Prologue Summary

Hope Clearwater lives on Brazzaville Beach, a beach only recently named as such, in a small remodeled home. She is taking a break from her life in order to sort out some meaning for it. Her story is really of two major events in her life: a failed marriage in England, which sent her to Africa; and a lengthy period of time observing chimpanzees as a part of a scientific study. Hope wonders how to begin her story and determines it must begin with Clovis.

Clovis is one of several chimps being observed by Hope. In her opinion, he is more stupid than the others but endearing anyway. He has come to accept Hope's presence as have the other chimps in his group. Clovis is sitting under a mulemba tree, inert and occasionally sniffing his finger, enjoying the odor from whatever he has...