“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.”
The bonobo leading with the rope turned and gave the rope a yank. The tug almost knocked all three people down. The bonobo repeatedly waved his hand palm down while whispering: “Hana.”
“My god, is he strong or what?” Melanie commented as she regained her footing.
“What do you think he means?” Candace asked.
“If I had to guess, I’d say he’s telling us to be quiet,” Kevin said.
All at once, the entire group stopped. There were some hand signals among the bonobos. Several pointed up toward the trees to the right. A small group of bonobos slipped silently into the vegetation. Those remaining formed a wide circle, except for three who climbed directly up into the canopy of the forest with an ease that defied gravity.
“What’s happening?” Candace whispered.
“Something important,” Kevin said. “They all seem to be tense.”
Several minutes went by. None of the bonobos on the ground moved or made the slightest noise. Then suddenly, there was a tremendous commotion to the right, accompanied by high-pitched shrieks. At once, the trees were alive with desperately fleeing colobus monkeys on a course bringing them directly toward the bonobos who’d climbed up into the trees.
The terrified monkeys tried to change direction, but in their haste several of them lost their hold on the branches and fell to the ground. Before they could recover they were set upon by waiting bonobos on the ground who killed them instantly with stone wedges.
Candace winced in horror, then turned away.
“I’d say that was a good example of coordinated hunting,” Melanie whispered. “That requires a high level of cooperation.” Despite the circumstances, she couldn’t help but be impressed.
“Don’t rub it in,” Kevin whispered. “I’m afraid the jury is in, and the verdict is bad. We’ve only been on the island for an hour, but the question that brought us here has already been answered. Besides collective hunting, we’ve seen totally upright posture, opposable thumbs, toolmaking, and even rudimentary speech. I sense they can vocalize just like you and I.”
“It’s extraordinary,” Melanie whispered. “These animals have gone through four or five million years of human evolution in the few years they’ve been out here.”
“Oh, shut up!” Candace cried. “We’re prisoners of these beasts and you two are having a scientific discussion.”
“It’s more than a scientific discussion,” Kevin said. “We’re acknowledging a terrible mistake, and I’m responsible. The reality is worse than I feared when I saw the smoke coming from this island. These animals are protohumans.”
“I have to share some of the blame,” Melanie said.
“I disagree,” Kevin said. “I’m the one who created the chimeras by adding the human chromosome segments. That wasn’t your doing.”
“What are they doing now?” Candace asked.
Kevin and Melanie turned to see bonobo number one coming toward them, carrying the bloodied corpse of one of the colobus monkeys. He was still wearing the wristwatch, which only underlined the beast’s odd position between man and ape.
Bonobo number one brought the dead monkey directly to Candace and held it out toward her in both his hands and said: “Sta.”
Candace moaned and turned her head. She looked like she was about to get sick.
“He’s offering it to you,” Melanie told Candace. “Try to respond.”
“I can’t look at it,” Candace said.
“Try!” Melanie pleaded.
Candace slowly turned. Her face reflected her disgust. The monkey’s head had been crushed.
“Just bow or do something,” Melanie encouraged.
Candace smiled weakly and bowed her head.
Bonobo number one bowed and then withdrew.
“Incredible,” Melanie said, watching the animal leave. “Although he’s obviously the alpha male, there must still be remnants of the typical matriarchal bonobo society.”
“Candace, you did great,” Kevin said.
“I’m a wreck,” Candace said.
“I knew I should have been a blond,” Melanie said with her own attempt at humor.
The bonobo holding the rope gave a tug significantly less forceful than the previous one. The group was on the move again and Kevin, Melanie, and Candace were forced to follow.
“I don’t want to go any farther,” Candace said tearfully.
“Pull yourself together,” Melanie said. “Everything is going to be okay. I’m starting to think Kevin’s suggestion was right. They think of us like gods, especially you with that blond hair. They could have killed us instantly if they’d been inclined, just like they killed the monkeys.”
“Why did they kill the monkeys?” Candace asked.
“I assume for food,” Melanie said. “It is a little surprising since bonobos are not carnivorous, but chimps can be.”
“I was afraid they were human enough for the killing to be for sport,” Candace said.
The group passed through a marshy area, then began a climb. Fifteen minutes later, they emerged from the forest twilight onto a rocky but grassy area at the foot of the limestone escarpment.