“Don’t rub it in,” Kevin whispered. “I’m afraid the jury is in, and the verdict is bad. We’ve only been on the island for an hour, but the question that brought us here has already been answered. Besides collective hunting, we’ve seen totally upright posture, opposable thumbs, toolmaking, and even rudimentary speech. I sense they can vocalize just like you and I.”

“It’s extraordinary,” Melanie whispered. “These animals have gone through four or five million years of human evolution in the few years they’ve been out here.”

“Oh, shut up!” Candace cried. “We’re prisoners of these beasts and you two are having a scientific discussion.”

“It’s more than a scientific discussion,” Kevin said. “We’re acknowledging a terrible mistake, and I’m responsible. The reality is worse than I feared when I saw the smoke coming from this island. These animals are protohumans.”

“I have to share some of the blame,” Melanie said.

“I disagree,” Kevin said. “I’m the one who created the chimeras by adding the human chromosome segments. That wasn’t your doing.”

“What are they doing now?” Candace asked.

Kevin and Melanie turned to see bonobo number one coming toward them, carrying the bloodied corpse of one of the colobus monkeys. He was still wearing the wristwatch, which only underlined the beast’s odd position between man and ape.

Bonobo number one brought the dead monkey directly to Candace and held it out toward her in both his hands and said: “Sta.”

Candace moaned and turned her head. She looked like she was about to get sick.

“He’s offering it to you,” Melanie told Candace. “Try to respond.”

“I can’t look at it,” Candace said.

“Try!” Melanie pleaded.

Candace slowly turned. Her face reflected her disgust. The monkey’s head had been crushed.

“Just bow or do something,” Melanie encouraged.

Candace smiled weakly and bowed her head.

Bonobo number one bowed and then withdrew.

“Incredible,” Melanie said, watching the animal leave. “Although he’s obviously the alpha male, there must still be remnants of the typical matriarchal bonobo society.”

“Candace, you did great,” Kevin said.

“I’m a wreck,” Candace said.

“I knew I should have been a blond,” Melanie said with her own attempt at humor.

The bonobo holding the rope gave a tug significantly less forceful than the previous one. The group was on the move again and Kevin, Melanie, and Candace were forced to follow.

“I don’t want to go any farther,” Candace said tearfully.

“Pull yourself together,” Melanie said. “Everything is going to be okay. I’m starting to think Kevin’s suggestion was right. They think of us like gods, especially you with that blond hair. They could have killed us instantly if they’d been inclined, just like they killed the monkeys.”

“Why did they kill the monkeys?” Candace asked.

“I assume for food,” Melanie said. “It is a little surprising since bonobos are not carnivorous, but chimps can be.”

“I was afraid they were human enough for the killing to be for sport,” Candace said.

The group passed through a marshy area, then began a climb. Fifteen minutes later, they emerged from the forest twilight onto a rocky but grassy area at the foot of the limestone escarpment.