"I do not
wish to be king among people who once drove me from them. Keep your
own ways, and we will keep ours. When we meet we may be friends,
but we shall not live together."
An old bull came slowly toward The Killer.
"You have killed our king," he said. "You have defeated him who
would have been king. You could have killed him had you wished.
What shall we do for a king?"
Korak turned toward Akut.
"There is your king," he said. But Akut did not want to be separated
from Korak, although he was anxious enough to remain with his own
kind. He wanted Korak to remain, too. He said as much.
The youth was thinking of Meriem--of what would be best and safest
for her. If Akut went away with the apes there would be but one
to watch over and protect her. On the other hand were they to join
the tribe he would never feel safe to leave Meriem behind when he
went out to hunt, for the passions of the ape-folk are not ever
well controlled. Even a female might develop an insane hatred for
the slender white girl and kill her during Korak's absence.
"We will live near you," he said, at last.
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