As was the case in human communication, words, gestures, context, and tone were also very commonly used by primates. In fact, many primates knew what humor was and enjoyed playing tricks on their researchers. Even more fascinating was their practice at varying levels of deception. They also demonstrated human characteristics like greed, jealousy, and ire. So why couldn’t IMIS translate their speech? A thought suddenly occurred to DeeAnn, and she dropped her head, contemplating. Unless it was something humans couldn’t do. Or something humans had evolved out of.
Dulce spoke with Dexter again, who seemed to say something back. Dulce rolled her head sideways with a curious expression and looked at DeeAnn. When she spoke, the words emanated a moment later from the vest’s speaker. He hiding.
DeeAnn replied softly. “Ask him why he is hiding.”
They watched Dulce turn back to Dexter, who was barely half as tall as she. His near white fur had a peppering of black, which from a distance gave him a gray hue. After another blurted exchange with yelps and motions, Dulce turned to them again. He hide from bad people.
DeeAnn looked at Juan with widening eyes. “Do you think that means he saw them?
“Maybe,” Juan whispered back.
DeeAnn cleared her voice. “Who are bad people, Dulce?”
Dulce spoke to Dexter again and waited. He want out cage.
“Soon. But first, who are bad people?”
After another exchange, Dulce replied again. Bad people hurt friend.
DeeAnn gasped. Luke! Was Luke the friend? She took a deep breath, struggling to remain calm. “Who was his friend?”
Dulce stared at her a moment, trying to understand the question. When she turned and spoke to Dexter, his reply was brief. Teacher.
“Yes, Dulce! Teacher!” DeeAnn said, gripping one of Juan’s sleeves. “Who hurt the teacher?”
Teacher friend.
“Yes, yes. Teacher is friend. Who hurt teacher? Where is teacher?!”
Dulce asked again. IMIS didn’t translate, but DeeAnn could tell Dexter’s answer was different this time. She stared apprehensively at Dulce, waiting.
Dulce looked at DeeAnn but didn’t speak immediately. She waited, staring, as her small face slowly changed expressions to one of sadness. Her answer struck DeeAnn like a freight train. Teacher die.
Juan’s eyes widened and he turned to DeeAnn. Her face went instantly white. Her knees wobbled and she looked as though she were going to collapse when Juan quickly reached out and grabbed her.
Dulce watched DeeAnn with sorrow and finished the translation. Friend die teacher.
37
DeeAnn’s eyelids fluttered open, and she looked around with blurry eyes. After taking some time for them to adjust, she finally recognized her room on Alves’ estate.
She turned her head and saw Juan’s face hovering above her. Alves and Blanco stood behind him, looking questioningly.
“Dee, can you hear me?”
“Yes.” She blinked and focused on Juan’s young, tan face. “What happened?”
“You fainted.”
“Fainted?” she said, confused. “I did?”
“Yeah.” Juan looked to the other two men, then back down at her. “How do you feel?”
DeeAnn blinked again. “Fine.” Her mind was fully aware now and trying to rewind. All at once, she remembered and was instantly overcome with heartbreak. Luke!
She remembered what Dulce had repeated. Even worse, she knew what it meant. She had been hoping against hope that Luke was still alive, but she always knew the chances were remote. Deep down she knew that Luke was dead, but she wouldn’t let herself come to believe it. Until now. They were just words. From a monkey, no less, but she knew it was true. She finally had to admit it. Luke was gone.
Her eyes began to well up until streams fell from the corners, running down each of her cheeks. DeeAnn closed her eyes and gently rolled her head back and forth. What on earth was she doing here? She just wanted to go home.
She opened her eyes again and reached for Juan’s hand. “Help me up.”
“Hold on.” He loosened his grip and gently placed his other hand on her shoulder. Leaning forward, he brushed her hair off her forehead. “I think there’s more here than just fainting. You look like you might have a case of heatstroke. You’re sweating quite a bit. Are you thirsty?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve been pushing yourself pretty hard, Dee. I think you need take it easy for a while.”
She took a deep breath and forced her limbs to relax. “What about Dulce and Dexter?”
Alves peered over Juan’s shoulder with a concerned look. “Don’t you worry about them. They’re safe and they’re not going anywhere. You need some rest. In fact,” he said, with a sigh, “I think we all do.”
DeeAnn nodded. “They need to be separated without me in there with them. And fed too.”
“Already done,” smiled Juan. “Let’s just take the afternoon to get some rest.” He turned to Alves and Blanco. “If you gentlemen don’t mind.”
A flash of surprise passed over both of them, but they nodded and headed for the door. With a quick glance back, they stepped out and Blanco closed the door softly behind them.
DeeAnn looked up at Juan and shook her head. “I’m sorry, Juan. I brought us on a wild goose chase, and I shouldn’t have.” She reached up and laid a hand over her eye. “I thought I could do something to help Luke before it was too late. But in my heart, I already knew it was too late. And now I’m worried about Dulce. I know you can’t tell, but she’s not coping well. And here I am, with a case of heatstroke.” She took a deep breath and let it out quickly. “I know this sounds harsh, Juan, but if Luke really is gone, I don’t think we’re going to find out who did it. At least not soon. I think it would take a while. Longer than Dulce could handle.” She frowned at him. “We need to go home. Before things get worse.”
“I understand.” Juan nodded and gingerly patted her hand. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
DeeAnn nodded. “I’m fine.”
“Good,” said Juan, lowering his voice. This time it was his turn to take a deep breath. “Because I think we have a problem.”
DeeAnn wrinkled her brow. “What?”
Juan leaned in and almost whispered. “I said I think we have a problem.”
“What are you talking about?”
He looked up and scanned the room, wondering if he would be able to spot a bug, even if there was one. “Listen. Did you notice anything while Dulce was talking to Dexter outside?”
“Like what?”
“When you were talking to Dulce, I heard something. When I looked up, one of Alves’ men had opened a window and aimed a video camera right at us.”
“They were recording us?” she asked.
“I think they only caught the last bit, but yes, they were recording.”
“That’s a little weird. We could just give them a copy of the translations.”
Juan nodded, still using a low voice. “That’s what I was thinking. And there’s something else. I know you may still be a little groggy, but do you remember the last thing Dulce translated before you fainted?”
DeeAnn thought a moment. “Teacher die?”
“No,” Juan shook his head. “She said something else right after that. She said, Friend die teacher.”
DeeAnn’s eyes narrowed as she thought about it. “Friend die teacher?”
Juan nodded but said nothing.
After thinking, DeeAnn looked at him curiously. “Redundant translation?”