Melanie stood up. “I’m almost as responsible as you for these creatures’ existence. I’m helping whether you like it or not, bucko.”

Kevin made an expression of exasperation.

“No pouting,” Melanie said. She climbed out of the boat onto the dock.

“Sounds like a party,” Jack said. He stood up to follow Melanie’s lead.

“You sit down!” Melanie said sternly. “At the moment, it’s a private party.”

Jack sat.

Kevin got out his flashlight and joined Melanie on the dock. “We’ll work very quickly,” he promised.

The first line of business was the bridge. Without it, the plan would fail no matter what the response was from the animals. Kevin put in the key. As he turned it on and pressed the green button, he held his breath. Almost immediately he heard the whine of a battery-driven electric motor from the mainland side. Then in slow motion the telescoping bridge extended across the dark river to make contact with the concrete stanchion on the island.

Kevin climbed up on it to make sure it was solidly seated. He tried to shake it but it was rigidly in place. Satisfied, he got down, and he and Melanie hiked in the direction of the forest. They couldn’t see the cages because of the darkness of the shadows, but they knew where they were.

“Do you have any plan or are we just going to let them all out en masse?” Melanie asked as they walked across the field. Kevin had the flashlight on so they could see where they were stepping.

“The only idea that came to my mind was to find my double, bonobo number one,” Kevin said. “Unlike me, he’s a leader. If I can make him understand, maybe he’ll take the others.” Kevin shrugged. “Can you think of a better idea?”

“Not at the moment,” Melanie said.

The cages were all lined up in a long row. The smell was rank since some of the animals had been in their tiny prisons for more than twenty-four hours. As Kevin and Melanie walked along, Kevin shined the light in each enclosure. The animals awoke immediately. Some backed against the rear wall, trying to shield themselves from the glare. Others stood their ground obstinately, their eyes flashing red.

“How are you going to recognize him?” Melanie asked.

“I wish I could count on seeing my watch,” Kevin said. “But the chances of that are slim. I suppose it’s up to recognizing that awful scar he has.”

“It’s rather ironic that he and Siegfried have almost the same scar,” Melanie said.

“Don’t even mention that man’s name,” Kevin said. “My gosh, look!” The light illuminated bonobo number one’s frightfully scarred face. He stared back defiantly.

“It’s him,” Melanie cried.

“Bada,” Kevin said. He patted his chest as the bonobo females had done when he, Melanie, and Candace had first been brought to the cave.

Bonobo number one tilted his head and the skin between his eye furrowed.

“Bada,” Kevin repeated.

Slowly, the bonobo raised his hand and patted his chest. Then he said “bada” as clearly as Kevin had.