He realized one day that he could speak, but kept it to himself. Alone in his compound at the zoo he had ample time to watch the tourists and their children stare, gawk and taunt him for hours on end. His meals came regularly. His surrounds kept clean, A mate would be nice, but it wasn't worth exposing his ability to ask for one. If they knew he could not only think but talk as well, he only imagined what they would do. >KB
