“Don’t talk that way,” Candace said.

“We have to face facts,” Melanie said. “That’s why I think we should do something now while they’re all asleep.”

“We have no idea how soundly they sleep,” Kevin said. “Trying to walk out of here will be like walking through a mine field.”

“One thing is for sure,” Candace said. “I’m not going to be involved in any more harvests. I began to feel uncomfortable when I thought they were apes. Now that we know they’re protohumans, I can’t do it. I know that much about myself.”

“That’s a foregone conclusion,” Kevin said. “I can’t imagine any sensitive human being would feel differently. But that’s not the issue. The issue is that this new race exists, and if they’re not to be used for transplants, what’s to be done with them?”

“Will they be able to reproduce?” Candace asked.

“Most assuredly,” Melanie said. “Nothing was done to them to affect their fertility.”

“Oh, my,” Candace said. “This is a horror.”

“Maybe they should be rendered infertile,” Melanie said. “Then there’d only be a single generation to consider.”

“I wish I’d thought of all this before I started this project,” Kevin said. “The problem was that once I stumbled onto the ability to interchange chromosomal parts, the intellectual stimulation was so strong I never considered other consequences.”

There was a sudden, bright flash of lightning momentarily illuminating the interior of the cave, followed by a loud clap of thunder. The concussion seemed to shake the entire mountain. The violent display was nature’s way of announcing that one of the almost daily thunderstorms was about to inundate the island.

“Now, that’s an argument in favor of my position,” Melanie said, after the sound of the thunder died away.

“What are you talking about?” Kevin asked.

“That thunder was loud enough to wake the dead,” Melanie explained. “And not one of the bonobos so much as blinked.”

“It’s true,” Candace said.

“I think at least one of us should try to get out of here,” Melanie said. “That way we could be sure that Bertram will be alerted as to what is happening out here. Bertram can also make arrangements for someone to come here and rescue the others.”

“I guess I agree,” Candace said.

“Of course you do,” Melanie said.

There were a few moments of silence. Finally, Kevin broke it: “Wait a second. You guys are not suggesting that I go?”

“I couldn’t get in the canoe much less paddle it,” Melanie said.

“I could get in it, but I doubt I could paddle it in the dark,” Candace said.

“And you two think I could?” Kevin asked.

“Certainly better than we could,” Melanie said.

Kevin shivered. The idea of trying to get to the canoe in the dark knowing the hippos were out grazing was a scary thought. Even more scary was trying to paddle across the pond, knowing it was filled with crocodiles.

“Maybe you could hide in the canoe until it gets light,” Melanie suggested. “The important thing is to get out of this cave and away from these creatures while they are sleeping.”