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

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They could not burn the metal parts of the guns. Those they smashed with rocks next to the fire pit, all under Caesar’s direction. Maurice and Rocket did most of it, with Koba glowering across the fire pit. As Rocket tossed the wooden parts of the last gun into the fire, Koba stood abruptly and loped around the pit to where Caesar sat watching.

This is a mistake, he signed. Why help them?

Caesar nodded. Helping them could be dangerous. But not helping is more dangerous. Koba grunted, acknowledging this without agreeing. Caesar saw Blue Eyes looking at them.

They’re trying to save themselves, Caesar signed, making sure Blue Eyes could see. If we force them to leave, we give the humans no choice. They will attack.

Let them! Koba thumped his chest.

And how many apes will die? Caesar put an edge on his signs. We will let them do their human work. And then they will leave.

Koba grunted again, this time openly scoffing.

“Human work?” he said. He turned sideways to Caesar and gestured at the scar that ran down the length of his spine. “This human work.”

Koba’s defiance began to attract attention from the other apes gathered to watch the fire. He pointed to the scar across the base of his skull. “Human work…?” Then he stabbed a finger at his blind eye and growled, louder, “This human work!”

More of the apes were staring now, uneasy at the challenge to Caesar’s authority. Enough, Caesar thought. He would not have this. He stood and stepped to Koba, so close that their faces almost touched, locking eyes and silently daring him to continue his defiance.

Silence fell, broken only by the crackle and hiss of the fire. Then Koba took a step back and looked down.

Forgive me, he signed.

Caesar did not move.

Koba kept looking at the ground. After a hesitation, he extended a hand, palm up. Caesar looked at Koba’s hand for a long moment before he brushed his own palm across it, accepting the supplication.

Koba glanced up at Caesar, then back across the fire at Blue Eyes and the other watching apes. He looked back to Caesar and dropped his gaze once more before turning and walking away out of the firelight. Caesar watched him go, glad that Koba had not pushed him to a fight. Apes together strong, he thought. It was more important than ever now that they had the humans to think about as possible rivals, or even enemies.

Blue Eyes, too, watched Koba go. Turning back to his father, he approached.

Koba says humans are to be hated, he signed.

At last, Caesar thought. He had expected this. That is because from humans Koba learned only hate, he signed.

Blue Eyes considered this. He was torn, and Caesar could understand why. Young apes felt a powerful drive to supplant their elders. Blue Eyes felt this without understanding it. Caesar had to make sure he learned to understand it before his son’s youthful energy led him to rebel.

Without another word, Blue Eyes left. Caesar wondered if he would seek Koba. They both needed watching, and control, but for different reasons. He looked up to see Maurice, who gestured that they should walk together. When they were out of the firelight and away from the gathered apes, Maurice stopped.

Koba’s anger is strong, he signed.

His loyalty is stronger, Caesar answered. He is an ape. They stood looking back at the burning guns, knowing the problem was more complicated than what he had said. But he must not be left alone with the humans. He may not be able to stop himself. We can’t let him start a war.

Maurice nodded, understanding that Caesar had set him this task. Yet it would take more than one ape to ensure Koba did not cause a war that only he wanted.

Caesar yawned. The guns were destroyed. Sentries watched the humans. It was time to rest. He signed good night to Maurice, who ambled back to the fire as Caesar went up the path toward his tree. He climbed up to the sleeping room and stepped softly to the bed, where Cornelia lay looking at their newborn.

Barely two days old, Caesar thought, and so much happening around him. What story will we tell of these times when he is old enough to hear it?

Cornelia smiled up at him. Her breath rattled still, maybe worse than it had been the day before. Worried, Caesar stroked her face. Her skin felt warmer than it should have… but perhaps that was because she had been tucked down into the bedding?

Blue Eyes will watch the baby tomorrow, he signed. You need rest.

She shook her head.

I’ll be fine, she signed. You’re worried. About the humans?

He looked from the baby back to her and nodded. She knew him, and would know if he tried to pretend otherwise. But nothing could be done about the humans tonight, Caesar told himself. He also needed rest. He lay down beside her and drifted off to sleep, hearing the wheeze and rattle of her breath in the darkness and thinking it was not just the humans he worried about.