Neanderthal Seeks Human(13)

At the center of the expansive room a massive arch, which was obviously meant to resemble an eroded sandstone canyon or cave, held an impressively large bar which also appeared to be carved out of eroded sandstone. To one side a man-made waterfall cascaded over the top of the arch into a pool at the base of the bar. The floor around the bar was illuminated with blue lights and, even from our place at the entrance, you could see the water flow beneath clear glass tiles. Furry movement caught my eye and I turned my attention to a previously unseen cage between our location and the center of the room.

“Look,” I leaned close to Elizabeth and pointed the cage, “Wait, that’s a person. There is a woman in there with the monkey and she... she is naked!” I covered my mouth as I noticed the woman was not alone. “Oh my God, that looks like... oh my God.”

Elizabeth started to laugh, I presumed it was at my expression and lack of speaking ability.

Upon closer inspection, I noticed the club did an admirable job of making it appear that the woman was in the cage when, in fact, she was encased in a separate Plexiglas shell within the cage. There were multiple cages in the club; some were at floor level and others were suspended in the trees. Each of the cages held one or more exotic primates or monkeys of the same kind as well as a Plexiglas cylinder which slipped into the center of the enclosure.

However, the woman was not alone within the shell.

I did a half spin and gaped around the room, my wide eyes moving from cage to cage, my mouth hanging open. Behind, or next to, or in front of, or wrapped around each naked woman was a man dressed in a furry suit which was obviously meant to match the primate or monkey in the cage; the woman and man were play acting and engaging in what I only allowed myself to term as open displays of affection. It was hard to tell for certain what they were doing without venturing close to the cage and studying them for a prolonged period of time. I felt a little sick to my stomach.

“That’s distressing.” I swallowed hard, trying to look anywhere but at the strange theater surrounding us. Elizabeth continued to chuckle lightly as she pulled me into the room and I shot her a hard glare. “You knew about this, didn’t you?”

She shook her head; tears of hilarity were pooling at the corners of her eyes as we navigated around trees; “No, no- I swear I didn’t! I think they’re just making out, I don’t think they’re...”

We stopped at the bar and stood in front of two stools which looked like they were covered in fur. I couldn’t bring myself to sit down. I glanced at her from beneath my lashes and couldn’t help the small smile which pulled at my mouth. She made no move to sit either.

I couldn’t speak any further due to my extreme discomfort with the situation and Elizabeth couldn’t speak as she was caught in a new tsunami of giggles. Her amusement finally became too contagious to ignore when the soundtrack of jungle noises included a brief call from a macaw. I couldn’t help the resigned sounding laugh when it bellowed from my chest.

Elizabeth leaned her elbow on the bar and turned her smiling eyes to mine, “I had no idea what to expect, honestly. One of my patients gave me the tickets. All he said was: ‘Be prepared for something outrageous.’” Elizabeth turned to the bar and signaled to the bartender, briefly inclining her head toward me, “I think they switch it out every few months and try to outdo themselves each time.”

“Is it always a jungle theme?” I twisted my lips to the side in an effort to keep from laughing as I offered a sympathetic tilt of my head toward one of the cages; “I feel so sorry for the poor monkeys. I don’t want to see that, I can’t even begin to imagine how they feel.” Suddenly, the fine hairs on the back on my neck stood at attention uncomfortably and I inexplicably shivered.

I had the overwhelming impression I was being watched.

I skimmed the floor of the club, felt that omnipresent pressure associated with uncertainty and nervous expectation, but couldn’t find any eyes pointed in my direction. I tried to shake off the sensation, hoping it was just the combination of being an unwilling voyeur as well as the lingering distress I felt about my state of undress.

Elizabeth’s smile faded as she considered me and she frowned at whatever expression she read on my face; “Hey,” she placed one of her hands over mind, “We don’t have to stay. Why don’t we have one drink then get out of here?”

I pressed my lips together and shook my head, “No, no. It’s ok. I’m good. I just-” I sighed and let my eyes move over the room, allowing myself to look beyond the cages to the crowd of clothed club-goers which I somehow missed when I entered.