deep, unnerving growl. "Shut up, you." he muttered and stomped further into the barn to see if anything else was gone.
------------------------------
Two days later. The sun shone hot and bright in the mid-afternoon sky. A seething Urko walked heavily from Zaius's office in Central City. Immediately upon his "rescue" by the belligerent chimp farmer, Urko had commandeered a horse from the closest neighbor and rode to Central City at great speed. Once there he'd organized an immediate search for the three fugitives.
The missing wagon and horse had been recovered and returned to the relieved farmer, but of the fugitives there'd been no sign. Urko hadn't given up, of course - he never would - but he felt the chances of their capture slipping from his grasp. To make matters worse, he'd been summoned by Zaius and practically forced into a plan hatched between him and the head of the student dissidents - that human lover, Pergis. Urko's lips curled at the thought, and he swung himself swiftly upon his horse and galloped away with more than necessary haste.
Back inside his office, Zaius arose from his desk. In his hand was the book that had first started the trouble with the university students. Pergis had returned it as a condition of their agreement. He placed it safely under lock and key and emerged from his office moments later, following Urko to the meeting of the councilors.
The Council Hall was packed. Emotions ran high as word of the gorilla's murder had spread. If the rumors were true - that a human was responsible - it was the first of its kind in Central City. Action would be taken, swift punishment meted out, and in the process, a terrible toll exacted upon humanity.
Zaius called Council to order - not an easy thing as the hubbub rose to a near roar. "You have all heard by now of the tragedy within our City two days ago. One of our soldiers was killed at Market Square during his pursuit of a fugitive."
"We all have heard that a human is responsible. If that is true, we must take action immediately," said an old orangutan, Ebram, who'd served honorably and well on this council for many years. He'd cut to the heart of the matter immediately.
"General Urko has investigated the incident and will now present his findings. General?" said Zaius, sitting down.
Urko stood and took a deep breath, surveying his audience. They looked back at him expectantly from their high-backed seats. The council body was composed of orangutans and a few chimps. There were no other gorillas here. If this had been an open meeting, the room would be flooded with gorillas demanding retribution.
"My soldiers were in pursuit of a renegade human - Burke. According to those humans and apes I've interviewed, Portis was the first to find him. He and Burke engaged in hand to hand combat." Urko paused, looking out over his enrapt audience. His eyes were drawn to Yalu, Galen's father. He snorted. Yalu should never have been allowed to remain on Council, no matter how faithfully he performed his duties. Urko would never understand why he was even allowed here today.
"Is it true that the human killed Portis?" said old Ebram with emphasis.
Urko swallowed, controlling his anger before he spoke. "It appears that someone else was responsible." Instantly, the hall was in an uproar. Orangutans and chimps alike pounded excitedly on the stone tables before them. Urko cleared his throat, feeling as if something was lodged there. Something large.
Zaius banged his gavel, but it did little good. When at last the hub-bub began to subside, Zaius spoke again. "You're sure?"
Again Urko cleared his throat, nodding. "There were many witnesses. A student from the demonstration killed Portis. A chimpanzee named Malachi."
"But why? Why would one of our own do such a thing?" asked old Ebram in a shocked tone. He stroked his straw-colored ruff.
Urko felt ill. He looked at Zaius for a moment, and a flash of loathing he could not contain transformed his face. This was Zaius's fault. He'd insisted that they name the chimpanzee as the murderer, to provide a foil, deflecting the pressure from council to punish humanity. In this way he'd fulfill his bargain with the students. Pergis had sworn all demonstrations would cease in return.
"He, er. apparently Malachi was the son of a prefect in Parga. He'd infiltrated the dissidents with the intentions of fulfilling a grudge he and his father held... against me."
For a moment, there was a shocked silence in the room. Zaius spoke. "Luckily, the young leader of the resistance came to his senses, realizing that Malachi misled them. If we'd believed what Malachi wanted us to believe - that the human had killed Portis - harsh restrictions would have been imposed against the humans today, and a clash between our military and the students almost inevitable. Malachi convinced the rebels that Urko threatened their cause. He wanted their help to eliminate that threat."
"But. a chimpanzee? Killed a gorilla? Ape shall not kill ape!" The youngest chimp in council spoke, protesting.
Zaius sighed. "In the future, perhaps.."
"For what reason did Malachi hold a grudge against you?" asked Ebram, eyes narrowed. The councilors looked at Urko expectantly.
Urko pulled in a deep breath. "It is of no consequence."
"Obviously it was," came the dry retort.
"Mere fantasies.he had an illness of the mind," Urko replied, shooting Ebram a grim look.
"And what has happened to this Malachi?" inquired the youngest council member.
"He was killed when he fired at the soldiers attempting to take him into custody," Urko answered.
Come now, Ebram. all of you! You question Urko as if he were a suspect. Remember, he and his soldiers remedied the threat posed by this unstable young chimp."
"Yes. a chimp provoked by the General to begin with." Ebram muttered. However, he had the good sense to keep it to himself.
"You know that someone in his position is at risk for such attentions. it's an unpleasantry to which high-profile leaders are susceptible," said Zaius. Several of the council members nodded.
Urko took his seat slowly. He'd survived the meeting with his career intact, in no small part due to Zaius's skillful handling of the Council. His eyes narrowed. He'd never have been in this position to begin with if not for Zaius. Urko felt an overpowering urge to snap the old orangutan's neck in two. Perhaps, someday, he'd arrange for it. Zaius had gone too far this time.
Urko's humiliation was complete.
