War for the Planet of the Apes by Greg Cox

Author:Greg Cox
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781785654756
Publisher: Titan

18

A stunned hush fell over the worksite at Caesar’s outburst, broken only by the sound of loose gravel and scree tumbling down the wall in the wake of the avalanche. All heads turned toward the furious chimpanzee as he glared down at the Colonel from the wooden timbers, unconcerned for his own safety. Apes and humans alike stopped dead in their tracks, stunned by Caesar’s booming command. Even Red lowered his whip, forgetting about Percy’s punishment for the moment.

Caesar locked eyes with the Colonel for long seconds, neither leader budging, when, one by one, the other apes began to rally behind Caesar. It started quietly, with just a few low grunts and growls, but then more apes joined in, hooting and shrieking defiantly, until the sound rose into a deafening chorus that echoed off the granite walls of the canyon. Scowling apes dropped the stones they’d been burdened with or angrily tossed aside their ropes and tools.

The spontaneous demonstration shocked Caesar. He turned in surprise to see his people, who had previously rejected him, rising in open rebellion behind him, standing in solidarity with their fellow apes. His heart swelled with pride and gratitude. His people had not given up on hope… or him.

Apes together strong.

Down on the icy floor of the prison yard, Percy gazed up in awe and admiration, despite his many grievous injuries, as the human soldiers appeared at a loss as to how to deal with this unexpected turn of events. The fierce cries of the apes rising to a fever pitch, the troops looked to the Colonel for guidance, but he just stared balefully at Caesar.

In desperation, a soldier shouted at Red and the other turncoats, pointing urgently at Caesar.

“Get him!”

The ape enforcers, accompanied by Preacher and a few other humans, scaled the heaps of rubble to approach Caesar, who stepped down to meet them, unafraid of whatever consequences lay ahead. That he had roused his people from despair, and inspired them to stand up to their oppressors, outweighed whatever punishment the Colonel might have in store, up to and including a summary execution. His only regret was that he would not be able to say goodbye to Cornelius—or guarantee his son’s safety.

The other apes in the chain gang, including Lake, chanted and hooted in unison as the turncoats seized Caesar, taking hold of his arms. They started to lunge forward, but were held at bay by the raised weapons of Preacher and his fellow soldiers. To Caesar’s relief, the shackled apes did not invite the soldiers’ fire by trying to protect him; they could only roar in protest, along with the rest of the enslaved apes. A few of the gorillas beat their chests. Chimpanzees angrily slapped the ground. Orangutans shook their fists.

Visibly nervous, Preacher sweated and swallowed hard, keeping a close watch on the angry apes as he unclipped a key from his belt and tossed it over to Red, who dutifully unlocked Caesar from the chain gang. Casting a grateful look at

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