The Bone Labyrinth

EPILOGUE TEN YEARS LATER Σ

“Dr. Crandall, the sun will soon set,” Kyenge warned in his musical Congolese accent. “You must not be out here alone, and I must return to my missus.”

Maria patted the dog at her side as she sat in the meadow. “I’m not alone. I have Tango.”

“Of course you do. And I don’t mean to disparage such a glorious companion, but he is very old and sick.”

She sighed sadly at this truth.

Hepatocellular carcinoma.

It was inoperable and malignant.

Tango had only a few weeks left.

It was one of the reasons she had come to the gorilla preserve at the Virunga National Park, hoping to glimpse Baako, hoping the presence of Tango might lure him from the forest.

If only so he could say good-bye.

Maria owed them both that much. But she had not seen Baako for over five years, which was actually a good sign. He had acclimated and seemed happy. She knew he was still alive, as the rangers occasionally caught sight of him and his troop.

She listened to the forest as it settled from the day and woke for the night. Bats swooped through the trees and out into the open, casting out ultrasonic nets. Insects buzzed, burred, and whined. Birds sang to the setting sun or rising moon. Monkeys hollered their constant complaints.

“Dr. Crandall, perhaps you can try again tomorrow.”

She sighed and creaked her way to her feet, stretching kinks. She had been here since the early morning. And this was her third day. She had to accept the truth and get Tango back home.

“I think it’s time for me to return to the States,” she admitted.

Kyenge looked sadly upon her. “I’m sorry.”

Then she heard a heavy chuff, the note deeper than she remembered, but familiar.

Smiling, Kyenge stepped back, allowing Maria to move closer to the forest.

“Baako?”

The thick wall of leaves parted, and a large shape bulled into view, leaning on the knuckles of one arm. Dark eyes stared at her. The wide rump was saddled with silver fur, marking his maturity.

A hand rose and thumbed that wide chin.

[Mama]

She cried and ran forward, trailed by Tango, who came more slowly.

Baako eyed the dog and let out a soft wheeze, his version of laughter. Tango sniffed toward him, then began wriggling his backside as if he were a pup again, recognizing the scent of his big friend.

Maria reached Baako and did her best to hug her arms around his beefy neck, but her limbs barely reached. He hugged his free arm around her, leaning on her, almost crushing her under his weight.

Tango joined them, letting out an impatient bark.

Baako let go of Maria and settled to his rump, legs out. Tango leaped up and climbed into that furry lap. Baako let out a long sigh of contentment.

His gaze searched the meadow, then touched a thumb to his forehead.

[Papa]

Maria pushed closer, not sure what to say. She signed to him hoping he would understand.

[Let me tell you a story…]

Over the next hour, she told him the truth — but not all of it. Some parts were too painful for her to speak, even with her hands. When she was done, Baako had sagged his head, crouched over Tango, rocking very gently.

Giving him a moment, she stared down at the diamond glinting on her ring finger. She knew she should remove it, set it aside along with the mix of pain and joy it represented.

But not yet…

She wasn’t ready. Instead, she rose and crossed over to Baako. She came over and nestled with him in the dark, under a full moon. They remained together that way for a long time, until finally a soft hoot rose from the forest. Baako grunted back and motioned with one arm.

From the edge of the forest, a smaller shape revealed herself, a female gorilla with a child cradled to her breast. The female pointed toward Baako, then motioned to her chest. She followed this by cupping her palm and sliding it along the arm that held the infant ape.

Maria’s eyes widened with amazement, recognizing the gesture and what it implied

He taught his mate to sign…

The female repeated the same combination, only more imperatively this time.

[Come… night]

Maria grinned, realizing Baako was being scolded for staying so late. Maria’s gaze dropped to the child, whose small eyes shone back at her.

She turned and signed to Baako.

[You are a papa now]

He grunted his acknowledgment, then reached over and brushed his knuckles along Maria’s cheek, clearly saying good-bye. He rose to his feet, making plain that it was time for him to return to the forest, to his troop, to his family.

Maria backed away, having to let him go.

Tango followed after his friend, still wagging his short tail.

Baako looked from the dog back to Maria.

She signed to him, though she suspected Baako’s sharper senses had already discerned the sad truth.

[He is old. He is sick]

Baako shook his head and pinched fingers to his cheek, drew it to his ear, then back again. He corrected her one last time.

[He is home]

Baako turned away and shambled into the forest with Tango, the two friends determined to be there together at the end.

She watched them go, knowing she would never see the two again.

Neither glanced back.

This broke her heart — and made her immensely happy.

Deep into the night, Baako sits with his troop gathered in the forest. All are asleep. Even Tango lies curled against his side. He balances his boy between his folded legs, then gently takes those tiny fingers and molds them through a series of letters. The little one is too young to understand, but he will as he grows older.

It is the name he has given the child.

In honor of another.

He repeats those letters again.

[J-O-E]

Finally, small eyes drift closed, and Baako takes the child to his chest. As he rocks gently, he stares up through the crowd of dark leaves to the shining face of the moon, at the beauty of the stars… and wonders about everything.