by Titan Books
Virdon neared the first pass by the stands. Barlow was stunned a little at how much of a lead Urko’s horse had. Nevertheless, Barlow cheered. Virdon’s face was covered with mud. A little of the drier mud flaked off as the wind whipped past.
Urko was peering intently at Woda’s rider, trying hard to recognize the human. There was something tantalizingly familiar about the jockey. Urko cursed the mud which covered the man. Virdon drew even with the stands, and Urko leaned forward for a better view.
Just then, Galen made a nerve-shattering sound with the spool. Everyone, including Urko and Barlow, looked around. At the same instant, Galen sat down out of sight among the spectators. Seeing no one, Urko and Barlow returned their attention to the race. The diversion had worked. All that could be seen of Virdon was his back, as Woda ran away from the grandstand, after Tusan.
Urko settled back on the bench. He was still unsatisfied; he had had his curiosity piqued, and he was used to getting immediate answers. He rubbed his chin, trying to figure out what it was about the jockey that puzzled him. He decided that he’d have to wait until after the race to get his answers this time.
The race moved into a stretch of the course that was out of view of the stands. Tusan, Urko’s horse, was still in the lead, but Woda was beginning to close the gap. Virdon urged Barlow’s horse on. Behind him came the sounds of cheering, growing fainter in the distance.
Meanwhile, at the starting line, Burke caught up to Martin, who had wandered off in the general direction of his house. Burke grabbed the man again, shaking him. “Martin!” said Burke with genuine emotion. “Why? Why?”
“For Greger,” said Martin simply.
“Alan’s riding in this race to save your son!” said Burke, failing to understand.
“Urko has a gorilla there,” said Martin, pointing. “The gorilla is to kill Virdon if he’s winning. If he loses, he won’t be killed.”
Burke turned his head and saw Zilo, lounging at a point some distance from the finish line, with his rifle slung over one arm. “Oh, man,” murmured. Burke. “There’s just too much going on.”
“You wouldn’t understand before,” said Martin in a dull voice. It seemed to Burke that the man was in a state of shock.
“I’m not sure I understand now,” said Burke.
“I promised Urko that Virdon would lose if Greger was spared,” said Martin. Suddenly, the whole thing was clear to Burke.
“Oh, no,” he said. There was a lot to be done.
Kagan and Tusan were approaching the booby-trapped jump. Behind them, Virdon and Woda were coming on fast. At the jump, Kagan veered Tusan away from the middle, and they went over, clearing the tangle of vines. Virdon, unsuspecting, rode Woda over the center of the jump. Woda’s legs were caught; the horse stumbled and Virdon was thrown.
The blond man scrambled to his feet as quickly as he could. He muttered angrily as he looked at the tangle of vines. It was a typical trick of Urko’s. Virdon blamed himself for not being prepared for it. There was nothing to be done except climb back on Woda and take up the chase.
Near the grandstands, Galen had slipped away from the crowd. He moved off, staying out of sight. Burke hurried to join him, grabbed him by an arm, and quickly explained what Martin had said. Their plans had to be changed, and in a short time. Galen nodded in agreement. He took the fake scorpion out of his pocket; the object would play a new and more important role.
Zilo, the gorilla guard stationed to kill Virdon, still lounged at his post. He hefted his rifle, anxious to get into action. Burke and Galen walked slowly and silently as near him as they could get. Burke and Galen held one final whispered conference, with Burke pointing at Zilo; at last, Galen nodded that he understood. Burke left, and Galen remained, watching Zilo.
Woda was obviously the speedier of the two horses. Once again, the gap between them closed. Kagan looked back and was startled at how close Woda was. The gorilla urged Tusan on.
The horses neared a tree beside the course, with Woda on the side of the track nearer the tree. Tusan at this point was only slightly ahead of Woda. Just as Virdon reached the tree, a gorilla hidden in the branches above released a bent bough. The branch whipped at Virdon’s face, but the astronaut’s reflexes saved him. He was able to duck beneath the branch, but Woda was thrown slightly off stride and lost some ground to Tusan. Virdon didn’t even look back over his shoulder; Urko had planned for this race well, and Virdon would just have to keep his eyes open.
The race course now crossed a stream. Tusan entered the water first, splashing water in a great shower. As Virdon and Woda came to the stream, water kicked up by Tusan splashed into Virdon’s face, washing off a good deal of the mud. With one hand Virdon wiped the water out of his eyes. Woda inched closer to Tusan as both horses were slowed by the stream.
Coming out of the water, Woda was only half a length behind Tusan, closing even that small distance. Woda moved up alongside Tusan. Kagan tried to bump Woda, and Urko’s jockey flailed at Virdon and Woda with his riding crop. Virdon, infuriated, caught Kagan’s crop and threw it away. Then Woda finally passed Tusan. They circled the large tree and began the long, straight stretch back toward the grandstand.
The spectators were roaring as the two horses finally came back into view. By that time, Woda was leading Tusan by a good length. Urko had prepared his illegal tricks, thinking them sufficient; in the stretch there was nothing to hinder Virdon and Woda. Not until they passed Zilo, who waited impatiently with his rifle.
Barlow was on his feet, rooting Woda home in a rhythmic, hoarse cheer. Urko was furious; he couldn’t believe what he saw. He looked toward Zilo and made a small motion with one hand. He couldn’t be sure that Zilo saw the signal; nevertheless, Zilo was aware of what was happening. The uniformed gorilla raised his rifle.
Virdon was ecstatic as he neared the finish line. The exhilaration of the race had made him slightly giddy. He shouted into the wind. He talked to the horse. “Beautiful, Woda,” he cried. “Beautiful. We’ve got it made!” It seemed to Virdon that nothing in the world could prevent them from winning the race and saving the life of Martin’s son.
Zilo held his rifle at his shoulder and aimed. Behind him, Galen appeared and placed the fake scorpion on the other shoulder. Zilo didn’t feel it. Galen shouted, “Scorpion! Don’t move!” Zilo froze, knowing that the scorpions only stung a moving target. Zilo’s eyes grew large, and he caught sight of the scorpion on his shoulder, though not clearly enough to see that it wasn’t real.
The roar of the crowd grew louder. Virdon was winning by six lengths. Urko sat in the stands raging. Then his fury seemed to vanish instantly. The general of the gorillas stared in shocked silence. Virdon’s face, no longer covered by mud, was clearly recognizable. Before Urko could say a word, Virdon and Woda crossed the finish line, winning the race to the cheers of the human spectators and the excited, shrill cries of Barlow.
Urko whirled toward the prefect. “Virdon!” shouted Urko. “Your jockey is the fugitive, Virdon!”
“Is that a fact?” said Barlow with feigned innocence. “He didn’t mention it. All that I was interested in was his riding ability. He rides quite well, don’t you think? Ah, well, it has nothing to do with our bet, whoever my jockey is.”
Urko could scarcely contain his anger. He turned to the other side, where Zandar sat, growing uncomfortable in Urko’s obvious fury. “Zandar!” screamed Urko. “Get the horses! Follow him! That man will be dead within the hour, or I’ll find myself a whole new army!”
“Yes, sir,” said Zandar uneasily, as he hurried out of the grandstand, followed by Urko.
Kagan, having lost the race, pulled up. Virdon, the winner, didn’t stop to be congratulated. He knew what Urko would be doing, and he had made appropriate plans with Burke and Galen. Virdon kept riding, urging Woda past the grandstand filled with perplexed and curious humans and apes.
At the same time, the guard hurried from the grandstand back to his post at the stocks. Greger was still imprisoned there. T
he guard hurried up to the stocks and unlocked Greger, after first looking around to see that no one was in sight.
Greger was excited. “Did Barlow’s horse win?” he asked the guard when he was free.
“Yes,” said the gorilla, “you better run.”
Greger joyously dashed a few steps down the street of Venta. The guard lifted his rifle to his shoulder, aiming at the boy. Greger was still unaware of the guard’s treacherous intentions. Just as the guard was about to pull the trigger, Burke came flying from between two buildings and threw a rolling block that cut the ape’s legs out from under him. The guard went down, his rifle spinning off a short distance. The ape grunted, the wind knocked from his lungs. Greger heard the sounds, and stopped to look around. He saw the guard painfully scrambling for the rifle. Burke was on his feet, racing for cover, away from the guard. Behind them came the sound of horse’s hooves. The guard regained his rifle and was about to level it at Greger when Virdon raced in on Woda. The blond man kicked the rifle from the guard’s hands. “Greger!” cried Virdon.
Greger got the message and put himself into position as Virdon pulled Woda to a halt beside him. Greger made a vaulting mount onto Woda behind Virdon. The horse was goaded to gallop off, and Woda and his two riders disappeared down the main street before the guard recovered his rifle again. Urko and his gorillas had mounted in the meantime and were thundering in pursuit.
The chase lasted for a long while; Woda, faster than the gorillas’ horses, was overloaded but still maintained a healthy lead. The marvelous animal didn’t appear to be fatigued at all, even following the race.
Virdon and Greger rode until they came to a bridge. There they stopped and dismounted. Virdon slapped Woda on the rump, and the horse ran off across the countryside. Virdon and Greger hurried down among the rocks and hid beneath the bridge. Soon Urko and his gorillas rode by, stopped, listened, and heard the sound of Woda’s hooves in the distance. With a signal, Urko led his gorillas on.
Urko rode for several minutes, at last admitting that he had lost the trail. The gorillas stopped on the country road, beside the thick brush that lined the way. Barlow was riding toward them, slowly. “Have you seen the fugitive?” cried Urko.
“Yes,” said Barlow. “With you. When he won the race.”
Urko gritted his teeth in frustration. “If I thought you knew who he was beforehand—!” he said.
“Could I dream a fugitive would dare to ride a horse under Urko’s very nose?”
“I don’t trust you, Barlow,” said Urko. “Your reasoning is like the trail we’ve been following: full of circles. We’ve been chasing Virdon for almost an hour, and here we are back near your blasted village.”
“I am an honorable ape, Urko,” said Barlow. “I don’t lie, I don’t break promises—and I always pay my bets. When I lose.”
“You’ll be paid,” said Urko grudgingly.
“I know,” said Barlow. “I’m on my way to collect. I’m going back to Cela.”
Urko glared. He signalled his gorillas again, and they all rode off. Barlow rode a short distance in the opposite direction, the direction in which he had been traveling. Then, when he was sure that Urko had ridden out of earshot, he reined in his horse. From the brush, cautiously, Virdon, Burke, and Galen appeared. Barlow, evidently, had been expecting them.
“I heard what you said to Urko,” said Galen. “You don’t lie. Well, perhaps not, but you certainly can tie the truth in knots.”
“I also said that I don’t break promises. Where are they?” asked Barlow.
Virdon made a sign. Martin and Greger came out from the brush nearby. As the two approached, Barlow addressed them. “You two may come and live in Cela with me,” he said. “You will be safe there.”
“Thank you, Prefect,” said Martin.
Barlow looked down at Greger. “But you are not to ride horses…” he said.
“Yes, Prefect,” said Greger.
“…while I’m watching,” finished Barlow. He smiled at Greger, started his horse, and moved off. Martin and Greger took a moment before they started after him.
“Thank you,” said Martin.
Virdon and Burke nodded. There was nothing else to be said.
Greger looked at Galen. “You were worried once that I might not consider you my friend. You are my friend,” he said.
“Friend,” said Galen, smiling.
Martin and Greger waved and walked down the road, on the road to Cela. Virdon, Burke, and Galen watched them for several seconds in silence. While they looked on, Martin and Greger began trotting after Barlow’s horse. Then, as though by unspoken mutual consent, Virdon, Burke, and Galen headed back into the brush and out of sight. They, at least, were still fugitives. On the planet of the apes, they might always be fugitives.
LORD OF THE
APES
“The Tyrant”
based on the teleplay by Walter Black
“The Gladiators”
based on the teleplay by Art Wallace
Based on characters from Planet of the Apes
For the whole gang down at the Modern Sports Center.
THE TYRANT
1
It was late summer. The days were still warm, but there was a hint of coolness in the evening air that warned of an end to the pleasant weather. Far away from the bustling, cities, the changing of the seasons was marked more clearly, by the color of the foliage and the habits of the animals. In the country, one often felt closer to nature, at peace with oneself and with the world. The atmosphere encouraged contemplation and serenity. One went to the city for business, and to the country for tranquillity. This was often a mistake.
A narrow, rutted road ran among the trees, following the curving path of a small creek. Great limbs of oak and maple trees overhung the road, and the leafy ceiling made the pathway seem like a cool green tunnel. Birds twittered in the trees, and bees buzzed lazily among the flowering shrubs on either side of the road. It was a peaceful scene, and a deadly one.
The stillness of the picture was disturbed slightly by the gentle clopping of a horse, its rider walking it slowly through the forest. A horse and rider might well fit into this pastoral scene, but the rider was of gigantic stature, carried a rifle over one shoulder, and had a bestial, grizzled expression—he was a gorilla. The huge ape wore the black leather uniform of his kind, although he had removed his gauntlets and stowed them in the saddlebags thrown across the horse’s flanks. It was the standard uniform, worn throughout the ape empire by all police and military personnel, including the apes’ commander-in-chief, General Urko. The approaching gorilla was Lieutenant Daku, a local police officer. He was the principal aide to Aboro, the local chief of police.
A fly settled on Daku’s brow. With a gesture of annoyance he batted it away. The warm weather, the traveling, and his duties had made Daku more irritable than usual. He grumbled as he reined in his slowly walking horse. The horse snorted and came to a halt in the middle of the deeply rutted dirt road. Daku turned in the saddle and looked back in the direction he had come from. For a few seconds there was nothing to see. Then a wagon appeared around a bend in the road. Daku waved to the uniformed gorilla driving the wagon. “Come on!” shouted the lieutenant. The gorilla driver on the wagon flicked his whip at the single horse pulling the vehicle, but said nothing in reply to his lieutenant. The horse did not increase its pace. Daku watched and waited impatiently, muttering udder his breath. After a while the wagon had nearly reached the place in the road where Daku waited astride his horse.
“Can’t you get that animal to move any faster than that?” asked Daku. Once more, the gorilla driver said nothing. Daku shook his head and gave his horse a light kick with his heels. The horse started forward. About a hundred yards further on, the road forked. Daku paused so that the wagon driver would be sure which fork the lieutenant had taken; Daku was not overwhelmingly impressed with the driver’s intelligence. Without looking back, Daku urged his horse along the right-hand fork. The wagon followed h
im. Daku was gratified to hear the rumbling of the heavy wagon’s wheels behind him. The driver had taken the correct way. Daku continued muttering to himself.
Not far away, four human beings and one ape were hard at work together; this was somewhat strange for this time and this world. The humans and the ape—a chimpanzee—seemed to be working together in harmony and friendship. The ape was not supervising or shouting angry instructions; instead, he was laboring as hard as any of his companions.
The chimpanzee, whose name was Galen, was an unusual individual in an unusual world. He had not been content to live his life according to the guidelines set down by the older and supposedly wiser apes. He had become interested in how the ape world had developed from its prehistory to its present level of sophistication. The apes in power controlled the schools and what was taught in them; Galen nevertheless had his private doubts. He became convinced that there was more to the story of the apes’ dominance than what he had been taught. These doubts, and a restless curiosity that sought to answer them, caused a great deal of trouble for young Galen. He ignored the warnings of his loved ones. Galen’s search for the truth took him, at last, too far; his actions could no longer be dismissed by the apes in power. Galen was branded a renegade, an exile from his own kind.
At this time, a remarkable event occurred. Two human beings from the twentieth century appeared among the apes of this far-distant era. Alan Virdon and Pete Burke were astronauts whose spacecraft had become trapped in a storm of powerful and unknown forces. The astronauts were buffeted through space by giant stellar winds of unimaginable proportions. Their craft was barely able to stand the stress. Only seconds before they lapsed into, unconsciousness, the men managed to trigger an automatic recall system, to guide the crippled ship back to Earth. This the rocket did—but somehow, due to the vortex of forces that had twisted the ship about like a cork on the ocean, when the astronauts found themselves on Earth, it was one thousand years after their original takeoff. They were on Earth sure enough; it was the right planet but the wrong year. It was not the planet they had known. It was a planet of the apes.