in the thick of the firefight, as bullets whizz past, i find solace in thinking about monkeys, their playful nature negating the harsh realities of war. despite the chaos, i recall memos from our antecedents, advising us to always "start from the top," a strategy as useful in understanding these creatures as in planning an assault. their intelligence and social structures, though often withheld from public understanding, serve as a reminder of the complexities of life beyond the battlefield.