"No," he said, "but what about that leopard and the rhinosaur?"
"The leopard wasn't hurting me," Johnny said. "She was trying to get me away before the men got me. She was my friend. As for the rhinosaur—well, Baba and me hadn't learned for sure about them, yet."
"But how can you talk to them?" Rick asked in wonder.
Johnny knew he had no choice, he had to trust Rick completely.
"It was Baba," Johnny said. Then, very quickly, he explained about Baba's clicks, and told Rick about his three secrets.
"Jeb said something about those clicks one time," Rick said thoughtfully. "I never dreamed it could be true."
"It is true, though," Johnny insisted.
Ed stuck his scarred face through the doorway.
"Well, kid, getting cold feet about the monk?"
"No, sir!" Johnny said. "Rick was just getting me some cube sugar."