Pocketville Lost Diamonds: VOLUME 2

Chapter 20: bad news

-YOU DID WHAT?! - screamed Mela.

The four Royal Guards were into the Scans Room, in the same corridor of the Infirmary but far enough away to not be heard by Ava.

- I… accidentally… eat… it. - repeated the huge dog, keeping a big, dumb and embarassed smile. He really wished to be anywhere else but there.

Danny was lying on his back on the bed, with tummy up, while doctor Pepita was using a special magical device to scan his chest.
That procedure, pretty similar to the x-rays that humans use in hospitals, was keeping the hare busy on a wooden display.

Despite it, she appeared to be totally shocked since the moment when the Guards asked her to localize a diamant inside the dog’s stomach. She exactly understood what they meant, after all. 

- You… you… - Mela turned to William, expecting him to say something that could disclaim it.
The Golden Retrieved shook his head, sighing. He kept his ears low, staring at the other dog like he just had to decide how to destroy him.

Balloon, who already knew it, was leaned against the wall and was hissing toward the Mastiff:
- it is possible that you swallow everything you find in your mouth, Daniel?!

Mela raised on the hind paws and slapped his head down, in panic: - SPIT IT! SPIT IT!
- Hey, hey, hey, it doesn’t work like that!
- Better for you to work like that, YOU KIND OF IDIOT! - meowed the tabby cat - Now who is going to tell this to the princess?!

- Erm… - Danny turned to William, hopeful - She won’t get angry with you, right? When she’ll vent some anger I’ll personally go to apologize…
- Don’t you try! - barked him - I’m not saving you from facing your problem, brainless nincompoop!
- But she’ll turn veeery angry for this! - whined Danny, lying on his chest and making puppy eyes at his boss.
- Anger is your last problem! You may end up in jail or worse, Danny!
- But I didn’t do it by purpose!
- No, of course no. Borning that dumb isn’t your fault.
- But it’s not my fault, I was jumping… and I was worried for Ava… and…

- Here it is! - said Pepita. She took off the wood layer and showed it to the animals: an orange picture of Danny’s digestive system appeared to be printed on it. In the exact center of his stomach, upside down, was well visible a small heart-shaped drawing.

- ..oh.
- Doctor, is there anything you can do to take it out?! - asked William, anxious.
- ...not really, I guess. - the rabbit looked down, bitter.
- What?! Can’t you open and take it? - exclaimed Balloon, upset.

Danny made a scared whin, lowering his ears.

- It depends, if the diamond matters more than your friend’s life.
- WHAT?!
- Stomach is not a sterile zone for an operation, due to digestive juices…
- But we need to take it! - insisted William.

- Your determination is scaring me, William…

- Shut up, Danny! I mean, if surgery is not safe, what else can we do? Can’t he throw it up?
- Not anymore, I fear.
- Ah, this is the last thing we needed…
- If you need the diamond now, there is no other way. If you can wait…

William opened wide his eyes:
- What?

- Your intestine is big enough for that diamond, Danny. We can… wait for it.
- You mean… to let it…?
- Yes. According to my medical knowledge, it’s the safest way. - Pepita shrugged, embarrassed. She knew that what she was suggesting was the last thing they wanted to hear.

William sat down and looked down to the floor, blushing like a tomato. Balloon looked first at Danny, then to the shorter dog and then to the scan, shocked. Mela didn’t say a single word.