Free Monkey Wars by Richard Kurti

It had all gone pretty smoothly apart from the group of cockroaches that had tried to invade his camp, but after he’d eaten a few, they got the message and retreated. Now he was just sitting and waiting for any sign of the instructors.
    It was a subtle splash, but Mico’s ears immediately pricked up. He had listened to the steady babble of the water in the gully long enough to detect even the slightest change in sound.
    He spun round and pulled back into the shadows, ears straining to track every movement.
    Someone seemed to be wading down the gully toward him; their approach was cautious, as if they were checking every shadow.
    Mico had expected the instructors to approach through the trees, as he’d assumed they wouldn’t want to get their fur wet, but he’d obviously misjudged them. Quickly he worked out a plan: he’d wait until they were nearly on him then he’d slip out, double back and hide under a tomb they’d already checked. Whatever happened, he was determined not to get caught.
    The splashing got closer and closer; they weren’t changing their course—this was going to be easy.
    Mico picked up a palm leaf and bored a small hole in it; then, lifting the leaf to his face, he leaned forward and peered down the gully. The leaf trick was something they’d just learned; it meant the whites of his eyes couldn’t be seen and it was surprisingly effective.
    He inched forward without a sound until he could see along the entire length of the stream…
    Then he froze in shock.
    Wading toward him was a small rhesus monkey up to her chest in water.
    Cold dread seized Mico, the fur on his back bristled, he felt his heart start to pound…the enemy was
here
!
    If this was an attack, he should raise the alarm. But if he moved they’d surely pounce on him.
    They?
    Mico looked again. The rhesus was alone. And far from being savage and dangerous, she looked rather vulnerable.
    Suddenly she stopped, looked around cautiously, then climbed out of the stream and darted into the undergrowth.
    Mico immediately followed. He had to track her, find out exactly what kind of sabotage she was planning. The rhesus was quick, and she seemed to know exactly where she was going. Dodging from shadow to shadow, she made her way to the perimeter wall, where she disappeared into the bushes.
    Mico crept down the path. He could hear the rustling of leaves as she clambered through the dense shrubs. She obviously hadn’t been taught the art of silent approach, unlike Mico, who slipped into the bushes and picked his way through the tangle of vegetation…
    Creeping up on the rhesus, undetected…
    Closer and closer…
    Until he glimpsed her fur in the moonlight. Incredibly, she was crouched by the same niche in the wall Mico had discovered, and she was slowly unwrapping the little bamboo bundle, until she held the monkey carving in her hand.
    Mico watched as she gazed at the three little monkeys longingly, running her fingers gently over the carved figures.
    Instinctively he knew she wouldn’t harm him.
    Despite his oath of allegiance to Lord Gospodar, despite the punishments he risked, Mico couldn’t help feeling that he wanted to help this rhesus. She was not a savage barbarian, but a frightened and lonely young monkey.
    “So it was yours?” he whispered.
    Papina spun round, fear pulsing through her body.
    Mico pulled a branch aside, revealing his face. “I’ve been looking after it for you.”
    Panic and confusion gripped Papina. She stumbled back, then turned and bolted toward the path.
    “Wait!” Mico urged. But it was no use, he could hear her feet scampering away. He had to stop her or she’d run right into one of the night patrols, and then she’d be in real trouble.
    Darting out of the shrubs, he leaped over a row of tombs and landed on the path in front of her.
    “Are you trying to get yourself killed?!”
he hissed.
    Papina lashed out with her fists, trying to knock him out of the way, but Mico grabbed her arms.
    “I