by Maurice
The Charge Toward the Woods
Though they built their camps on either end, the soldiers didn’t make any attempt to come onto the bridge itself. Caesar wasn’t sure why. He thought maybe the humans were waiting until we were weak from starvation. The human leader had to know that simply attacking us would mean the death of many of his soldiers.
Or maybe he was waiting for something else. More soldiers. More weapons. Whatever it was, our position was likely to get worse, not better, the longer we waited.
Caesar decided to lead a massive charge to break through the northern barricades; from there we could retreat into the woods. Many of us would die. Maybe all of us. But it was the only thing we could do.
That morning, as dawn broke, we massed together.
Caesar raised his voice.
“We stay together until we reach the bottom. Then we split left and right. Right follows me. Left follows Luca. We charge their big guns. We clear the way for the unmounted.”
A still moment followed. I knew that very few of us would make it to the guns. Everyone knew.
“Apes together, strong!” Caesar roared, and every voice among us roared back at him.
And we began our attack.
The ship was there, and another approaching it. It began firing its huge guns. The bridge shook. Horses stumbled and fell, but Caesar’s mount carried him through the smoke and ruin, and we followed. There was still a long way to go; we weren’t close enough to shoot yet.
We were so intent on what lay before us that we didn’t see it happen, although I looked when I heard metal grinding against metal. The new ship had just crashed into the soldiers’ ship. Both were broken, and smoke was pouring from them, drifting our way. We didn’t know what was happening, only that the ship wouldn’t shoot us anymore.
But we were still facing our deaths at the barricade ahead.
We came into the distance of their guns, and an earsplitting chatter filled the air. Apes screamed as bullets ripped them from their mounts. Horses collapsed, and others tripped over them.
I was sure none of us would survive.
And yet as we drew nearer, the humans suddenly abandoned their positions. Not slowly, either. They were running.
When we reached the barricades, not one of them remained.
Caesar urged us on. Why the humans had suddenly run he did not know, but he knew what he didn’t know could hurt him. He was right—the poison gas from the ship was drifting toward that end of the bridge. That was what sent the humans running. If Caesar had paused, we would have all died anyway.
We Find a New Home
Spear, Oak, and Barbar went ahead of us, searching for the place Koba and Grey had found. One day they returned, weary but excited.
They weren’t sure if it was the same place, but they had found something. Caves, shielded from view by a waterfall.
Once we had our new home, Caesar took steps to defend it. The caves behind the waterfall were our fortress. It protected us not with strong walls, but with obscurity. An old human bridge and a few other built things from the past were the only sign outside of the falls that anyone had ever been here—at least to the casual observer.
Caesar studied the landscape, the places where humans would most likely enter our territory. We built camouflaged lookouts, where apes would spend days observing before being replaced. Closer to our new home, we built trenches and walls with tree trunks and branches, then disguised them with brush and leaves. Many apes camped in these, ready to stop any human invasion of our territory.
We had some guns left, but not enough, and very few bullets for those we did have. We made spears and slings. We made bows that could propel arrows over great distances. We waited and hoped we wouldn’t have to use any of this.
Why Blue Eyes Traveled South Again
For almost three turns of the seasons, our preparations for war seemed for nothing. The humans from the City did not pursue us. No human entered our territory.
But then our lookouts began seeing signs that humans were on the coast, and that some were coming into the forest. As the moons sped overhead, they came nearer and nearer to our fortress. They did not build, or hunt, or forage. They were soldiers, and it was clear that they were looking for us.
Blue Eyes went to your father then.
Father, he said. If the humans find us, we will have to run again. But to where?
You have a suggestion? Caesar asked.
South, Blue Eyes said. South and east, toward the sunrise. We’ve never gone very far that way. I was also told that beyond, there might be forest again. Warm forest, not cold, like this.
Caesar wasn’t happy with the idea of his son going on another journey, but he also knew that Blue Eyes was right.
The War Begins Again
Toward the end of the fourth year in our new home, one of our scouts saw humans moving through the woods, straight toward one of our trenches.
The humans wore clothes that helped them blend in with the forest. They carried guns. They had the letters A-O on their helmets and clothing. We did not know what those letters meant at the time but later learned it stood for “Alpha-Omega.”
Apes attacked the humans before they even noticed the trench. There were thirty of them. Twenty of them died; ten escaped. Following Caesar’s orders, no one pursued the survivors.
No apes were killed. We had routed the first invasion of our territory with great success.
But now the humans had a better idea of where we were. Caesar ordered that the trench be abandoned. Humans knew where it was now, and when they came back, they would bring more soldiers and more powerful weapons.
The Battle in the Trench: River’s Tale
I had been in the trench for five days, and I was supposed to go back to the caves later that day, after our replacements arrived. I was ready to go. The trench was boring, damp, and cold. We weren’t supposed to build fires because the smoke could alert the humans to our presence. And we had to be quiet.
I held my spear and thought about eating cooked food. I thought about Kami, a female I was courting.
Looking back, I think our victory at the battle of the first trench left us all too self-satisfied. Too confident.
In the first instant, when the explosion shattered our walls, I was back with Koba, fire and bullets everywhere. These bullets left trails of fire. I saw Spear and Kolo gallop away on their horses, but Kolo fell after only a few horse lengths. A bullet hit my shoulder. It knocked me down. I tried to rise, but then another ape fell on me. I later found out it was Spark. He was shot between the eyes. When I managed to push him off me, my head was spinning. I saw apes spilling out of our trench and collapsing before they got anywhere.
But then I heard something. The thunder of hooves.
The patrol. Our relief.
Smolder pots came sailing overhead, spreading a fog of sharp-smelling smoke.
Then it began raining spears and arrows. I saw the humans beaten back. I saw them die. I saw them try to vanish into the trees, but now they were outnumbered.
In the end, only four of the humans lived. But we also discovered why they had been able to sneak up on us. Red the traitor was with them, and other apes who had rebelled against Caesar and remained loyal to Koba long after Koba was dead. They knew our ways. They could climb trees as humans could not, see our trench from above. Once again we had been betrayed by apes. Sixty-three of us died in the fight. I don’t know how many humans. We didn’t count them.
We held the humans and Red until Caesar came. Tired and wounded, we still rejoiced at his presence among us. We parted as he walked through the trench to stand in front of the captives. Luca and Winter were with him.
One of the humans looked at Caesar. His eyes grew round.
“You’re him,” he said. “You’re Caesar. We’ve been searching for you for so long. We heard you had a hidden command base, but we could never find it. Some of us started to think that you might be dead. But Colonel McCullough said you were out here so
mewhere.”
“Just kill us already,” another of the humans said. A third human protested.
“What?” the second human said. “They’re animals. He’s going to slaughter us.”
Caesar stepped closer.
“I did not start this war,” Caesar told the man. “The ape who did is dead. His name was Koba. I killed him. Now I fight only to protect apes.”
“Yeah?” the man said. “What about him?”
He was talking about Red.
“We’ve got ten more just like him.”
“I know these apes,” Caesar said. “They follow Koba. They tried to kill me. They fear what I will do to them. So now they serve you. Just to survive.”
“I don’t fear you,” Red grunted. “You must fear. How long do you think woods can protect you? Humans destroy you. Their colonel has all power. For them, he more than just human. He everything. He say: first Caesar die, then all of you die.”
Spear could take no more. He struck Red with the butt of his weapon. He might have continued hitting him if Caesar hadn’t gestured for the gorilla to be taken away.
What should we do with the humans? Luca asked.
Some apes didn’t understand Caesar’s reply. I didn’t at the time. Why would he release the humans who had killed so many of us?
Now I know he was trying to send a message to their leader. To show him we weren’t savages. That we were capable of mercy. That we only wanted to be left alone. Caesar assumed that the leader of the humans was reasonable and could be persuaded that we weren’t worth wasting human lives on.
In that, Caesar was wrong.
Blue Eyes Returns
The words Caesar spoke when he released the humans were these: “Tell your colonel you have seen me now. And I have a message for him. Leave us the woods, and the killing can stop.”
As the humans rode off, lashed to our horses, I asked Caesar if he thought they would give their leader his message.
“They are the message, Maurice,” he said. “He will see we are not savages.”
Behind us, there was a sudden racket. Winter had returned, bloodied. He said Red had attacked him and escaped.
After that, we returned to our hidden fortress. We stopped to bathe and drink in the clear water of the river below the falls.
“Koba still haunts us,” Caesar told me as we sat there. “Why didn’t I see that he could not forgive what humans did to him?”
No one could have known how much darkness was living inside him, I said.
But I could see he was not convinced. It wasn’t just Koba that haunted him, but his own failure.
Before either of us could say anything more, we heard the alarm horns blowing. Everyone scrambled up, fearing the worst, that the humans had followed us here and discovered our home. Tired and wounded warriors picked up their spears, ready to confront whatever came. I spotted two figures approaching on horseback. When they drew nearer, I saw they were apes.
Blue Eyes.
Rocket.
After many darks of the moon, they had finally returned.
Caesar rushed to embrace his son. Then he turned to Rocket and welcomed him home.
Father, Blue Eyes signed, we found something.
Together, we all went behind the curtain of water, to our caves. To where Blue Eyes took his mother in his arms. And then Caesar stroked you, Cornelius. He loved you and your brother so very much. His family gave Caesar strength.
Blue Eyes Returns: Lake’s Tale
The first time Blue Eyes left us to journey south, I feared he would not return, but there was so much tumult I did not have time to dwell on it. But for me, the past few months had been quiet. I helped with the children, as always. I studied with Maurice and learned to teach from him. But inside, I felt myself shrinking, growing smaller with each day Blue Eyes was gone. And this time, he was gone so much longer. Was the world big enough to travel for so many days without coming to the end of it?
I didn’t want to believe Blue Eyes was dead. But it seemed more possible with each death of the sun. When word came of the terrible battle at the trench, I was happy, at least, that he was not there.
But then, coming back from playing with the children, I saw him. It was almost like a dream. I was afraid to touch him for fear he would vanish. The way he looked at me went all the way through to my center. I might have said something, bantered with him as I usually did. But I couldn’t. My voice was tied. If you know me, you know this was unusual.
When Blue Eyes touched his head to mine, I realized that as he was home, I was now home, too.
I wanted to be alone with him, but that wasn’t to be. He had a lot to tell us, and given the events of the last day, it couldn’t wait.
Within the council circle, he rolled out a map drawn on a tanned deerskin.
This is it, Father, Blue Eyes said, indicating a spot on the map. We can start over. A new home.
Caesar studied the map.
What is beyond those mountains, son? Cornelia asked.
Show them, Rocket, Blue Eyes said.
Rocket reached into a pouch and drew out a handful of sand.
A desert, Blue Eyes said. The journey is long. But that is why humans will not find us.
Winter was looking over Blue Eyes’ shoulder. His pale fur was still stained with his own blood.
We must leave tonight! he blurted.
Winter was as weak minded as he was fearful. I had not forgotten how easily Red had been able to fool him. Red, the same gorilla he had just let escape.
Tonight? I said. That’s impossible.
How long can we wait, Lake? Winter said. Soldiers getting closer!
Winter, Blue Eyes said, reaching out a comforting hand.
But Winter jumped back as if it was a snake, grunting and snorting.
Your son’s been gone, Caesar, the gorilla said. He doesn’t know how hard it’s been.
I know you’re scared, Blue Eyes said. We all are. But we are still planning. He looked to Caesar.
“Yes,” Caesar said. “We must find a safe way out of the woods. There were only two of you. But we are many. We will find a way out of here. Apes together, strong.”
Winter was silent after that, but I could see his fear still ruled him. I wonder now if he knew something we did not. What poison had Red poured in his ear?
That night I was content. Blue Eyes was home, and in the midst of our troubles, we had a bright new hope.
Our Home Is Invaded
Caesar stayed awake that night, contemplating his family. He stroked you, Cornelius. He considered how like Blue Eyes you are, but also how different. Blue Eyes, he thought, had more of his mother in him. He thought about the place Blue Eyes had found and imagined you growing up in peace.
Then, through the curtain of water, he saw strange lights moving from above the cave and vanishing below it. He approached the waterfall, reaching through, feeling around, until his fingers encountered a rope.
He realized Blue Eyes was awake, too, and signaled him to silence.
Stay here, son, he signed. Protect your mother and brother.
The lights had gone toward the lower level of the caves. Moving as quickly and quietly as he could, he went to see what was happening. The lights had not been fire, but the sort of light humans made with electricity.
Creeping down the darkened passage, he made out someone ahead, with a gun. He prepared to attack before recognizing Luca.
Caesar told Luca to get whoever was on patrol and Rocket, too.
As Caesar feared, humans had found us. Invaded our sanctuary.
Rocket heard one human talking on his radio before he killed him. Talking to the Colonel. The Colonel was there, in the caves.
Caesar never spoke in detail of what happened next, but I can piece it together. The rush back to his family’s cave. Seeing the Colonel about to escape through the waterfall. Finding his wife and his firstborn shot to death.
Caesar’s Rage: Rocket’s Tale
We come up into Caesa
r’s cave. Gunfire greets us. A human is standing next to the waterfall. His face is painted, and his eyes shine as if they have disease in them. Like fever. Human is shooting at Caesar. I see Blue Eyes and Cornelia already dead.
Then human sees us and shoots at us. Then he swings through the waterfall on his rope.
Caesar stands up then. His eyes burn with fury and something else. Something like in the human’s eyes. I have never seen this before. Even when fighting Koba, Caesar was not in such a rage. Caesar bellows. He runs and jumps through the waterfall. I think he will fall, and I cannot see through the water. But he does not fall, I learn. He grabs the rope and climbs after the human. But the human cuts the rope, and then Caesar falls.
Caesar survived the fall. But when he returned to us, he was changed. As if all of him wasn’t there. At times, he didn’t appear to hear what we said. He went slowly back up to his cave, where his dead wife and eldest child lay.
Caesar, Luca said. We can’t find Winter. He was scared. I think he betrayed us.
Caesar didn’t say anything about that. He asked if anyone had seen you, Cornelius, but no one had. We left to look for you.
But after we left, your father heard a small noise. At first, he thought it was another human, but it was just you coming out of hiding.
You were all that was left of his family.
How Caesar Left to Seek Revenge; How I Found Nova
The next morning, as we prepared for the journey to our new home, Caesar brought you to Lake.
“You loved my son,” he said. “Look after his brother until I return.”
Her expression was one of disbelief.
You’re not coming with us to our new home? she signed.
“No,” he said.
He knelt and took your hand and placed it in Lake’s.