Angel Of Mercy

Chapter 11

After swatting away one or two more curious of his comrades for pawing at her too much, she thought, King Kong had loosened his grip quite a bit, but he did not seem ready to put Karin down anytime soon. Given the rising sounds of alarm she could hear nearby, she was not sure if she entirely minded. She was so dizzy now and out of breath that she feared she might collapse if he did set her down. And the big Ape's grip was no longer hard and immobilizing. Restraining, yes, but it felt almost protective.

She leaned against his chest as she fought to get her breath back.

"Please, I need Caesar?" she finally gasped to the huge gorilla. "Maurice is hurt."

The gorilla gave a visible start at that. Karin felt him shifting her around, and saw him trying to sign to her one handed. She was cheered a little bit by and did appreciate the gorilla's attempts to communicate, but he was signing far too quickly for her limited understanding.

How can anyone sign that well and one-handed, Karin wondered, amazed.

"You're going to fast! I don't know that much sign yet?" Karin cried. "Maurice hasn't been teaching me that long. Please, just take me to Caesar! It's life or death! Please?"

"Caesar...comes...now," the big gorilla said out loud to her.

His speech was slow, but clear.

"Oh, thank you!" Karin gulped. She sobbed with sheer relief.

"Thank you!"

"Welcome," the big gorilla grunted.

The world was threatening to go tilt much worse for her now. Karin bit her lip hard as the blood ran from the re-opened wound on her head and in to her eyes. The pain from her bit lip helped to keep her conscious.

"I can't go to sleep," she muttered almost to herself. "I can't ... Maurice ... Please don't make me sleep? I have to help Maurice first."

To her utter amazement, the gorilla she was thinking of as King Kong took one huge hand, probably the one he had so recently slapped over her mouth, but this time he gently wiped her face with it. She was reminded very strongly of Maurice's comforting gestures, and thanked whatever God might exist that she had not fallen in to the hands of an Ape of a more brutal nature, not this time.

"Give her to me."

Karin heard the rough voice. It sounded as if it came from a very long way away. The next thing she knew, King Kong was holding her out in his big hands, and another Ape was taking hold of her.

'NO!" Karin roused herself enough to cry out. She tried to keep hold of King Kong's fur, but it was no use. She was handed, albeit quite gently, straight in to the arms of another Ape.

"I need Caesar! Don't you understand me?" She shrieked angrily.

"I ... am ... Caesar," the gruff voice spoke again as the Ape pulled her against his chest. "Are you Karin? Tel me ... what is wrong, Karin?"

Oh, no! He knows my name!

Karin tried to blink the blood from her eyes to get a clearer look at him. Maurice had described him to her very well, but all she could see above her through the red haze of blood and her tears was a big blur.

Oh God!" Karin wept. "Maurice is hurt. Tree, big old tree, it fell on him. I couldn't move it! Had to get help ... for Maurice ..."

Karin groaned as she felt Caesar whip around and dimly heard him calling to the other apes. His sudden motion made her head swim even more. In desperation, she raised one hand and raked her nails down her good cheek, drawing even more blood. But at least the pain woke her up again.

'NO!" Caesar barked, and first she was not sure he was speaking to her. But when he caught her hand firmly in his before she could use her nails on her face again, she got the message.

"You don't hurt," he commanded her.

"I have to stay awake!" she exclaimed in desperation. "I have to show you where Maurice is!"

"You ... talk ... do not hurt. Talk to me ... and you will stay awake," Caesar insisted.

"Talk?" Karin murmured faintly.

She thought she heard horses approaching.

"Luca, hold her," Caesar commanded, and Karin felt herself transferred yet again. But this chest was a familiar one, so she did not protest.

"Oh, Hiya King Kong," she murmured fuzzily, gazing blearily up in to the gorilla's slightly familiar face.

"Luca," she thought that she heard Caesar chuckle, and then she was passed back to Caesar. They now sat atop a horse. She was cradled against his body, his arms supporting her even as he gripped his horse's mane.

"Which way," Caesar asked as other Apes mounted up around them.

"My light?" she started to ask, but it was handed to her by another Ape. She thought this was a hairless one.

Turning it on, she winced as it stabbed her eyes. Shining it around ahead of her, she quickly got enough of her Barings to point them in the right direction.

A/N:

Hi again to all my lovely readers. I hope everyone is enjoying the story. Please comment and/or vote.