e。
In the final analysis； Ross and Elliot misjudged each other； for each presented a deceptive appearance； and in the same way。 Elliot appeared so shy and retiring that one Berkeley faculty member had mented； 〃It's no wonder he's devoted his life to apes； he can't work up the nerve to talk to people。〃 But Elliot had been a tough middle linebacker in college； and his diffident academic demeanor concealed a head…crunching ambitious drive。
Similarly； Karen Ross； despite her youthful cheerleader beauty and soft； seductive Texas accent； possessed great intelligence and a deep inner toughness。 （She had matured early； and a high…school teacher had once appraised her as 〃the very flower of virile Texas womanhood。〃） Ross felt responsible for the previous ERTS expedition； and she was determined to rectify past errors。 It was at least possible that Elliot and Amy could help her when she got onsite； that was reason enough to take them with her。 Beyond that； Ross was concerned about the consortium； which was obviously seeking Elliot； since Morikawa was calling。 If she took Elliot and Amy with her； she removed a possible advantage to the consortium…again； reason enough to take them with her。 Finally； she needed a cover in case her expedition was stopped at one of the borders…and a primatologist and an ape provided a perfect cover。
But in the end Karen Ross wanted only the Congo diamonds…and she was prepared to say anything； do anything； sacrifice anything to get them。
In photographs taken at San Francisco airport； Elliot and Ross appeared as two smiling； youthful academics； embarking on a lark of an expedition to Africa。 But in fact； their motivations were different； and grimly held。 Elliot was reluctant to tell her how theoretical and academic his goals were…and Ross was reluctant to admit how pragmatic were hers。
In any case； by midday on June 14； Karen Ross found herself riding with Peter Elliot in his battered Fiat sedan along Hallowell Road； going past the University athletic field。 She had some misgivings： they were going to meet Amy。
Elliot unlocked the door with its red sign DO NOT DISTURB ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION IN PROGRESS。 Behind the door； Amy was grunting and scratching impatiently。 Elliot paused。
〃When you meet her；〃 he said； 〃remember that she is a gorilla and not a human being。 Gorillas have their own etiquette。 Don't speak loudly or make any sudden movements until she gets used to you。 If you smile； don't show your teeth； because bared teeth are a threat。 And keep your eyes downcast； because direct stares from strangers are considered hostile。 Don't stand too close to me or touch me； be…cause she's very jealous。 If you talk to her； don't lie。 Even though she uses sign language； she understands most human speech； and we usually just talk to her。 She can tell when you're lying and she doesn't like it。〃
〃She doesn't like it？〃
〃She dismisses you； won't talk to you； and gets bitchy。〃
〃Anything else？〃
〃No； it should be okay。〃 He smiled reassuringly。 〃We have this traditional greeting； even though she's getting a little big for it。〃 He opened the door； braced himself； and said； 〃Good morning； Amy。〃
A huge black shape came leaping out through the open door into his arms。 Elliot staggered back under the impact。 Ross was astonished by the size of the animal。 She had been imagining something smaller and cuter。 Amy was as large as an adult human female。
Amy kissed Elliot on the cheek with her large lips； her black head seeming enormous alongside his。 Her breath steamed his glasses。 Ross smelled a sweetish odor； and watched as he gently unwrapped her long arms from around his shoulders。 〃Amy happy this morning？〃 he asked。
Amy's fingers moved quickly near her cheek； as if she were brushing away flies。
〃Yes； I was late today；〃 Elliot said。
She moved her fingers again； and Ross realized that Amy was signing。 The speed was surprising； she had expected something much slower and more deliberate。 She noticed that Amy's eyes never left Elliot's face。 She was extraordinarily attentive； focusing on him with total animal watchfulness。 She seethed to absorb everything； his posture； his expression； his tone of voice； as well as his words。
〃I had to work；〃 Elliot said。 She sighed again quickly； like human gestures of dismissal。 〃Yes； that's right； people work。〃 He led Amy back into the trailer； and motioned for Karen Ross to follow。 Inside the trailer； he said； 〃Amy； this is Dr。 Ross。 Say hello to Dr。 Ross。〃
Amy looked at Karen Ross suspiciously。
〃Hello； Amy；〃 Karen Ross said； smiling at the floor。 She felt a little foolish behaving this way； but Amy was large enough to frighten her。
Amy stared at Karen Ross for a moment； then walked away； across the trailer to her easel。 She had been finger…painting； and now resumed this activity； ignoring them。
〃What's that mean？〃 Ross said。 She distinctly felt she was being snubbed。
〃We'll see；〃 Elliot said。
After a few moments； Amy ambled back； walking on her knuckles。 She went directly to Karen Ross； sniffed her crotch； and examined her minutely。 She seemed particularly interested in Ross's leather purse； which had a shiny brass clasp。 Ross said later that 〃it was just like any cocktail party in Houston。 I was being checked out by another woman。 I had the feeling that any minute she was going to ask…me where I bought my clothes。〃
That was not the oute； however。 Amy reached up and deliberately streaked globs of green finger paint on Ross's skirt。
〃I don't think this is going too well；〃 Karen Ross said。
Elliot had watched the progress of this first meeting with more apprehension than he was willing to admit。 Introducing new humans to Amy was often difficult； particularly if They were women。
Over the years； Elliot had e to recognize many distinctly 〃feminine〃 traits in Amy。 She could be coy； she responded to flattery； she was preoccupied with her appearance； loved makeup； and was very fussy about the color of the sweaters she wore in the winter。 She preferred men to women； and she was openly jealous of Elliot's girl friends。 He rarely brought them around to meet her； but sometimes in the morning she would sniff him for perfume； and she always mented if he had not changed his clothing overnight。
This situation might have been amusing if not for the fact that Amy made occasional unprovoked attacks on strange women。 And an attack by Amy was never amusing。
Amy returned to the easel and signed； No like woman no like Amy no like go away away。
〃e on； Amy； be a good gorilla；〃 Peter said。
〃What did she say？〃 Ross asked； going to the sink to wash the finger paint from her dress。 Peter noticed that she did not squeal and shriek as many visitors did when they received an unfriendly greeting from Amy。
〃She said she likes your dress；〃 he said。
Amy shot him a look； as she always did whenever Elliot mistranslated her。 Amy not lie。 Peter not lie。
〃Be nice； Amy；〃 he said。 〃Karen is a nice human per…son。〃
Amy grunted； and returned to her work； painting rapidly。
〃What happens now？〃 Karen Ross said。
〃Give her time。〃 He smiled reassuringly。 〃She needs time to adjust。〃
He did not bother to explain that it was much worse with chimpanzees。 Chimps threw feces at strangers； and even at workers they knew well； they sometimes attacked to establish dominance。 Chimpanzees had a strong need to determine who was in charge。 Fortunately； gorillas were much less formal in their dominance hierarchies； and less violent。
At that moment； Amy ripped the paper from the easel and shredded it noisily； flinging the pieces around the room。
〃Is this part of the adjustment？〃 Karen Ross asked。 She seemed more amused than frightened。
〃Amy； cut it out；〃 Peter said； allowing his tone to convey irritation。 〃Amy。 。
Amy sat in the middle of the floor； surrounded by the paper。 She tore it angrily and signed； This woman。 This woman。 It was classic displacement behavior。 Whenever gorillas did not feel fortable with direct aggression； they did something symbolic。 In symbolic terms； she was now tearing Karen Ross apart。
And she was getting worked up； beginning what the Project Amy staff called 〃sequencing。〃 Just as human beings first became red…faced； a