Owen lay on the floor. His fur was moist and his eyes were glassy.
“Do you think it’s…I don’t know, the flu or something?” Toby asked. “Do you get the flu? I don’t know what to do here, Owen. It’s not like I can call a vet. Do you feel really bad?”
Yes.
“Have you thrown up?”
No.
“I’m going to make some calls and find out what I should do. I won’t say who I’m calling for. I’ll just, I don’t know, find out what they would do for a gorilla with your symptoms.”
Stay.
“I’ll stay, but I can’t stay for very long. You know I have to get back. You’re not dying, right? If you’re seriously ill, I’ll stay and see what I can do, but I don’t think you look that bad.”
Though he tried to hide it, Toby felt queasy. How long did forest monsters live? Owen had a lot of white and gray hair now, but so did Toby, and he planned to be around for at least another half century. Owen couldn’t be dying, could he?
“On a scale of one to ten, how bad do you feel?”
Sick.
“I know that. Give me a number.”
Sick.
Toby sighed. “Okay. I’ll stay with you.”
“Where were you?”
“I lost track of time.”
“How do you lose track of time when you’re outside? It’s dark out!”
“I walked farther than I realized, and I turned back when it got dark. What’s the big deal?”
“I was worried, that’s the big deal! I don’t like you wandering around the forest in the daytime, much less at night. What if you got hurt?”
“I didn’t.”
“I know you didn’t. But what would happen to Garrett if you did?”
“You’d write a hit single about your loss and make him rich.”
“Did you really just say that? You really just made that joke?”
“No-I mean, I did, but it was thoughtless. You’re absolutely right. I got lost in thought and wasn’t paying attention. I promise it won’t happen again.”
“I just got scared, you know?”
“I know.”
“You got me in all kinds of trouble,” Toby told Owen. “I hope you’re feeling better.”
Yes.