nopricetoogreat

Urko stood before the High Council. "My troops have told me just this morning of an uprising," he began. "Not an uprising of the human vermin, mind you," he said, pacing heavily back and forth in front of the seated orangutans. "Apparently some chimpanzees have it in their heads that the traitor Galen is to be commended! They say he’s admirable for resisting the closed-minded musings of an out-dated council hierarchy!" A murmur arose throughout the room. Urko stopped in front of Zaius and leaned down. "When my officer told the heretics to disband, they spat in the dirt at his feet!" he continued, eyes fixed on Zaius, voice rising. "I won’t allow my officers to be treated contemptuously! This type of incident is becoming almost common place…but it will stop. One way or another, it will stop." Urko straightened and met the eyes of each council member in turn. "I will see to it." He turned and, without waiting for a response, left the council in chambers.

An hour later, Zaius sat in silence, staring off into space. It seemed that imprisonment and/or banishment were not effective deterrents to those traitors who supported Galen, and questioned the wisdom of the High Council. Zaius knew that the threat was serious and if allowed to spread, harmful to ape civilization as they knew it. Finally, he stirred himself to give instructions to an assistant chimpanzee, and less than 30 minutes later, Urko again strode into the now empty room. "You wanted to see me, Zaius?" he said impatiently.

"What we have long feared is at last upon us, Urko," Zaius said, softly.

"I don’t have time for your riddles, Zaius. Speak in plain terms," snorted Urko irritably.

"Very well…plainly, then. The astronauts and Galen must be found. Now. The infection has started. The disease will only grow amongst the apes in this city until it can no longer be contained. Urko, you must help me stop this - before it’s too late. If it isn’t already," Zaius replied, locking eyes with Urko.

"Do you think I want this, Zaius? You think I want those filthy humans and their renegade ape alive and out of my control?" Urko asked, staring back.

"Of course not." Zaius answered impatiently.

"I will find them, Zaius. Of that you can rest assured." Urko said. "And I will kill them."

"You will not kill them. You will bring them here, Urko," said Zaius with a hard stare. Urko brought his fist down, smashing it onto the desk in front of Zaius. Then he turned and walked out the room.

-----------------------------

At daybreak the next morning, Urko set out to investigate the where-abouts of the fugitives. His only lead was a tentative sighting of two human strangers at the village of Antros, offered up at the height of an unpleasant (for the human, anyway) question-and-answer session conducted by one of Urko’s soldiers. The human said that the two strangers spoke in a manner not native to these parts. There was, however, no information "volunteered" regarding a chimpanzee companion. The lead was doubtful at best, and one that had failed to yield results when investigated by the local soldiers a mere three days before. Nevertheless, it was all he had.

Urko commanded a unit of his soldiers to reconnoiter every village within a fifty-mile range of Antros, expanding the area previously searched. For the next three days thereafter he stayed at the abode of Prefect Arnak in Antros, organizing efficient, often brutal searches with ruthless drive.

Urko recognized that Zaius’s directive carried a great deal of pressure, and he was almost insane with the idea that the three renegades would yet again humiliate him in the eyes of those who occupied the seats of power in Central City - yet his humiliation was postponed on the morning of the fourth day when he received a promising lead from a tired and dusty gorilla soldier riding in from the far reaches of the search area. A village barely inside the 50-mile limit had apparently been host to a chimpanzee, but there were no reports of accompanying humans. A chimpanzee traveling alone was in itself not worthy of notice; however, the fact that a chimpanzee would shelter at a human village almost certainly pointed to the refugees. As far as Urko was concerned, it was enough. The humans were probably with Galen - if the observer who reported the chimpanzee was himself an ape, he wouldn’t know if the humans in the village were strangers or residents. All humans looked alike, everyone knew that. Only Zaius, Urko and a handful of Urko’s soldiers could identify the astronauts on sight.

Urko summoned Barda, his second-in-command for this operation, to ready twenty of his best men with orders to ride immediately to the human village of Chandar.

----------------------------

Peter Burke stepped into the barn and looked around, sighing. It was small, boarded walls silvery gray with age. A few chickens pecked at the dirt and bits of hay near the open door.

He shook his head. Of all the menial tasks he’d performed while trapped in this bizarre future world, cleaning out a barn had to be number one on his list of things he’d hoped never to do. Ever. But Virdon was with Kabon, looking over his small crop of carrots, potatoes, and God knows what all. Pete supposed that being raised a farm boy had its advantages. Kept him out of the crap. Literally.

He wondered idly what Galen was doing as he stripped off his shirt and began to rake up the soiled hay. He snorted. Probably sitting somewhere with his feet propped up. These villagers allowed no ape to work around them. He could just picture Galen’s smug look now.

By the time Pete had gotten the soiled hay up and out of the barn he’d worked up a good sweat. He wiped his streaming forehead, then lugged fresh water into the barn from the well outside. Next he brought loads of sweet-smelling hay in by the barrel-load.

Burke looked up at the sound of rustling footsteps near the barn door. Liska. Kabon’s daughter. He pulled in a quick involuntary breath at the sight of her. Her black hair fell down around her shoulders and cascaded down her back. She had a lean, coltish look, tall, with long legs. Her eyes looked into his. Blue ice.

Burke had met Liska three days before, when he and his friends had first arrived at the human village of Chandar. Liska’s father, Kabon, had a small strip of land he farmed, along with a milk-cow and a few chickens. The week before, he’d hurt his back and although not incapacitating, it was painful. With constant work, the injury continued to nag. He thought it would heal if allowed some recovery time, and was subsequently eager to accept an offer of work in exchange for shelter and food. Shortly after meeting the trio, bargain sealed, Kabon led them to his home.

Burke looked away from Liska's gaze. She had a way of measuring you - those clear, pale eyes seemed to see everything. Actually, she’d made him feel uncomfortable a time or two, although he’d burn in hell before admit it to anyone. In the close quarters of Kabon’s home, he’d learned quickly that she was a direct person, and sometimes a silent one.

"What are you doing here, Liska?" he asked her, turning back to his work. His matter-of-fact tone belied that fact that his pulse raced at the sight of her there in the doorway.

She looked at him, unsmiling. "Taking a break."

The undercurrent of electricity between the two was gaining a life of its own. Over the course of the last few days, he'd been pleasantly surprised at her intelligence and quick wit. She seemed so serious - almost too serious - until he made her laugh after a couple of nights spent with her and her father. It transformed her, lit her from inside.

Mindful of the fact that he and his friends settled nowhere for long, Pete tried to hold his feelings in check. This had never been a problem before, frankly. Most of the humans of this time were dull-eyed with fear, beaten down by their servitude to the apes. Hardly anything to be tempted by.

Not her, though. And tempting didn’t begin to describe her.

He shook himself mentally and continued pitching hay. Liska walked to where he stood. Her fingertips touched his back and he jerked, surprised, and looked around at her. She smiled patiently. "Are you avoiding me?"

"What are you talking about?" he scoffed, startled but unwilling to show it. She took a step closer to him.

"I’ve always hated cleaning out the barn," she said, changing the subject. "Good thing you’re around to do it."

Pete leaned over the handle of the pitchfork, attempting nonchalance. "Is that right?" he said, brow cocked, looking down at her. He rested his chin on the hand covering the end of the pitchfork.

"Sure. Makes you good for something," she said. She winked at him. He blinked at her, surprised.

"I am hurt, Liska. Deeply wounded." He cast her a grievous look, and she grinned. He straightened up. "You won’t always have me to kick around, you know."

Her look sobered. "I know." Liska’s pale eyes stared into him.

"I’ve got work to do. My purpose in life, remember? Clean out the barn." He turned from her to the pile of hay.

"I’m all done joking, Pete." Her voice was low and his heart rose in his throat at the sound of it. For God’s sake, what was wrong with him? He was acting like a teenager hopped up on hormones.

He turned around again and stopped short at her closeness. She reached up and touched his chest, gleaming with sweat, then stepped into his arms and lifted her face to him.

He couldn’t seem to stop her, or himself for a long time, but in reality it was only moments before he pulled back. His breath burned harshly in his lungs, and he tipped his forehead down to touch hers. "Come out here for a break, huh," he said, stalling, trying to calm the pounding of his heart.

Liska smiled, staring up into his eyes. "What else would you call it?"

He sobered, remembering where he was. What he was supposed to be doing. "A mistake," he sighed, and stepped back from her. He expected an impassioned response, but she was silent, staring coolly at him.

Pete broke from her gaze to stare uncomfortably out the barn door. "Look, I’m sorry, but there’s nowhere to go with this," he said. His voice cracked like an adolescent’s. He cursed inwardly and raked a hand through his hair.

"We’ll see," she said, finally, and turned on her heel to walk out the door. He stared mindlessly after her.

God was he in trouble.

---------------------------

Pete excused himself, avoiding Alan and Galen’s questioning look. It was early evening. Rapidly he walked away from Kabon’s home and made his way to the slow, small stream meandering around the outskirts of the village. Another long day of hard work, and all he could think about was the feel of the water rushing over him. Pete pulled his rough shirt hastily over his head. Next came the pants, joining shirt and shoes slung in a careless heap upon the ground.   The fresh air was welcome on his bare and sweaty skin. Assuring himself of his solitude with another glance around the sheltered area, he waded into the water.

It was about five feet across, but deep enough so that the water covered him to just above his waist.   Good enough to swim in. He dove under immediately, cool water engulfing his heated scalp, face and neck.   He surfaced and began to cut through the water in long, smooth strokes, relishing the lap of water against his naked skin, washing away dust and soothing aching muscles. After a few minutes he slowed and tipped his head back, letting his still body float towards the surface.

The area was lush and verdant, with sheltering trees and grass growing down to the water’s edge. Birds called busily to one another. Pete sighed again, floating aimlessly on his back. A moment of tranquility… so rare on this world.

It had been two days since Pete and Liska’s encounter in the barn. Since then he’d been polite and considerate… but distant. It was awkward, and he hated playing this game with her. God knows he liked her, and wanted to spend more time with her, but he also knew he and his friends would be leaving Chandar, and soon. She’d forget about him once he was gone. He tried to ignore the way his stomach sank at the thought.

Interrupting his musing, a loud splash came from directly behind him. Pete jerked upright, heart hammering. His eyebrows rose at the sight of Liska, splashing towards him from the bank. She was completely naked… and gorgeous. His eyes traveled over her figure, the long, dark hair. He closed his eyes for an instant, then opened them to meet her knowing gaze.

"What the hell are you doing?" he said, voice raised.

"What’s it look like?" She reached out for him and he stumbled back a step, scowling. Her eyes widened and took on a humorous glint. "You’re not afraid of me… are you?" she asked him, trying to keep from smiling.

"Maybe of Kabon," he said, smiling slightly. He took a deep breath. "He’d kill me if he saw us together. I don’t think you should be here."

"It’s not my father’s business, and you have no idea how he’d feel about it, anyway," she said, reaching out a hand towards his chest.   He caught it with his own.

"Liska…" he said softly. "I’m leaving soon. You know that."

"I didn’t come down here to discuss your plans with you, Pete.   I came here because I wanted to. Simple," she said, and moved still closer.

"Not simple at all," he replied, voice hardening. "Why exactly are you here?"

Her blue eyes flashed. "Exactly?" He nodded, jaw flexing. With a sudden motion, she stepped into his arms and wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, pulling his face down to hers, covering his lips with her own.   Her mouth sent an electric jolt through his body. He stiffened in surprise and put his hands on both sides of her waist, but he couldn’t make himself step back. Burke grappled with self-control, finally pushing her gently away. She gazed upwards, longing evident, then lowered her eyes.

Pete looked down at her closed and sweat-slickened eyelids. Her vulnerability touched him. He shut his eyes again and swallowed. He’d resolved to leave Chandar before letting things go any farther and yet, here he was. He looked at her, the bowed head, the slant of her cheek. Impulsively he reached down and kissed the closed eyelids, tasting salt. She raised her lips to his. This time he could not resist, leaning down to explore her mouth hungrily. Her hand reached up to his face, cupping it.

Burke teetered on the edge of the cliff. He knew he needed to get the hell back to the village, before something happened that he’d regret, knowing how he wanted her, wanted this.

She opened her eyes and stared up at him, taking in the dark wet hair, already beginning to curl and the brown eyes, softened now. Taking every ounce of self-control, he turned from her. Liska made a protesting noise and reached out, pulling him back, and he drew in a sharp, sudden breath as her eyes burned into his, revealing the depths of her desire.

Teetering… teetering.. falling. Against his better judgment, his arms went around her.

-------------------

He tried to ignore the sinking sensation, knowing he’d done the wrong thing, he’d hurt her and himself, knowing in that moment that he cared for her more than he ever wanted to think about. And knowing it didn’t matter if he wanted her, or even if he wanted to stay with her… he’d never abandon Alan. Alan needed him to help face the fact of a life without his family in this frightening future world.

He looked at her face, glowing and content, and kissed her gently on the cheek. He wanted to protect her, to make her happy, and this was what he’d done.

Somehow he’d try to make her understand… but first, he’d have to try and understand it himself.

--------------------------

Virdon glanced at Burke frequently, trying to gauge his mood as the trio walked north, carrying backpacks holding precious food and water. Their path was a fairly pleasant one with gradually rising hills. It was, however, a hot day with the sun beating unrelentingly down upon their heads.

Galen sighed, eyeing the two humans from the corner of his eyes. "Could you move a little downwind, please?" he asked, wrinkling his muzzle.

Burke stopped to sniff his underarm as Galen scowled at him. "I’d give my last…what? I don’t own anything." He paused. "I’d give up a timeshare in Hawaii for some deodorant. Doesn’t anybody use deodorant on this planet?" Pete grumbled, then sidled next to Galen and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "Anyone at all?" he added, grinning boyishly at the chimpanzee.

Galen threw off his arm in disgust and snorted. Ignoring Pete, he stopped to face Alan. "Timeshare? De-o-dorant?" he asked. Alan grinned at Galen, relieved that Burke had finally cheered up. Ever since they’d left Chandar two hours ago, his fellow astronaut had been virtually silent. Leave it to Pete - teasing Galen would be the one thing to make him feel better.

"Galen, the first he doesn’t own, and the second, we can’t get," said Virdon, leaving Galen even more bewildered.

"My feelings are hurt, Galen. I just took a bath, pal, and although I admit I can’t smell you, you can’t be too clean under all that ape fuzz," said Burke.

Galen stared at Burke. "Apes do not have fuzz," he said in a dignified manner. "Pete…every time we start traveling again, you act like this, do you realize?" he grumbled.

"Act like what?" asked Burke innocently, brow cocked.

"Like an obnoxious, irritating… oh, never mind," sighed Galen.

"Obnoxious? Irritating… huh. How ‘bout that…" Burke trailed off. Galen grimaced and catching Virdon’s eye, shook his head. Burke smiled, clapping Galen on the shoulder. "Right. Not fuzz. Fur."

Alan spoke up. "A word of advice, Galen: don’t let him get to you. If you do, he’ll never stop," and looked Pete’s way, eyes twinkling.

Pete made a huffing sound and shook his head. "Hey, he’s the one telling me I smell," he pointed out as he again sniffed at himself, "and I’m clean. For now, anyway," he said, moving to take the lead.

Before their departure this morning, the two men had washed at the small stream flowing close to the village. There was no telling when they might next have the opportunity to do so. It was just one more thing the astronauts had to endure - albeit an insignificant problem when compared to the life-threatening situations they faced everyday in this strange new world.

The trio had stayed at Chandar for eight pleasant, uneventful days before forcing themselves to move on. The villagers had been generous and friendly to the two men and their chimpanzee companion, and they’d lingered longer than was wise. On top of that, Pete had unwillingly - almost angrily, Alan knew - grown attached to Liska. Unlike many of the humans of this time, she had spirit. Apparently this world - and the apes - had not yet beaten it out of her.

Pete was upset at their departure this morning, though he tried hard to hide it. He cared for her, dammit. But he and Alan were on a mission - at least, Alan was - and he couldn’t let his interest sway him. He didn’t want an involvement with anyone - at least, not for a long while, until Alan was capable of accepting the fact that they weren’t going home.

Burke would never admit it to himself, but a tiny flicker of hope remained deep in his mind, kept alive solely by his friend’s stubborn, wrong-headed conviction that there had to be a way back home. Had to be.

Next to him, Alan suddenly reached down, feeling for the magnetic disk he carried in a leather pouch. The disk held the record of their flight here - and what went wrong. He’d given it to Pete for safekeeping while he made his trip to the stream this morning.

He stopped, grabbing Burke by the shoulders. "Pete! The disk! Where is it?" he asked urgently.

Pete’s clear brown eyes widened. "Oh God. Alan…." he trailed off.

"I trusted you with it, Pete!" Alan said, voice uncharacteristically raised, staring into his friend’s eyes.

"Hey buddy, it’s not like you asked for it back, either," Pete protested angrily, brows drawn together. The two men stared at each other a moment longer. Then Alan sighed. Pete glanced apologetically at him, then the ground. Galen, who’d been watching with some concern, was relieved to see the mood between the two relax slightly.

"I’m sorry, Alan," Pete said sheepishly, at the same moment that Alan offered his own words of apology. Both men smiled, relieved.

"I shouldn’t have snapped at you, Pete," Alan said, placing his hand on Burke’s shoulder.

"Yeah, you should have. I shouldn’t have forgotten it. It’s just that Liska...she was upset, Alan. She asked me…she asked us not to leave." He paused. "It’ll be okay, Alan. We’ll get it back."

Galen sighed, turning wordlessly to begin the long walk back to the village.

-----------------------------

Riding to the perimeter of Chandar, Urko stopped abruptly, raising a cloud of dust. Barda and the twenty soldiers following stopped at Urko’s signal. It was hot and the gorillas were all tired from their long journey. Urko pointed to half of the unit. "Surround the village. Let no one leave. The rest of you split up and search the dwellings." He paused, then added, "I warn you, if they are here and you let them get away… " he stared at the gorillas one by one, until each in turn averted their eyes.

Satisfied, he urged his horse onward, leading the remaining soldiers into the center of the village. Frightened citizens scattered from the pack of gorillas pounding down upon them. "You," Urko shouted, directing his men, "search over there. Barda, over there," he continued, "and you," pointing to the two soldiers nearest him, "Come with me. We have work to do." The two soldiers hunched their shoulders at Urko’s grim expression and followed him to the two dwellings sitting on small, farmed plots at the far end of the village center.

Urko and his men found both homes deserted. They came back outside as Barda shouted, gesturing at them from two dwellings over. Urko quickly strode to the doorway where Barda awaited and entered the small home. Inside stood a man, about 50 years old. Staring contemptuously at the human for a moment, Urko shifted his gaze to Barda, who nodded silently. "Where is the chimpanzee?" he demanded of the human. The man stared back with wide eyes and did not answer. "Speak!" Urko shouted, and grabbed his rough shirt with a massive fist.

"He’s - he’s gone," said the man. It was Kabon.   He seemed to be gathering his wits about him after the initial shock of seeing the Supreme Commander of the militia walk into his home.

"You lie. Humans always lie!" Urko said, eyes boring into the man. "But you will answer me, and answer truthfully. Or you will die!" Urko shook Kabon like a dog shaking a rat. His dark muzzle glowered scant inches from the human’s face. When the man still did not reply, Urko grunted impatiently, slinging the man to the ground. Slowly, Kabon got up on his knees and pulled himself upward, using a nearby table for support.

Kabon’s eyes widened as he spotted the pouch with the magnetic disk inside, lying on the table. With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, he saw Urko’s eyes follow his own. The gorilla’s dark eyes widened. Kabon snatched at the disk, but Urko swept his arm out and easily knocked the man aside. "What have we here?" he questioned. The quiet tone of his voice caused a shiver to work its way down Kabon’s back.   Urko pulled the disk out of the pouch delicately, large fingers exploring the smooth surface of the disk. Taking his time, he advanced upon the human. Kabon felt a deep thrill of terror, replacing the calm he’d earlier fought to gain.

"Where did you get this?" Urko’s expression was calm, but Kabon knew instinctively that his life was hanging from a very thin thread. "Are you afraid? No need to answer. The astronauts brought this with them. And the chimpanzee. But tell me this, human - it’s a strange and evil thing, I sense. What is its purpose?" Kabon, paralyzed, saw an unholy anticipation in Urko’s face. His fear became almost intolerable at the realization that that Urko hoped he would prove uncooperative.

"I don’t know what it is, I swear," Kabon stammered, almost too frightened to force the words past his lips. Urko motioned to one of the soldiers. The first blow smashed Kabon’s head into the table, and the power of that leather-clad fist sent a rush of bile from his stomach into his throat and nose. The second blow struck him hard on his ear, and he heard the crack deep inside his head. The gorilla hooted, grinning malevolently, and raised his fist again.

Kabon spoke, fighting his heaving stomach. "I saw Burke with it just before they left."

At the mention of Pete’s name, Urko’s face flushed darker. "You harbor enemies of the state! And Burke is the worst of the lot!" He paused, remembering when he and Burke were trapped together in the underground of a crumbling, ancient city. His hands balled unconsciously into fists as he thought of the picture he’d discovered on the underground wall…the unspeakable horror of his own kind in a cage, imprisoned for the amusement of humans.   And Burke - the man had made a fool of him with all his lies.

"What else do you know? Tell me, or…." Urko turned as a female human fled swiftly into the dwelling, followed by a gorilla soldier. She stopped abruptly, aghast at the scene before her. It was Liska.

At Urko’s motion, one of the soldiers who crowded the room grabbed the woman by both arms.

"Father!" Liska said urgently.

Urko smiled. "Ah, your daughter. How convenient. I’ll give you one last chance to tell me where the fugitives are, and what this is," he said, shaking the disk in his hand, "or she will pay the price for your defiance."

"Please, I told you…they’ve gone. They’ve been gone for nearly three hours now. All I know of the thing you hold in your hand is that Pete called it a disk. I overheard him talking to Alan about it, and Alan said it’s their only chance of getting back home," Kabon said, all in a rush. Liska’s arrival had taken all the fight out of him. The only thing he cared about now was the safety of his daughter.

"And where did they go?" questioned Urko.

Kabon’s heart sank, head pounding sickeningly. He felt the blood lust in the air, and part of him understood that he would not survive this interrogation. "I don’t know," he said, and one of the gorillas backhanded him viciously. Liska screamed in protest, lunging towards him. As if in a nightmare, Kabon watched as one of the gorillas raised his gun and fired. Liska’s eyes clung to Kabon’s as she crumpled to the ground. Her pale eyes stared up at him, disbelieving, as her father fell to his knees, hugging her to him.

Urko turned to the gorilla that shot Liska, slamming his arm down with his own. "Did I tell you to shoot?" he shouted, glaring at the frightened gorilla. "Barda! Why is this soldier in our unit? Surely you don’t consider him one of our best!"

"Not anymore," Barda answered, shoving the soldier out the door, cursing.

Urko breathed heavily for a moment, then sighed, considering. He shrugged. "The renegades have infected the village, anyway. After the search is concluded, burn it. To the ground." He turned and walked outside.

-----------------------------

Squinting defensively against the fierce glare of the sun, Galen, Alan and Pete retraced their steps back to Chandar. Conversation between the three had been non-existent since the discovery that the flight disk was missing. Rounding the side of a grassy knoll, Galen’s pace slowed, while behind him Alan stopped abruptly. "Pete…" Alan started, and Pete met his questioning gaze with a grim look as the smell of smoke grew stronger.

Galen sniffed the air, wide-eyed. "Chandar?" he asked.

"Liska…." Pete said softly, and broke into a run.

"Pete, wait!" Alan shouted, and putting on a burst on speed, grabbed him by the arm.

Burke stopped and jerked his arm back, glaring. "What are you doing, Alan? Those people need our help!"

"We don’t know what’s going on - Pete, listen to me!" Alan urged as Pete turned away. "I know you’re worried - we all are. But we can’t afford to be reckless. Okay?" Pete stared at him, eyes stony. Alan stared back, determined.   "Pete! Okay."

Burke’s brown eyes gradually lost some of their anger. He nodded, saying impatiently, "Yeah, yeah, okay. But let’s move!"   Virdon put his hand on Burke’s shoulder, reassuring him for an instant before pressing onward.

Galen’s heart sank as each step brought them closer to the village.   He sniffed the air, then glanced at his two swiftly moving companions.   His every instinct screamed at him to turn back, away from Chandar. Of course, the villagers were friends, and he had every intention of helping - but he was certain whatever they were approaching was going to change all of their lives for the worse.

Smoke wafted up over the surrounding trees, and Burke’s face grew tighter with every step. Galen, watching him, realized that despite his urgent pace, Pete was also afraid of what they would discover. As if reading his mind, Burke’s hard gaze caught Galen’s briefly, then returned to the path before him. Galen sighed, worried.

The sound of pounding hooves came to them, and the three scrambled behind some bushes just as two gorillas rode into view. The astronauts and Galen strained to hear the conversation.

"…I was deployed to the chimpanzee protest last week. They wouldn’t listen to ‘reason’," said one of the gorillas, a husky fellow showing large yellow teeth as he grinned. "But I and others in the garrison took matters in hand," he continued in a self-satisfied manner.

"What’s their problem?" asked the other gorilla, a shaggy ape with grayish fur.

"Some of the students at the university have apparently decided that Galen and his human ‘pets’ are being unjustly persecuted," said the first.

"Chimps. Their trouble is they think too much." The other gorilla snickered.

"They just need the truth beaten into their thick skulls. I had one of ‘em at the protest, giving him ‘a lesson’ so to speak. Unfortunately, he turned out to have connections. Complained about the treatment he’d suffered," the first gorilla growled, continuing. "Council member Yalu’s nephew, no less. The one that started all this, I’d bet - Galen’s cousin."

"Ah, Galen’s cousin. I’m not surprised. Although Yalu is a good ape."

The larger gorilla slammed his fist into his palm. "If I’d only known who he was! I had him right there in the palm of my hand! I’d have taught him a few things years at the university will never be able to show him. Of course, he might not have survived," the gorilla added, eyes narrowing. The other gorilla laughed as they rode away.

"Pergis!" Galen exclaimed as the two gorillas disappeared around the bend. "My cousin Pergis! Oh, what trouble has he gotten himself into now?"

"One thing at a time, Galen," said Alan. The trio left the protection of the bushes and approached the outskirts of the village with caution.

Shortly they emerged from behind the last hill blocking their view of Chandar. A terrible silence descended upon them as they gazed downward. It was a ruin. An utter ruin. Smoke still rose from the village, but the fire had for the most part burned the homes to the ground and died out.

"My God," said Alan softly. The three ran swiftly towards the village. They jogged down the pathway to what used to be the center of the small community. From there, Pete ran to the smoldering debris of what had been Liska’s home and turned in circles, searching.

"Liska!" he shouted, breath coming in harsh bursts. "Liska! Kabon! Answer me!" He turned again, seeking some sign of life.

Galen followed Pete, touching his arm. "You’re going to get us all killed! Do you want that?" he demanded, searching Pete’s brown eyes with his own.

Burke focused on Galen impatiently. "I have to find them!"

"I understand, Pete. I do. But I’ve always counted on you to help keep us safe, no matter what. You’re placing us in jeopardy. The gorillas may be near. Don’t you understand that?" said Galen in a calmer tone.

They were interrupted by the sound of foliage rustling from just beyond the burned area. Kabon emerged from the blackened bushes. They were shocked by his appearance. He moved slowly and painfully, dragging one side of his body. A thin stream of blood ran out of his ear.

Pete grabbed Kabon, supporting him as he started to collapse. With a cry, Kabon wrenched himself from Pete’s grasp. "Don’t come near me!" Kabon whispered. Pete stood still, nonplused, as Alan approached Kabon and placed an arm around his waist.

"Let me help you, Kabon," he said gently. Alan sat him down carefully and went over his body, searching for injuries. Afterwards, he looked at Kabon’s bleeding ear and shook his head, making the point that he could do nothing for him.

Pete reached for the water canteen, placing it in Kabon’s hands. "Drink," he urged.

Kabon struck the canteen weakly from him. "I told you to stay away from me," he whispered, voice hoarse.

"Look, Kabon, I only want to help," Burke protested.

"You’ve done enough! Liska is dead because of you!" Kabon screamed, then grasped his head in his hands. Pete’s face drained of color. "You left that thing here…that damn disk," Kabon continued, staring up at Burke. "My daughter is dead because of it. You might as well have shot her yourself."

Burke flinched as if hit, and Galen moved protectively closer.

"It wasn’t intentional, Kabon," Alan said firmly. "I’m so very sorry…we all are. How did she…how did Liska die? Can you tell us what happened here?"

"The gorillas…they came. Urko found the disk in my home. On the table, where he left it. He knew you’d been here, then. He took it with him. They beat me. Then Liska came, and…and those filthy bastard gorillas killed her. They burned the villagers out of their homes. Because of you…" he said, struggling to sit up, staring into Burke’s eyes, "Do you understand what you’ve done to her? They shot her down in front of me!" Pete put a shaking hand up over his eyes for an instant. "Why…why did you ever have to come here? Both of you - with your ape friend, and your disk - you’re responsible," Kabon stated flatly, looking at the others in turn. Anger and

disbelief chased across Burke’s expressive face as he listened. He turned away, his face reflecting Kabon’s anguish.

---------------------------

The people of the village came trickling back in pairs, in threes, and in groups to view the remains of their homes with a mixture of despair and resignation. None of them would speak to the astronauts and their companion. They knew the reason the gorillas had rained such fury upon their village and their lives.

Kabon’s condition steadily worsened throughout the day, until he collapsed and could no longer speak. His breath came in gasps. Burke stayed away in order to give the man some peace in his last moments. It left a bitter taste in his mouth and an ugly feeling of helplessness. Virdon and Galen tended to Kabon as best they could, and tried their best to comfort him. He died a little before dusk.

The three friends buried Kabon just outside of the village.

Burke searched for evidence of Liska, but found nothing recognizable in the fire-blackened ruins of what had been her home. He returned compulsively to the scattered remains until it became too dark to see.

-----------------------------

Several times during the first hour of their nightmare death watch over Kabon, the astronauts and Galen had heard noises suggesting that the gorilla soldiers - or at least some of them - were still quite close. As Kabon was in no shape to move, they’d simply hunkered down and hoped for the best. Luckily, the sounds they’d heard had been the last of the gorillas moving off, having assured themselves of the devastating results of the fire.

Unknown to the trio, Urko had sent search parties in pairs spiking outward from the burnt village in search of the three fugitives. Urko himself had moved on to the closest village out of Chandar to regroup and map out a new plan in his search for the three, not realizing that the trio had already doubled back before he’d destroyed the village. It was, however, a welcome reversal of the three’s recent fortunes that only one pair in the gorilla search parties had chanced upon their path back to Chandar, and had been so easily avoided.

The people of Chandar, now homeless, had faded back into the surrounding territory where they could no longer see and smell the overwhelming results of the fire - and the total loss of everything they’d owned in the world. Galen, Virdon and Burke also left the ruins of the village after their repeated offers of help had been received in silence and in some cases, outright hostility. The three finally realized that the best thing they could do for the villagers was to leave them to deal with the devastation alone. The realization left a sick and impotent feeling lurking in all of their stomachs and guilt weighing heavily on their conscience.

Virdon, Burke and Galen tramped a little over five miles south of the village before making camp late that evening. They were too dispirited to go any further. None of the three companions had eaten since their departure from Chandar early that morning, yet no one complained. They dared not build a fire for fear of being detected, and sat on the ground exhausted, except for Galen who perched atop a rock. They were silent for a long while until Galen finally spoke.

"I feel just as badly as you two do about this," he said, nodding his head at the others. "Having said that, I think it’s important to understand exactly what happened today. I know we all agree that if we hadn’t been at Chandar, none of this would have happened. At the same time, do you really feel that we are to blame for this tragedy?" he looked at the astronauts in turn, wrinkling his snout.

"Yeah, well, who else would you blame?" asked Burke tiredly.

"The gorillas set the village on fire, Pete. I think you need to remember that. The gorillas killed Kabon and…and Liska. Not us," Galen answered.

Virdon looked at Burke. "And not you, Pete," he said firmly.

Burke ran his hand through his hair, agitated. He shrugged, plainly wishing to avoid this discussion.

Virdon continued. "Frankly, Galen, I’m not so sure we shouldn’t shoulder the blame…partially, anyway."

"Shoulder the blame?" Galen quizzed.

"We were the reason for what happened today. You can’t deny it." Virdon paused. "Maybe we could have been more careful. Maybe we shouldn’t have stayed as long as we did. I don’t know…but I do know that we’d never have harmed those people intentionally."

Burke kept his eyes to the ground for a moment, silent, then raised them slowly to meet Virdon’s. "Intentionally, huh? Intentional or not, those people’s lives are ruined. And Liska and Kabon are dead."

Virdon’s face twisted. "You think I don’t know that?" he said in a low voice.

"No, let’s tell the whole truth," Burke continued, voice rising. "nothin’ but the whole truth. I got Kabon and Liska killed. I left the fucking disk there in plain sight, and they paid the price."

"Yes, you left the disk there," Virdon countered, voice intent. "You didn’t set the fire! You didn’t beat Kabon to death! And you didn’t shoot Liska!"

Alan stared at Pete, blue eyes filled with compassion. He knew Pete, knew the torture he could put himself through. Would put himself through. Pete stared back, eyes flat. "Quit worrying about my feelings, Alan. My feelings on this don’t count. What counts is that they’re dead."

He stood abruptly and walked around the camp as if he couldn’t bear to be still. Virdon turned and looked at Galen helplessly, and Galen shook his head. Finally Burke sat down again, arms propped on his knees. Galen opened his mouth, but Burke put his palm up in a stopping motion. "No more, Galen. I’m tired, okay?"

"I don’t want to talk about this anymore than you do, but we have to. Or we never will," said Alan firmly.

Galen looked at Burke sadly. "Your finger didn’t pull that trigger, Pete. Anymore than Alan or I did. Can’t you see this is something you did not do?"

Pete buried his head on his arms and said, faintly, "Liska trusted me."

Galen’s eyes met Virdon’s worried look. He moved next to Pete and patted his arm awkwardly, but Burke jumped up as if he couldn’t bear to be touched.

"Can’t you just back off?" he shouted, glaring first at Galen, then Virdon. They gazed back, mute.

Burke began to pace the small area again. "Okay…okay, Galen. You really want to talk about it? Let’s talk. Alan. You still want to get that disk back, don’t you? After everything that’s happened."

Virdon looked him straight in the eyes. "Yes."

"How much is it worth, Alan?" Pete said softly, clearly shaken. "Is it worth our lives? Was it worth theirs?"

"I understand if you don’t want to help get it back," said Alan just as softly, looking up at Pete. "I don’t expect you to. But it’s something I have to do."

"What are you talking about?" exclaimed Galen, jumping up. "We need to stay together, especially now!"

"Don’t worry, buddy," Burke said to Galen, then turned to Virdon. "Oh, I’ll get it back for you, Alan," he said, lips twisted into a sarcastic smile. "It’s priceless, I know. And it's my fault it was lost in the first place. No matter the cost - I will get it back."

Alan stood, blue eyes burning. "Pete - that’s enough!" They stood eye to eye.

"I can’t believe you two!" Galen scolded, furious. He exhaled loudly, exasperated, and continued in a softer tone. "We are not going to lose our friendship over this! It’s the most important thing I have."

Burke turned from Alan and studied Galen for a long moment, considering. "Hell, it’s the only thing you have," he said, and smiled unexpectedly. Virdon and Galen paused for an instant, startled, then laughed aloud.

"We’ll talk about the disk later," Virdon said. "We’re not going to split up over this or anything else. Right, Pete?" and at Burke’s nod, added, "Nobody’s going to go after the disk that doesn’t want to go after it. Okay? Now let’s get some sleep. Or try to, anyway," he added, glancing at Burke again.

Each of them searched for a comfortable spot to sleep under the dark shelter provided by a massive, thickly branched tree. Not long after, Burke got up from his makeshift bed and walked away. Galen and Virdon heard the unmistakable sound of Burke’s stomach trying to give up a non-existent lunch.

"Oh Alan, what can we do?" Galen whispered, knowing even before the question left his lips that there was no answer.

"I wish to God I knew," Alan answered, then turned quickly away as Burke walked back to his resting place.

They lay there, none of them sleeping. Finally Burke spoke softly. "A little advice, guys. I may not have a lot of things, but ears…that I got."

-----------------------------

Virdon tossed restlessly. Too many thoughts rushed through his mind, precluding rest. The bitterness of Burke's tirade still rang in his ears. While he had to admit he'd risked his life and as a consequence, the lives of his friends when he first retrieved the magnetic disk, he'd never willingly trade their lives for it. Yet the disk was their only link to home, and their only shot, albeit a long one, of getting back. As such, it was invaluable. But Pete twisted it all out of context…ah, well. He knew Pete well enough to know that he sometimes struck out without waiting to see where the blows fell. Pete was upset about Liska and the village - hell, they all were. Alan knew with the sure knowledge that comes from long friendship that he and Galen simply happened to be in the line of fire when Pete's anger and guilt erupted tonight.

But was that all there was to it? Virdon couldn't fool himself. No, when it came to the disk, the differences between himself and Pete ran deep. And on this night, their differences had been forced into the open and brought to a head as a result of the events culminating in the destruction of Chandar.

Alan let his grief for Liska and Kabon rise to the surface. Couldn't they have done something to stop their deaths? Anything! Pete thought he'd signed their death warrants, but Urko didn't need an excuse. He'd already known they'd been there, or he wouldn't have been at Chandar to begin with. Alan had known they shouldn't have stayed there as long as they had, but it was such a relief to stop running…even if only for a few days. Still, as the acknowledged leader of the trio, he should have listened to his instincts and gotten them out of there. Maybe things would have been different…he shook his head impatiently. Could have, should have…a waste of time.

Virdon looked up towards the branches of the huge tree they sheltered under, blocking his view of the night sky. He couldn't give up on the disk yet. It was true that the lives of his friends were infinitely more valuable to him than the record of their flight to this hellhole. But he had to be honest with himself. When it came down to it, he would willingly risk his own life to get it back.

No, not would. Will get it back. His jaw squared with determination as he turned over, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in.

-------------------------------

Liska beckoned, smiling. Burke's face lit at the sight. He ran to her as fast as he could, overjoyed that she was okay. Drawing nearer, he slowed. Something was wrong, very wrong. A chill worked its way up his spine. His feet dragged as he forced himself to keep moving towards her. A few steps closer and Liska turned, facing him fully. Her smile was replaced by a rictus of agony as she drew back her hand to show him the ragged hole in her chest. He screamed and
dropped his head into his hands, hiding from the sight momentarily, then willed himself to look at her again. "I love you, Pete," she said, lovely mouth accusing. "Don't go. Not yet."

Burke choked back a sob, then whirled at a sound behind him. The dirt at his feet crumbled into large muddy clots as a hand pushed through the ground, clawing. Burke was rooted to the spot, eyes grown impossibly wide as a figure struggled, escaping the clinging earth. Kabon. He grabbed Burke’s legs, pulling himself upwards. "You are to blame," he whispered, arm out-stretched. His hand was mud-covered, and the fingernails dirty and broken from the climb out of the depths of his own grave. Burke watched, horrified, as the hand drew closer and closer….

Burke woke suddenly and sat up, panicked. His breath came in stentorian gasps. He clapped his fingers across his mouth, preventing any other sound. Quickly he looked at Galen and Alan.
Asleep. He shivered, wrapping his arms around himself. God. He wanted to throw up again. His eyes burned, and he brushed a hand furiously across them. He had to do something. Hit something. Someone. Just make the pain go away.

All right, calm down. Get hold of yourself. Unwanted, the dream flashed before his eyes. He drew in a quick breath. You've already killed them, Burke. Torturing yourself isn't going to make it any better. He winced and lowered his head into the heels of his palms, elbows resting against his thighs. He willed his breath to slow.

Gradually it did. Rubbing his eyes, he lay back, thinking about the argument he'd had with his friends tonight. Shit. That only made him feel worse. What was he thinking, attacking Alan like that? He knew what the disk meant to him - knew the disk was his motivation to keep going another day, and the next, and the next. If he thought there wasn't a chance of finding his way back to his beloved wife and son… Burke shook his head. They meant everything to Alan.

I know that, he said to himself. I know that. I shouldn't have jumped him. I'm the one that left the disk behind. Not Alan.

He became very still, staring into the dark branches far above. I will get it back for you, Alan, he thought with sudden resolve. The resolve turned into cold anger. And I'll kill that son-of-a-bitch Urko while I'm at it. If it's the last thing I ever do.

------------------------------------

An unidentified sound brought Galen suddenly awake. He turned his head to see Pete sitting up. Galen opened his mouth to speak, but Burke’s head dropped down into his hands and Galen paused, muzzle wrinkling. It seemed a sorrowful gesture and one that Galen was sure Pete didn’t wish him to see, let alone speak about. He barely stifled a sigh. These two friends of his were so complicated. Why couldn’t they understand what he felt to be a clear-cut issue - they had no part in the destruction of Chandar, and the deaths of Liska and Kabon. Galen’s heart ached for the villagers, and yes, he did wish that he and his friends hadn’t stayed there.   He admitted freely that Chandar would still stand if they hadn’t. But gorillas had been abusing humans for years, and this was one more example of that - although, Galen admitted, an extreme one. But still, unfortunately, not that uncommon.

Galen understood why Pete was so against risking their lives for a disk that would almost certainly be of no practical use. He also understood, as did Pete, that Alan needed the hope that the disk represented. Despite Pete’s anger and grief over the death of his friends coming to the forefront tonight, Galen knew that a part of Pete hoped to make it back home. As for Galen, he’d go back to their world with them, if the opportunity ever presented itself. Flying machines, technology enabling humans to speak together over unimaginable distances, buildings so tall they defied the gods…yes, he would go. Even knowing the dangers he might face.

Galen watched as Pete finally lay back down. Maybe now wasn’t the time, but later, they would talk more about this, Galen resolved. Pete had to realize that this wasn’t his fault…before he destroyed himself with useless recriminations and guilt.

Both of his friends needed help. A divide had been opened between them, and he was determined to close it. He wasn’t going to let anything come between the three. They were almost like…brothers. Galen smiled involuntarily. Imagine - an ape regarding humans as brothers. It could happen. It already did.   And someday, maybe it would happen for all apes and humans. Oh, he knew it was an uphill battle. But still…

Galen frowned. Earlier in the day, a hundred years ago, it seemed, he’d heard the gorilla soldiers talking about his cousin Pergis. Pergis! There was another problem to deal with. The events of the day had pushed aside his intent to speak with Alan and Pete about returning to his parents’ home in Central City, even though they’d been there less than two months before.

That was just the point. The three’s last visit to see Galen’s parents had started Pergis down the dangerous road he now traveled. He had discovered their presence at his uncle’s home, after all - quite by accident.

Such a simple mistake - but one that could cost Pergis everything.

It started when Galen and his friends had made a brief sojourn into the village of Dakan for food and water. They’d ended up staying for three days at a very friendly farmer’s home - friendly primarily because he was desperately in need of help. His son had run off and left the farm and his family a few days before, and help was in short supply. When Galen arrived with his two servants, the old ape was quite happy to take them up on their offer of services in exchange for shelter and food. Galen had explored the village and being his usual inquisitive self, struck up an acquaintance with the local prefect. Amongst the news he’d gleaned from that short association was an alarming tidbit: Galen’s father had apparently been stricken in the middle of a council meeting with chest pains. Nothing more was known of his condition.

At first light the following morning, Galen and the two astronauts had set out for the home of Galen’s parents in Central City. The three fugitives had arrived scant hours earlier than Pergis, who’d stepped up his visits to his uncle over concerns of his health. Pergis’s arrival coincided with Galen and Yalu’s stepping out onto the patio. At the knocking on the door, Galen’s mother Ann immediately led the astronauts to their by now familiar hiding place under the floor. Tired of waiting, Pergis had walked around to the garden and caught Galen red-handed.

Initially, Pergis’s delight seeing Galen overshadowed his concerns for his cousin’s situation. But then came the questions - curiosity being a much-vaunted trait in the family. Why did Galen feel so strongly about humans? Everyone knew the Lawgiver had established the superiority of apes, and subsequently the inferiority of humans. Apes were made in the image of the Almighty, and thus given divine status above every other creature on the planet.

And one more thing -where were Galen’s companions now?

Galen’s attempts to answer Pergis’s questions grew increasingly short. Yalu became positively terse - but still, Pergis talked on, oblivious to the not-so-subtle signals of his hosts. Ann tried several excuses designed to remove Pergis from his seat and out the door, but he seemed almost to have taken root. That, along with the gleam in Pergis’s eye, finally compelled Galen to shout vexedly, "Oh, all right! It’s plain to see he knows they’re here." Over the protestations of his parents, Galen walked to Ann’s favorite chair, waving his arms disgustedly. "Look at him! He’s prepared to stay for as long as it takes," he said, glaring at Pergis. "Well, I won’t keep my friends down there all night," and he pulled Ann’s chair aside to reveal the trap door beneath the fur rug. Opening the door, he helped the two sweaty, uncomfortable astronauts out of the cramped space. Virdon and Burke’s eyes darted around the room, taking swift measure, then returned to Galen’s face, questioning.

"Oh, uh… this is my cousin," Galen said to the astronauts, then addressing his cousin, added wearily, "Pergis… Peter Burke, Alan Virdon."

Virdon’s brow knitted. "This is a mistake. A dangerous one," he stated firmly.

"Oh, what would you have me do - leave you down there all night?" Galen snapped, then closed his eyes briefly in a put-upon fashion. "He caught me outside with Father. He wasn’t going to leave until he’d seen you."

Pergis stared coolly at the two astronauts, then said dismissively, "They look like every other human."

"That’s funny - I was just going to say, ‘seen one chimp, seen ‘em all,’" Burke retorted, earning virulent glares from the male apes in the room. A dignified stare from Ann's angular face left Burke with the good grace to look abashed. Virdon sighed.

Galen huffed at Pete, hands on hips and exclaimed, "I should have left you down there after all!" He rolled his eyes and plopped down on a chair. "Pergis, now you’ve seen them. You got what you wanted - if you have any sense at all, you’ll leave it at that," he said, rubbing his forehead resignedly.

But apparently, Pergis had no sense at all, for he returned early the next morning, interrupting Galen’s interrogation of his mother regarding Yalu’s health. Galen’s direct questioning of Yalu the evening before had been met with a gruff reassurance, subsequent irritation and finally flat-out refusal to discuss it further.

Galen hovered at Ann’s side as she made breakfast. Ann reassured him as best she could - the Doctor had informed them that Yalu’s chest pains had not been a heart attack, but rather a warning to be heeded. When the knock came at the front door, Ann seemed almost relieved at the distraction.

The astronauts and Galen scrambled for cover as Ann closed the trap door behind them, then opened the front door to admit Pergis. Sighing, she sent Pergis back to the trap door to release the trio from their hiding place, then had him set the table while she finished making breakfast.
With impeccable timing, Yalu walked into the dining area just as Ann called everyone to eat. He surveyed the room and snorted. "Eating with humans, now. I don’t want to think about what you’ll have your mother and I doing next," he said to Galen in his raspy voice, sitting in his seat at the head of the table.

Galen and Pergis left the room, returning shortly with platters of biscuits, fruit and a vegetable casserole. Virdon and Burke exchanged glances at the chimps working busily around them, and stifled smiles. Quite a switch, humans relaxing around working apes.    Evidently, Ann did not yet feel comfortable enough with her human guests to direct their activities.

Virdon started to stand as Ann once again swept into the room. "We’d be glad to help," he offered.

"We’re done, Virdon, but thank you," she answered, then added pointedly at Burke’s smug smile, "However, you can clean up afterwards."

"Yes, ma’am," Burke said docilely. She nodded his way, a glint of humor in her eyes.

Galen, Virdon and Burke happily stuffed themselves. It was not often that they sat down to a warm, appetizing meal. Pergis frequently glanced back and forth between the three as he ate. His narrow forehead furrowed as though puzzled. The astronauts ignored him, but Galen was growing irritated. "Pergis, would you please concentrate on your meal instead of us?" he exclaimed.

"I’m sorry, Galen," he answered, conciliatory. "But I really need to speak to you after we finish. I have…questions."

"Oh, very well, Pergis," Galen sighed, twitching his muzzle. He knew his cousin and had a pretty good idea of the inquisition forthcoming.

Yalu left the house shortly thereafter. Alan cleared the table, and Burke scraped the dishes, sighing. Ann glanced mildly at him, busying herself in the kitchen. Burke looked back at her, a faint smile crossing his lips as he spoke. "I was just thinking of Galen waiting on me, earlier. Bringing me food. And now it’s over. It kind of makes me sad."

She looked at him a long moment.   "I rather enjoy watching my son work, myself," she commented agreeably. "But humans have no such luxuries here. I don’t know about where you come from," she said.

"We have machines to help us clean. Dishwashers, for one. You’d love it."

"A dishwasher? But why would I need one - I have you," Ann said.

Burke did a double take. "For today, you have me," he said, grinning.   "But wouldn’t you like to be able to put your dishes into a machine, close the door, then open it up later to find them all clean?"

"Do you really have such things where you come from? How does it work?" she asked, eyes bright with interest.

"Well, you put the dishes in a rack inside the dishwasher. Then you put soap…" Virdon came into the kitchen and stopped, listening. He leaned against the wall a moment, smiling, then left the room to join Galen and Pergis.

"...but Galen, you know that humans have no souls! The Scrolls teach us this," exclaimed Pergis.

"You’re taking religion classes at the university, Pergis. I recognize the drivel."

Pergis gasped. "You deny the truth of the Lawgiver?" he exclaimed.

"I am a heretic, after all," Galen said, voice raised. "Had you forgotten?" At Pergis’s uncharacteristic silence, he continued. "Some of us don’t believe in the Lawgiver. Or the Sacred Scrolls. There are those who still believe in the gods…rather than the Almighty." Galen sighed. "And then there are those of us who no longer know what to believe in. So we believe in what our conscience tells us to be right or wrong." He looked into his cousin’s eyes. "Did it ever occur to you to question what you are taught? Complacency is blinding, Pergis." Galen clapped his cousin on the shoulder. "It isn’t necessary for you to understand me, cousin. It probably isn’t even wise."

"Maybe I do understand you, Galen. And I wish I didn’t. Are you what they say you are? A traitor? A danger to us all…" Pergis said slowly, eyes fastened on Galen’s.

Galen’s eyes narrowed. "They lie to you, Pergis. You condemn me without ever knowing the truth…regardless of proof."

"You’re my cousin, Galen. It pains me to come to such conclusions," Pergis replied, sorrow evident in his voice. "Tell me of this proof."

Virdon interrupted. "No. We can’t," he said simply.

Pergis glared at him, wide-eyed. "You give Galen orders?" he said, appalled.

"He tries," said Galen dryly, glancing at Virdon.

"Not that he listens," Virdon added.

"Hardly ever," agreed Burke, who’d just entered the room.

"How could you allow this? It’s unnatural!" asked Pergis, voice rising.

"Virdon has every right to say what he thinks. He does what he wants in my company. Man is not inferior to ape, whatever you believe, and Zaius has the proof of it!" Galen said, incensed.

"Galen." Alan said, loudly. Galen looked chagrined.

"Proof?" asked Pergis, eyes wide. His gaze turned skeptical. "I want to see it."

"I…there is no proof, Pergis." Galen said, lying. He looked at the floor. Pergis snorted, then waited until his cousin’s gaze rose to meet his.

"I’m sorry, Galen. Very sorry it has come to this. You know I have never felt anything but the deepest affection for you, ever since we were boys…. remember how you used to read to me, cousin? And taught me to play stickball? If you say these humans are your friends, then I’ll respect that. Even if I can’t agree with you."

"I’ll be leaving soon, Pergis. I’d rather not leave knowing our friendship has changed," Galen replied, even while thinking, sadly, that their relationship had already transformed irrevocably.     Another casualty, perhaps…the path that Galen followed was littered with them.

Galen’s reverie of the recent past was interrupted as Virdon stirred restlessly in his sleep, and his eyes turned from the tree branches far above to gaze at his friends absently. He had to get back to Pergis. See what he’d gotten himself into. Galen was sure that Pergis hadn’t left well enough alone after the trio’s departure. Incurable curiosity - it was a family trait that he and Pergis shared. Galen felt a pang of fear. Well, there was one cure - one the gorillas would be glad to administer to Pergis.    Whether or not Pergis would survive it…that was altogether different.

-------------------------------

A few days after the three fugitives had left Central City, having reassured Galen of his father’s continued good health, Ann answered her nephew’s knock at the front door. It was early, and Yalu had just left to attend to council duties. This was as Pergis intended - he wanted to speak with Ann alone.

"Aunt Ann, I need to speak with you about something most urgent," Pergis began and then amended, "Well, urgent to me, anyway," giving his aunt a slight smile.

"Come in, come in, Pergis. Something tells me that this may take awhile; will you have something to drink or eat?" asked Ann, while holding her nephew’s elbow and leading him to a chair.

"No, no, thank you," said Pergis, and sat down.

"Very well, then. What can be so urgent?" asked Ann as she lowered herself into the seat next to Pergis.

"I noticed when Galen was last here with his two friends that you and one of the humans - Burke, is it? - seemed to get along rather well," Pergis began.

"Yes, I suppose so," Ann agreed mildly.

"Yes, well…I was wondering…" Pergis said, glancing at Ann, then down at his lap.

"Pergis, I am a busy woman, and although I’d like nothing better than to while this day away with you, I don’t have the time. Now, you tell me exactly what is on your mind, and I’ll try to help," said Ann firmly.

"Very well. Galen spoke to me of equality between apes and humans. What do you make of such an idea?" asked Pergis.

Ann sat silently a long moment, eyes far away. "There are many things my son has done and said that I have not, in the past, understood. And yet, do you know, Pergis, that every time I see him, I find myself understanding…more?" Ann paused. "I would never speak to you of such things if you hadn’t discovered so much on your own. You understand, don’t you, the great secrecy involved. Yalu’s career…our lives depend upon it." Pergis nodded. "Quite honestly, I am not convinced it is best that I speak my mind even now. However," she said, affectionately rapping her knuckles against her nephew’s chest, "I can see that there is no turning back for you. So finally, in answer to your question….I do not believe that all humans are equal to apes.   But some…a few, I believe, can be regarded as equals. And so I wonder where that leaves the rest of them…" Ann trailed off.

"You believe Virdon and Burke are our equals." At Ann’s nod, Pergis continued. "But how can you believe in the equality of man and ape if you believe in the teachings of the Lawgiver? ‘Beware the beast man, for he is the devil’s pawn...let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours,’" Pergis quoted.

"I believe what my eyes and ears tell me.… Those men are my son’s friends. They have risked their lives for him, as he has done for them," Ann said firmly. "I’ve seen their loyalty, and kindness…their bravery."

"Does Yalu know you hold such heretical viewpoints?" Pergis asked, bewildered.

Ann smiled. "Dearest nephew, if you had wanted Yalu’s viewpoint, you should have asked him. You did not. You asked me."

Pergis shook his head, as if to clear it, and sighed. "You are right, of course," he said, reaching for her hand, "I can’t go back now. I don’t want to. I must know the truth. From you, from anyone, however I can."

Ann’s eyes probed her nephew’s. "I see that you must." She sighed. "I helped Galen and Virdon to rescue Burke some time ago from the clutches of Urko and Zaius. They’d tortured the boy cruelly," Ann said, looking indignant, ignoring the shocked look on Pergis’s face at her admission. "From the nightmares he had - something Galen tells me he still has with some frequency - and the things he’d uttered in delirium, I was sure he would never recover his emotional faculties. Which is something I am happy to be wrong about," she added, smiling slightly. "I wonder why apes must sometimes act so much like the animals they claim to despise… as I was saying, I helped nurse Burke through his recovery. That was when Galen first told me that the chimpanzee who wielded these techniques against Burke learned them from books…written by humans. Books from the time before time, when humans still ruled the Earth. My son tells me some of these books are terrible - filled with unimaginable wars, death…and some are wonderful, full of wisdom and beauty." Ann paused before continuing. "Pergis, even though humans originated this ‘brainwashing’, as Galen called it, apes did not hesitate to use it for their own means. Given equal opportunity, one species would seem no better than the other…and so I see the potential for humans to be our equal in all things… terrible and wonderful."

"But what of the inherent evil of man?"

Ann looked sharply at Pergis. "Don’t ask your questions if you can’t hear the answers, Pergis."

Pergis looked back at Ann, intent. "Help me to hear, then. To understand."

"Do you know for a fact that humans are intrinsically evil? Are they more so than we?" Pergis was silent, musing. Ann continued softly, patting her nephew’s hand. "What I have come to fear most in humanity is their creativity and intelligence in the service of evil. But I have also come to fear our capacity to do the same."

"These books from the past…they truly exist? And Zaius knows this?" whispered Pergis.

"Pergis, my son flees for his life because of a book his friends had when captured. A book that he read, and that caused him to question our lives as we live them now…that taught him blasphemy…or truth, as you will. Zaius has the book in his keeping." Seeming almost to grieve, Ann stated simply, "Now you know, Pergis. I believe it all. Every word. I believe Virdon and Burke are not of this time. I believe they are as intelligent as we are - perhaps more so. And now, Pergis, you must discover what it is that you believe."

"If Zaius has these books in his possession, then he and Urko have many things to answer for," Pergis said, staring at his aunt, his mind a chaotic whirl. Ann gazed back steadily at her nephew. He rose from his seat and walked numbly to the front door.

"Where are you going?" Ann asked, following him.

"I have to…I have to think, Aunt Ann," Pergis said quietly. "I need time."

"I have one more thing to say, and I want you to listen. I have already lost my son to this - be it truth, or heresy. Whatever you decide to do, or believe…don’t let it take you away from this family," Ann said softly, patting his face.   "Remember that we need you."

Pergis looked into Ann’s eyes a moment, then nodded. He kissed her cheek. As the door shut behind him, Ann stood motionless at the door, knowing that she’d done the right thing, telling the truth…and fast becoming convinced that she’d made a terrible, terrible mistake.

-----------------------------------

Her lips touched his for an instant, then withdrew. He opened his mouth to protest, then closed it as she placed her finger to his lips. Blue eyes looked humorously into brown as she smiled, lips teasingly curved. Again her mouth lowered to his. He drew his breath in sharply and curled one arm around her back while the other cupped the back of her neck, pulling her closer.

He opened his eyes, startled. The hand at her back was touching something...something wet. He raised his hand and looked at it.

Blood. There was blood on his hand. He tried to pull himself from her, to see what had happened to her, but she held him fiercely. He grabbed her shoulders and yanked himself from her grasp. She moaned and he looked down. A gaping hole showed in the center of her chest, blood running from the wound, and she collapsed against him.

Pete sat up suddenly, gasping. Alan was already awake, and turned to look quizzically at his friend. "You okay?" he asked. Pete stared fixedly at Alan a moment, sweat beading his face. He rubbed his eyes, gathering his composure.

"Yeah, fine."

Alan looked at him a moment, then turned away.

Pete stared at the ground, fists clenched, then heaved himself up as Galen stirred close by, still sleeping.

At Galen’s insistence, the three were headed back to Central City to check on Galen’s cousin. Not that the astronauts needed persuading…it was obvious that Pergis was in over his head, to judge by the gorilla soldiers’ conversation they’d overheard.   But Pete and Alan were surprised at the apparent radical turn that Pergis had taken, after their last visit. Galen, on the other hand, was not at all surprised. He knew Pergis - knew he’d somehow become convinced that Galen had spoken the truth. And Pergis, however young and naïve, was an ape of conviction.

The three fugitives were up and on the road shortly after daybreak, taking advantage of the cooler morning temperatures to travel at a fast pace. Galen estimated they’d be back in Central City by nightfall. A strained silence settled uncomfortably amongst them - a silence that was becoming commonplace. Each of them was sharply aware of the differences of opinion that kept them silent. Add to that the fact that they were traveling in a more populated area, increasing the odds of their capture as each step brought them closer to Central City.

A lone gorilla soldier appeared on the dusty trail winding ahead of them, and the three dived quickly away towards the brush. He ambled along, seemingly in no hurry, horse's hooves kicking up little puffs of dust.

As the soldier drew alongside of them, Galen’s nose tickled unbearably.

His sneeze, for all that he covered his mouth, was audible as a muffled if indiscernible noise. At once, the gorilla pulled hard on the reins of his horse, transformed quickly from careless rider to alert soldier. His nose wrinkled as he surveyed the ground around him, then made for a stand of bushes a couple of yards off the trail where Burke hid.

Burke waited a heartbeat before he was exposed to the gorilla, then launched himself straight at him.    As Galen and Virdon rushed out from the bushes on the opposite side of the trail, the gorilla brought his rifle up quickly, slamming it into Burke’s face. Burke's weight sent them both crashing to the ground, and the gorilla lost his grip on the rifle. Burke shook his head, blood streaming from his nose as he lunged for it, barely snatching the rifle out of the enraged gorilla’s reach. Grabbing Burke at the waist, the gorilla slung him aside, but Burke held onto the rifle with a death grip, swiftly rolling over. He kicked out hard and his foot slammed into the soldier, knocking him back. Burke jumped onto the gorilla’s chest and jammed the rifle crossways in under his chin, panting with exertion and anger. Roaring, the gorilla attempted to throw Burke off, but Burke jammed the rifle savagely into his throat. Making a gagging noise, the gorilla clawed at the rifle as Pete pressed harder. Drops of blood fell on the gorillas face.

Galen quickly knelt beside Burke. "I think you can let him go now. Before you kill him." he said, brows raised. Burke didn’t respond, mouth taut with rage, and Virdon grabbed his arm.

"Pete! Let go! What are you doing?" he demanded.

Pete glared at him, slinging his arm away, then swiftly turned the rifle so that the end of the barrel pointed under the gorilla’s chin. He squeezed the trigger slightly.

"You want to commit murder, now? Just like they did, is that right!" Alan yelled at him.

Burke’s eyes narrowed. "Are you crazy? He tried to kill me!" he said heatedly, and looked to Galen.

"Enough. Put the rifle down…now. Please." Galen said evenly.

Burke looked down at the soldier, debating. With a swift motion, he clubbed the gorilla’s head with the butt of the rifle.

"Satisfied?" he asked them both flatly, suppressing his rage.

"No, I’m not!" Galen said angrily, staring at Burke. "Since when do you believe in killing? Or is it a sport now?" he continued, almost immediately regretting his words.

"Why don’t you ask your pal, there, on the ground? Ask him about it when he wakes up. I’ll bet he and every other gorilla on this planet could tell you some good ones about killing for sport," Burke retorted.

"Maybe so. But when did that become an excuse for you to act like them?" Galen asked.

"Pete. You’ve got to get a handle on this. As it is, you’re a danger to all of us," Alan added firmly.

Quickly, Burke turned to him. "Me. I’m a danger. That’s great, Alan, just great! I suppose I should let them kill me next time!" Burke spat.

"You don’t need to kill him - we all know that, including you. Get yourself under control!" Galen said, glaring at Pete.

"Or what?" Burke stared at Galen for a long moment. The fury left his eyes and he wiped his nose tiredly, smearing blood. "Or what, Galen?"

Galen’s anger vanished. After a pause, he spoke slowly. "I’m not the enemy, Pete. I’m beginning to wonder if you know who is."   The trio stood silently a long moment before Galen sighed and gestured at Burke. "You’ve got blood everywhere." He pulled off his backpack and rummaged inside.

"Let me have a look at you," Alan said. "Come on, sit down." Galen handed him a rag he’d torn off from a larger cloth and moistened from the water canteen.

Pete winced and grabbed the rag irritably as Alan attempted to clean the area and examine his injury. "I’ll do it, okay," he said, and patted his nose gingerly.

"Oh, really, Pete," Galen scolded, snatching the cloth and holding a startled Burke by the hair,    "if I didn’t know better, I’d never have believed that you’d been through torture before. At worst, your nose is broken - it’s not like it’s cut off," he continued, bending to wipe the area clean over Pete’s muffled protests.

"Broken?" yelped Burke, raising his brows.

"’Fraid so, Pete. It looks like a clean break, far as I can tell. I was going to tell you once you’d…" Alan trailed off.

Burke grabbed the square of rough cloth from Galen. "Just say it, Alan."

"Calmed down. That was what I was going to say. Not that I’m saying it now," amended Virdon, a glint of humor in his blue eyes. Burke shot him a dirty look.

"Well, I am. Calm down," added Galen.

"Galen, haven’t you already thrown in your two cents?" Burke retorted wryly, squinting up at him. "And I am calm... but let me tell you, this rag sure ain’t no Charmin. Feels more like sandpaper," he groused.

Galen sighed. "Alan, I don’t suppose you’d care to explain?"

"‘Throwing in two cents’ is slang for betting money," Virdon explained.

"Hmm…I’m still not sure…" said Galen, considering. "What is ‘Charmin’?"

Virdon looked taken aback. "Well, er…it’s a paper, Galen. Humans used it. Or used to. It was made especially…especially for…" Alan looked at Pete, reclining on the ground, head tipped back.

Pete brought his head back level until his eyes met Virdon’s and stared at him a moment, still holding the rag in under his nose. He smirked, wincing, then chuckled faintly. Virdon grinned. Pete laughed out loud, then yelled "Oh shit," as his nose began to bleed once more.

"You took the words right out of my mouth," said Virdon, still smiling. Pete laughed again, then cursed at the pain.

Galen shook his head. "Why, oh why do I bother?" he muttered to himself, then said louder, "We’d better get going before that gorilla wakes up."

"Want me to…" began Burke helpfully, then hastily shut his mouth as Virdon and Galen turned to face him. "Hey, just trying to do my part…" he said, heaving himself off the ground. He stood and tilted his face upwards, trying to stop the flow of blood.

Virdon clapped him on the shoulder. "Thanks, buddy. I think you’ve done enough for one day."

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