values1

ONE

Can Ape and Man truly be friends?

The idle thought rose unbidden in Galen's mind as he sat, cross-legged on a large, flat boulder by the side of a lively stream. The musical bubbling of water over pebbles may have sounded pleasant but as always, he was being very careful not to get even the slightest bit wet. He and his two companions were enjoying a welcome hiatus from the relentless pursuit of General Urko's legions of troops. For days they had done little else but run and run some more but for the moment they were confident they had reached a place where the gorillas could not follow - At least for awhile.

Galen's shaggy head jerked to one side as he caught the brief silver flash of a fish leaping out of the water and landing back in again with a hollow sounding 'plunk'. Further on the two humans, Alan Virdon and Pete Burke were standing knee deep and shirtless in the cool stream, using makeshift poles to try and catch some of the local population. Burke said something that made Virdon laugh and was rewarded with huge splashes of water kicked up by his blonde friend.

Galen shook his head, not understanding how a supposedly intelligent being could actually enjoy the feel of cold water being splashed all over them. It was... barbaric - not to mention wet!

But of course not understanding the ways of his companions was nothing new.

He laced his fingers behind his head and lay back on the rock enjoying the warm rays of the late afternoon sun soaking into his body.

Virdon and Burke, he thought. My companions, my comrades, my... friends?

Were they? He wondered, could Ape and Man truly be friends? Other than a death sentence they had so little in common. They were friends by force of circumstance - not choice. If it came to it, If it really came to it, would he give his life to save that of a human? Would they give theirs to save that of an Ape?

Galen thought it possible.

But he also knew that thinking such things was easy - it would be much harder to actually do them.

A sudden cascade of water washing over his chest and face interrupted his thoughts and he sat up spluttering. He shook himself and brushed the offending substance off his heavy green tunic seeing Pete Burke standing to one side grinning like an idiotic... well... human.

"Thank you," Galen grumbled, "thank you very much."

"C'mon Galen, lighten up." Burke complained, mocking the Chimp's aversion to water. "Come and get your feet wet, Uncle Pete'll hold onto to you and make sure you don't drown in, oh let me see, all three inches of water here."
Off to the side Virdon sighed and watched in resignation, knowing that to intervene was futile, that the constant verbal sparring was usually good natured but always ready to step in should it ever escalate into something more serious.

Galen fixed Burke with a stern look. "Oh, how kind, then perhaps afterwards 'Uncle' Galen could carry Peter Burke up into the upper branches of the tree tops."

Burke's grin faded, okay, so he had once, once mind, gotten a little queasy high up in the swaying tree tops, there was no need for the Chimp to forever go making fun of it.

As always it was Alan who broke the awkward stalemate. "Alright you two... 'Uncle' Alan says it's time to cook. Fruit and veg for those that don't like water, fish for those that do - Who's hungry?"

They all brightened up, the needling forgotten with the prospect of imminent food.

A while later with darkness falling and barbecued fish filling the bellies of the astronauts the three fugitives settled down with their backs against a tree or a rock made more comfortable with heaped grass.

"So what's the plan for tomorrow?" Asked Burke, using a fish bone to pick his teeth and dreading the day that he might need a dentist. "No, let me guess... running."

"Tomorrow we move on." Virdon knew it wasn't what the others wanted to hear but as leader he was burdened with being the constant bearer of bad news.

Let’s move on - we can’t stay here - we have to keep moving. How many times had he spoken these and similar words. For how long could he go on speaking them? He felt the old familiar pangs of guilt creeping up on him.

Virdon’s life was driven, dedicated to always seeking the way home. Every molecule of his existence was firmly anchored to the past. For Burke things were different, he lacked such an anchor and lived only for the present. He could have settled down in any of the remote villages they’d passed on their travels but instead he chose to stick close. For this, Virdon was insanely grateful although he’d never told him so.

And Galen? Why he could have settled down and blended in some remote village far easier than either of them. For Galen there was at least the chance of a future. So why did they continue to follow? Loyalty?

Virdon stared at the dying embers of the fire and wrestled with the notion of cutting them loose, if he should just take off tonight, alone... It might be better for all of them.

"Which way?" asked Burke. "I say, follow the stream."

Virdon shrugged, stirred from his troubling thoughts. Burke’s suggestion was a good a plan as any. "Galen? Any thoughts? Do you know these parts?"

The Chimp, on the verge of falling asleep suddenly jerked awake. "No... No, not really - mainly fishing villages if memory serves. I doubt that you’ll find anything of interest here"

"Hey c’mon Galen... You mean no computers to predict fish schools or satellites to... "

A warning look from Virdon prevented Burke from listing anything else. Sometimes Burke’s chiding banter was a welcome distraction and sometimes it just grated.

Galen stared ahead, unfocused, trying to unravel the strange, cryptic language the dark haired astronaut often used. He shook his head and turned to Virdon. "I don’t know what any of those things are but I repeat, I very much doubt you’ll find them here."

Virdon nodded and gave a small sad smile. "Okay let’s get some sleep then, we’ll work it out in the morning. Set your alarms, I want to make an early start."

Burke groaned and snuggled down. "Good idea - that way we’re bound to miss all the traffic."
Again Galen shook his head as perplexed as ever and closed his eyes.

********

Burke moaned and swatted away the hand shaking him awake. "Go ‘way." he groaned.

"Pete! Wake up!" Hissed Virdon. The urgency in his voice was grounds enough for Burkes’ eyes to snap open and he was instantly alert. "Urko?" he asked rising to his feet.

"Relax... It’s not Urko... It’s something else, look." Burke relaxed and looked over to the empty patch of sky Virdon was indicating.

"Wow! That’s nice Alan - a nicer patch of nothing I never did see, thanks for sharing." He began to sit back down but Virdon grasped his arm and kept him from doing so.

"Wait a minute... keep looking."

Burke waited as Galen, stirred awake by their conversation, moved to join them. He looked at the sky and then to the faces of the astronauts, cocking his head to one side. "Would someone care to explain?"

Burke pulled a face and shrugged.

"There!" snapped Alan as a flash of light flickered across the sky.

"Lightning?" Asked Galen, knowing it wasn’t.

Virdon and Burke exchanged looks, Virdon’s hopeful and excited, Burke’s cautious but intrigued
.
Another flash lit the sky quickly followed by a second and then a third. "That’s not lightning," said Burke needlessly "Kinda reminds me of those flashes you sometimes used to see over railway lines."

"Railway lines?" enquired Galen.

"A form of transport, " Burke intoned absently looking for further flashes. "Squash a load of people like sardines in a can then shake ‘em around."

Galen snorted. "It doesn’t sound very pleasant."

Burke broke into a nostalgic smile. "It wasn’t."

"So whad’ya think," interrupted Virdon, impatient with the banter. "That’s not natural Pete, that’s... that’s something else."

Another flash and a reddish band of light floated and flickered in the sky before dissipating into nothing.
Burke yawned and scratched at his thick head of unruly, dark hair. "Sun’ll be up in a couple of hours, I’ve got a fix on its position, how about we find out after breakfast."

Virdon nodded, obviously excited. The flashes indicated some kind of power source. A power source indicated technology, working technology! It had been a long time since they’d found any evidence of such. "Maybe it’s something like Oakland." He ventured, his fingers finding the flight disc in his pocket.

Burke, looking highly skeptical laid his hand on his partners’ shoulder. "Alan, maybe we should save the guess work ‘till morning huh?"

Virdon fixed Burke with a bemused stare. Why wasn’t Burke excited?

Didn’t he get it?

Couldn’t he feel it?

He then realised he was, in all likelihood allowing himself to get worked up over what could very well be nothing at all - but it had been so long since they’d had any hope. He nodded slowly and patted Burke’s shoulder. "You’re right - back to sleep everyone, whatever it is, it’ll still be there tomorrow."

Setting an example for the others he lay back down and closed his eyes.

*****

He was still pretending when dawn broke two hours later.

Virdon got to his feet and set about fanning up the flames on the fire to boil up some water. He idly fantasised about handing over Burke and Galen to Urko in exchange for a mug of fresh coffee but settled instead for sprinkling a handful of crushed leaves into the water to make herbal tea. He made a little more noise than he needed to, hoping to wake his companions so they could be on their way just that little bit earlier. In the light of day he could see the path they needed to take. There were hills and mountains in that direction and it looked like that was where they'd be headed. He scanned an area of sky for a few minutes but if the mysterious lights were still there they were not visible during the day.

Galen began to stir, gradually sitting up and then crawling over after smelling the brewing tea.

Galen sleepily nodded and Virdon nodded back feeling a rush of overwhelming oddness sweep over him. There were times when, unintentionally he would step out of himself and take stock of the fact that he was a thousand years in his own future in the company of an intelligent talking Chimpanzee. Sometimes he felt an unreasonable wave of resentment toward his simian companion as he projected everything that was wrong with the world onto his innocent shoulders.

Of course he knew that was unfair, all it took was to remind himself of how the Ape had saved their lives and any fleeting resentment was quickly washed away by a tide of growing affection.

In the beginning, that affection had been no different from the emotions he'd once felt towards Spock, his long dead, beloved pet Collie, but lately, as each day passed they became more... complicated. Virdon didn't have the words to explain it.

Of course Burke liked Galen but Virdon suspected that it was he that was the link binding the two of them together. Perhaps without him Burke and Galen would soon drift apart - or was that just an excuse he used to stop himself from taking off in the night?

Speaking of Burke the dark haired astronaut was now yawning, stretching and sitting up.

Their meagre belongings were packed away and all traces of their camp were carefully obliterated. Galen, as was his habit, much to the amusement of the astronauts thanked the stream and the small patch of grass for its' hospitality.

They moved on.

*******

TWO

They talked about everything that morning, except the nature of the flashes seen the night before. By some unspoken agreement it was as though to contemplate their nature was to somehow invite disappointment. They may not have discussed them openly but each had their own private thoughts on the matter.

For Virdon it was evidence of a still thriving, scientifically advanced community. One that had lost none of its' technological know-how. Behind those hills, so tall they were almost mountains, was an isolated human settlement, a Shangri-La, a paradise that would welcome them and have a starship ready to take them home within days.

For Burke it was just a freak of nature. Probably nothing more than some kind of spooky, magnetic field caused by residual radiation from whatever holocaust had wiped the planet clean ready for the Apes to start over. The best he hoped for was a spectacular firework display, one that hopefully wouldn't kill them with its' associated poisonous radiation.

For Galen it might be that fabled place where the Gods fought amongst themselves in order to shape the very nature of the world. Privately he yearned to believe in Gods, the influence of the Lawgiver as the One-True-God was becoming ever more fashionable, especially amongst the orang-utans but the notion of huge magical beings was far more exciting.

"Get down!"

The barked command startled Galen and all three sank to their bellies in the tough grass. The trail they had followed had led upwards, affording spectacular views of the woodlands below. Virdon crawled over to some shrubs and pointed down toward a patch that thinned out into a natural clearing.

Burke joined him. "Gorillas!" he groaned.

A squad of six mounted patrolmen crossed the clearing apparently in no hurry. Galen, whose eyes were keener, scanned the party looking for Urko's distinctive battle gear. "I don't think Urko's among them, though it's hard to tell from this distance."

Virdon nodded. "I doubt they've seen us, probably just a routine sweep."

"Of course, they might not be looking for us at all." suggested Burke optimistically

"Maybe not." Agreed Virdon, obviously unconvinced.

Down below the riders reigned in and gathered in a circle around something on the ground.

"Uh-Oh... Looks like a union meeting. Perhaps we should keep moving?"

Virdon shook his head. "Too risky Pete, From down there we're perfectly framed by a clear blue sky. If just one of them looks up..."

"They're splitting up." Observed Galen.

Three of the riders now galloped away from the path taken by the fugitives but somewhat omnimously the remaining three began to follow it.

"Great! Just great." Moaned Burke wearily.

"They're just covering all the bases, they've got no idea where we are and we still have a full day on them."

"Except they have horses," warned Galen

Virdon nodded, the point taken. "Okay, let's get moving - but keep your heads down."

*****

That night the fugitives witnessed another display of the eerie bands of light that floated and danced in the clear night sky. Virdon pulled out his home made compass and whistled as the needle span crazily. "Whatever it is, it's generating a tremendous magnetic field!"

Burke pulled a sour face "I imagine a thousand H bombs will do that for you... Alan I'm starting to wonder, maybe we should start walking away from this thing, not toward it."

Virdon's jaw went slack with surprise. "You can't be serious? You're serious? Just walk away without ever knowing?"

"C'mon Alan, something that screwy can't be anything good. It just reeks of radiation and fallout and all kind of..."

"Pete... If there ever was any deadly radiation it would have dissipated long ago, whatever's over there isn't radioactive... It's just magnetic that's all."

Burke shook his head unconvinced.

Virdon turned to Galen for support. "Galen? What do you think? Don't you want to find out what's behind those hills?"

Galen, uncomfortable with being put on the spot struggled for words. "Experience... Painful experience, I might add, has taught me that it's usually just another hill." The Chimpanzee thought carefully. "I must admit however I am very curious. But... intuition tells me that this time, this might something we should leave alone."

Virdon snorted with derision at what he perceived as superstitious simian nonsense leaving Burke to come to Galens' rescue. "C'mon Alan think about it... Walking into an old city or building is one thing, walking into a radioactive hot spot is really something else."

"But you don't know that it's radioactive." insisted Virdon.

"And you don't know that it's not!" Snapped Pete, his voice rising. "All I'm saying is let's be cautious."

Virdon grew irritable, frustrated at not being able to find fault with Burke's argument. "Fine... Alright then, you two stay here and be cautious, I'll go on alone and see what's up there."

Burke shook his head and threw up his hands in despair. "You really want to maybe risk your life over... that?" he asked gesturing toward the floating bands of energy in the sky.

"Yes!" hissed Virdon and Burke flinched at the passion in his voice. "You wanna know why? Because it might be the way home... It might... just might, be the one thing that helps me find the way back." Burke started to object but Virdon wouldn't allow it. "So yes, I'd risk my life. Even if it bought me just one moment with my family... A chance just to touch them, to tell them... To tell them..." Virdon's voice broke and suddenly he couldn't finish the sentence. His head dropped onto his chest, he shook his head in despair and marched away.

Galen and Burke stood in awkward silence. The Chimpanzee had become much better at reading the expressions on the faces of humans but right now he wasn't sure if Burke looked angry or ashamed. "Shall I go after him?" He asked.

Burke shook his head slowly and sighed. "No... better just leave him be."

Galen nodded, Pete knew Alan best. "We have to go with him - You know that... even if you think it insane."

Burke's gaze snapped back to Galen, surprised and hurt. "I don't think it's insane Galen." He said softly. "I want him to get home, I truly do."

Galen nodded, smiling sympathetically.

Burke looked up at the floating bands of energy in the sky. "And somehow, I'm gonna make sure that he does... I don't know how, or when... but I'm gonna get him home Galen - Even if it kills me."

Galen watched in silence as Pete Burke wandered off to find his friend.

**********

After a light breakfast of fruit and nuts the three packed their bags and began another days march. Burke had vowed to himself to voice no more objections about their chosen path and Virdon, though grateful for their company was still sulking from the words of the night before. The two astronauts marched in awkward silence but Galen was his usual chatty self, asking questions with each answer leading to a dozen more. Sometimes he'd march side by side with Virdon and sometimes he'd fall back with Burke, talking enough for all three.

Burke welcomed the company, the art of keeping one's mouth shut didn't come natural to him and Galen afforded a perfect opportunity to dig deep into his inexhaustible supply of wisecracks and putdowns. The fact that the meanings of almost all of them were lost on the ape didn't matter in the slightest.

It wasn't purely one sided either, more than once the young Chimp had said something in retort that had made Burke laugh out loud. No doubt about it, the Chimpanzee's irrepressible good nature was winning him over. At first he wouldn't have thought it possible, in the early days of the nightmare Burke had secretly hoped they might find a opportunity to ditch Galen or even better that he would leave their company voluntarily. But so much had happened since and now, if Galen ever were ever to leave them, deliberately or otherwise, Burke knew that he would miss him terribly.

Which posed an awkward question as what they might do should they ever actually find a way home?

Could they really take Galen with them?

Burke shook the idle thought away, he wasn't one for dwelling on the past nor did he make any serious plans for the future. Yesterday was gone and tomorrow was yet to be... Now, was all that mattered.

Of the three gorillas there had been no further sign but nevertheless they chose longer paths that offered more concealment even though they slowed their progress considerably.

By the end of the day the previous night had been forgotten, their mood was lighter as once again they made camp. After a dinner of vegetable stew they settled back to watch the nightly show of dancing lights.

"Here we go." said Burke as the first discernible band of light flickered across the sky changing hues from red to green.

"They're brighter than ever," observed Galen.

"We're closer than ever," said Virdon.

An exceptionally vivid band floated into the sky, shimmering, shifting, changing colour and then dissipating slowly.

"You notice how quiet it is?" Asked Burke. "No owls, no birds, not even insects." Not a good sign he thought but didn't dare voice it.

"And there's a strange smell on the air." complained Galen. The two humans sniffed but couldn't detect anything.

"Like burnt bread." He added.

"If you say so pal." Allowed Burke settling down for the night. "All I smell is trouble."

Virdon winced but refused to be baited into a repeat performance of the previous night. "The first sign of trouble... Real trouble... We're out of here, I promise."

Burke nodded and relaxed, relieved that Virdon was no longer seemingly blind to the possibilities of whatever they might find.

"Well," said Galen. "You two can scamper away like a pair of cowardly humans any time you wish. But..." He puffed his chest out and marched around the fire theatrically. "... The fearless and legendary explorer - Professor Galen - is ready to face danger wherever it rears its ugly head."

Both the astronauts grinned at the Chimps bravado. Burke chuckled and pitched an un-eaten berry that hit the Chimp square on the nose. Galen sat down, smiling, pleased that he had been able to lift their spirits. He lay his head down on his backpack and closed his eyes. 'Professor Galen' might well be looking forward to plowing on ahead... The fugitive Galen wanted to return the way they came and never look back.

*******

Galen woke just before dawn and wandered off to find an obliging tree. The bands of light still whirled and danced overhead actually illuminating his way and as he looked around his eyes fell upon another flickering light, far away. He reached up and grabbing a low branch swung his body easily up into the tree. He climbed swiftly to almost the very top and there, a few miles away, a campfire was burning brightly. He hurried back to the camp and quickly roused the two astronauts.

"Gorillas" he explained. "Behind us, I think they're on our trail."

The humans groaned and broke camp in record time eager to maintain any lead they had over their pursuers. They followed their upward path more hastily, using the fading darkness and the cover it afforded to increase their speed.

As they climbed higher the bushes and trees began to thin dramatically when suddenly they were out of the forest and at the foot of a large rocky hill.

Virdon placed his hands on his hips and leaned forward catching his breath. "Well... this is it. Whatever we came looking for should be just over this hill."

Burke used his sleeve to wipe away the sweat on his brow. "So? What are we waiting for?" He gasped, breathing hard from the exertion.

Virdon turned to Galen. "Galen... Are you okay to climb?"

Galen snorted with derision. "Apes are always 'okay' to climb." he stated with smug superiority. "I'll be at the top a good half hour before either of you."

Without any further need for debate the three began to ascend, eager to reach the top before daylight made them clearly visible to anything that cared to look in their direction.

Despite his bragging Galen held himself back, helping the astronauts over more difficult obstacles and thus ensuring that they managed reached the top without mishap. The two men collapsed in the shelter of some boulders, exhausted from the arduous climb. For Galen it was an almost irresistible opportunity to needle Pete Burke once again about the superiority of ape over man but he decided to save it for some future occasion.
Dawn came, bringing with it their first clear view of their new surroundings.

"This can't be right...?" Said Virdon, confused.

Sunlight illuminated a large natural basin, almost flat in the centre with surrounding jagged hills forming a natural circular wall. The floor of the crater was plain, patches of tough grass grew here and there, a small bush or two and a large quantity of pebbles littered the ground. Other than that there was nothing.

"This is all wrong, there must be something here, there must be." The disappointment and frustration in Virdons voice was clear to all. "We have to get down there, there has to be something, something we can't see."

Burke surveyed the terrain. "Alan if those gorillas come looking we're gonna be sitting ducks down there."

"Oh, we're a good four or five hours ahead of them." Said Galen "I'm sure there's there's time to take a closer look."

Virdon glanced at the chimp. It was painfully obvious that both he and Burke wanted out of here but they were willing to take risks for his sake. Again that mixture of gratitude and guilt welled up inside and he smiled showing them he understood the situation.

"You two stay here, I'll scout around on my own."

Burke shook his head vigorously. "Uh-uh... Three of us can cover the same area a lot faster. Let's go." Virdon nodded, they were wasting time, action was required, not words. They clambered down the jagged rocks and reached the floor of the basin.

Burke scuffed the dusty ground with his boot. He squatted down and used a flat pebble to scrape away the topsoil. "Just weeds, no worms or bugs...Lifeless, I'm no farm boy like our fearless leader here but I'm telling you, this doesn't look good.
"
Virdon dismissed the evidence "Let's separate and look around, anyone finds anything, shout loud and clear... Let's move."

The trio separated each studying the terrain in their own way. Burke continuously scuffed the ground with the toe of his boots finding nothing but dry dust. With the exception of a small, roughly circular depression the terrain was totally flat, almost as though nature had used a spirit level, he mused.

Virdon ran his hands over boulders and rocks relying on instinct to pick out anything out of place. Galen darted to and fro sniffing the air, touching this and that. None of them knew what they were looking for and none of them found it
.
Galen peered over his shoulder eager not to let the others out of his sight. There over on the other side of the basin was Virdon, squatting down examining the underside of a large, flat boulder, to his left was Burke, on his knees, scraping away in the dirt and finally, to Galen's right, there was Burke, on his knees, scraping...

Galen blinked and whipped his head back to the left. Burke was standing up. He looked to the right and there on the opposite side of the basin another Burke was doing exactly the same!

"Alan!" He cried.

The astronauts heard the anxiety in his voice and whipped their heads around alarmed. The Chimpanzee was pointing to the other side of the basin.

"What the...?" exclaimed Virdon, seeing what Galen was seeing for the first time.

Burke blinked in surprise, the fact that he was staring at himself didn't immediately register but when it did he was, for once, lost for words. He looked at Virdon whose head was panning right and left trying to keep both Burke's in sight at the same time.

Burke, grinned, chuckled and raised his hand and the other Burke mimicked the movement perfectly. "It's a projection!' he cried out in delight. "A hologram!"

Not sure which of the twins was real Galen trotted over to stand by Virdon. "A hollow what?" He asked, clearly frightened as Virdon laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Relax Galen, it can't harm you... It's like that old guy we saw in Oakland, you remember. The scientist who told us about the vault?"

Galen relaxed slightly but was still wary of the sight of two Burke's approaching them. Suddenly one of them winked out of existence, the remaining Burke froze and took a step backwards and suddenly there were two again.

"Well, at least I know which of us is real."

"I don't understand" complained Galen "Why doesn't this hollow gram tell us things, like the other one did."
The two astronauts exchanged a knowing look. "Because... the hologram in Oakland... was put there by people who wanted to share their secrets." Burke explained.

"This one..." Said Virdon, unable to hide the excitement in his voice. "This one is here to protect them!" He glanced back to where Burke had been standing and then back to where the projection had last been seen. Now, with the benefit of hindsight he could see that one side of the crater was a mirrored reflection of the other. "Well, we know that this side is the real one. Whatever the projection is hiding must be over there..."

"So why are we all standing here admiring the view?" asked Burke.
Virdon grinned. "Beats me."

As one the three fugitives began to march toward the opposite side of the basin.

"Be ready Galen," warned Virdon. "When we reach the perimeter of the hologram the scenery might change suddenly. Just watch your feet okay." Galen nodded not really understanding at all. "Your twin brother winked out about here."

The three now proceeded with caution. Burke stretched out his arm and saw his fingers disappear. He withdrew his hand and smiling, wriggled his fingers under Galen's nose to show the Chimpanzee there was nothing to fear.

"Alan... after you." He said waving the blonde astronaut ahead. With a deep breath Virdon walked forward and disappeared from sight.

"Alan!" cried Galen in alarm.

"It's okay, I'm fine." said a disembodied voice and suddenly Virdons head and upper body appeared from thin air. The Chimpanzee yelled and back-pedalled frantically, losing his footing and falling.

Burke reached down and helped him back to his feet. "Galen! It's okay, it's just a trick, an illusion. It can't harm you, it's like the curtain of water you get under a waterfall, you can walk right through." He saw Galen grimace at the thought of walking through water and quickly tried to think of a better way of explaining things.

"Pete, you've gotta see this!" said Virdon breathless with excitement.

Burke decided against further explanations and simply shoved Galen forward following right behind...

To the gorilla observers, hidden and watching from a distance, it was a though they had simply vanished.

THREE

Even though he was expecting something, the sudden appearance of double doors set into the face of the rock gave Burke cause to perform the classic double take. On Galen the effect was even less subtle as he gasped out loud in astonishment. "Are they real!" He whispered awe-struck.

"Quite real Galen and with that holographic camouflage we're probably the first people to see them in a very long time.

Burke marched up to the doors and brushed away dust and debris. "Metal." he said. Something so simple, yet something he hadn't seen for a long time. He brushed away more dust, revealing an ancient plaque.

"ChronoDyne Industries? Ever heard of 'em?"

Virdon shook his head. "I doubt they were even around in our time."

Burke pointed at a small box, mounted by the side of the door."Security locks... How do you suppose we get in?"
Galen trotted up and placed his palm against the smooth patch of metal. He snapped his fingers back as if burnt and sniffed them.
"What's up Galen?" Asked Burke.

"It's... It's alive!" said the startled chimp.

Burke placed his palm against the metal just had Galen had done and whistled. "You can feel a vibration Alan, there's still power here!"

Virdon moved up and all three placed their palms against the doors marvelling at the thrum of energy that coursed through them.

"So?" reminded Burke "How do we get in?"

"Could there be people inside?" whispered Galen. Virdon and Burke looked at each other and shrugged.

"It's possible I suppose," answered Virdon. "But I doubt it... This baby's been here a long, long time."

Burke rapped his knuckles against the door. "Hey! How about it... anyone home! Open up." Nothing changed. "Perhaps they think we're selling something."

"Okay, let's try some elbow grease" suggested Virdon moving up to the left side door. He placed his hands flat against the surface while Burke did the same on the right. "Ready... Pull!" The astronauts grunted and strained but the doors held fast.

"Dammit!" Cursed Alan. He scratched his head "Okay, I'm open to suggestions."

Burke chewed his lower lip. "There has to be another way in, an emergency exit, a backdoor, something?"

Virdon scanned the tops of the hills. "But if it's camouflaged by a hologram we might never find it" He said bitterly.
"Well... we found these doors?" Offered Galen hopefully.

"By accident, not design. We could search these hills for a hundred years and never find a thing." Virdon rubbed his temple and thought hard. "Did either of you see anything... anything... out of the ordinary?"

Galen shook his head.

"Apart from a dip in the ground this place is a flat as a pancake."

Virdon looked up sharply. "What dip. Where?"

******

The gorillas were arguing amongst themselves over the nature of what they had witnessed. For Vandar and Xerxes it was obviously witchcraft and therefore only wise that they should flee this cursed place but Tobias, their leader, had been warned to expect such things from the fugitives. Though fearful, he suspected that it was human trickery and not the supernatural at work. He threatened and bullied his troopers into waiting and observing before they rode back to the outpost and requested re-enforcements.

He had almost brought them round to his way of thinking when suddenly, one by one, the three fugitives re-appeared sending them into fresh waves of panic. Vandar fled back to where they had left the horses though Xerxes halted in his tracks after hearing the hammer on Tobias' pistol click.

"Follow the steps of that other coward and I will shoot you down." Tobias threatened convincingly. Xerxes turned around and rejoined his commander miserably. Tobias understood his fear and shared it. Xerxes was a good soldier and this would not go on his record.

"We should flee, before whatever demons they command devour us!" Xerxes warned.

"I would rather face the wrath of all the demons in hell than that of Urko's." grumbled Tobias. "You will hold your position and observe, as long as they can't see us we are safe."

*******

Down below Burke led his two companions to the place where the earth dipped into a shallow, circular, crater. "I didn't think anything of it before, but now I wonder?"

Virdon knelt down and used his hand to brush some of the dry earth aside. "We're gonna need some tools."

"No problem, I'm sure we passed a hardware store back there."

Ignoring Burke's indecipherable comment Galen stepped forward. "We need picks... and shovels. All I have is this." He said holding out the small knife he kept in his backpack.

Virdon waved the offered knife away. "Okay, let's take a look around see if there's anything else we can use." The two astronauts wandered off in search of useful items leaving Galen to ponder the shallow depression. He cocked his head to one side.

"Hmph!" Was all he could think of to say. He stepped forward to join the search for tools when suddenly the ground opened up and swallowed him.

Galen's cry brought the astronauts running. They skidded to a halt at the edge of a newly formed hole and peered down. About eight feet below them Galen lay on his side cursing.

"Galen! Are you okay?" Demanded Virdon.

"I'm fine." Grumbled the Chimp, sitting up and brushing a thick coating of dust off his hair and clothing.

"We'll, if it's any consolation I think you found a way in." Observed Burke.

Galen paused in his grooming, fixed Burke with an icy stare and then continued.

"C'mon, let's take a look." Virdon eased himself over the ledge and allowed himself to drop into the hole. He landed lightly and studied his surroundings finding himself in a low ceilinged tunnel. "I think it's an air vent." He said aloud. "It's safe Pete, c'mon down."

Against his better judgement Burke swung himself over the edge and dropped into the hole to land next to Virdon. All three companions had to crouch in order to avoid banging their heads on the ceiling of the tunnel.

"This way." said Virdon decisively.

"Any particular reason?" Asked Galen, still smarting from his fall.

"Because that's the direction of the doors." Virdon took the lead and after a worried glance at each other Burke and Galen followed.

*****

Tobias watched the fugitives disappear from sight for a second time that day but this time was enormously relieved to understand the reason why. Some kind of hole had opened in the ground and the chimpanzee, Galen, had fallen into to what looked to be an underground cave.

These were all things Tobias understood and could deal with.

The third trooper Vandar had since wandered back, mumbled an apology and Tobias hadn't pushed the matter, he had almost ran himself, nevertheless he was obliged to discipline the ape in some fashion. His solution was to send him down into the crater to discover more about the hole in the ground.

*******

The question of how they would find their way in the dark hadn't been asked but fortunately, whatever power source coursed through the doors was also keeping a series of tiny, low wattage, maintenance bulbs alight. Covered with the dust and grime of unknown centuries the glow from the bulbs was sickly and anaemic but very welcome.

"Probably solar powered." Said Burke, after having seen Galen tentatively touch one of the bulbs.

Thick bunches of cables snaked above their heads and at intervals they came across panels set into the wall containing switches, buttons and all kind of unfathomable controls.

"Don't touch anything." Warned Virdon.

The tunnel ended abruptly, opening into a square chamber big enough to allow the three to stand upright. Burke massaged his lower back, aching from the slow progress.

Set into the opposite wall of the chamber was a ladder that led both up and down. Again it was Virdon who made the decision.

"Up."

He led the way, followed by Galen, then Burke and after a short climb they found themselves in another almost identical chamber. Burke climbed into it to find Virdon and Galen studying a metal door. "Great," he grumbled. "Another dead-end?"

Virdon reached out, gripped a lever and pulled. The door swung open and a rush of stale air poured over them.

Burke wrinkled his nose in distaste. "Burnt toast." he commented.

Virdon looked back at Galen and smiled reassuringly "Let's see if anyone's home." he whispered, stepping through the opening.

*****

Vandar approached the edge of the hole and pointing his rifle down peered into it. There was no sign of the three fugitives and he was relieved to find no monsters or demons curled up ready to snap off the head of an over inquisitive gorilla. A rush of stagnant air suddenly swept over him and he wrinkled his snout in disgust. "Burnt bread" he mumbled under his breath.

There was nothing obviously dangerous about the hole but he wasn't going down there... alone.

*****

The door opened into a corridor lined with many other doors. Lighting, set into the ceiling still burned, brighter than that in the tunnel. The three companions shuffled into the corridor and looked around them, unsure as to what to do or what to say.

"Looks just like your average industrial building block." Said Burke.

Virdon opened another of the doors and peered inside. Desks, chairs, cabinets and computer terminals. A typical office, long abandoned and covered with a film of fine dust. He walked over to one of the computers and tapped the keyboard but it was long dead.

"Check the other rooms." he said. "I want to find out where the power is coming from and what it's for."

Burke gave a swift nod and turned to investigate another room. Galen stood still, unwilling to wander off alone in this strange, unpleasant smelling place.

"It's alright Galen," assured Virdon, knowing what was going through the Chimp's mind. "Just stay within shouting distance and you'll be fine - If you find anything interesting just give us a scream."

Galen nodded enthusiastically. "I'm not sure what lies behind these doors but be assured, if it's unpleasant I can certainly manage a scream."

Virdon smiled, even now after all these months an animal with a sense of humour still amazed him. He caught the thought and reminded himself that Galen was not an animal. On the outside maybe, just as he and Burke no doubt appeared as animals to him. But his... his what?

His soul?

In that respect they were equal, no different at all. He wondered did the primitive apes of his own time possess souls the equal of Galen's...? He was sure it wouldn't be the last time he pondered that question but right now he couldn't spare the time. This room had nothing of interest and it was time to explore another.

No office appeared any different from another so they gave up looking for anything significant and tried another wing. They found elevators that no longer worked indicating there were two floors above their heads and four below. The size of the complex was enormous, to search it all might take weeks.

By mutual agreement Burke set off alone in an attempt to locate an area that might contain a map while Virdon and Galen remained and continued to search the rooms one by one.

*****

He took the steps two at a time, the higher he climbed the thicker the coating of dust that covered everything. It puffed up around his feet in clouds and tickled his nose, making him sneeze. Growing tired of the irritation he pulled a cloth from his pouch and made himself a makeshift mask to cover his nose and mouth.

He came out into a corridor before the silent elevators and a sign informed him he was on the ground floor of ChronoDyne Industries and to please make sure, being a visitor, that he was signed in.

He didn't bother.

He marched up to a large desk and stepped behind it feeling something crunch underfoot. Glancing down he gave an involuntary yelp of surprise as he realised he trodden on the hand of an ancient, human skeleton.

The remains were sprawled across the floor and an ancient gun lay in the dust a few feet away. The realisation that this person hadn't died easily made Burke's skin crawl. He tried to dismiss it from his mind but it had spooked him, as he lifted a crumbling book from behind the desk he kept shooting glances over his shoulder, thinking he saw shapes moving at the corner of his eye.

The book was no help.

He happily left the desk and it's long dead attendant and approached a dais in the middle of the room set before two doors. He realised they were the very same doors they had earlier tried to force open without success.

On the dais was a map of the facility, it showed office blocks, laboratories, showrooms, kitchens, and toilets... everything. He memorised what he could and started to make his way back down to where he had left Virdon and Galen when another skeleton caught his eye. Burke wandered over and stood above it. This second pile of remains was sprawled awkwardly much like the first but Burke didn't need a medical degree to see that it wasn't human.

The bones were pitched in an untidy bundle before a closed door, evidently it had met its maker trying to get into the room beyond. Burke reached out and pushed. The once sturdy lock disintigrated and it swung open easily. Behind it were a dozen more skeletons, mostly human but a few of the other type too.

Apes. He realised.

Tattered remains of clothing still hung around them, slowly turning to dust while more durable objects, like pens, jewellery and plastic key cards littered the floor.

Burke wondered about what he was seeing. Was this what had happened all over the world in a microcosm. The end of mankind played out in a single room?

He locked stares with the empty eye sockets of a human skeleton and an overwhelming sadness washed over him. He'd seen enough. As he backed out of the room a laminated sign, fixed high on the wall caught his eye.

Chronodyne... The adventure of another lifetime.
ChronoDyne? What kind of name was that anyway? Watchmakers perhaps?

*****

Down below, Virdon was leafing through some documentation he'd found in a lecture theatre.

"No way!" he murmured.

Galen caught the comment and shuffled over. "Did you find something?" he asked.

Virdon continued to study the papers, shaking his head in disbelief and wonder. "I can't be, it's impossible."

"What Alan? What's impossible?"

"This place... This whole place, it was devoted to just one thing, one huge project."

"And?"

Virdon put the papers down and stared at the Chimpanzee. "No." he whispered, seemingly to himself. "It's insanity, it's nonsense, utter nonsense."

Frustrated the Chimpanzee threw up his hands. "What... is nonsense?" he demanded. Virdon ignored him and searched through more papers, most of which simply crumbled away at his touch.

"Alan!" A shout from Burke caught their attention.

"In here!" Galen called.

Burke burst into the room breathless. "Alan! Do you know what kind of place this is?!... Do you know what it was for?" he gasped, panting heavily.

Virdon grinned and held up a sheaf of mouldy paperwork. "Do you believe it?"

"Believe WHAT?" Galen wailed, becoming increasingly agitated at being left in the dark.

"Take a look around you Pete... The very fact that this place exists means it must be true."

"WHAT IS TRUE." snarled Galen.

The astronauts turned as one and stared at the angry Chimpanzee.

"Time travel." They said together.

Galen wrinkled his snout. "Time travel?" he repeated. He turned the notion over in his mind and began to smile. "Hmph! Oh very amusing... Yes, yes I see... Time travel, very funny, very funny indeed."

Burke smiled too finding his own feelings mirrored in the words of the Ape.

Virdon waved the sheaf of papers. "Look around you Galen... It's what this place was built for, It was a research and development project with time travel as the objective."

Galen looked wary. "And you could do this... travel through time?"

"Not in our time." interrupted Burke. "But this place was built long after we left."

"After you left?"

"Sure, the human race was still thriving long after we left."

"And they built this." whispered Alan in awe.

"Did it work." Asked Galen, still undecided as to whether he was being made to look the fool.

The Astronauts glanced at each other. "Let's see if we can find out," said Virdon.

******

Vandar briefed Tobias on what he had discovered down in the crater below. Tobias listened carefully and nodded, deciding, much to his troopers' relief that it would not be wise to go climbing down into the hole and tackle the fugitives without re-inforcements. He snapped a command to Xerxes and ordered him to ride back to the outpost. He was to stop for nothing and return with as many armed gorillas as he could muster but not before getting a message to General Urko assuring him the matter was being dealt with professionally.

Xerxes nodded, glad to be part of anything that might take him away from this cursed place and left immediately.
Tobias and Vandar set about making themselves as comfortable as possible. It would be three to four days before the reinforcements arrived so until then they could only make the best of it.

*****

"Can you make it work?" Asked Galen, watching the two humans hunched over the strange machine.

"I think so," said Virdon confidently. "It's very similar technology to the one we found in Oakland. If we can find a way to tap into the energy source that powers the lights... we should be fine."

"And then we can travel through time?" Asked Galen, awe struck.

"What? No, no this is just a projector Galen."

"The best we can hope for is a movie matinee," added Burke.

"A message." Clarified Virdon. "Moving pictures, information, that kind of thing."

Galen nodded. "Can I help?"

"Not really, not unless you recently passed a degree in advanced twenty sixth Century electronics." chirped Burke pulling a panel off the wall and revealing a series of fibre optic cables.

"Then, in that case I think I shall venture outside and see what there is to eat."

"Thanks Galen and don't worry, we won't do a thing without you being here."

Galen nodded, pleased to be included despite not being able to contribute. "I'll be as quick as I can" He promised and spinning on his heel trotted out of the ancient lecture theatre.

"Watch out for bodies!" warned Burke, calling after him. "I found a desk clerk upstairs who forgot to clock out."

Galen halted momentarily hoping that he had misunderstood Burke's comment and then continued on his way re-tracing his path through the corridors and tunnels and back to the hole he had involuntarily made. The lip was eight feet above the floor but Galen leapt easily, catching the edge and swinging himself up in one smooth movement. He was surprised to find that it was already late afternoon, no wonder he was feeling hungry.

To find food he would have to go back a ways into the forest but he didn't mind. He relished the chance to clear the dry musty air of the complex from his lungs and in truth, to be alone for an hour or two. He could make better time without the clumsy, awkward humans hampering his progress. He liked their company, the stories they told were always fascinating, but did that make them friends?

He still didn't have the answer for that one.

He had been raised to believe that humans were nothing more than slaves. They cheated, they lied, were stupid and lazy. Until he had met Virdon and Burke this was something he had always believed true. Humans served apes, yet here he was scampering around, foraging for food on their behalf.

He trotted over the craggy formations that encircled the flat basin and clambered up them swiftly.

*****

Leaving his sole trooper on watch Tobias had taken the opportunity for a snooze. Vandar was bored already and they hadn't even been here for half a day. He glanced over at the flat basin and stiffened, unslinging his rifle in one swift movement. Down below, heading straight for him and closing fast was the Chimpanzee fugitive Gaylord, or whatever the hell his name was.

Vandar raised the rifle to his shoulder and sighted down the barrel. The Chimp, totally oblivious to his presence, was a sitting duck. Vandar had all the time in the world. His finger curled around the trigger of his rifle and began to tighten.

FOUR

Tobias reached across and clamped his paw around the barrel of the Vandar's rifle, gently forcing it down and away from the moving target. Vandar looked at his commanding officer perplexed but a finger raised to Tobias's lips left the question unasked.

"Zaius wants them alive." Tobias whispered. "For now - We just observe."

Vandar's muzzle worked, clearly annoyed that he'd been cheated out of an easy kill but he followed orders like a good trooper should. Tobias was relieved, he had averted the death of an Ape, as any follower of the Lawgiver should, but if one of the stinking humans should ever lift their head out of that hole... He'd be the first in line to blow them away.

*****

Blissfully unaware his comings and goings were being observed Galen returned to the hole carrying a treasure trove of delicious things to eat. He let himself drop down inside and made his way back along the ventilation shaft then up into the complex that was ChronoDyne Industries. He returned to where he had last seen the astronauts and heard the sounds of their labours long before he saw them.

"Only me." He called ahead, not wanting his sudden appearance to alarm them.

"In here Galen." Answered Virdon.

Galen stepped into the lecture theatre and saw that they had been busy in his absence. "I found some Opars and nuts and even a few birds eggs up in the trees.

Burke licked his lips feeling juices flood into his mouth. "Then let's stop for lunch, I'm buying." He stood up wiping his dusty hands on his rough woven trousers.

"Did you make it work?" Asked Galen eyeing the projector with its innards displayed for all to see.
"Just a couple more connections and we're all set," beamed Virdon.

"But food first," begged Burke. "Here's one marooned astronaut who could eat a hor...." He broke off seeing Galen's inquisitive gaze. "... Err... Opar." He finished lamely.

Galen blinked and then nodded in approval. "You know... If I didn't know better I would swear you were becoming civilised" He allowed.

"You should see me use a knife and fork." Burke promised.

Dinner was delicious. All three of them failing to realise until they sat down how hungry they were and how long it had been since their last meal.

The first course of eggs and nuts had made way for a dessert of fresh, sweet Opar. They used their knives to cut thick generous slices and the thick, sticky juice of the mutant fruits ran freely down their chins.

"So come on Alan... Spill. Tell us what you're thinking." Said Burke around a mouthful of fruit. Virdon smiled but looked uncomfortable, reluctant to say anything. "Okay, I'll tell you what. I'll tell you what you're thinking." Virdon groaned inwardly but he was surprised Burke had managed to keep his silence this long. "You're thinking that we're gonna somehow get this machine working and that you're gonna use it to hitch a ride back home."

The blonde astronaut smiled sheepishly. "Pete, I doubt that our ticket out of here is an abandoned, Five hundred year old machine." He said wistfully.

Burke shook his finger in reprimand. "Uh-uh, now you're telling us what I'm thinking. Own up Alan, it's written all over your face."

Galen looked at Virdon's face but could see nothing written there at all. Just another peculiar expression, he decided.

Virdon looked embarrassed at being so obviously transparent. "Okay, straight up. The thought is there at the back of my mind but seriously Pete I'm not expecting anything from this. For now I just want to find out all I can about it."

"And then?"

"And then we'll see whatever there is to see... Speaking of which if everyone's finished dinner let's get this baby to talk."
The two men
returned their attention to the projector and Galen swiftly cleared away the cooking utensils. By the time he was done they were ready.

"Okay Galen, If this works you'll probably see some kind of moving image along with some sound. Don't be alarmed there's nothing here that can harm us."

Galen nodded feeling butterflies fluttering away in his stomach. This was so exciting, he thought, trying to control his nerves. "I'm ready." He announced thinking he was well prepared for what was about to happen.

Virdon nodded, pressed a stud on the fascia of the machine and the projector hummed into life. "So far so good." he muttered trying to decipher the meaning of the sliders and dials on the control panel.

"Whoa! Heads up!" warned Burke.

An image of a dignified looking man appeared in the air that apart from an occasional flicker of electronic disturbance looked as real as anyone else in the room. The mans' mouth was moving wordlessly.

"Does this thing come with sound?" asked Burke.
Virdon studied the controls and moved a couple of sliding levers and a ghost from the past in the form of achingly familiar music suddenly filled the air. "Silent night!" marvelled Burke.

"The Nativity" announced the dignified gentleman in the broadcast as the image changed to that of a school play. "re-enacted every year in thousands of schools across the world... But what if you could watch the real thing?"

Again the image changed, now to that of ferocious monster. Galen yelled and fell backwards but Virdon and Burke were too mesmerised to pay much attention to his distress.

"The Dinosaurs!" Announced the man. "Was it really a meteor that wiped them out? What if you could witness the extinction first hand?"

Mercifully the terrible images disappeared to be replaced with that of the lecturer sitting behind a desk.

"ChronoDyne Industries are proud to announce that for the first time in human history the answers to all these questions and more are now within our grasp and we invite you... To become a part of the greatest adventure... Of all time."

"It's a sales pitch." breathed Alan.

"Sales pitch?" Asked Galen only just recovering his composure after the sight of the monsters.

"A promotion, designed to raise interest in potential investors." He glanced at Galen's blank expression. "They needed money to finance their research, this was a way of exciting people that had that money and getting them to hand it over."

"How? asked the lecturer, he laughed good-naturedly. "Well, I'm no scientist, so how about I hand you over to someone who is."

The lecturer gestured to his left and a startlingly realistic ape of comic proportions took centre stage.

"What is THAT!" demanded Galen.

Burke pulled a face. "I think it's some kind of cartoon... It's not real it's... like a drawing. Made to look real... At least I think it is?"

"I don't care for It." moaned Galen. It's... disturbing."

"Ladeez unt Gentlemen, Velcum to Chrondyne Industries... My name iss Professor Kronos." The cartoon Ape announced in a very bad German accent.

"It's good to see that in five hundred years things didn't change much." Said Virdon, grinning at the antics of the ape on the screen.

Professor Kronos squatted on the edge of his desk and began to peel a banana.

"Imagine... If vee coult peel back ze barriers of time ze vay I am peeling zis banana."

An image of the pyramids appeared on screen.
"Ve coult vitness ze building of ze pyramits."
The coliseum.
"Ze fall of Ancient Rome."
Neil Armstrong bobbing on the moon.
"Ze first steps into outer space"
Back to the Ape.
"Time is just a window... A window that we vill soon not only be able to open... but step right through."

Burke glanced a Virdon who stood unblinking, totally entranced by the presentation. It wove its spell over him as easily as any potential investor it might have been designed for.

"Twelve years ago I discovered a secret process that vould open the windows of time. The machine I needed didn't exist and so... I founded Chronodyne Industries and built one."

The image transformed into that of an obviously cartoonish contraption. A time machine as designed by Chuck Jones.

"My first experiments were moderately successful but the energies required were enormous, far greater than I ever anticipated.

The image showed the outlandish machine shining a beam of light onto a metal disk.

"Nevertheless, four years ago I successfully managed to send an item BACK through time."

A burst of light and the disk vanished.

"How do I know I was successful? Shortly after, during the transportation of the ancient Sphinx to New Egypt, a metallic disk was uncovered at the base.

Archive film footage of excited workman holding up a shiny metal disc.

"Archaeologists claim it is over four thousand years old and yet I had made it only a few weeks before its discovery. I had successfully sent it back through time to a predetermined date AND location where I knew it would be re-discovered over four thousand years later."

A close up on the Cartoon Apes face.

"Ladies and Gentlemen... ChronoDyne Industries invite you to prepare yourselves for the adventure of another lifetime"

The film ended.

"Is that all?" Asked Burke. "It didn't give much away".

Virdon examined the projector, equally disappointed. "That was a promotional film, not an educational one... Just enough to whet your appetite."

"Well guess what? It worked."

Galen continued to stare at the now empty space where the images had been projected. His mind was a cacophony of new revelations. He glanced at the two humans fussing over the projector. They knew so much and he knew so little. Their kind had built vast towering cities, journeyed to the stars and - evidently - even travelled through time.

What happened to them? How could they have lost it all?

"Galen? You okay?"

Galen turned his gaze to Virdon and stared, unblinking.

"Galen?"

"Hmmm? Oh yes, yes I'm fine. Is there any more?"

Virdon shook his head. "Not here... But there must be all kinds of archives spread around this place."

"So we're staying then." said Burke. It wasn't even a question. The two astronauts studied each other, arguing, weighing up the pros and cons all without saying a word.

"I'd like to find out more about what happened here." Admitted Virdon. "Wouldn't you?"

"Of course I would, but let's not forget those gorillas on our trail."

"I haven't forgotten them Pete, even if they trail us here they'll never find this place behind the holographic shields."

"But they'll easily find that hole in the ground."

Virdon nodded. "I know, so let's go and cover it up, hide it."

Burke tried to look stern but broke into a smile. "Galen and I will get right on it - don't go travelling through time while we're gone."

"I promise not to, I'll keep looking instead." Burke made to leave but Virdon wasn't quite finished. "Pete... I think we're onto something."

Burke fought to keep the smile on his face. He had seen Virdon's hopes dashed so many times before. Every time they'd glimpsed far off towers of a city only to find total devastation. Everytime they'd investigated reported miracles and found only local superstition. He shrugged non-commitidly. "Maybe." he agreed tactfully. He followed Galen out into the corridor and paused at the door, wanting to say something more, something encouraging, something to demonstrate he was totally on Virdon's side but there was nothing that wouldn't just fuel the false hopes no doubt already building in his best friends mind. He cleared his throat, said nothing and continued on.

Galen read him like a book.

"You think we're wasting time." He stated.

Burke smiled at the use of the word, time. "Actually my hairy amigo, I think we're gonna learn an awful lot - but I don't think that's gonna be much consolation to Alan when he realises he's still stuck here."

Galen nodded, understanding Burke's logic perfectly. They reached the hole and under the cover of darkness used dry brush and twigs to disguise it as best they could. "Then there's no possibility that anything left here might still be working?" He asked the human wistfully.

"Galen..." Answered Burke, managing to make the word sound both accusing and reproachful. "Suppose the time... device..." He couldn't quite bring himself to use the word 'machine' "...Is still there, it'll be ancient. And suppose, by some miracle it can be made to work... First you'd have to know how to work it... And suppose you could figure it out...?

Galen nodded. "Like the projector you mean?"

Burke sighed and closed his eyes. Trapped, he thought. He fixed the Chimp with a weary stare. "Nobody risked thier lives with the projector," he mumbled.

"But Pete! It was ancient... You weren't sure how it functioned but the two of you made it work!"

Burke nodded in defeat. "But if this complex does indeed house a 'Time machine' Burke winced at how ridiculous the phrase sounded. "It's gonna be a whole lot more complex than a projector and besides, whatever power source it requires will be unimaginable, greater than anything we've ever known, far greater than a few old solar powered lamps are gonna provide."

His point made Burke wandered back into the ventilation shaft.

Galen watched his back recede as he walked away, dissecting their conversation and examining Burke's arguments. He glanced up at the night sky and studied the beautiful bands of light swirling and shimmering in the sky.

"A power source greater than anything we've ever known." he repeated to himself.

*********

"It's here!" said Virdon feverishly. "Bottom level. The energy was so colossal they had to contain it beneath a mountain."

"Whoa, whoa." begged Burke. "What's here? What are you talking about?"

"The machine!" Insisted Virdon. "There's a machine for travelling through time and it's right here beneath our feet!"

"Does it work?" Gasped Galen, his mind marvelling at the very thought of it.

Virdon glanced at the chimp and grinned, seizing his arm. "I don't know, let's go find out."

Burke raised his arm. "Now wait a minute!" He cried, "before we all go rushing off to...."

"Pete!" Virdon interrupted. "Listen to me... I'm calm, I'm rational, you're my best friend and I'd never do anything to put you or Galen in any danger but ever since we saw those lights in the sky you've been dragging your heels over this and so far you've been wrong, wrong about everything!"

Burke felt guilt and anger born of defensiveness rising to the occasion but of course Virdon was right. He bowed his head and studied his feet. "Alan I only... I just don't want..."

"I know you're trying to protect me Pete... But it's too late... My hopes are up... My imagination is fired. I don't know what we've got here and I doubt it will get me home but I have to investigate it further."

Burke sighed.

Virdon smiled and reached out resting both his hands on the younger astronauts' shoulders. "I'm not blind to the reality of the situation Pete, but if there's a chance, the tiniest, flimsiest, most outrageous chance ever... I have to at least look into it." Burke nodded. Of course he'd known this from the moment Virdon had pointed out the lights in the sky. Virdon squeezed Burkes' shoulder. "But I won't... Can't... take that chance without you Pete. I need you with me on this, every step of the way. So will you help me? Please?"

Galen watched the exchange, riveted by the interaction between the two men. As a boy he had been taught that friendship, sacrifice integrity and loyalties were values these miserable creatures could never possess. The bond between these two men was obvious, powerful and emotive. No wonder Zaius feared them. The example they set could ignite a fire that might sweep across an entire world. In a moment of perfect clarity Galen realised he didn't just respect these humans... he envied them.

Burke looked up into Virdon's eyes and inhaled deeply. "Even if it kills me." He replied.

*************