"O.K., Dad," Johnny said. Everything was going to be all right, but he'd need every ounce of courage he had.
A few minutes later Jeb, the old guard, let Johnny and his father into the store house.
The little bear sat quietly in his cage. There were a dozen uncracked nuts on the floor. An untouched bar of chocolate lay beside him.
"I'm sure glad to see you!" said old Jeb. "Ever since he got here the little critter's been sitting just like that, kind of crying to himself. He wouldn't pay attention even when I gave him the chocolate."
"He'll be all right now," Johnny's father said.
"It probably oughtn't to bother me so much." Jeb closed the door and stood there with them. He took off his headglobe and scratched his head. "But my partner'n me caught one of the little ones once. We watched it just waste away, crying like that all the time. I always figured we should have let it go. But then there was always the chance it'd grow up and be worth a million." He glanced down at Johnny, who was removing his armor, and came to a stumbling halt. "Sorry, kid," he said. He put his headglobe back on and went out.
As soon as he saw Johnny, the little bear's ears perked up.
"Hi!" he clicked.
Johnny winked.