Summary

The novel opens with a section titled Characters in which there are 17 illustrations of some of the main characters. The next section is titled Typewriter. Sally Jones, a gorilla, writes that her friend (Chief Henry Koskela) gave her a 1908 Underwood No. 5 typewriter. Sally plans to write down her story in an effort to end the nightmares she has about them. She says she is going to write “the truth about the murder of Alphonse Morro” so that “everyone knows what really happened” (Location 237).

Part One. Chapter 1 is titled "Me, the Chief and the Hudson Queen." Sally is a gorilla, and she does not know how she came to live among the human world. Henry saved her from being thrown overboard on one ship and from a cruel master when they met again later. He bought her but does...