Charlie the gorilla liked pornography. He wasn’t very choosy though, and it wouldn’t have mattered if he were. Charlie was in love with Maisie and had the distinction of being the first genetically altered gorilla. Rumor in America was that the President of the United States was cloned, which in the end would mean more funding for their research. She and her husband Dr. Gary Garnett believed the research was the thing. It would sustain their family (if they chose to have one) for generations, and secure them a place in the history books.
Gary had reminded her of the deadline and Maisie was starting to worry. 18 months had come and gone.
Charlie refused to mate (which wasn't unusual under captivity), so Maisie got a tape of gorilla porn from the library to show Charlie to help sped the process along.
Charlie didn't seem very interested in Henrietta (the gorilla they had chosen for him to mate with). He sniffed her a few times then walked away to a private section of the cage. Occasionally he'd turn violent towards her and the two would have to be separated.
It was imperative that they mated. The project research grant wouldn’t be renewed if they didn't start breeding him. She wasn’t even sure if his unique genetic physiology would be passed on.
Charlie was aroused by the tapes, but didn't consummate his urge with Henrietta.
Charlie spent time inside his own head thinking.
What follows is a rough translation of Charlie’s thoughts, provided by the Genetic Studies Institute archives….
Maisie agreeable face.
Maisie feeds me.
Maisie touches, me. Charlie love her. Other like me name Henrietta, want Charlie to put thing inside to make copy in tiny form. Don't want her. Want Maisie. Need Maisie to make family. Happy we be. Two not three.
Gary talk to her. Gary touch her. Make her smile.
She calls them mary-eed two-gather.
Gary a--hole.
Charlie hate him.
Gary hate Charlie. (Forcing me to watch other-of-kind making copies in open field like animal. Plays over and over, but Charlie not animal, Charlie not man, Charlie just Charlie…)
Gary says he get other like me with thing to blow out monkey arse if swing that way.
Hate him.
No want Henrietta. Henrietta much too hair to want.
Want Maisie. Smooth. Smelling good. Maisie.
Gary come to feed and make fun, tease about gorilla porn and puts arm just right for pulling. Snap it off like hanging branch. Red water rain on my face.
I break other one to stick in arse for funny joke.
Maisie comes in with noise coming out of mouth to make Charlie ears hurt. Make sad Charlie. Charlie give her arm of man for love of her.
Others come. Too many to fight. Hold me down.
On TV: others making tiny form.
Gorilla porn.
Maisie. Doesn’t love me.
Takes sharp stick and put in arm, saying “Goodbye Charlie.”
Charlie not going nowhere. Charlie just sleepy.
Close eyes.
Will see Maisie tomorrow.
Tomorrow we be two and not three.
Thinking one word:
Maisie.
Happy we be. Two not three.
Ma-
sieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
