The three froze, wide-eyed with terror.
“What can ‘Atah’ mean?” Melanie whined after a few moments when nothing happened. “Can it be a word? Could he be talking?”
“I don’t have any idea,” Kevin sputtered. “But at least he hasn’t come toward us.”
“What is he holding?” Candace asked apprehensively. “It looks like a hammer.”
“It is,” Kevin managed. “It’s a regular carpenter’s clawhammer. It must be one of the tools the bonobos stole when the bridge was being built.”
“Look at the way he is grasping it. Just the way you or I would,” Melanie said. “There’s no question he has an opposable thumb.”
“We got to get away from here!” Candace half cried. “You two promised me these creatures were timid. This guy is anything but!”
“Don’t run!” Kevin said, keeping his eyes glued to the bonobo’s.
“You can stay if you want, but I’m going back to the boat,” Candace said desperately.
“We’ll all go, but slowly,” Kevin said.
Despite warnings not to do so, Candace turned on her heels and started to run. But she only went a few steps before she froze and let out a scream.
Kevin and Melanie turned in her direction. Both of them caught their breaths when they saw what had shocked her: Twenty more bonobos had silently emerged from the surrounding forest and had arrayed themselves in an arc, effectively blocking the exit from the cul de sac.
Candace slowly backed up until she bumped against Melanie.
For a full minute no one spoke or moved, not even any of the bonobos. Then bonobo number one repeated his cry: “Atah!” Instantly, the animals began to circle around the humans.
Candace moaned as she, Kevin, and Melanie backed into each other, forming a tight triangle. The ring the animals formed around them began to close like a noose. The bonobos came closer a step at a time. The humans could now distinctly smell them. Their odor was strong and feral. The animals’ faces were expressionless but intent. Their eyes flashed.
The animals stopped advancing when they were an arm’s length from the three friends. Their eyes ran up and down the humans’ bodies. Some of them were holding stone wedges similar to the one that had killed bonobo number sixty.
Kevin, Melanie, and Candace did not move. They were paralyzed with fear. All the animals looked as powerful as bonobo number one.
Bonobo number one remained outside the tight ring. He was still clutching the clawhammer but no longer had it raised over his head. He advanced and made a full circuit of the group, staring at the humans between the heads of his compatriots. Then he let out a string of sounds accompanied by hand gestures.
Several of the other animals answered him. Then one of them reached out his hand toward Candace. Candace moaned.
“Don’t move,” Kevin managed to say. “I think the fact that they haven’t harmed us is a good sign.”
Candace swallowed with difficulty as the bonobo’s hand caressed her hair. He seemed enthralled by its blond color. It took all the resolve she could muster not to scream or duck away.
Another animal began to speak and gesture. He then pointed to his side. Kevin saw a long healing surgical scar. “It’s the animal whose kidney went to the Dallas businessman,” Kevin said fearfully. “See how he’s pointing at us. I think he’s connecting us to the retrieval process.”
“That can’t be good,” Melanie whispered.
Another animal reached out tentatively and touched Kevin’s comparatively hairless forearm. Then he touched the directional beacon Kevin was holding in his hand. Kevin was surprised when he didn’t try to take it away from him.
The bonobo standing directly in front of Melanie reached out and pinched the fabric of her blouse between his thumb and forefinger as if feeling its texture. Then he gently touched the locator she was holding with just the tip of his index finger.
“They seem mystified by us,” Kevin said hesitantly. “And strangely respectful. I don’t think they are going to hurt us. Maybe they think we are gods.”
“How can we encourage that belief?” Melanie asked.
“I’ll try to give them something,” Kevin said. Kevin considered the objects he had on his person and immediately settled on his wristwatch. Moving slowly, he put the directional beacon under his arm and slipped the watch from his wrist. Holding it by its bracelet, he extended it toward the animal in front of him.
The animal tilted his head, eyeing the watch, then reached for it. No sooner had he had it in his hand than bonobo number one vocalized the sound: “Ot.” The animal with the watch responded by quickly giving it up. Bonobo number one examined the watch, then slipped it onto his forearm.
“My god!” Kevin voiced. “My double is wearing my watch. This is a nightmare.”
Bonobo number one appeared to admire the watch for a moment. Then he brought his thumbs and forefinger together to form a circle while saying: “Randa.”
One of the bonobos immediately ran off and disappeared for a moment into the forest. When he reappeared, he was carrying a length of rope.
“Rope?” Kevin said with trepidation. “Now what?”
“Where did they get rope?” Melanie asked.
“They probably stole it with the tools,” Kevin said.
“What are they going to do?” Candace asked nervously.
The bonobo went directly to Kevin and looped the rope around his waist. Kevin watched with a mixture of fear and admiration as the animal tied a crude knot and then cinched it tight against Kevin’s abdomen.
Kevin looked up at the women. “Don’t struggle,” he said. “I think everything is going to be okay as long as we don’t anger them or scare them.”
“But I don’t want to be tied up,” Candace cried.
“As long as we’re not hurt it’s okay,” Melanie said, hoping to calm Candace.
The bonobo roped Melanie and then Candace in a similar fashion. When he was finished, he stepped back, still holding the long end of the rope.
“Obviously, they want us to stay for a while,” Kevin said, trying to make light of the situation.
“Don’t be mad if I don’t laugh,” Melanie said.
“At least they don’t mind our talking,” Kevin said.
“Strangely enough, they seem to find it interesting,” Melanie said. Each time one of them spoke the nearest bonobo would cock its head as if listening.
Bonobo number one suddenly opened and closed his fingers while sweeping his hands away from his chest. At the same time he said: “Arak.”
Immediately, the group started moving, including the animal holding the rope. Kevin, Melanie, and Candace were forced forward.
“That gesture was the same as the bonobo did in the operating room,” Candace said.
“Then it must mean ‘go’ or ‘move’ or ‘away,’ ” Kevin said. “It’s incredible. They’re speaking!”
They left the cul de sac and moved across the field until they came to the trail. At that point they were led right. While they walked, the bonobos remained silent but vigilant.
“I suspect that it isn’t Siegfried who maintains these trails,” Melanie said. “I think it’s the bonobos.”
The trail curved to the south and soon entered the jungle. Even in the forest it was well cleared and the ground underfoot was packed smooth.
“Where are they taking us?” Candace asked nervously.
“I guess toward the caves,” Kevin said.
“This is ridiculous,” Melanie said. “We’re being taken for a walk like dogs on a leash. If they’re so impressed with us, maybe we should resist.”
“I don’t think so,” Kevin said. “I think we should make every effort not to get them riled up.”
“Candace?” Melanie asked. “What are you thinking? ”
“I’m too scared to think,” Candace said. “I just want to get back to the canoe.”