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Galen had been begging his parents for a pet for some time. After months of pleading his parents ultimately gave in. As market day finally approached, the young chimp and his mother wandered through the vendors and merchants scattered about Central City when he spied a small cage sitting next to two larger ones. The first cage held several adult humans both male and female. The next held six human children, also males and females ranging in ages between ten and sixteen years. Inside the smaller cage a single human female child, sat alone, her face dirty and streaked from tears, her dress worn and tattered, she was badly in need of a bath.
Galen made his way over to the small cage. “Hello.” He greeted the little girl.
The frightened child looked over at him but said nothing. Galen watched her for a moment. The little girl cowered in the corner of the cage, terrified and alone. It tugged at his young heart.
“Mother, what about this one?” He pointed. “I want this one.”
Ann, Galen’s mother, turned from admiring the clothing she had been looking at to see what her son was going on about.
“Oh Galen, a human? A female at that.”
“Uh huh” he smiled. She looks like she needs a good home.”
“Your father and I thought maybe you would like a nice little squirl or perhaps a bird.”
“No mother, please, she looks so sad.”
Ann walked closer to the cage; the little girl pressed herself further into the corner.
“Oh, the poor dear. She doesn’t look very well taken care of, does she?” Ann abruptly turned her attention to the ape trader. “Sir why is this human child alone and, in this state, how dare you try and sell something so obviously neglected.”
The Ape trader, an unkept scraggly looking chimpanzee, turned his attention to the obviously well to do and well-mannered lady Chimp. He looked at her as if sizing her up before he answered.
“To what are you referring madam?”
Ann motioned to the little girl in the cage. “That small human, she has obviously not been taken care of and here you have her among your other merchandise.” She glanced toward the other humans the trader offered for purchase. Noting they too, looked disregarded.
“I assure you madam, that my humans are in perfect health, and it just so happens that the little one there is on sale.”
“On Sale!” Ann screeched, “In that condition!”
“You will find she is very quiet, doesn’t talk back, and young enough to train however you see fit.” The trader went on with his sales pitch. “She would make a fine pet or servant. And she’s house trained.” He gave her a toothy smile showing his yellow teeth.
Ann glared at the trader then turned with a huff. “How dare you expect anyone to buy any of these severely mistreated humans. You should be ashamed of yourself and reported to the authorities for the sale of below standard merchandise. Come along Galen.” She held her hand out to her son who was crouched in front of the cage talking sweetly to the little girl inside.
“It’s ok,” He was saying as he pushed his arm through the bars of the cage holding his hand out to her. “I won’t hurt you; I promise.”
The little girl eyed him cautiously. She saw a gentleness in his eyes, there was a calmness in his soft-spoken words that made her feel at ease as she slowly held out her hand to him.
“Galen!” his mother called to him again. “Take your hand out from that cage and come along. We’ll find you a nice bird for a pet.”
“No, mother please.” Galen begged as he quickly pulled his hand from the cage and the little girl recoiled back to the corner. He hurriedly went to his mother’s side and looked up at her with pleading eyes. “Mother I want that human, she needs us, I can take care of her I promise, I’ll feed her and make sure she gets a bath and train her to be obedient and… oh please mother, just look at her.”
Ann looked down into her young son’s hopeful dark eyes, then turned back to the small cage. The little human was watching them, her tired, red, and puffy eye’s centered on them as if begging for help. Ann’s soft heart melted; how could they leave that poor little thing alone in that cage in such condition? She straightened, leveling a firm look at the trader.
“And how much are you asking for her?” she requested nodding to the little girl; her tone dripping with the authority of her status as a counselor’s wife.
The trader took a step toward her humbly wringing his hands in front of him. “Only 30 coins madam.”
“THIRTY COINS!” Ann shouted loud enough that it made all the other merchants, and their prospects turn their way.
The trader shrugged with another toothy grin. “Twenty?”
Ann’s eyes widened as she glared angrily at him. “I’ll give you two.”
Before the trader could object. Ann spoke up again with a warning tone. “And I won’t go to the authorities.” She gave him a look that told him he would likely not like the outcome if that happened.
With a defeated sigh he hung his head and agreed. “Two coins.”
Ann gave a satisfied smile and opened her pouch to retrieve the coins. “I expect you have a leash.”
“We don’t need a leash, look mother! she likes me.” Galen beamed as he led the scared little girl out of the cage her hand in his.
Ann smiled and shook her head. “Your father is not going to like this.” she murmured under her breath.
******
The little girl was quiet as she walked hand in hand with her new owner. Ann glanced at her son. “Now Galen the first thing we need to do when we arrive home is to give the girl to Sumi. She’ll see to it she gets her bath then ...”
“I can do that mother, I promised.” Galen interrupted.
“Sumi will do that.” His mother insisted “And she will get her some clean clothing. It will be your responsibility to feed her. And to train her. And I will break the news to your father, so you be sure that she is on her best behavior do you understand?”
“Yes mother.”
Ann looked down at her son and smiled. “Now, what are you going to call her?”
“Call her?” Galen asked, looking at his mother curiously.
“Well of coarse son, she needs a name.”
“Hmm” Galen thought a moment. “How about no name… No…Nessy? Nashomi?.. Nawmi?.. Oh wait! I know, Noni, I’ll call her Noni.”
He looked over at the human child next to him. “You hear that little girl? Your name is Noni.”
To his surprise the little girl gave him a small smile…….
****
As children Noni and Galen were nearly inseparable. The way a human child would be with his favorite pet. Galen regularly took her with him on his many excursions into the woods, especially on those days when he would skip school and the other ape children were not around. Not all of his friends treated his favorite pet as kindly as he and his parents did. It was those times that he would leave Noni home. On those days the young girl would sit on the floor at Galen’s mother’s side and watch her sew or do her needle point. The little girl seemed eager to learn and Ann would often give her a needle and thread and watch as the little human copied what she did. She was pleased with her progress.
As the years went on, Noni became the favorite not only to Galen but to the rest of the household as well. Sumi, one of the older female servants had aided Galen in her training and had taken the little girl under her wing. Even Yalu, Galen’s father, once he got use to the idea of his son owning a human for a pet, delighted in the girls’ progress and how quickly she learned, never giving them an ounce of trouble. They could never understand why she didn’t talk, even as they urged her to, and she did try, but remained unable to form the words. It was thought she was defective in some way. Never speaking a word, her background before they found her was a mystery. But it did not matter, she was quiet and obedient, that is what counted. Not only was she a pet, but she had grown into their favorite servant as well.
****
On the day Galen had gone to Chalo with the gorilla soldier Urko, at Zaius’s insistence. Noni was to stay home in Central City with Galen’s mother. She and the older female human servant, Sumi, had been running an errand for the Counselor’s wife when Galen and the soldiers arrived home.
They stood off to the side, next to the merchant’s shop each with a basket of goods they had just acquired for their mistress. Noni watched as the Gorilla General Urko, and his patrol rode into the city, leading behind them two human males also on horseback. She averted her gaze away from the Gorilla general, as they rode past her making their way toward the police garrison, on the other side of town. She smiled at Galen as he rode by, but the chimpanzee seemed not to notice her. Though she tried not to look at the gorilla guards it was the human prisoners that caught her eye. She had never seen them before and was curious. The dark-haired man glanced down at her, giving her a halfhearted slip of a small grin before turning away, but it was the handsome blond that seemed to catch Noni’s eye, though his expression was one of deep concern as he appeared to survey the area, taking in all he saw and heard. Noni found she could hardly keep from staring at him.
She continued to watch them until they were several feet away. She wondered what they had done to cause Urko to take such task in bringing them in. The gorilla general was known to be more incline to killing unruly humans than taking prisoners. She hoped Galen would tell his parents about it at dinner tonight. She found herself strangely drawn to these two strangers and was interested in hearing what they had done to cause such attention from Zaius.
“Noni.” Sumi nudged her shoulder interrupting her thoughts. “Come, Mistress Ann will be waiting.”
****
Galen returned home later that evening. But there was no mention of the two humans incarcerated at the police quarters. He was quiet and seemed deep in thought since his return from Chalo and his visit with Zaius. His father, Yalu, was overjoyed at his tentative appointment, as Zaius’s assistant. Galen, however, seemed to have his mind on other things.
When dinner was over Noni helped Sumi clean up while Ann settled into her favorite chair and began her knitting and Yalu retired to his study for a bit of reading.
Galen sat in a chair opposite his mother and contemplated all that he had heard and seen since his trip.
Their work finished; Sumi retreated to the human’s quarters, while Noni took to one of her favorite spots on the floor next to Ann’s chair to watch her do her knitting. While the other humans settled in for the night in the human’s quarters, where Noni also had her own space, she preferred to stay inside, many times being allowed to sleep on the floor in her own little corner of the room where there was a blanket and pillow just for her. Galen and his family had often been scrutinized for spoiling the human girl. But they justified it by priding themselves on how well-mannered and obedient Noni was.
Galen fidgeted and stood going to the window looking out. Finally, he turned to his mother.
“I think I’ll take Noni and go for a walk.” He announced.
“Is something bothering you son?” Ann looked over at her only child worriedly.
“Oh, it’s nothing.” Galen assured her. “I just need to get a bit of fresh air and do some thinking is all.”
“Very well, but don’t be out too late.” Ann smiled and looked up at her son. “Sometimes I forget how old you are, but I still worry.”
Galen grinned and crossed the distance over to his mother giving her a gentle kiss on her cheek. “I know, and I won’t be out too late, I promise.” He gave her nose a soft tap then looked down at the human girl on the floor. “Come along Noni.”
As Noni stood, Ann suddenly got out of her chair. “Oh wait, I almost forgot, Noni, I have an errand for you since you will be out with Galen.” She set her knitting in the chair and walked to her bedroom returning almost as quickly. In her hands she held a package wrapped in soft burlap and tied with a bow. She retrieved a basket from the kitchen then put the package along with a loaf of bread and a pie inside. “I have some freshly made banana bread from this morning and an operang pie along with a baby blanket I knitted, for Counselor Thane and his wife. They welcomed their first child just yesterday. I’ve included a note telling them I will be by to pay them a visit in the next day or two.” She handed the basket to the human girl. “You do remember where the Counselor resides don’t you?”
Noni smiled and nodded that she did, as she took the basket from her.
Ann then turned to Galen. “And it would not hurt if you went along as well, to pay your respects son.”
Galen looked back to his mother and nodded. “Yes Mother.” he said unenthusiastically as he made his way out the door, Noni following closely behind.
Once the door was shut, Galen cautiously looked around to make sure no one else was about, he then reached into one of the bushes next to the house and pulled out a burlap bag. He looked at Noni and put a finger to his lips. “Sh”
She looked back at him curiously.
Galen grinned and motioned for her to follow. He could show her and tell her anything, one of the attributes he adored about his pet. She could not repeat anything he told her, nor showed her. And he was confident she would not even if she could. Still, he kept what was inside the burlap bag to himself. The human book would stay his secret for the time being.
Counselor Thane lived not far from the police garrison. As she and Galen came close Noni started to turn down the street to the counselor’s home when she noticed Galen had stopped. Going up to him she touched his arm then pointed to the turn leading to Counselor Thanes residence.
“I’m not going with you Noni, you have mothers note, you take the basket as you were told. I’m going to go to the garrison and talk to the prisoners.”
This time Noni’s expression changed to one of worry and confusion. After all their years together, Galen had become accustomed to the human girl’s facial expressions, and immediately picked up on her unease. “Now, you have nothing to worry about. You go on as mother instructed, and when you are finished, you can meet me at the garrison and wait outside, understand?”
Hesitantly Noni nodded and went on her way. It had not taken her long to find the counselors home nor to deliver Ann’s gift. She quickly made her way back toward the police garrison. Arriving just in time to hear what sounded like a gunshot go off. Frightened, yet more fearful of what may have happened to her Ape master, Noni quickened her pace. She stopped short when she saw Galen standing over the gorilla guard, a gun in his hand. She let out a loud startled gasp which turned Galen’s attention momentarily toward her.
“Get them!” Urko bellowed angrily from the doorway of the garrison. “They’ve let the prisoners escape and killed a guard!”
Shocked, Galen tried to explain that it had been an accident. Noni stood motionless frozen in fear as the gorilla guards rushed toward them.
Fearing not only for himself, but his favored servant Galen panicked, “Go!” He shouted to her. “Noni, run!”
While one guard subdued Galen, and another reached for her, terrified, Noni lost all sense of direction, as she abruptly turned and raced off into the forest. The gorilla guard in pursuit.
She wasn’t sure how far she had run, nor how close the guard was, when she finally stopped and tried to catch her breath. Her head pivoted back and forth trying to assess where she was, when suddenly a hand clasped over her mouth, and she was pulled down to the ground behind a clump of large bushes. As she looked up, her eyes wide with fear, she could barely make out the shape of a man, no, two men. The one holding her down held his finger to his mouth and made a sound. “sh.”
In the moonlight she could see him, it was the blond human from earlier today, the one next to him the dark-haired man, she recognized them both as the prisoners Urko and his troops had led into town this afternoon. Both men crouched down next to her, hidden from view as they listened carefully. Two Gorilla soldiers crashed through the bush.
“She couldn’t have gotten far.” One of them grumbled to the other.
“I could have sworn she went this way.” His partner put in as he thrust his rifle into a nearby bush and thrashed it around, searching in and behind the foliage. Not finding anything he turned to the other guard. “Let’s check over there.” He motioned farther into the wooded area. “Urko will have our heads if we have lost her.” He grumbled.
The two humans waited until the guards were well away from them before the blond man turned to the girl. “Now if I take my hand away do you promise not to scream?”
“We won’t hurt you.” The dark-haired one added.
Noni stared wide eyed at them, still unsure of their intentions as she watched both guardedly. Yet something deep inside told her she could trust them. Her instinct was strong and somehow, she didn’t understand how or why, but she knew they did not want to harm her. It was the same feeling she’d had when she was a little girl and she had first met Galen and his mother. Slowly she looked at the blond and nodded.
“Alright.” He said as he gently took his hand away from her mouth while the dark-haired one helped her to her feet.
“What’s your name?” the blond asked before introducing himself and his companion. “I’m Alan Virdon, this…” He motioned to the man next to him. “Is Pete Burke.”
Noni only looked at them, unable to answer him.
“You do have a name, don’t you?” The one called Pete asked.
Noni turned to him nodding slowly. Then tapped her fingers to her lips and shook her head indicating she was unable to talk. The men watched her, not quite understanding what she was doing.
Then suddenly remembering the necklace Galen had made for her years before. She reached up to the string around her neck lifting it from under her shirt, revealing a small leather tag attached to the end of it. Pointing to the tag she held it out for him to see.
Pete stepped over to her so that he could look more closely at the tag and the letters that were scratched into it.
“N-o-n-i… Noni, is that your name? Noni?”
The girl smiled indicating he was right.
“Well, Noni, why were the gorillas chasing you?” Alan pushed.
Again, Noni tapped at her lips, moved her fingers and shook her head, a frustrated expression fell over her as she attempted to make him understand that she could not speak.
“Wait a minute, Alan.” Pete interrupted. “I don’t think she can talk; I mean she has a name tag.” He stepped up to her looking intently. “Can you hear us? Do you read lips?”
Noni put both hands to her ears and nodded.
“You can hear us?” Alan asked. “But you can’t speak.”
Again, Noni answered him with a bob of her head this time rewarding him also with a slight smile.
A noise behind them made all three turn to see a small squirl scamper off and up a nearby tree.
Alan glanced about the area. Though they were hidden behind a grove of trees and dense brush he still felt uneasy.
“It’s not safe here, we need to find the ape they call Zaius.”
“I still think you’re out of your mind.” Burke chastised his companion.
“If what Galen says is true, this Zaius may have the information we need to get back home, we have to try.”
Noni listened intently to the two strangers, she suddenly perked up at the mention of her master’s name. She held up her wrist to Alan and pointed to the leather band around it. But it was Pete who took hold of her hand and read the name scratched into the band. “Galen.” He read out loud then flashed a knowing look to Alan before he turned back to Noni. “Are you trying to tell us you belong to Galen?” Pete asked somberly.
Noni let out a relieved sigh and answered him with a small nod of her head.
“Well Noni,” Alan began, “We’re friends of Galen’s, we need to find the Ape Zaius, can you help us?”
The girl looked at him, a concerned and troubled expression masking her delicate features. She pointed to her wrist band then back toward the garrison.
“Galen? Is he back there?” Pete demanded.
The girl nodded again motioning back to the police garrison.
We can’t go back there.” Alan told her “Not right now, but, if he is in trouble, maybe this Zaius can help. Will you show us where he lives?”
Noni glanced toward the garrison then back to the two escaped prisoners. She knew Zaius held great power with the council. Maybe he would help. Galen was after all going to be his assistant, and his father was in high standing as well. She was not sure what kind of trouble Galen was in, but she knew that it was bad. She had seen the dead guard on the ground and the gun in Galen’s hand. She was torn between helping these two humans and running home to find Galen’s father. She was sure with his reputation he would be able to help his son no matter the trouble. But now the gorillas were also looking for her, Home would be the first place they would look. She was afraid of what would happen if they found her. She had no way to tell them what had occurred, that she had heard the gun shot and ran to find Galen and when she did, he had ordered her to run. Deciding her best corse of action for the moment was to lead these two humans to Zaius, Noni motioned for them to follow her.
****
Once they reached Zaius’s home, they stealthily entered through an open window in the back unseen. Zaius was out and his servant Ullman was working in another part of the house and had not heard them. Noni hesitated to accompany Burke and Virdon inside, but ultimately with Burkes encouragement and her need to help her master won out. She was anxious to see if Zaius could help Galen. Still, she kept to the shadows as Burke and Virdon scavenged Zaius’s study and found the, what Virdon had called, a grenade. Until they heard someone outside and retreated into another room. The noise turned out to be Zaius returning home. While Virdon and Burke moved to confront the orangutan. Noni stayed hidden on the other side of an adjoining wall and listened, that is until she heard Zaius mention Galen and reveal to the two astronauts that he was going to have the chimpanzee killed because of what he’d learned from them. Noni stepped out from her hiding spot looking at Zaius then to the two men. Her eyes mirrored her fear.
“Noni!” Zaius huffed angrily, stunned to see her. “What are you doing here?”
Noni looked at him confused and afraid as she held up her wrist and pointed to Galen’s name on the leather band.
Zaius let out and exasperated sigh then glared at the two human males. “And so, you’ve corrupted Galen’s family’s favorite pet as well.” He shook his head in disgust.
“Pet!” Pete flared. “She’s no Pet, she’s a human being.”
“Not now Pete.” Virdon said holding back his Jr officer, before turning his attention back to Zaius. “You’re going to help us get Galen out of that Jail.”
******
Noni followed behind as Burke and Virdon led Zaius toward the gorilla garrison. Her mind deep in thought. What had Zaius meant when he told the two men, they had done it to themselves? What were machines? What did he mean about their history, and they had destroyed their world? She was confused. “Infection? These men carried no infection, none that she could see, they were not sick, why would he say that the infection they carried was fatal? So many questions and no way to ask them, should she fear these men? But they were going to help Galen, why would Zaius want to have Galen killed? Noni followed blindly her only interest right now was to see her master released from the horrible prison. He would know what to do.
She stayed hidden as the men had insisted when they reached the garrison, and watched from behind nearby bushes, as the two humans’ urged Zaius to lure the guard to open the door and the tussle that had ensued after he had. Once the guard and Zaius had been subdued and restrained, only then did Noni leave her hiding spot and stand at the door, watching and waiting, until Burke suddenly pulled her into a corner and covered her with his body before the loud explosion. When he’d finally moved away, the door to Galen’s cell was in splinters and Galen was free. The fugitives wasted no time in racing away into the nearby woods as fast and as far as they could.
***
They traveled through the week, keeping to the forest and off of the roads as Galen led the two men back to Chalo and their ship. Noni didn’t know what that was, but she would soon find out.
On their second night of being fugitives on the run. The group had made camp among a cluster of large boulders, rocks and fallen trees. They dined on wild fruits and berries.
Pete built a fire to help stave off the chill in the night air while Galen made himself comfortable on a log watching him.
Noni sat looking over at Alan who stood leaning against a tree gazing out into the darkness. His eyes stared into nothingness though he held the look of a man deep in thought.
“Noni.” Galen called to her.
The girl turned, immediately getting to her feet, and going over to him and stood as if waiting for instruction.
“Let me see the band on your wrist.”
Without hesitation, Noni crouched down in front of him and held out her arm.
Galen took hold of her hand and fiddled with the wrist band trying to release the leather ties that kept it from falling off. They had been there so long, the ties were hard to separate and would not come loose.
“I need something sharp.” He announced to no one in particular.
“Will this do?” Pete questioned, going over to him, and holding out his ANSA knife.
“Where did you get that?” Galen asked, looking up and taking the knife from him.
“Took it off one of the guards.” He grinned. “Well, it was mine in the first place.”
Galen gave him a short nod of understanding then turned his attention back to Noni. Using the knife, he slipped it in between her wrist and the band, the sharp edge against the leather, slowly and carefully cutting the ties until the band with his name etched into it, signifying who she belonged to, fell to the ground.
“You don’t need that any more my dear friend. “He said looking at her. “You are not my pet, you are not my servant. You belong to know one, you are free Noni.”
Noni looked down at her wrist, then to the leather band on the ground. She picked up the band then glanced up at Galen confused, holding the band out to him.
“No, you are a human Noni, not a slave. Not any longer. You see these two.” He motioned to Burke and Virdon. “Have helped me to realize that humans are more than servants, Laborer’s, and Pets. They are much more. You, are much more than that, You are my friend.” He took the band from her and tossed it into the fire watching as it began to burn.
Noni looked at him a fear rising in her. She didn’t know what it was to be free, what was freedom? Did this mean she had to leave? She pointed to Galen then herself, then out into the dark with a questioning looking her blue grey eyes as they began to well with tears.
“No, it doesn’t mean you have to go Noni.” Galen smiled, “It just means that you can stay, or you can go. it’s your choice. But you know we are hunted now. All of us. We are enemies of the state. And I do think our best chance is to stick together. But as I said it is now your decision.”
Noni nodded that she understood, and indicated she was happy to stay with all them. Inside her mind swam, she had so many questions, and no way to ask them, It was frustrating, and it showed in her expression.
“Hey,” Pete stepped over to her and crouched down next to her. “I know it must be hard, not being able to communicate. I have a cousin who can’t speak or hear. I can show you how she communicates, I can teach you how, if you want?”
“Noni looked at him then nodded enthusiastically.
“You can do that?” Galen asked, amazed.
Pete nodded. “I can, and I can teach you how to understand what she says.
“Oh, that would be wonderful, you know she’s never spoken a word since she came to live with us, she’s tried but nothing comes out, just sounds sometimes.”
“Alright then Galen pay attention.” He turned back to Noni and began moving his hands as he spoke to her. “Alright Noni, What I’m going to teach you is called sign language, It’s a way of talking with your hands. And here is your first word.”
The girl and Galen watched Pete intently as Alan moved from his spot to join them.
Pete and Noni sat down across from each other. Pete began to move his fingers and speak at the same time.
“N-O-N-I, Noni” he said pointing to her. He repeated it a few more times until Noni’s eyes suddenly lit up. She mimicked the movements wither own fingers. ‘N-O-N-I’ she pointed to herself.
“That’s right, Noni” Pete praised her.
A bright smile lit up her face as Noni touched Pete and then moved her fingers.
“P-E-T-E, Pete”
Noni mimicked him again. Pete nodded “Yes, that’s right, Pete”
Excitedly Noni patted Galen then looked at Pete for instruction. He rewarded her with the sign for ape then spelled out Galen’s name with his fingers as he had the other names. Noni was a quick study, in no time she understood, hastily getting to her feet going over to Alan and doing the same. Again, Pete spelled out Alans name with his fingers and Noni repeated it. Then she signed each of their names again this time by herself.
“By George, I think she’s got it.” Pete exclaimed.
She was like a child with a new toy as she ran about the camp touching things then looking to Pete to show her the sign for the word.
Galen watched in awe as Alan sat next to him. “There’ll be no stopping her now.” He smiled.
Galen nodded in agreement.
*****
Their trek to Chalo had been less eventful than they had anticipated. How ever once they’d reached the astronauts’ ship the more nervous Galen had become. He knew Zaius and Urko would still be looking for them and this would be the first place they would search. Virdon was successful in retrieving the magnetic disk that seemed so very important to him. But it had been a narrow escape from the gorillas. They had heard the explosion, knowing it was the ship. The somber look on Both Alan and Pete’s faces had not gone unnoticed by Noni nor Galen. She felt bad for them, the ship had been their last link to the world they lost. Now Alan coveted the silver disk as their last hope of home.
She looked over at the handsome blond astronaut. He smiled as he started to lead the way, to where none of them knew, one direction was as good as another. Noni watched him admiringly. He was a leader, he was their leader, she looked up to him, respected him. Something in his manor, his smile, his eyes. She wanted to know him, she wanted to know everything about him.
She could feel the change coming, the change in not only her world but her. Pete was teaching her to talk with her hands, Soon she would be able to communicate with others, at least with them… with him. She glanced again at Alan.
Her world was changing, drastically. She could feel it, instinctively knowing something was coming. She felt it. In her heart she felt different. For the first time in her life, she felt truly alive…free….