Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: The Official Movie Novelization

10

Caesar heard the gunshot and was racing toward the village gate before the echoes had died away down the canyon. He gestured as he ran, signaling his apes to arm themselves and follow, but he did not wait for them. He ran. The sound had come from the river below. The canyon broadened into the wide valley where they had hunted elk the day before.

Blue Eyes and Ash had gone fishing down there.

His mind raced faster than his legs and arms. Just last night he and Maurice had talked about the humans. Now this morning, there was a gunshot. Some of the apes believed that dreams could see what would happen. Some of them believed that certain apes could do the same. Caesar believed none of it, but still… Last night he had wondered if the humans were gone. This morning he had heard a gunshot.

Only a human would have a gun.

He skirted the edge of the canyon, following a steep path and using the trees where the aerial passage was faster. Behind him, he heard the rush and rustle of his troop. Most of them knew the sound of gunshots, from the day they gained their freedom. Even those who did not—the youngest Caesar would allow to fight—could see how their elders were reacting. They hurtled through the trees and along the path as if they were going to battle.

Caesar was first to reach the barren ridge above the river’s edge, between the meadow where they had caught the elk and the wider, slower water downriver, where an old bridge crossed not far from the gas station. He halted on the ridge, looking down the slope as the rest of the apes gathered on either side of him. Koba, as always, was close by his side.

At the edge of the water, across the river, Ash lay against the sloping face of a rock. Blue Eyes crouched over him, protecting him. Both of them were looking at the human, who stood a short distance away on the same bank, his gun still pointed at the two young apes.

Crashing sounds came from the trees beyond the bank, and more humans spilled from the forest. Caesar counted them. Altogether there were five grown males, one female, one young male. Several of them carried guns. The first human pointed up in Caesar’s direction and the humans stared in shock at the massed apes on the ridge.

Yes, Caesar thought. If you are not gone, it is good that you should fear us.

Koba, too, was surveying the scene. Rocket, on Caesar’s other side from Koba, saw that Ash was wounded. He started to scream with rage and anguish, and signed furiously.

Humans shot Ash!

Caesar nodded, holding out an arm to keep Rocket from charging down and across the river. They did not want killing here. He watched the humans react to Rocket’s sounds. One of the males pushed the young male behind him. A father, Caesar thought. So the humans had children still.

Hold, Rocket, Caesar signed.

I will kill them, Rocket answered. He bared his teeth at the humans and screamed again, shaking his spear.

Hold, Caesar repeated, with more emphasis. He looked back to the humans, focusing on the one who had protected the young male. That was the one to whom he would need to speak.

Everything was different now. If apes were not alone, Caesar would have to decide whether human and ape would both live, or whether there would be killing.

He held the gaze of the male human.

Your move, he thought.