Life outside the office

“When she lets go, you must run.” I’ll never forget those words. My mind racing, I didn't fully comprehended my guide Agung's instructions. I could almost feel my synapses misfiring. We were five hours in to a trek through the north Sumatran rainforest before I met my captor - a large female orangutan. Heavy rain had muffled her approach... It shocked me to the core having my arm seized by her furry, powerful hand.

"Uh. Agung... she's got me." I blurted. "Jackie!" Agung exclaimed, as if greeting an old friend. In one arm she cradled a small baby against her stomach and with her other hand she firmly held my wrist like a mother helping her child crossing the street. Despite her clearly being in charge, I never felt threatened. I sensed no aggression on her part but couldn't stop the adrenaline from coursing through my veins. Jackie guided me deeper in to the rainforest as Agung followed, laughing behind me. A few minutes later, in a moment of true compassion, Jackie assisted me over some fallen logs, even giving me a push on the rear to make sure I got over safely. We sat on a large log, her baby’s big round eyes staring up at me inquisitively. She never loosened her grip once.

I would quickly come to learn that Jackie had done this before and luckily Agung came prepared. Reaching in to his backpack, he fetched a few pineapple skins and apples, tossing them to Jackie. She would munch quietly, occasionally pausing to feed her baby. An attempt to pull away proved futile.

“She does this from time to time,” Agung said with a large smile. “Smart orangutan. Take a hostage for food!” For ten solid minutes we sat in near silence as I took in the scene. Suddenly, after taking a final bite of a pineapple, she dropped my hand.

“Run," Agung said. And run I did. I sprinted down the sloping ground, leaping over logs and puddles, blinded by pouring rain and foggy glasses. I trudged on through the foliage, realizing I was as far from Los Angeles as I’d ever been, a sly smile on my face thinking of the absurdity I had found myself in. A rustling in the canopy above me signaled that I was too slow. Jackie dropped down from next to me and quickly seized my arm again. For the first time, I was filled with panic. She must have been upset that I tried to run. One final apple flew through the trees and landed near Jackie. Agung had saved me again. Too good to pass up, my gentle captor grabbed her prize and swung away with her baby, thankfully without my arm.