Clim, son of Porto, has been selected as one of the humans to be handed over to the apes as a slave. At the hand-over he escapes and runs away. Pursued by the gorillas, the fugitives help him to hide. Later, when the humans of the village search for him, he runs to them announcing he has found more human slaves for the apes. This betrayal imprisons the astronauts, but Clim is taken for 'judgement' by the gods. This ritual inevitably means death for the victim and reinforces the brutal slavery system.