NEXT by Michael Crichton

Author:Michael Crichton [Crichton, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: archivio inglese, cover, english
ISBN: 9780060872984
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2012-02-07T10:57:45+00:00

Since Dave’s arrival,everything in Lynn’s life had changed. Although Dave was clearly Henry’s responsibility, the chimp showed little interest in him. He was immediately drawn to her, and something about his manner, or his appearance—the soulful eyes? the childish demeanor?—tugged at her heart. She’d started reading about chimps, and learned that because chimpanzee females took multiple sexual partners, they did not know which male fathered their infant, and thus chimpanzees showed no notion of fatherhood or fathers. Chimps had only mothers. Dave seemed to have been an abused child, uncared for by his actual chimp mother. He looked to Lynn with open longing, and she responded. It was all deeply emotional, and entirely unexpected.

“Mom, he’s not your kid,” Tracy had snapped. Tracy was at the age when she craved her parents’ attention. She was jealous of any dis traction.

“I know, Trace,” Lynn said. “But he needs me.”

“Mom! He’s not your responsibility!” She threw up her hands in a theatrical gesture.

“I know.”

“Well, can you leave him alone?”

“Is he getting too much attention?”

“Well, duh! Yes.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize.” She put her arm around her daughter, gave her a hug.

“Don’t treatme like a monkey,” Tracy said, and pushed her away.

But they were, after all, primates. Human beings were apes. Her experience with Dave was giving Lynn an uncomfortable awareness of what humans shared with other apes: Grooming, touching, physical attention as a source of relaxation. Eyes lowered under threat, or displeasure, or as a sign of submission. (Tracy around her boy friends, flirting with downcast eyes.) Direct eye contact meant intimidation, a sign of anger. Goose bumps for fear and anger—those same skin muscles made a primate’s hair fluff up, to create a bigger appearance in the presence of threat. Sleeping communally, curling up in a kind of nest…

On and on.

Apes.

They were all apes.

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