Free The Sacred Beasts by Bev Jafek

atmosphere. But, we are doing absolutely nothing to
halt global warming and have no reason not to expect the worst outcome: it is a
25 degree Fahrenheit increase in surface temperature almost overnight, not
centuries into the future. This will cause unspeakable devastation and ruin of
all planetary ecosystems. The issue of whether America, China or India will be
the top global economic power in the twenty-first century—the primary concern
of government at present—will then be completely trivial. We could easily have
a global catastrophe lasting centuries, perhaps millennia, and life returning
to barbarism if at all.
    “To avert the worst-case scenario will take truly intelligent
political leaders, something Americans seem to repudiate, as well as government
investment in scientific solutions equal in magnitude to the Manhattan Project
that developed the first atomic weapons. Scientists have already offered a
plethora of ingenious ideas—a ladder of light and heat deflectors as high as
the moon, for example. But, Americans will have to give up their fondness for
mediocrity, greed, short-range thinking, and the least intelligent political
candidates.”
    “These are very pessimistic views,” Sylvie said, “But I must say,
I have had great fears concerning global warming and know many who have.”
    “But we are at the end of the world down
here. The edges are in the air.”
    “I have seen a truck parked outside. If you are concerned with
global warming, are you not a hypocrite for using it?”
    “Touch é! Point well taken. It is a Toyota and gets good mileage. I have
always needed it to haul my scientific equipment. I assumed I would continue my
studies in retirement, but if not, I will make a sculpture of it on the lawn. I
envision a completely black truck with red horns added on top and a red tail at
the rear, along with a smaller sculpture of a dying animal half-stuffed into
the gas tank.”
    “ Une merveille !” she said and laughed. “There is
something else I wonder. You are a zoologist. Don’t you have your own theories
concerning violence and greed and how to control them, perhaps even your own
theories about your sexual preference?”
    Bull’s - eye ! I thought we were in the airy realms of intellectual
speculation, and now I am back with the fact of this woman’s beauty and
forthrightness, right in my living room and ready for anything. “Now I am going
to ask you a question,” I countered. “It is one I ask all of my zoology
students when we cover primatology. I guarantee you will learn something about
the world and yourself. It is a kind of secret.”
    “I love secrets! Interrogate me!” She laughed.
    Ready for anything, aren’t you? We will see about that. “There are
two chimpanzee species that are closest to us genetically or in terms of
evolution. One is patriarchal, heterosexual and much more violent, the males
also much larger than the females. The other is matriarchal. In its sexual
behavior, it is profligate, X-rated and bisexual. It is also much less violent,
the males and females similar in size. Now, I will give you two additional
facts: one species is more intelligent than the other and closer to us
genetically. Think of everything you know about human beings, their history and
culture, all you know and all you suspect. Which species is the one that is
both more intelligent and closer to us genetically?”
    Her face reflected astonishment and agitation. “That is a very
compelling question! I don’t know what to answer.” Then a sly, growing smile
began to form on her face. Who is playing with whom here? “I suppose I want it
to be the matriarchal, X-rated, less violent species . . . but I am afraid it
is the other.”
    “Well, let me be the first to inform you that nature and evolution
follow your wishes, not your fears in this case. It is the matriarchal,
bisexual, less violent and more intelligent bonobo chimpanzee that is our
closest evolutionary twin, not the more