The Gorilla and the Girl

The Gorilla and the Girl

In a clandestine underground chamber, a raucous celebration unfolds, filled with the district's notorious characters. Amidst the revelry, Hunk Bottles, the owner, keeps a watchful eye on his daughter, Lois, and Batty Bertello, the son of a police informant. Their secret romance blossoms, but Hunk's violent nature looms over them. Lois, drawn to Batty's strength, confides in him about her father's criminal activities, while Batty dreams of rescuing her from the oppressive environment. As tensions rise, Batty devises a plan to gather evidence against Hunk, believing it will free Lois from her father's grasp. However, a tragic turn of events occurs when Batty's father is killed in a street fight, leaving Batty desperate and determined to protect Lois. He learns that Hunk has discovered their secret and is furious. In a fit of rage, Hunk punishes Lois by locking her in a dark room with a gorilla, a threat he uses to instill fear. Lois, terrified, screams for help, and Batty, hearing her cries, rallies a group to confront Hunk. The crowd storms the Blue Lantern, demanding to know Lois's whereabouts. Hunk, cornered, insists she is merely being punished and that there is no gorilla. The crowd, fueled by anger and concern, pushes past Hunk to check on Lois. They find the room silent and dark, and when they finally illuminate it, they discover Lois lifeless on the floor, her clothing in disarray. The shocking revelation of her death leaves the crowd in disbelief, and Hunk's violent control over her life culminates in tragedy. The story explores themes of love, power, and the consequences of a toxic environment, ultimately leading to a devastating conclusion.

By Thomas Burke · First published 1922 · Genre: Drama, Crime, Thriller · 4,594 words

First lines

In an underground chamber near the furtive Causeway, Saturnalia was being celebrated. The room which lay below the sign of the Blue Lantern was lit by shy gas-jets and furnished with wooden tables and chairs. Strange scents held the air. Bottled beer and whisky crowded a small table at the far end, and near this table stood the owner of the house, Mr Hunk Bottles. At other small tables were cards and various devices for killing time and money. All those who were well seen in Limehouse and Poplar were here, and the informed observer could recognise many memorable faces. Chuck Lightfoot and Battling Burrows were engaged in a comparatively peaceable game of fan-tan with Sway Lim and Quong Tart; at any rate the noise they were making could not have been heard beyond Custom House. Tai Ling and his Marigold were there, very merry, and Pansy Greers, with an escort from the Pool, attracted much attention in a dress which finished where it ought to have begun. Ding-Dong was there: Perce Sleep; Paris Pete; Polly the Pug; Jenny Jackson's Provence Boys, so called because they frequented that café; the Chatwood Kid, from whom no safe could withhold its secrets; and, in fact, all the golden boys and naughty girls of the district were snatching their moment of solace. Old Foo Ah lolloped on a chair, slumbering in the heavy content of a kangaroo. That masculine lady, Tidal Basin Sal, sprawled on a shabby private-bar lounge with a little girl, whom she would alternately kiss and slap proprietorially. A nigger from the Polynesians made himself a nuisance to the air and the company; and on a table at the extreme end stood little Gina of the Chinatown, slightly drunk, and with clothing disarranged, singing that most thrilling and provocative of rag-times:

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The Gorilla and the Girl is listed on Textopian as a short story by Thomas Burke, dated 1922 CE.

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friendship · adventure · zoo · childhood · imagination · animals · courage · growth · fantasy · exploration · bonding · nature

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