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Munro then said something quickly to Kahega in Swahili； and Kahega said something to his brothers； and they nodded。 Only then did Munro take the next horrible step。 He raised his arms wide； and then swung the paddles back hard against the already crushed skull。 The dull sound was sickening； droplets of blood spattered over his shirt； but he did not further damage the skull。
〃A man hasn't the strength to do this；〃 Munro said flatly。 He looked up at Peter Elliot。 〃Care to try？〃
Elliot shook his head。
Munro stood。 〃Judging by the way he fell； Malawi was standing when it happened。〃 Munro faced Elliot； looking him in the eye。 〃Large animal； the size of a man。 Large； strong animal。 A gorilla。〃
Elliot had no reply。
There is no doubt that Peter Elliot felt a personal threat in these developments； although not a threat to his safety。 〃I simply couldn't accept it；〃 he said later。 〃I knew my field； and I simply couldn't accept the idea of some unknown； radically violent behavior displayed by gorillas in the wild。 And in any case； it didn't make sense。 Gorillas making stone paddles that they used to crush human skulls？ It was impossible。〃
After examining the body； Elliot went to the stream to wash the blood from his hands。 Once alone； away from the others； he found himself staring into the clear running water and considering the possibility that he might be wrong。 Certainly primate researchers had a long history of misjudging their subjects。
Elliot himself had helped eradicate one of the most famous misconceptions…the brutish stupidity of the gorilla。 In their first descriptions； Savage and Wyman had written； 〃This animal exhibits a degree of intelligence inferior to that of the Chimpanzee； this might be expected from its wider departure from the organization of the human subject。〃 Later observers saw the gorilla as 〃savage； morose； and brutal。〃 But now there was abundant evidence from field and laboratory studies that the gorilla was in many ways brighter than the chimpanzee。
Then； too； there were the famous stories of chimpanzees kidnapping and eating human infants。 For decades； primate researchers had dismissed such native tales as 〃wild and superstitious fantasy。〃 But there was no longer any doubt that chimpanzees occasionally kidnapped…and ate…human infants； when Jane Goodall studied Gombe chimpanzees； she locked away her own infant to prevent his being taken and killed by the chimps。
Chimpanzees hunted a variety of animals； according to a plicated ritual。 And field studies by Dian Fossey suggested that gorillas also hunted from time to time； killing small game and monkeys； whenever… He heard a rustling in the bushes across the stream； and an enormous silverback male gorilla reared up in chest…high foliage。 Peter was startled； although as soon as he got over his fright he realized that he was safe。 Gorillas never crossed open water； even a small stream。 Or was that a misconception； too？
The male stared at him across the water。 There seemed to be no threat in his gaze； just a kind of watchful curiosity。 Elliot smelled the musty odor of the gorilla； and he heard the breath hiss through his flattened nostrils。 He was wondering what he should do when suddenly the gorilla crashed noisily away through the underbrush； and was gone。
This encounter perplexed him； and he stood； wiping the sweat from his face。 Then he realized that there was still movement in the foliage across the stream。 After a moment； another gorilla rose up； this one smaller： a female； he thought； though he couldn't be sure。 The new gorilla gazed at him as implacably as the first。 Then the hand moved。
Peter e give tickle。
〃Amy！〃 he shouted； and a moment later he had splashed across the stream； and she had leapt into his arms； hugging him and delivering sloppy wet kisses and grunting happily。
Amy's unexpected return to camp nearly got her shot by the jumpy Kikuyu porters。 Only by blocking her body with his own did Elliot prevent gunfire。 Twenty minutes later； however； everyone had adjusted to her presence…and Amy promptly began making demands。
She was unhappy to learn that they had not acquired milk or cookies in her absence； but when Munro produced the bottle of warm Dom Perignon； she agreed to accept champagne instead。
They all sat around her； drinking champagne from tin cups。 Elliot was glad for the mitigating presence of the others； for now that Amy was sitting there； safely restored to him； calmly sipping her champagne and signing Tickle drink Amy like； he found himself overe with anger toward her。
Munro grinned at Elliot as he gave him his champagne。 〃Calmly； Professor； calmly。 She's just a child。〃
〃The hell she is；〃 Elliot said。 He conducted the subsequent conversation entirely in sign language； not speaking。
Amy； he signed。 Why Amy leave？
She buried her nose in her cup； singing Tickle drink good drink。
Amy； he signed。 Amy tell Peter why leave。
Peter not like Amy。
Peter like Amy。
Peter hurt Amy Peter fly ouch pin Amy no like Peter no like Amy Amy sad sad。
In a detached corner of his mind； he thought he would have to remember that 〃ouch pin〃 had now been extended to the Thoralen dart。 Her generalization pleased him； but he signed sternly； Peter like Amy。 Amy know Peter like Amy。 Amy tell Peter why… Peter no tickle Amy Peter not nice Amy Peter not nice human person Peter like woman no like Amy Peter not like Amy Amy sad Amy sad。
This increasingly rapid signing was itself an indication that she was upset。 Where Amy go？
Amy go gorillas good gorillas。 Amy like。
Curiosity overcame his anger。 Had she joined a troop of wild gorillas for several days？ If so； it was an event of major importance； a crucial moment in modern primate history… a language…skilled primate had joined a wild troop and had e back again。 He wanted to know more。
Gorillas nice to Amy？
With a smug look： Yes。
Amy tell Peter。
She stared off into the distance； not answering。
To catch her attention Elliot snapped his fingers。 She turned to him slowly； her expression bored。
Amy tell Peter； Amy stay gorillas？
Yes。
In her indifference was the clear recognition that Elliot was desperate to learn what she knew。 Amy was always very astute at recognizing when she had the upper hand…and she had it now。
Amy tell Peter； he signed as calmly as he could。
Good gorillas like Amy Amy good gorilla。
That told him nothing at all。 She was posing phrases by rote： another way of ignoring him。
Amy。
She glanced at him。
Amy tell Peter。 Amy e see gorillas？
Yes。
Gorillas do what？
Gorillas sniff Amy。
All gorillas？
Big gorillas white back gorillas sniff Amy baby sniff Amy all gorillas sniff gorillas like Amy。
So silverback males had sniffed her； then infants； then all the members of the troop。 That much was clear…remarkably clear； he thought； making a mental note of her extended syntax。 Afterward had she been accepted in the troop？ He signed； What happen Amy then？
Gorillas give food。
What food？
No name Amy food give food。
Apparently they had shown her food。 Or had they actually fed her？ Such a thing had never been reported in the wild； but then no one had ever witnessed the intr