“You’re the second human I’ve kissed,” Zira said. She put her muzzle to his lips. “Colonel Taylor was the first.”
“And you’re my first,” Cornelius told Stevie. He kissed her. “Goodbye.”
“Till we meet…” Lewis said. “Not goodbye.”
“Come on, Zira. Don’t dawdle,” Cornelius said. He moved briskly away, his voice harsh to mask his emotion.
21
They paused at the edge of the ridge and looked across the bay toward Los Angeles. The lights were very bright, glittering slightly in a haze rising from the sea. The waves pounded on the coast below, marching endlessly from the west.
They were so close to the city lights that they could not see many stars, but they had never seen city illuminations before. They stood looking for a long time.
“Brighter than the stars,” Cornelius said. “Beautiful.”
“From here,” Zira agreed. “I think it wouldn’t be so pleasant if we were there.”
“Yes.” He took her hand. “Let’s go.”
They went along the top of the bluff until they reached the sheltered bay. As Lewis had told them, there were a number of abandoned boats, mostly fishing craft, beached in the shallow water. One large old tramp steamer stood out from among the others, and Cornelius pointed to it. “We can hide in that.”
They threaded their way down the bluff. Oil tanks stood on the sky line above them, each marked by winking red lights. “Who lives in those?” Zira asked.
“No one. It’s where they store the food for their machines. This whole vast mechanical civilization depends on—” he paused. “Quiet!” he whispered.
“Is there someone out there?” Zira whispered.
“I don’t know. I thought I heard someone,” Cornelius said. “I don’t hear them now. Let’s go.” They crept on toward the abandoned ships. Oil had seeped from the ground near them, and made the way slippery. They reached the beach, and soft sand made the going even harder.
Then they came over a slight rise, and saw the fire.
* * *
“We’ve checked out just about every place that ever had apes,” Larry Bates told Hasslein. “Nothing. It wasn’t such a good idea after all.”
“But where, then?” Hasslein demanded. “They must have had help. Widen the perimeter of search. Assume that someone met them and took them out of the camp.”
“Who?” Amalfi demanded.
“Assume anyone who left, and see what you get from that,” Hasslein said. “Start with that Dr. Stephanie Branton. She came up to the camp gates, ran into the road block, and turned around. Her car was searched—but suppose it wasn’t searched very well? Make the assumption she took the apes away with her, and trace her movements.”
“Right, sir,” Amalfi said. He went out of the office.
“You’ll get them, sooner or later,” Bates said.
“Yes.” Hasslein’s snarl was savage. “That’s what I’m afraid of. Later. Later we’ll do something about the population explosion. Later we’ll do something about nuclear weapons. We think we’ve got all the time in the world—but how much time has the world got? How can we buy it more?” Hasslein waved expansively. “Someone’s got to care NOW!”
“Yes, sir,” Bates said woodenly.
“Yes, sir. Dr. Hasslein’s fanatical again. Stark raving mad. Bates, do you know that twenty-five years ago they told me that later they were going to do something about Down Syndrome in children?”
“Sir?”
“Forget it. Find those apes.” His voice dropped dangerously low, and he snarled ferally. “Find them, Bates. And tell me where they are.”
* * *
It wasn’t a very large fire, because Zeke didn’t want it seen by anyone. He huddled close to it and watched his stew bubble. It was already cooked, but Mulligan got more flavor the longer it simmered, and Zeke wasn’t in any hurry to eat. He’d had a sandwich for lunch, and there was half a bottle of wine left to drink after the stew. With what he’d drunk before, that was plenty.
Zeke was sure he wasn’t a drunk. He liked to drink, and he liked the warm feeling wine gave him, but he didn’t wipe himself out. He ate well, and he was willing to work when he couldn’t find any other way to get a meal.
He was thinking about the wine when he saw the chimpanzees.
“Jee-sus Christ!” he shouted. “What’re you?”
They looked back at him, two chimpanzees wearing human clothing, one carrying a baby wrapped in a blanket, the other wearing a knapsack on his back and carrying a revolver in his belt.
“We won’t hurt you,” Cornelius said.
“Great God Almighty! I’ll never drink another drop,” Zeke shouted. He leaped to his feet to run away, but he slipped in the sand. He scrambled up and slipped again.
“If he gets away he’ll tell—” Zira said.
“Please! Stay!” Cornelius shouted.
“I won’t tell nothing! I swear, I won’t ever say nothing to nobody!” This time he made it to his feet. He looked at Cornelius, his eyes staring at the gun. “I promise, nothing, nothing—”
“I told you, we won’t hurt you,” Cornelius said.
“Yeah! Sure!” Zeke shouted. When the chimpanzee did nothing, did not reach for the gun, came no closer, Zeke ran past him and scrambled up the bluff.
“Should you let him go?” Zira asked.
“How could I stop him?”
“You’re stronger than he is,” she said.
“And suppose I hurt him? As I did that boy? No, I can’t do it,” he told her. “He promised he’d say nothing. Now let’s find a place to hide.” He led her down to the water’s edge, and across planking to the carcass of the freighter.
They clambered aboard the decaying ship. “Even like this, it is magnificent,” Cornelius said. “We never built anything like this. All this, all of it, they have it now,” he said. “Why would they take any chances? You’d think they’d work and work and work to keep it…”
He led her below to the cabins. There was a stateroom which had once belonged to the old ship’s captain. Tramps had been using it, but they had kept it neat, and there were blankets. “That man we frightened away must have stayed here,” Cornelius said.
“Do we dare stay?” Zira asked.
“Where can we go? Lewis said he would meet us here. Without Lewis we can’t escape. There is no place to go.”
“But that man—”
“May not say anything,” Cornelius said. “Go to sleep. I’ll keep watch.”
* * *
Dawn showed them the entire bay. It was shallow and stagnant, with small patches of oil and dead fish. Zira found a protected spot that could not be seen from the land, and brought the blanket-wrapped baby out to nurse in the warming sun. She waved at the dirty water below. “Did Lewis really play here?” she wondered.
“It must have been cleaner then.”
“It stinks of man. Human stench.”
“That’s oil,” Cornelius said. “And dead fish.”
“Is that what man wants oil for? To kill fish?” The baby made happy sounds as she cradled it.
“You don’t like humans, do you?” Cornelius asked.
“We’ve met hundreds here, and only three we can trust.” She continued to pet the baby. “I don’t like that cabin, Cornelius. I think there are fleas in there.”
He shrugged. “I’ll see if I can find a better place.” He moved off through the ship graveyard, hoping for a nicer cabin. The human smell had been very strong in the one they were using now.
* * *
“How long have you had this man in custody?” Hasslein demanded.
“He was picked up about 2:30 this morning,” the deputy sheriff said. He looked at his notebook. “Drunk and disorderly. Suspect was taken to the county lockup to sleep it off. He was babbling about talking apes waving guns at him. The desk sergeant wrote it up, and the lieutenant noticed it coming on duty this morning.”
“Idiot,” Hasslein growled. “Almost nine ho
urs you’ve had him!” He turned to Zeke. “Where did you see them?” he demanded.
“I didn’t see anything, sir,” Zeke said. “Honest, sir, I got too much wine last night, and—well, that’s all there was for it.”
“Nonsense,” Hasslein snapped. “You saw two chimpanzees, one carrying a baby chimpanzee or else very pregnant. Both animals could talk, and probably spoke to you. Haven’t you been reading the newspapers?”
Zeke looked surprised. “I haven’t been following them for a while—”
“He’s a common drunk,” the deputy said. “We get him about twice a year. I doubt Zeke can read—”
“I most certainly can!”
“Anyway, he generally doesn’t know what’s going on in the world. Zeke, we keep trying to tell you, those apes you saw were real,” the deputy said. He saw a copy of Time and grabbed it. “Look. Right here, see, that’s their pictures on the cover.”
“I’ll be damned,” Zeke said.
“So. You admit you saw them?” Hasslein said triumphantly.
“Well—”
“Where?” Hasslein demanded. “Where? WHERE?”
“Don’t shout at me. I promised I wouldn’t tell.”
“Promised whom?”
“Uh—them, cap’n. The ape had a gun in his belt, and they was talking about not letting me go—so I promised I wouldn’t tell about them.”
“But you already have,” Hasslein insisted. He got silence. “Do you know who I am?”
“No, Cap’n.”
“I am the chief science advisor to the President of the United States.”
“Well, smell you!”
The deputy choked back laughter. “Zeke, what he means is he can have you put away for a long time. In some awful place, too, I expect.”
“He can?”
“Sure.”
“Oh.” Zeke thought about it for a while. “It was by Point Doom,” he said. “You know, that old ship graveyard? I been living on one of them ships for a few weeks now. Like a fool, I came ashore to cook my dinner. Didn’t want to smoke up the ship. Besides, they’re all over oil. And I saw those chimpanzees, just like you said. One of ’em was carrying a baby, and the other had on a knapsack, regular backpack thing; and he had a gun in his belt.”
“Thank you,” Hasslein said. “You may release this man, deputy. And get me your superiors. I will want the police to seal off that area.” He stood and put on his lightweight topcoat. It thumped hard against the desk as he did, and Hasslein put his hand into the pocket to check on the automatic.
As the deputy led the old wino out, Hasslein nodded grimly to himself. The baby chimp was already born. That changed everything—and made the threat to the human race even greater.
“Get me my driver,” Hasslein snapped to the Marine outside his door. “And a squad of your Marines. With a sergeant.”
“Uh—shouldn’t the Lieutenant come with us?” the trooper asked.
“No. That won’t be necessary. Just your sergeant. And let’s go!”
The jeep drove swiftly through the oil fields. Hasslein did not wait at locked gates; he had his Marine drivers break through them. The county sheriffs spread out behind them sealing off the area, as Hasslein brought his troops to the small bay. He stood at the top of the bluff and searched through the wrecked ships with binoculars.
“Nothing,” he muttered.
“Nor me, sir,” Sergeant Meissner said. “But they’d keep out of sight, I reckon.”
“Yes.” Hasslein examined the ridge. “They must have gone down this path. We’ll take the same route. Bring your troops. And remember, Sergeant, those apes have guns.”
“Yes, sir. The Captain said we were to take them alive.”
“Of course,” Hasslein said. “But you wouldn’t want any of your men to be killed. Just be very careful.”
They reached the bottom of the bluff and started across the soft sand, Hasslein and Sergeant Meissner in front, a dozen Marines behind fanned out with rifles ready.
“There’s where that wino had his fire,” Meissner said, pointing. “Looks like he took off in a hell of a hurry. He left his stew.”
“Yes. And here!” Hasslein pointed in triumph. “One of them fell here. Slipped in the oil. There is a bare foot print. The foot print of an ape!” They reached the water’s edge and Hasslein looked out at the ships. Where would he hide if he were an ape? “Sergeant, I’m going out there. You deploy the men around here so the chimps can’t escape, then follow me.
“Sure that’s wise, sir?” Meissner asked.
“I’m sure it is not, Sergeant. But I’m going all the same.”
“Yes, sir.” Meissner watched Hasslein take his automatic from his pocket and work the slide. The scientist walked gingerly out on the planking leading to the big wrecked freighter in the center of the bay.
It bothered Meissner. He wasn’t responsible for Hasslein’s safety, but his officers would have his hide if anything happened to the president’s advisor while Meissner was with him.
And what about those apes? Meissner didn’t trust Hasslein. But the Captain had told him to take Hasslein’s orders—what could he do? He moved quickly to deploy the men. The sooner he could get out there, the better he’d feel.
22
“It’s no use, Stevie,” Lewis said. “They’re not going, to let us in.” He turned back to the Marines at the gate to the oil field. “Corporal, do you understand what responsibility you’re taking? Those chimpanzees were put under my care, I know they’re down there and Dr. Hasslein is searching for them—and you won’t let me in! What if something happens to one of the apes? Who’ll care for them?”
The Marine stood impassively in front of the gate. “All I know, sir, is the Sergeant told me to wait for an officer and not to let nobody in here until the officer came. I’m doing that.”
“Lewis,” Stevie called from the car. “Does he have a radio? Can he call someone?”
‘Right,” Lewis said. “Well? Do you have communications?”
“Well, yes, sir, but I don’t think civilians are supposed to—”
“Corporal, if you don’t use that set to call an officer for me, and anything happens to those chimps while we’re standing here waiting for orders, I’ll do my best to have you shot.” Lewis’s voice was, cold and hard, and he saw he’d gotten to the Marine. “Call the base.”
The Marine nodded. “All right, sir. Who do you want to get?”
“Admiral Jardin. Now!”
“The admiral—” the Marine’s eyes widened slightly. “Yes, sir.” He lifted the microphone from its hook in the jeep and called.
Lewis stood and fidgeted. Stevie got out of the car and stood with him. It seemed to take forever. Finally the Marine motioned to them.
“Yes, Dr. Dixon?” the admiral’s voice said.
Lewis explained the situation. “Hasslein’s down there with a squad of Marines and no officer,” he finished. “I don’t like it, Admiral.”
There was a long silence. “I don’t like it either, Dixon. Corporal!”
The Marine snapped to attention, then looked sheepish and took the mike. “Yes, sir.”
“Let Dr. Dixon and Dr. Branton go through that gate. No. Cancel that. Go with them, Corporal. Do as Dr. Dixon tells you, and when you see your sergeant, tell him that I said he is to take Dr. Dixon’s orders too. Even if Dr. Hasslein orders differently. Is that understood?”
“Yessir. I’m to go with these people and tell the Sarge he’s to do what this man here says.”
“Get moving,” the admiral snapped.
“It’ll be faster in my jeep,” the Marine told them. “Sir. Ma’am. Get in.” He turned the jeep and headed over the oil field. As Dixon urged him on, the jeep began to bounce and left behind a cloud of dust.
They stopped at the edge of the bluff. Below, Sergeant Meissner had deployed his men around the small cove, and now moved cautiously out on the boards toward the freighter. Hasslein was already on the ship. Lewis and Stevie saw him vanis
h down a companionway.
“Quick,” Lewis said. “We’ve got to get down there!” He took Stevie’s hand and they ran down the pathway, with the corporal scrambling after them. When they reached the water’s edge there was no sign of either Hasslein or Sergeant Meissner.
* * *
It was dark in the old ship, and Victor Hasslein wished for a flashlight. He stumbled on something, and caught himself; some small hard object rattled down the stairs and into the rotten hull below.
“Cornelius?”
Zira’s voice! He was certain of it. Hasslein moved toward the sound.
“Is that you, Cornelius?”
He heard scrambling. She was leaving her hiding place, moving somewhere, suspicious, but Hasslein did not dare answer. He listened, and moved cautiously, following the sound. She would have the infant with her, and she was separated from the other ape. That should make it easier.
She was moving upward, toward the deck, he realized. Quickly he turned back up the stairs and went out onto the deck, moving silently, and crossed over to the other stairway he’d seen. He listened. Yes, she was coming. Hasslein stepped back, away from the cabin entrance, and waited.
There she was. Carrying the baby, wrapped in a blanket. He waited until she was completely out of the cabin, out on the deck where she couldn’t escape—“Hello, Zira.”
She screamed. The shrill sound carried all over the shipyard. Then she turned to run.
“No,” Hasslein said. “I’ll shoot. Stand where you are—”
She darted around the cabin side. Hasslein ran after her, not in time, as she vanished down into the ship again. He looked around for the first time, to see Dixon and another Marine coming across the boardwalk toward the ship.
Now or never, Hasslein thought. Pity it has to be this way. He ran into the interior of the ship. It was silent—and then he heard the cry, the whimper of an infant. He went through the old superstructure, and came out in the open at the ship’s fantail. Zira was there, cornered.
“Give me the baby, Zira,” he said. He held the pistol very steady. “Give it to me, now, or I’ll shoot both of you.”
“No. You’ll kill us both anyway—”
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