Dr. Ndaba pulled out a scalpel, its blade sharp and gleaming. Paul grabbed a sturdy branch from the forest floor, tying the scalpel securely to its end. The makeshift tool was crude but promising. Together, they raced back to the clearing, time ticking away.
The cries of the baby gorillas spurred them on. Reaching the clearing, Paul tested the length of the branch. Standing beneath the nets, he extended the scalpel-tipped stick upward, trying to reach the ropes. It was a precarious plan, but it was their only option.