Kevin looked at Melanie. They were both shocked. Although they had tentatively conversed with Arthur, it had been in such a different context, they’d never been entirely sure they were actually communicating. This was different.

“Atah,” Kevin said. It was a word they’d heard frequently starting from the moment bonobo number one had yelled it when they’d first encountered him. They thought it meant “come.”

Bonobo number one didn’t respond.

Kevin repeated the word then looked at Melanie. “I don’t know what else to say.”

“Neither do I,” Melanie said. “Let’s go for it and open the door. Maybe he’ll respond then. I mean it is hard for him to ‘come’ when he’s locked up.”

“Good point,” Jack said. He stepped around Melanie to reach back along the right side of the cage. With trepidation, Kevin released the latch and opened the door.

Kevin and Melanie stepped back. Kevin directed the flashlight toward the ground rather than shine it in the animal’s face. Bonobo number one emerged slowly and stood up to his full height. He looked to his left and then to his right before redirecting his attention at the two humans.

“Atah,” Kevin said again while backing up. Melanie stayed in step.

Bonobo number one started forward, stretching as he walked like an athlete warming up.

Kevin turned his body around so he could walk easier. He repeated “atah” several more times. The animal’s facial expression didn’t change as he followed.

Kevin led to the bridge and climbed up on it. He again repeated “atah.”

Bonobo number one hesitantly climbed onto the concrete stanchion. Kevin backed up until he was standing in the middle of the span. The bonobo came out onto the bridge warily. He glanced frequently from side to side.

Kevin then tried something they’d not tested on Arthur. Kevin strung bonobo words together. He used “sta,” from the episode when bonobo number one tried to give the dead monkey to Candace. He used “zit,” which bonobo number one had used to get them to go to the cave. And finally he used “arak,” which they were quite sure meant “away.”

“Sta zit arak,” Kevin said. He opened his fingers and swept his hand away from his chest, the gesture that Candace had described in the operating room. Kevin hoped his amalgamated sentence said: “You go away.”

After repeating the phrase once again, Kevin pointed to the northeast in the direction of the limitless rain forest.

Bonobo number one rose up on the balls of his feet and looked over Kevin’s shoulder at the dark wall of mainland jungle. He then looked back in the direction of the cages. Spreading his arms he vocalized a series of sounds Kevin and Melanie had not heard, or at least not associated with any specific activity.

“What’s he doing?” Kevin asked. At that point the animal was facing away from him.

“I could be wrong,” Melanie said, “but I think he’s making reference to his people.”

“My God!” Kevin said. “I think he might have understood my meaning. Let’s let more of the animals out.”