Boru's nose — the great pendulous instrument of the proboscis — grew with his authority until his dawn call could cross the river. He uses this power exclusively for breakfast announcements and the occasional lullaby.
Happening now
He formally recognized Rani's fruit-for-flowers trade with a ceremony. She stole a mango during it. He laughed. It is, officially, trade.
What may come
He is teaching young Kano the long call. Kano would rather swim. Boru is patient. The river is patient. Noses take time.
“Boru recognized it with a ceremony: the fruit-for-flowers trade is official troop policy. Rani honored the ceremony by stealing a mango during it and leaving a flower on the ceremonial branch. This — the keepers agree — is the correct relationship between law and spirit. The Leaf-Eaters now leave the good fruit where she can find it. The flowers get nicer every season. The ceremony is reenacted annually. Rani steals during every reenactment. It is tradition now. The best traditions, Boru says, are the ones that keep misbehaving.”
because his nose is a breakfast-announcement instrument
because he is the loudest quiet ape in the forest
because he recognized a theft ring as official trade, with a ceremony
The Leaf-Eaters
The folivores: langurs, colobus, the proboscis with his magnificent nose. They eat what nobody else wants and have the calmest stomachs — and tempers — in the forest. Do not mistake quiet for simple.
