8 The Leader of the Lions

CHAPTER 8 The Leader of the Lions Doctor Dolittle's first job was to separate the sick animals from the healthy ones. He then

asked Chee-Chee and his cousin to build a grass hut. He brought all the healthy monkeys to the hut and gave them a needle full of medicine in the arm. At first the monkeys were scared of the needle, but they understood it would prevent them from getting the monkey sickness. They arrived from all the hills and valleys surrounding the Land of the Monkeys. It took three days and three nights to give needles to all the monkeys. Chee-Chee and his cousin also built another house. This one had a lot of beds in it. Doctor Dolittle put all the sick monkeys in this building. But there were too many sick monkeys and not enough well monkeys to nurse them. So Doctor Dolittle sent word out into the jungle. He asked other animals to come help. Leopards, antelopes, and giraffe all arrived to pitch in. The lions, however, were a different story. The leader of the lions was very proud. He arrived at the house of sick monkeys to speak with Doctor Dolittle.

"Do you really expect me to help the monkeys?" he asked. "I am the king of the lions. I am the king of all the beasts! I don't have time to waste on sick monkeys!" The lion's voice was quite frightening. Doctor Dolittle did his best to not sound scared. "Now, listen to me. The day may come when the lions are sick. If you don't help the monkeys now, you might find the lions all alone when they need help." "The lions are never in trouble," the lion roared. "The lions only make trouble." He walked back into the jungle thinking he was rather smart and clever. When the leopards heard about the lions, they left, too. Then the antelopes said they knew nothing about nursing monkeys. They were too shy to speak like the lion. They pawed the ground and did not look Doctor Dolittle in the eye as they spoke. Doctor Dolittle became very worried. Without

the animals' help, how could he tend to all the sick monkeys? When the king of lion returned home, his wife ran out to meet him. She was very upset. "One of the cubs won't eat," she cried. "I don't know what to do! He hasn't eaten anything since last night." She began to cry. The king of the lions went in to look at his cubs. One boy ran up to meet his father. He was his usual happy and excited self. The other little cub did not look well. He lay in his bed and could only smile weakly at his father. The lion kissed both his cubs on the tops of their heads. His wife was waiting for him outside. He told her about meeting Doctor Dolittle. "He wanted us to care for the sick monkeys. The monkeys! I told him that a lion would never do such a thing." "Excuse me?" his wife said. She was angry. "Why would you say that?" The king of the lions was shocked by his

wife's reaction. He sat quietly listening. "All the animals are talking about this wonderful man," she continued. "They say he can cure any kind of illness and he's very nice. He's the only man in the world who can speak animal language. And now, when we have a sick baby, you say something to offend him!" "But, but, dear," the lion stammered. "Go back to the doctor right now!" she cried. "Tell him that you're sorry. Take all the lions and all the other animals with you. Do whatever the doctor asks you to do. If we're lucky, he'll come to look at our sick cub later." So the lion went back to the doctor. He said, "I happened to be passing this way and thought I'd look in. Have you found any help yet?" "No," Doctor Dolittle said. "I haven't, and I'm very worried." "That's too bad," the lion said. He tried not to look sheepish. "Well, since you're having so much trouble, I suppose I could help in some

way." "Thank you!" Doctor Dolittle said. "That's so kind of you." "I told the leopards to come back. The antelopes will also do their share," the lion added. "That is indeed kind of you," the doctor said. "We'll get to work right away!"