The trio blinked in the bright sunlight, then scrambled for their sunglasses. After a few more paddle strokes, the canoe glided out into the open water of Lago Hippo.

“We haven’t talked about that.” “If we get back,” Melanie said. I’m numb.” “What are we going to do when we do get back?” Kevin said. “This situation is so far beyond anything I’d ever thought I’d be involved in, that I don’t know how to react. “I don’t know what to think,” Candace said. “ He’s basically a nice person.” “What do you think, Candace?” Melanie asked. “Siegfried might take our disappearance as a godsend.” “Siegfried might, but Bertram won’t,” Kevin said. Then they’ll come for us.” “ I’m not convinced,” Melanie said. It won’t take Siegfried or Bertram that long to figure out what we’ve done. Besides, we’re undoubtedly missed back in town. “ We’re a novelty now, but they’ll lose interest in us. There’s no way to anticipate what they’ll do.” “I prefer to wait,” Kevin said. “ We’re lucky they’ve treated us as well as they have.” “ Being offered maggots to eat is not what I’d call being well treated,” Melanie said. “I don’t think we should take the chance of angering them,” Kevin said.

And it’s pretty apparent we’ll have to do it while they are all sleeping, like now.” Every bonobo in the cave, including the supposed guards, were fast asleep on primitive pallets constructed of branches and leaves. “ We’re going to have to do something,” Melanie said.

Chromosome 6 by Robin Cook