Chromosome 6

CHAPTER 23

MARCH 10, 1997

1:45 A.M.

COCO, EQUATORIAL GUINEA

SIEGFRIED had dreamed the dream a hundred times, and each time it had gotten a little worse. In it, he was approaching a female elephant with a young calf. He didn’t like doing it, but a client couple demanded it. It was the wife who wanted to see the baby up close.

Siegfried had sent trackers out laterally to protect the flank while he and the couple neared the mother. But the trackers to the north became terrified when a huge bull elephant appeared. They ran, and to compound their cowardice, they failed to warn Siegfried of the danger.

The sound of the enormous elephant charging through the underbrush was like the thunder of an oncoming train. Its shrieks built to a crescendo, and just before impact Siegfried woke up bathed in sweat.

Panting, Siegfried rolled over and sat up. Reaching through the mosquito netting, he found a glass of water and took a drink. The problem with his dream was that it was too real. This was the incident through which he’d lost the use of his right arm and had the skin of his face flayed open.

Siegfried sat on the edge of his bed for a few moments before he realized the shrieking he’d thought was from his dream was coming from outside his window. A moment later, he realized the source: loud West African rock music emanating from a cheap cassette player.

Siegfried looked at the clock. Seeing that it was close to two a.m., he became instantly incensed. Who could be so insolent to make such noise at that time in the morning?

Sensing the noise was coming across the green in front of his house, he got out of bed and stepped onto the veranda. To his surprise and dismay the music was coming from Kevin Marshall’s. In fact, Siegfried could see who was responsible: It was the soldiers guarding the house.

Anger coursed through Siegfried’s body like a bolt of electricity. Ducking back inside his bedroom, he called Cameron and ordered the security director to meet him over at Kevin’s. Siegfried slammed the phone down. He pulled on his clothes. As he left the house he grabbed one of his old hunting carbines.

Siegfried walked directly across the green. The closer he got to Kevin’s, the louder the music became. The soldiers were in a puddle of light beneath a bare light bulb. Sprinkled across the ground at their feet were numerous empty bottles of wine. Two of the soldiers were singing along with the music while playing imaginary instruments. The other two appeared to have passed out.

By the time Siegfried got to the scene, Cameron’s car had careened down the cobblestone street and screeched to a halt. Cameron jumped out. He was still buttoning his shirt as he approached Siegfried. He glanced at the inebriated soldiers and was clearly appalled.

Cameron started to apologize when Siegfried cut him off. “Forget about explanations and excuses,” he said. “Get upstairs and make sure Mr. Marshall and his two friends are tucked in for the night.”

Cameron touched the tip of hat in faint salute. He disappeared up the stairs. Siegfried could hear him pounding on the door. A moment later, several lights went on in the living quarters.

Siegfried fumed as he watched the soldiers. They hadn’t even noticed his presence or Cameron’s.

Cameron came back looking pale and shaking his head. “They’re not there.”

Siegfried tried to control his anger enough to think. The level of incompetence with which he had to work was astounding.

“What about his LandCruiser?” Siegfried snapped.

“I’ll check,” Cameron said. He ran back, literally pushing his way through the singing soldiers. He returned almost instantly. “It’s gone.”

“What a surprise!” Siegfried said sarcastically. Then he snapped his fingers and motioned toward Cameron’s car.

Siegfried got in the front seat while Cameron climbed in behind the wheel.

“Call and alert your security force,” Siegfried ordered. “I want Kevin’s car found immediately. And call the gate. Make sure it hasn’t left the Zone. Meanwhile, take me to town hall.”

Cameron used his car phone as he maneuvered his vehicle around the block. Both numbers were stored in his phone’s autodialer so it was a hands-free operation. Stomping on the accelerator, he headed north.

By the time they neared the town hall, the official search for Kevin’s car had been initiated. It was readily determined that the vehicle had not tried to go through the gate. As they turned into the parking lot both heard the music.

“Uh-oh!” Cameron said.

Siegfried stayed silent. He was trying to prepare himself for what he now suspected.

Cameron pulled to a halt at the building. His headlights picked up the debris that had resulted when the bar frames had been yanked out of the wall. The pile of chain was visible.

“This is a disaster,” Siegfried said with a tremulous voice. He stepped out of the car with the carbine. Although he had to hold the gun with one hand, he was an accomplished marksman. In quick succession he pulled off three rounds and three of the empty wine bottles on the windowsill of the army post burst into shards of glass. But the music did not falter.

Gripping the gun tightly in his good hand, Siegfried went over to the army-post window and looked in. The cassette player was on the desk with its volume pegged at max. The four soldiers were passed out either on the floor or slouched in the rickety furniture.

Siegfried raised the gun. He pulled the trigger and the cassette player flew off the desk. In an instant, the scene was thrust into a painful silence.

Siegfried went back to Cameron. “Call the colonel of the garrison. Tell him what has happened. Tell him I want these men court-martialed. Tell him to get a contingent of soldiers here immediately with a vehicle.”

“Yes, sir!” Cameron intoned.

Siegfried stepped beneath the arcade and looked at the bars that had been pulled from the jail-cell windows. They were hand forged. Looking at the openings, he could tell why they’d come out so easily. The mortar between the bricks under the stucco had turned to sand.

To get himself under control, Siegfried walked all the way around the town hall. By the time he rounded the final corner, headlights were coming along the road. They turned into the parking lot. With screeching tires the security patrol car came to a halt next to Cameron’s car, and the duty officer jumped out.

Siegfried cursed under his breath as he approached. With Kevin and the women plus the Americans missing, the bonobo project was in serious jeopardy. They had to be found.

“Mr. Spallek,” Cameron said. “I have some information. Officer O’Leary thinks he saw Kevin Marshall’s car ten minutes ago. Of course, we can quickly confirm it if it is still there.”

“Where?” Siegfried asked.

“In the lot by the Chickee Hut Bar,” O’Leary said. “I noticed it on my last tour.”

“Did you see any people?”

“No, sir! Not a soul.”

“There’s supposed to be a guard down there,” Siegfried said. “Did you see him?”

“Not really, sir,” O’Leary said.

“What do you mean ‘not really’?” Siegfried growled. He was fed up with incompetence.

“We don’t make it a point to pay much attention to the soldiers,” O’Leary said.

Siegfried looked off in the distance. In a further attempt to control his anger, he forced himself to notice how the moonlight reflected off the vegetation. The beauty calmed him to a degree, and he reluctantly admitted that he didn’t pay much attention to the soldiers, either. Rather than serving any truly utilitarian purpose, they were just there; one of the costs of doing business with the Equatoguinean government. But why would Kevin’s car be at the Chickee Hut Bar? Then it dawned on him.

“Cameron, was it determined how the Americans got into town?” Siegfried asked.

“I’m afraid not,” Cameron said.

“Was a boat searched for?” Siegfried asked.

Cameron looked at O’Leary, who reluctantly replied. “I didn’t know anything about looking for a boat.”

“What about when you relieved Hansen at eleven?” Cameron asked. “When he briefed you, did he mention he’d looked for a boat?”

“Not a word, sir,” O’Leary said.

Cameron swallowed. He turned to Siegfried. “I’ll just have to follow up on this and get back to you later.”

“In other words, no one looked for a goddamn boat!” Siegfried snapped. “This is a comedy around here, but I’m not laughing.”

“I gave specific orders for a search for a boat,” Cameron said.

“Obviously, orders are not enough, you lunkhead,” Siegfried spat. “You are supposed to be in charge. You are responsible.”

Siegfried closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. He’d lost both groups. All he could do at this point was have the colonel call the army post in Acalayong in the unlikely event the escapees might land there. But Siegfried was far from optimistic. He knew that if the tables were turned and he’d been the one fleeing, he’d go to Gabon.

All of a sudden, Siegfried’s eyes popped open. Another thought occurred to him: a more worrisome thought.

“Is there a guard out at Isla Francesca?” he asked.

“No, sir. None was requested.”

“What about at the bridge on the mainland?” Siegfried persisted.

“There was until you ordered it removed,” Cameron said.

“Then, we’re going right now,” Siegfried said. He started for Cameron’s car. As he did so, three vehicles sped down the street and turned into the parking lot. They were army jeeps. They swooped over to the two parked vehicles and stopped. All of them were filled with soldiers bristling with guns.

From the front jeep stepped Colonel Mongomo. In contrast to the slovenly soldiers, he was impeccably attired in his martial finery complete with medals. Despite the fact that it was night, he wore aviator sunglasses. He saluted Siegfried stiffly and said he was at his service.

“I’d be very appreciative if you took care of those drunk soldiers,” Siegfried said in a controlled fashion, while pointing toward the post. “There’s another group where Officer O’Leary can take you. And tell one of these jeeps full of soldiers to follow us. We may need their firepower.”

Kevin motioned for Jack to slow down. Jack cut back on the throttle and the heavy pirogue quickly lost momentum. They had entered the narrow channel between Isla Francesca and the mainland. It was significantly darker than out in the open water because the trees on either side formed a canopy.

Kevin was worried about the rope for the feeding float and he’d positioned himself in the bow. He’d explained it to Jack so Jack was prepared.

“It’s eerie in here,” Laurie said.

“Listen to how loud the animals are,” Natalie said.

“What you are hearing are mostly frogs,” Melanie said. “Romantically inclined frogs.”

“It’s coming up just ahead,” Kevin said.

Jack cut the engine then stood in order to tip the outboard out of the water.

There was a soft thud and a scraping noise as the boat passed over the rope.

“Let’s paddle,” Kevin said. “It’s only a little way farther, and I wouldn’t want to hit a log in the dark.”

The dense jungle on the right fell away as they reached the staging area clearing. Once again they were in moonlight.

“Oh, no!” Kevin cried from the bow. “The bridge is not deployed. Damn!”

“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Melanie said. “I still have the key.” She held it up, and it glinted in the low light. “I had a feeling it would come in handy someday.”

“Oh, Melanie!” Kevin gushed. “You’re wonderful. For a moment there, I thought all was lost.”

“A deployable bridge that needs a key?” Jack questioned. “That’s mighty sophisticated for out here in the jungle.”

“There’s a dock coming up on our right,” Kevin said. “That’s where we’ll tie the boat up.”

Jack was in the stern. He used his oar to back paddle so the bow turned toward the island. A few minutes later, they quietly bumped against wood planking.

“Okay, everybody,” Kevin said. He took a breath. He was nervous. He knew he was out of character since he was about to do something he’d never done before: be a hero of sorts. “Here’s what I suggest. You all stay in the boat. At least for now. I really don’t know how these animals are going to react to me. They’re unbelievably strong, so there is a risk. I’m willing to take it for the reasons I’ve already talked about, but I don’t want to put any of you in jeopardy. Is that reasonable?”

“It’s reasonable, but I don’t know if I agree,” Jack said. “Seems to me you are going to need some help.”

“Besides, with this AK-47 it’s not as if we can’t defend ourselves,” Warren said.

“No shooting!” Kevin said. “Please. Particularly not for my benefit. That’s why I want you all to stay here. If things go badly, just leave.”

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 cement 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.

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.”

Kevin walked forward. The bonobo sensed his movement and turned to face him. Kevin hesitated. The bridge was about ten feet wide, and Kevin was concerned about coming too close. He remembered all too well how easy it had been for the bonobo to pick him up and throw him like a rag doll.

Kevin stared into the animal’s face to try to see any emotion, but he couldn’t. All he got was a repeat of the uncanny sensation that he was looking into an evolutionary mirror.

“What’s the matter?” Melanie asked.

“He’s scary,” Kevin admitted. “I don’t know whether to pass him or not.”

“Please, not another Mexican standoff,” Melanie said. “We don’t have much time.”

“Okay,” Kevin said. He took a breath and inched around the animal while teetering on the edge. The bonobo watched him but didn’t move.

“This is so nerve wracking!” Kevin complained when he climbed down from the bridge.

“Do we want him to stay here?” Melanie asked.

Kevin scratched his head. “I don’t know. He might be a lure to get the others over here, but then again, maybe he should come back with us.”

“Why don’t we just start walking?” Melanie said. “We’ll let him decide.”

Melanie and Kevin set out for the animal cages. They were pleased when bonobo number one immediately climbed from the bridge and followed.

They walked quickly, conscious that Candace and the other people were waiting. When they got to the cages they didn’t hesitate. Kevin opened the door on the first cage while Melanie did the second.

The animals emerged quickly and immediately exchanged words with bonobo number one. Kevin and Melanie went to the next two cages.

Within only a few minutes, there was a dozen animals milling about, vocalizing and stretching.

“It’s working,” Kevin said. “I’m sure of it. If they were just going to run off in the forest here on the island, they would have already done so. I think they all know they have to leave.”

“Maybe I should get Candace and our new friends,” Melanie said. “They should witness this, and they can help speed things up.”

“Good idea,” Kevin said. He looked at the long row of cages. He knew there were over seventy.

Melanie ran off into the night while Kevin went to the next cage. He noticed that bonobo number one stayed nearby to greet each newly freed animal.

By the time Kevin had released a half dozen more animals, the humans arrived. At first, they were intimidated by the creatures and didn’t know how to act. The animals ignored them except for Warren whom they gave a wide berth. Warren had brought the assault rifle, which Kevin guessed reminded the animals of the dart gun.

“They are so quiet,” Laurie said. “It’s spooky.”

“They’re depressed,” Kevin said. “It could be from the tranquilizer or from having been imprisoned. But don’t go too close. They might be quiet, but they are very strong.”

“What can we do to help?” Candace asked.

“Just open the cage doors,” Kevin said.

With seven people working, it took only a few minutes to get all the cages open. As soon as the last animal had emerged into the night, Kevin motioned for everyone to start toward the bridge.

Bonobo number one, who’d been shadowing Kevin, clapped his hands loudly just as he’d done when Kevin and the women had first come upon him in the cul-de-sac of the marshy field. Then he vocalized raucously before starting after the humans. Immediately the rest of the bonobos quietly followed.

The seven humans led the seventy-one transgenic bonobos in a procession across the clearing to the bridge of their freedom. Arriving at the span, the humans stepped aside. Bonobo number one stopped at the cement stanchion.

“Sta zit arak,” Kevin repeated as he spread his fingers and swept his hand away from his chest for the final time. Then he pointed toward the unexplored African interior.

Bonobo number one bowed his head momentarily before leaping up on top of the stanchion. Looking out over his people, he vocalized for a final time before turning his back on Isla Francesca and crossing the bridge to the mainland. The mass of the bonobos silently followed.

“It’s like watching the Exodus,” Jack quipped.

“Don’t be blasphemous,” Laurie teased. But, as with all teasing, there was an element of truth. She was truly awed by the spectacle.

As if by magic the animals melted into the dark jungle without a sound. One minute they were a restive crowd milling about the base of the bridge; the next minute they were gone like water soaking into a sponge.

The humans didn’t move or talk for a moment. Finally, Kevin broke the silence. “They did it, and I’m pleased,” he said. “Thank you all for helping. Maybe now I can come to terms with what I did in creating them.” He stepped up to the bridge and pressed the red button. With a whine, the bridge retracted.

The group turned away from the stanchion and began to trudge back to the pirogue.

“That was one of the strangest pageants I’ve ever seen,” Jack said.

Halfway to the canoe, Melanie suddenly stopped and cried: “Oh, no! Look!”

Everyone’s eyes darted across the river in the direction she was pointing. Headlight beams from several vehicles could be intermittently seen through the foliage. The vehicles were descending the track leading to the bridge mechanism.

“We can’t get to the boat!” Warren blurted. “They’ll see us.”

“We can’t stay here, either,” Jack said.

“Back to the cages!” Kevin cried.

They all turned and ran toward the bulwark of the jungle. The moment they ducked behind the cages, the headlight beams swept across the clearing as the vehicles turned to the west. The vehicles stopped, but the headlights stayed on and the engines kept running.

“It’s a group of Equatoguinean soldiers,” Kevin said.

“And Siegfried,” Melanie said. “I can recognize him anywhere. And that’s Cameron McIvers’s patrol car.”

A searchlight snapped on. Its high-intensity light played along the row of cages then swept the bank of the river. It quickly found the canoe.

Even fifty yards away, they could hear excited voices responding to the discovery of the boat.

“This is not good,” Jack said. “They know we’re here.”

A sudden and sustained burst of heavy gunfire shattered the tranquility of the night.

“What on earth are they shooting at?” Laurie asked.

“I’m afraid they’re destroying our boat,” Jack said. “I suppose that’s bad news for my deposit.”

“This is no time for humor,” Laurie complained.

An explosion rocked the night air, and a fireball briefly illuminated the soldiers. “That must have been the gas tank,” Kevin said. “So much for our transportation.”

A few minutes later, the searchlight went out. Then the first vehicle made a U-turn and disappeared back up the track leading to Cogo.

“Does anybody have an idea what’s happening?” Jack asked.

“My guess is Siegfried and Cameron are going back to town,” Melanie said. “Knowing we’re on the island, they probably feel pretty confident.”

The headlights on the second vehicle suddenly went out, thrusting the entire area into darkness. Even the moonlight was meager since the moon had sunk low in the western sky.

“I preferred it when we had some idea where they were and what they were doing,” Warren said.

“How big is this island?” Jack asked.

“About six miles long and two wide,” Kevin said. “But…”

“They’re making a fire,” Warren said, interrupting Kevin.

A dot of golden light illuminated part of the bridge mechanism, then flared up into a campfire. The ghostly figures of the soldiers could be seen moving in the periphery of the light.

“Isn’t that nice,” Jack said. “Looks like they’re making themselves at home.”

“What are we going to do?” Laurie questioned despairingly.

“We don’t have a lot of choice with them sitting at the base of the bridge,” Warren said. “I count six of them.”

“Let’s hope they’re not planning on coming over here,” Jack said.

“They won’t come until dawn,” Kevin said. “There’s no way they’d come over here in the dark. Besides, there’s no need. They don’t expect us to be going anywhere.”

“What about swimming across that channel?” Jack said. “It’s only about thirty or forty feet wide and there’s no current to speak of.”

“I’m not a good swimmer,” Warren said nervously. “I told you that.”

“This whole area is also infested with crocodiles,” Kevin said.

“Oh, God!” Laurie said. “Now he tells us.”

“But, listen! We don’t have to swim,” Kevin said. “At least, I don’t think so. The boat that Melanie, Candace, and I used to get here is most likely where we left it, and it’s big enough for all of us.”

“Fantastic!” Jack said. “Where is it?”

“I’m afraid it’s going to require a little hike,” Kevin said. “It’s a little more than a mile, but at least there’s a freshly cleared trail.”

“Sounds like a walk in the park,” Jack said.

“What time is it?” Kevin asked.

“Three-twenty,” Warren said.

“Then we only have approximately an hour and a half before daylight,” Kevin said. “We’d better start now.”

What Jack had facetiously labeled a walk in the park turned out to be one of the most harrowing experiences that any of them had ever had. Unwilling to use the flashlights for the first two to three hundred yards, they had proceeded by a process that could only be termed the blind leading the blind. The interior of the jungle had been entirely devoid of light. It was so utterly dark it had been difficult for anyone to even know whether their eyes were open or not.

Kevin had gone first to feel his way along the ground, making frequent wrong choices that required backtracking to find the trail. Knowing what kind of creatures inhabited the forest, Kevin held his breath each time he extended his hand or his foot into the blackness.

Behind Kevin, the others had aligned themselves in snakelike single file, each holding on to the unseen figure ahead. Jack had tried to make light of the situation, but after a time even his usually resourceful flippancy failed him. From then on, they were all victims of their own fears as the nocturnal creatures chattered, chirped, bellowed, twittered, and occasionally screamed around them.

When they finally deemed it safe to use the flashlights, they made better progress. At the same time, they shuddered when they saw the number of snakes and insects that they encountered, knowing that prior to the use of the flashlights they had been passing these same creatures unawares.

By the time they reached the marshy fields around Lago Hippo, the eastern horizon was faintly beginning to lighten. Leaving the darkness of the forest, they mistakenly believed the worst was behind them. But it wasn’t the case. The hippopotami were all out of the water grazing. The animals looked enormous in the predawn twilight.

“They may not look it but they are very dangerous,” Kevin warned. “More humans are killed by them than you’d think.”

The group took a circuitous route to give the hippopotami wide berth. But as they neared the reeds where they hoped the small canoe was still hidden, they had to pass close by two particularly large hippos. The animals seemed to regard them sleepily until without warning they charged.

Luckily, they charged for the lake with a huge amount of commotion and crashing noise. Each multi-ton animal created a new wide trail through the reeds to the water. For a moment, everyone’s heart fluttered in his chest.

It took a few minutes for everyone to recover before pushing on. The sky was now progressively brightening, and they knew they had no time to lose. The short hike had taken much more time than they had anticipated.

“Thank God it’s still here,” Kevin said when he separated the reeds and found the small canoe. Even the Styrofoam food chest was still in place.

But reaching the canoe posed another problem. It was quickly decided the boat was too small and too dangerous to carry seven people. After a difficult discussion, it was decided that Jack and Warren would stay in the reeds to wait for Kevin to bring the small canoe back.

Waiting was hell. Not only did the sky continue to get lighter and lighter, presaging imminent dawn and the possible appearance of the soldiers, but there was always the worry that the motorized canoe had disappeared. Jack and Warren nervously alternated between looking at each other and their watches, while fighting off clouds of insatiable insects. And on top of everything else, their exhaustion was total.

Just when they were thinking that something terrible had happened to the others, Kevin appeared at the edge of the reeds like a mirage and silently paddled in.

Warren scrambled into the canoe followed by Jack.

“The power boat’s okay?” Jack asked anxiously.

“At least it was there,” Kevin said. “I didn’t try to start the engine.”

They backed out of the reeds and started for the Rio Diviso. Unfortunately, there were lots of hippos and even a few crocodiles forcing them to paddle twice the usual distance just to keep clear.

Before they slipped into the foliage hiding the mouth of the jungle-lined river they caught a glimpse of some soldiers entering the clearing in the distance.

“Do you think they saw us?” Jack asked from his position in the bow.

“There’s no way to know,” Kevin said.

“We’re getting out of here by the skin of our teeth,” Jack said.

The waiting was as hard on the women as it had been on Jack and Warren. When the small canoe pulled alongside, there were literal tears of relief.

The final worry was the outboard motor. Jack agreed to attend to it because of his experience with similar engines as a teenager. While he checked it over, the others paddled the heavy canoe out of the reeds into the open water.

Jack pumped the gas, then with a little prayer, pulled the cord.

The engine sputtered and caught. It was loud in the morning stillness. Jack looked at Laurie. She smiled and gave him the thumbs-up sign.

Jack put the motor in gear, gave it a full throttle, and steered directly south, where they could see Gabon as a line of green along the horizon.