The gorillas were gone。
DAY 11： ZINJ
June 23； 1979
1。Gorilla Elliotensis
THE GORILLA CORPSES LAY STRETCHED ON THE ground； the bodies already stiffening in the morning warmth。 Elliot spent two hours examining the animals； both adult males in the prime of life。
The most striking feature was the uniform gray color。 The two known races of gorilla； the mountain gorilla in Virunga； and the lowland gorilla near the coast； both had black hair。 Infants were often brown with a white tuft of hair at the rump； but their hair darkened within the first five years。 By the age of twelve； adult males had developed the silver patch along their back and rump； the sign of sexual maturity。
With age； gorillas turned gray in much the same way as people。 Male gorillas first developed a spot of gray above each ear； and as the years passed more body hair turned gray。 Old animals in their late twenties and thirties sometimes turned entirely gray except for their arms； which remained black。
But from their teeth Elliot estimated that these males were no more than ten years old。 All their pigmentation seemed lighter； eye and skin color as well as hair。 Gorilla skin was black； and eyes were dark brown。 But here the pigmentation was distinctly gray； and the eyes were light yellow brown。
As much as anything it was the eyes that set him thinking。 Next Elliot measured the bodies。 The crown…heel length was 139。2 and 141。7 centimeters。 Male mountain gorillas had been recorded from 147 to 205 centimeters； with an average height of 175 centimeters…five feet eight inches。 But these animals stood about four feet six inches tall。 They were distinctly small for gorillas。 He weighed them： 255 pounds and 347 pounds。 Most mountain gorillas weighed between 280 and 450 pounds。
Elliot recorded thirty additional skeletal measurements for later analysis by the puter back in San Francisco。 Because now he was convinced that he was onto something。 With a knife； he dissected the head of the first animal； cutting away the gray skin to reveal the underlying muscle and bone。 His interest was the sagittal crest； the bony ridge running along the center of the skull from the forehead to the back of the neck。 The sagittal crest was a distinctive feature of gorilla skull architecture not found in other apes or man； it was what gave gorillas a pointy…headed look。
Elliot determined that the sagittal crest was poorly developed in these males。 In general； the cranial musculature resembled a chimpanzee's far more than a gorilla's。 Elliot made additional measurements of the molar cusps； the jaw； the simian shelf； and the brain case。
By midday； his conclusion was clear： this was at least a new race of gorilla； equal to the mountain and lowland gorilla…and it was possibly a new species of animal entirely。
〃Something happens to the man who discovers a new species of animal；〃 wrote Lady Elizabeth Forstmann in 1879。 〃At once he forgets his family and friends； and all those who were near and dear to him； he forgets colleagues who supported his professional efforts； most cruelly he forgets parents and children； in short； he abandons all who knew him prior to his insensate lust for fame at the hands of the demon called Science。〃
Lady Forstmann understood； for her husband had just left her after discovering the Norwegian blue…crested grouse in 1878。 〃In vain；〃 she observed； 〃does one ask what it matters that another bird or animal is added to the rich panoply of God's creations； which already number…by Linnaean reckoning…in the millions。 There is no response to such a question； for the discoverer has joined the ranks of the immortals； at least as he imagines it； and he lies beyond the
power of mere people to dissuade him from his course。〃
Certainly Peter Elliot would have denied that his own behavior resembled that of the dissolute Scottish nobleman。 Nevertheless he found he was bored by the prospect of further exploration of Zinj； he had no interest in diamonds； or Amy's dreams； he wished only to return home with a skeleton of the new ape； which would astonish colleagues around the world。 He suddenly remembered he did not own a tuxedo； and he found himself preoccupied with matters of nomenclature； he imagined in the future three species of African apes：
Pan troglodytes； the chimpanzee。
Gorilla gorilla； the gorilla。
Gorilla elliotensis； a new species of gray gorilla。
Even if the species category and name were ultimately rejected； he would have acplished far more than most scientists studying primates could ever hope to achieve。
Elliot was dazzled by his own prospects。
In retrospect； no one was thinking clearly that morning。 When Elliot said he wanted to transmit the recorded breathing sounds to Houston； Ross replied it was a trivial detail that could wait。 Elliot did not press her； they both later regretted their decision。
And when they heard booming explosions like distant artillery fire that morning； they paid no attention。 Ross assumed it was General Muguru's men fighting the Kigani。 Munro told her that the fighting was at least fifty miles away； too far for the sound to carry； but offered no alternative explanation for the noise。
And because Ross skipped the morning transmission to Houston； she was not informed of new geological changes that might have given new significance to the explosive detonations。
They were seduced by the technology employed the night before； secure in their sense of indomitable power。 Only Munro remained immune。 He had checked their ammunition supplies with discouraging results。 〃That laser system is splendid but it uses up bullets like there's no tomorrow；〃 Munro said。 〃Last night consumed half of our total ammunition。''
〃What can we do？〃 Elliot asked。
〃I was hoping you'd have an answer for that；〃 Munro said。 〃You examined the bodies。〃
Elliot stated his belief that they were confronted with a new species of primate。 He summarized the anatomical findings； which supported his beliefs。
〃That's all well and good；〃 Munro said。 〃But I'm interested in how they act； not how they look。 You said it yourself…gorillas are usually diurnal animals； and these are nocturnal。 Gorillas are usually shy and avoid men； while these are aggressive and attack men fearlessly。 Why？〃
Elliot had to admit that he didn't know。
〃Considering our ammunition supplies； I think we'd better find out；〃 Munro said。
2。The Temple
THE LOGICAL PLACE TO BEGIN WAS THE TEMPLE； with its enormous； menacing gorilla statue。 They returned that afternoon； and found behind the statue a succession of small cubicle…like rooms。 Ross thought that priests who worshiped the cult of the gorilla lived here。
She had an elaborate explanation： 〃The gorillas in the surrounding jungle terrorized the people of Zinj； who offered sacrifices to appease the gorillas。 The priests were a separate class； secluded from society。 Look here； at the entrance to the line of cubicles； there is this little room。 A guard stayed here to keep people away from the priests。 It was a whole system of belief。〃
Elliot was not convinced； and neither was Munro。 〃Even religion is practical；〃 Munro said。 〃It's supposed to benefit you。'；
〃People worship what they fear；〃 Ross said； 〃hoping to control it。''
〃But how could they control the gorillas？〃 Munro asked。 〃What could they do？〃
When the answer finally came it was startling； for they had it all backward。
They moved past the cubicles to a series of long corridors； decorated with bas…reliefs。 Using their infrared puter system； they were able to see the reliefs； which were scenes arranged in a careful order like a picture textbook。
The first scene showed a series of caged gorillas。 A black man stood near the cages holding a stick in his hand。
The second picture showed an African standing with two gorillas； holding ropes around their necks。
A third showed an African instructing the gorillas in a courtyard。 The gorillas were tethered to vertical poles； each with a ring at the top。
The final picture showed the gorillas attacking a line of straw dummies； which hung from an overhead stone support。 They now knew the meaning of what they had found in the courtyar