“I am honored, Urko,” said Aboro nervously. “Honored, indeed! Oh, this is my aide, Lieutenant Daku.” Urko merely threw the subordinate officer a glance, nodding once.
“A great honor, sir,” said Daku.
“To think that my old friend is both Prefect and Police Chief of this important district!” said Urko, pacing the narrow office area. “I don’t recall that you were ever noted in the Police Academy for your administrative skills.”
“Anyone can learn to shuffle papers, Commander,” said Aboro, trying to regain his composure and his easy, seemingly bored attitude. He was failing at that. “We can always hire chimps for that, can’t we?”
Urko let out a booming laugh. “True enough,” he cried, “true enough.”
“Would you care for something to drink?” asked Aboro.
Urko nodded that he would, indeed, care for something to drink. Aboro went to a small cabinet and took out a wooden decanter. He poured two cups of purplish liquid, quite evidently leaving out the inferior Daku. He handed one of the cups to Urko, and raised the other in salute to the general. “To your health, old friend,” said Aboro.
“And to yours,” said Urko.
After the toasting was completed, Aboro returned the cups and the decanter to the cabinet. “And now,” he said, turning back to the general, “is there any way I can help you?”
“Well,” said Urko, removing one of his leather gauntlets and slapping it against one of his leather-clad legs, “there is always the matter of the human astronauts and the traitor, Galen.”
“Yes,” said Aboro, “I have been receiving reports about their movements from your office for some time now.”
“Any sign of them?”
“None,” said Aboro. “You’ll find them somewhere else. My district is under the strictest control.”
“I know that,” said Urko, and both gorillas understood that the general’s words were less a compliment than they sounded. Urko shook hands with Aboro again. “If we don’t meet soon, before I return to Central City, again my congratulations on your appointment,” he said.
“I appreciate this, Urko,” said Aboro, still somewhat confused by the general’s meaning and intentions. “It is a great honor for me.”
Aboro and Daku stood at attention as Urko nodded absently, turned, and sauntered through the curtain into the outer office. Aboro then gestured to Daku, who went and peered out, making sure that Urko and his troopers had left the headquarters building. Daku turned and gave a quick nod. Aboro took a deep breath and moved past his lieutenant into the main room and his official desk. Aboro collapsed in his chair. Slowly he let out his breath. “I’m just as glad to see the last of him,” he said softly. “Even back at the Academy you felt like he was seeing right through you.” He put his feet on the desk, disturbing piles of Augustus’ unfinished work.
“You realize that his visit has . . . confirmed your appointment,” said Daku slowly.
“How do you mean?” asked Aboro suspiciously.
“Well,” said Daku thoughtfully, “first and last, Urko is a policeman, a good one. He was sniffing around here. I know him that well. If he had any idea you’d ‘bribed’ your way into this post, he wouldn’t have left so quickly. No, he’s satisfied and that means we’re—I mean, you’re in total control of the entire district.”
Aboro nodded, slightly more satisfied. “You’re probably right as usual, Daku. As long as I continue to make my payments to Central City, I’ll be left alone to amass my own personal fortune!”
The two human astronauts and their chimpanzee friend had made a temporary campsite, a place to rest and formulate their plans. Things had happened so quickly that their schemes and ideas had to be scrapped and rethought almost hourly. Virdon leaned against a rock, carving a kind of long swagger stick from a short branch with a penknife. Burke squatted nearby, tacking together two strips of red cloth. Galen paced before them, somewhat nervous, adding little to the constructive activity of the other two, showing his apprehension.
“It’ll work,” said Virdon. “I’m convinced of that. If everybody does his job.”
Burke turned to Galen with a grin, indicating the material he had been working on. “Your disguise,” he said. He got up and placed the red collar around Galen’s neck. Galen took a deep breath.
“Are you scared?” asked Burke.
“I can’t believe how often the two of you come up with the most insane plans. Every scrape we get into involves the most complicated, ridiculous bit of playacting to get us out alive. And it’s usually me that has to perform. But this is the absolute limit.”
“Are you scared?” repeated Burke.
“Chimpanzees are never afraid,” said Galen. “We sometimes feel anxious . . . apprehensive . . .”
“That’s what I mean,” said Burke. “You’re scared. Well, so am I. Good luck.”
Virdon handed Galen the swagger stick. Galen accepted it gravely and nodded, then started to turn away.
“Galen,” called Virdon. The blond man understood that the chimpanzee was walking into a desperate situation, and that, although as courageous and loyal as anyone the astronauts had ever known in either of their worlds, Galen could still be filled with doubt.
Galen turned back to look. “Fingers crossed,” said Virdon. He held up his crossed fingers; Galen stared curiously. After a moment, he did the same.
“I’ll never understand,” said Galen to himself. “Sometimes I learn so much from these humans. Sometimes I have to pretend that they know what they’re doing.”
Virdon and Burke watched Galen walk slowly away. They looked at each other and nodded.
In Hathor, little more had been done in the District Headquarters office since Aboro’s visit from General Urko. The general had been correct in his estimation of Aboro’s administrative abilities. It was clear, though unimportant, to Lieutenant Daku that the day-to-day affairs of the district would soon begin to suffer. It was just as clear, and more important, that these affairs would pass into his control. Lieutenant Daku was looking forward to the increase in his own power.
Once again, the front door of the building flung open. Daku looked up, startled. Was this Aboro’s unlucky day? Was this General Urko again, checking up, as Daku had hinted before? No, no, it wasn’t Urko; Daku saw that in an instant. Still, he wondered who beside that powerful leader would have the effrontery to burst into the office in such a fashion.
One of the gorilla troopers was resting in one of the chairs. When the front door banged open, the trooper jumped to his feet, fumbling with his rifle, which was tangled among the legs of the chair. The trooper’s frantic movements and Daku’s angry words were both halted by an imperious gesture from Galen. Yes, this was Galen, but a chimpanzee few would recognize. This was not the somewhat timid, curious, friendly ape whom the astronauts had grown to admire and respect. This was a new role for Galen—and Galen secretly loved playing roles, as much as he complained to Virdon and Burke about the necessity to do so.
Galen marched into the center of the room, arrogant, swaggering, a natural bully with natural authority. “Inform the Prefect that Octavio is here to see him,” he said in a voice as loaded with disgust as he could make it. He looked at neither the trooper nor the lieutenant. His attention was on his swagger stick, which seemed in almost certainty to be used against the skulls of both gorillas unless they did as he said, immediately.
The gorilla trooper moved up behind Galen and spoke diffidently. “You have an appointment?”
The ridiculousness of the question made Galen swell up with tremendous indignation. “ ‘Appointment’?” he cried. “Octavio needs no appointment to see some insignificant prefect! Do as you are told!”
The gorilla hurried through the green curtain into Aboro’s private office. He returned immediately, explaining that the prefect must have stepped out temporarily. The trooper looked very worried.
“Is there something that I can do for you?” asked Lieutenant Daku.
“Who are
you?” asked Galen, as he might address the lowest creature on Earth.
“I am Lieutenant Daku,” said the gorilla. “I am the prefect’s aide.”
“You will address me as ‘sir,’ ” said Galen, pushing the circumstances as far as he could, beginning to enjoy it.
“Yes, sir,” said Daku.
“Tell your master that Octavio, Private Secretary to Dr. Zaius of the Supreme Council is here,” said Galen. “I will wait in this chair. It will be well if you seek out your superior, rather than make my stay overlong. This village of Hathor has wearied me already.”
Daku nodded, unable to speak. He was visibly impressed. He turned and went back through the green curtain. Galen could plainly hear conversation in the inner chamber. Evidently Aboro was in, after all, and the gorilla trooper had lied, waiting to see who Galen presented himself as being. Now the identity of “Octavio” was important enough for Aboro to make a sudden “return.” Daku reappeared shortly and gestured to Galen. “This way, sir,” he said.
Galen followed him through the familiar green curtain. As he expected, Aboro was seated at his small desk in the private area. For a moment, the two apes stared at each other, sizing each other up. Then Aboro rose, nodding to Daku to bring up a chair for Galen.
“Uh, won’t you have a seat?” asked Aboro, completely bewildered and unsure of the seriousness of the visit.
Galen accepted the chair, but said nothing for a moment, slapping the swagger stick instead against one leg. The silence grew uncomfortable.
“Is this an official visit, Octavio?” asked Aboro.
Galen coughed into one fist. He looked idly about the narrow room. “You might say so, you might say so,” he said, clearly not wanting to give Aboro any premature indication of what was planned for the new prefect. “Dr. Zaius has had his eye on you for some time, Prefect Aboro. You are Aboro, aren’t you? I assume that you are, as I assume that this village is Hathor. But so far from Central City, all the towns look so similar. Have you noticed that? And the prefects! How similar they are, also!” Galen was intensely pleased to see the anger start in Aboro’s eyes at these words. Nevertheless, the prefect kept his fury under control.
Aboro stammered for a moment. “I . . . yes! I’m Aboro,” he said angrily. “What do you think I’m doing behind this desk?”
“I have no idea and as little interest,” said Galen in supremely bored tones. “To continue: Dr. Zaius has had his eye on you for some time.”
“So you said,” said Aboro. “In what way do you mean that?”
“I mean simply that you have attracted the attention of a considerably busy ape,” said Galen.
“I am deeply honored,” said Aboro.
“We shall see,” said Galen ominously. “Dr. Zaius also knows all about your clumsy attempts to bribe his subordinates!”
This revelation fell like a bombshell in the prefect’s small office. There was shocked, stunned silence for a long while. Aboro looked at Daku, who only shrugged helplessly. There didn’t seem to be anything else to do other than allow this emissary of the Supreme Council to make his accusations, his threats, and his departure.
“He . . . knows?” asked Aboro lamely.
Galen’s voice was even firmer. “Everything,” he said. “He knows all that goes on around him. That is why he is the head of the Supreme Council, and not some bumbling fool like Urko. He knows much that goes on behind his back, as well. He made you Prefect, Aboro—even though Zaius’ subordinates think that they did. He closed his eyes to your bribery for one reason, and one reason only. Because he had already earmarked you for greater things.”
This declaration had much the same effect as the previous one, but for totally opposite reasons. Once again, Aboro was speechless for several seconds.
“Greater things?” asked Daku, trying to keep the conversation proceeding. He saw greater things for Aboro as meaning, at the same time, greater things for Daku.
“Greater than Prefect?” asked Aboro in a whisper.
Galen smiled and smacked the stick against his leg a few more times. Then, with a bored expression, he stood and walked slowly back and forth. “It is no secret,” he said. “I am giving away no confidences.” He drew nearer to Aboro, and lowered his voice. “Still, there are apes who know of these things, apes who will learn, and apes who must be kept ignorant for a time. Do you understand my meaning?”
Aboro nodded. He jerked his head in Daku’s direction questioningly.
“Let him stay,” said Galen generously. “He may have a part in this.” Daku smiled. “Now,” said Galen seriously, “the basic story is this. In Central City, of course, Dr. Zaius has long had his differences with General Urko. You, as a gorilla, and I, as a chimpanzee, are well aware of these differences. Too often has Urko acted independently of the Council, going over Dr. Zaius’ head, ignoring the authority of the Council and Dr. Zaius. Zaius bided his time, until he found the one leader who would be the perfect replacement for Urko.” Galen stopped meaningfully.
Aboro looked at Daku and licked his dry lips. He wondered if he understood Octavio’s words correctly. Aboro looked back at Galen. “The thought of higher office than this has never even crossed my mind!” he said.
“Of course it hasn’t,” said Galen. “Perfect. That is one of your chief recommendations.”
“Besides,” said Aboro, “Urko and I are friends of long standing. I have never even thought of replacing him.”
“Of course you haven’t,” said Galen. “But now, you just might.” Galen walked toward the curtain, stopped, and turned. “Think over the implications of what I have shared with you. I shall contact you again tomorrow morning.”
Aboro’s lips tried to form words, but failed. Galen nodded brusquely and left the office. Aboro looked at Daku, who could only wipe his sweating brow and collapse into the chair which Galen had vacated. Aboro sat down heavily behind his desk.
Outside the office, Galen’s reaction was no less severe. The mental and emotional strain of his act caught up with him. He leaned against the outside of the closed door, absolutely spent. He panted a little and shaded his eyes with one hairy hand. He let out a long, slow sigh of relief.
While Galen recovered his wits, Aboro and Daku were doing the same inside. Daku faced his superior officer over the narrow table of the back room. “General Aboro,” said Daku, with a note of suspicion in his voice. “Commander Aboro. Very impressive.”
Aboro was euphoric. “Imagine the great Dr. Zaius knowing of me all the time!”
Daku’s voice was slow, still not completely convinced. “According to Octavio, yes,” he said. “But who is this Octavio?”
“Why, Zaius’ secretary!” said Aboro. “You heard him—”
“Yes,” said Daku. “We heard him. But we have only his own word that he is who he says he is. He brought no identification, no written word from Zaius.”
There was a pause, as doubt crept into Aboro’s mind. “Daku!” shouted the Prefect. “Get off a heliograph message to Central City. Let us find out if Octavio is, as he claims, from Dr. Zaius!”
THREE
The wooded countryside was peaceful; the great turmoil which occupied the residents of Hathor did not extend beyond that village’s limits. And, in truth, this was the case elsewhere, too. The ape empire was loosely knit. One town was isolated from another, not only by geographical distance, but by custom, laws, and sometimes language as well. In the woodlands, there was never anything but peace, unless human beings ran through on furtive errands of their own or mounted apes crashed through on mighty missions of government.
Now, as afternoon edged slowly toward evening, Virdon and Burke made their way through the brush. Leaving Galen to play his part in the village of Hathor, they had departed on their own assignment. Virdon stopped suddenly; without a sound, Burke halted behind him. Virdon parted the shrubbery in front of him and peered out. He gestured to Burke, who leaned over Virdon’s shoulder to take a better look.
Not far away, at the top of a
small rise, stood a heliograph tower. The apes, hating all the technology which represented their earlier domination by mankind, had developed this system of sending messages by reflected light from mirrors mounted high on towers. It was an ingenious system, and it criss-crossed the empire, linking all the outlying districts with the Central City. The structure itself was rickety looking, built with a crow’s nest aloft. A gorilla guard patrolled the base perimeter of the structure; his companion, another gorilla patrol officer, lolled on a stool high above in the crow’s nest.
“Pete,” whispered Virdon. He gestured to Burke, his hand indicating the ape in the crow’s nest. Burke nodded his understanding.
The gorilla guard at the base of the tower had not yet heard or seen anything suspicious. He leaned against one of the supports of the tower, sleepy, bored. Nothing ever happened so far from the city . . . After a while, he began his slow patrol again. He took his time marching around the structure. As he disappeared around the corner of the heliograph tower, there was a loud rustle from the bushes on that side of the clearing. There was a muffled cry, and then the solid thunk of the guard being struck by a heavy object. There was the sound of the guard’s body falling to the ground. Then, once more, there was silence.
Virdon bent over the fallen guard, checking to make certain that the gorilla was entirely unconscious. Then, laboriously, the blond astronaut began dragging him into the brush, out of sight.
The guard in the crow’s nest heard something, he thought, but he couldn’t be certain. He looked over the railing, but he saw nothing unusual. He sat down again and tilted back in his chair. Burke climbed the tower silently; when the guard looked over the railing, the astronaut had had to press himself tightly against the rough wooden beams of the tower. Now, though, he knew that he was relatively safe. He tried to make his voice a good grumbling imitation of a gorilla’s hoarseness as he called, “Halt! Who goes there? Stand right there!”
Planet of the Apes 04 - Lord of the Apes Page 5