Lance Drecker was very curious as to exactly what Chongo had gotten himself mixed up in this time, but he respected Chongo's need to keep it under wraps for the time being and he didn't press the matter further. He didn't have to, because he was not aware of any crime being committed as yet. He would definitely start looking for sick chimps, though. Small sick chimps. Maybe dead ones. There was one other matter that needed talking about. Drecker finished his hot dog, lit up a fresh cigar, and took a drag on it. "You remember Kerchak?" asked Drecker, blowing a smoke ring.

"Yeah," said Chongo. "You bet I do. You don't forget a face as ugly as that one. What about him?"

"He's back out on the street. Since Saturday. Back in the bosom of the North Side Gorillas. I thought you oughta know about that."

"Is that right? Hmmmm. Should I be worried?"

"Maybe you should." Drecker stroked his chin pensively. "I got news through my sources at the Big House that he was promising to get even with you as soon as he got a chance to. He is one bad ape, that one, so I'd watch my back if I was you."

"Thanks for the tip," said Chongo. "I will. I always do. You figger it's just personal or do I gotta watch the whole North Side mob?"

"Naw," said Drecker. "It's strictly personal. The North Side boys got no reason to be on your tail any more. It's just Kerchak's business. Of course, he might have a couple of friends to help him out. You never know. But he's an arrogant son of a bitch, so he'll probably figger he can handle it alone."

"Just what I need," grumbled Chongo. "I got more important fish to fry right now than some lamebrain gorilla with a chip on his shoulder. I guess he figgers the bash on the head he gave me don't count."

"Kerchak doesn't figure much," responded Drecker, with grim humour. "He's a simpleminded killing machine looking for his next felony charge. I wish we coulda kept him in longer, but he plea-bargained his way into a short sentence, and actually reduced it with good behaviour, if you can believe that."

"Hmmm. Good behavior, huh?" Chongo was surprised by that. It hadda be a first for Kerchak. It only meant one thing...Kerchak had had a very strong motivation to get out as soon as possible, and that meant only one thing in this case...he'd been counting the days left till he could get out and kill Chongo Chimp for kicking him in the coconuts. Simple. Kerchak's mind was a book you could read in 10 seconds or less without even bothering to turn the page. Like one of those Tarzan and Jane books they inflicted on the little chimps in grade school.

"See Tarzan. Tarzan has a ball. Look, Jane! Tarzan is throwing the ball. Throw, Tarzan, throw! Will Jane catch the ball? Oh, look! Jane dropped the ball! Tarzan must teach Jane to catch the ball. Teach, Tarzan, teach Jane!"....GAAAAH!

That stuff was mind-numbing, but they kept on repeating it regardless, year after year, torturing generations of innocent little primates. Human see, human do. Typical. No self-respecting ape would write stuff that stupid. Well, maybe Kerchak would...if he could write at all, only Kerchak would write something more like: "Tarzan not like Jane drop ball! Tarzan kill! Bundolo!!! Oh, look! Jane dead now. Too bad for Jane!" Chongo chuckled as he thought of Kerchak's version of Grade 1 English.

"What's the laugh?" inquired Drecker.

"Oh, nothin'," said Chongo. "I was just thinkin' of the dumb look Kerchak is gonna get on his face when I get the drop on him, and he lands his fat face in the "monkey farm" again. Anyway, I think I better drift. We've caught up on what we need to for now. Call me if you get any news at all."

"I will," said Drecker. "Watch yerself, short stuff."

They shook hands, and Chongo swung easily up into a handy tree and made off for the other side of the park, leaving barely a rustle of leaves in his wake. Those chimps sure knew how to get around. No one but another primate could really tail a chimp on foot when he wasn't wearing his shoes.

Drecker threw down the butt of his cigar and ground it out, took one casual glance around, saw nothing unusual and headed for the Bananamobile, which sat glistening by the curb in all its early 30's magnificence. There were several apes and monkeys standing around admiring it from a discreet distance, and they looked at Drecker with something like admiration as he walked up. There was a man who respected primates, and had dealt on friendly terms with the King. You didn't meet too many like that. Drecker was on the level. He was a straight shooter.

Drecker tipped his hat slightly to them and got in. It paid to have good relations in ape town. Too many fools on the force had no conception of that, and they paid the price for it by getting no help or cooperation whatsoever from the simian crowd, which was exactly what they deserved for their bigotry. A dumb cop was the same as a dumb ape...you couldn't tell him anything he hadn't thought up himself, and what he had thought up wouldn't fill a small teacup. Drecker started up the Cadillac, which emitted a deep   throaty purr. He pulled away from the curb and eased into the passing traffic. Time to make a few phone calls and see what turned up. Something would. It was just a matter of time and persistence, and Drecker was nothing if not persistent when he put his mind to it, which was just about always.

* * * *