Caesar's Pearl 2 Chapter 9
Margo met Malcolm and his party on the edge of the Redwoods. Basically at the old parking lot where the Rodman's used to park their car on fun outings there as a family. Once there Margo got some funny looks from a couple of them like Carver, Foster, and Kemp when they saw how and where Ranger was sitting, but Margo didn't pay any attention to them. This is a very big momentous time for her. This is going to be the very first time she's stepped foot in the Redwoods since Caesar's revolution and her parents death.
Once she got over her initial reminiscing phase Margo advised Malcolm to lead them to the exact spot there they saw the apes the last time they were here in the Muir Woods. When asked why Margo explained that doing so would give her the best idea of where to start looking for where Caesar and his people had claimed as their own home.
So Malcolm did so. He was at the head of the group driving one of the two trucks with Carver, Ellie, and Alex in his, Kemp and Foster in the other, and Margo and Ranger bringing up the rear.
The downpour of rain was really coming down now so the drive up had to be slow or else the vehicles would slip and crash on the mud. Despite this it didn't take long for them to get there.
There was enough room so Margo pulled up beside the driver's side of Malcolm's truck and knocked on the window. He rolled it down so they could speak.
"This the spot," asked Margo.
Nodding, pointing up the incline, Malcolm said "Yeah, we saw a large amount of them coming from up there."
Looking up there thoughtfully Margo figured that if she and Ranger went up into the woods then they'd eventually find Caesar. Given that's where they all originated from this is her best bet of finding him. It's not much, but it's all she had to go on.
Dismounting from the bike, lifting the goggles up from over her eyes, Margo said "All right, you guys stay here. When it's safe to come I'll let you know."
"Wait, you're not thinking of going up there alone," said Ellie.
"Actually I am. Unlike with the rest of you I'm familiar with the Redwoods. I played a lot here as a child before the plague spread. Not only that, but Caesar both knows and trusts me. Like it or not I'm your best bet of getting through this peacefully," said Margo, de-harnessing Ranger.
Ranger jumped down from his seat.
"How do you plan on even finding him," said Malcolm, skeptical, firmly believing that he should accompany her on the hike.
Petting Ranger's head, Margo said "That's why I have Ranger here to guide me. He knows Caesar's scent like the back of his paw. He'll lead me right to him. I'd better head out now before the rain does wash too much of it away while everything is still fresh. Ranger, find Caesar."
Ranger barked instantly getting to work. It's been a while, but he heard the same command enough when he was a puppy to know who and what he'd been searching for. As he walked around looking for the right scent trail to pick up Margo turned back to the response team.
Uncompromising, Margo said "Stay here. Do not leave these trucks under any circumstances until I bring word."
Ranger then alerted, positioned in a perfect point to show he found something. That is her signal.
Margo then started to head over to Ranger when she nearly forgot one final note.
"Oh and keep your hands off my stuff," said Margo.
She and Ranger then vanished into the foliage without even a by your leave. Absentmindedly, not long after they began to move, Margo found herself humming a little tune. Soon enough that tune became song.
.
Into the woods
It's time to go
I have to leave
As we all know
Into the woods
It's time and so
I must begin the journey
Into the woods
And through the trees
To where he is expected to be
Into the woods
To Caesar's home
Into the woods
To Caesar's home
The way is clear
The light is good
I have no fear
Nor no one should
The woods are just trees
The trees are just wood
Into the woods
And down the dell
The path is straight
I know it well
Into the woods
And who can tell
What's waiting on the journey
Into the woods
To reunite
With a brother long absent in my life
Never can tell
What lies ahead
But into the woods
Into the woods
Into the woods
To Caesar's home
And back before dark
.
Margo and Ranger had been hiking up there for a while now. She needed to stop to have a breather. Margo leaned against a tree while Ranger did the same to her legs. Once Margo thought they'd rested enough they then continued on with Ranger following the faint scent trail he had on the one they were seeking out. The rain coming down certainly wasn't happening. The longer they stayed there dillydallying the more time the rain had to wash the trail away.
.
Into the woods
The time is now
I have to get to him
I don't care how
Into the woods to save my family
I must begin the journey
Straight to the woods
Without delay
I have to face the truth today
Into the woods to see a friend
Into the woods to save a friend
.
Margo's mind traveled to all of the angry people back at the San Francisco Colony. If they should fail then there would be war. All of them down there would come up here with guns and murder in their hearts. It would be a bloodbath resulting in so many killed. One of them could see Caesar. This is why she cannot fail.
.
Into the woods
It's time to go
It may be all
In vain, I know
Into the woods
But, even so
I have to take the journey
Into the woods
The path is straight
I know it well
But who can tell
Into the woods to Caesar's home
The way is clear
The light is good
I have no fear
Nor no one should
The woods are just trees
The trees are just wood
No need to be afraid there
.
A twig snapping that did not come from either Ranger or Margo caused her to stop. Sensing her distress Ranger stopped to look back at her as she froze in place.
.
There's something in the glade there
.
Ranger sniffed the air trying to figure out what it could be. Turn's out in was a rabbit in the thicket. It hopped out of the bushes returning to a burrow. Margo must be more nervous than she thought. Poor girl had to remind herself that there's nothing to fear. It's as she's been constantly been telling people Caesar would never hurt her. No, not in a million years.
The trail is really picking up now. Tracks found in the dirt with footprints in the shape of handprints. At one point found red fur, upon examination Margo recognized it as belonging to an orangutan. She's hoping heavily on it being from Maurice given that she did see him earlier now that she thought about it.
.
Into the woods
Without delay
Be careful not
To lose the way
Into the woods
Who knows what may
Be lurking on the journey
Into the woods
To get the thing
That makes it worth
The journeying
Into the woods
To save a brother
Into the woods
Into the woods
Into the woods
And out of the woods
And back before dark
.
That's the plan at least. Well in for a penny in for a pound, as they say.
Authors Note:
I take it you guys have figured out what movie the lyrics for the song you see here are from. Ha! Ha! I've been waiting to do this one for a long time. :D
As you may have noticed I've had to change a few of the lyrics around to make it fit more properly.