"Do you understand your orders?"
"Yes sir, I am to go to the designated meeting point each day making sure I am there from sunrise to a couple of hours after dark until I meet up with the Lone Ranger"
"Exactly, and the guards at the gate will be alerted to him possibly coming here himself if the Lone Ranger gets to the meeting place and you're not there because it's not time to meet"
"Surely he would stay until we meet?"
"With the possibility of Tonto being in trouble?"
"Okay you win"
Suddenly a soldier came running in
"Sir...the doctor...Tonto's room..."
The Captain runs to Tonto's room knowing that it was urgent due to the fact that Tonto had been getting progressively worse during the month, despite the doctor's best efforts, he gets there just as the doctor closes the door
"Doctor, how's Tonto?"
"He...he's dead, he died a few minutes ago, I couldn't succeed in getting him through the illness"
"You tried your best doctor"
"Sir...if it's him we..."
"I know Lt. I know"
"Doctor, are you sure there's nothing more to be done, some way to revive Tonto?"
"No sir, I tried everything"
"I understand, Lt. I will be the one to tell him the news in person, as such I will be the one to go to the meeting point"
"Sir?"
"Not for you doctor, not right now, I...I leave the arrangements to you"
"What about you sir?"
"I have to meet someone"
Two weeks later the Lone Ranger came two hours after sunrise and saw the commanding officer of the fort waiting for him
"Halt, and identify yourself"
"I have no name except the Lone Ranger, proof of my identity is that my horse is called Silver, and here's a bullet of mine as well"
The Lone Ranger hands over a silver bullet which proves that it was indeed the Lone Ranger
"Where's Tonto? I was hoping to meet him at the fort"
"Come, I will explain everything at the fort, however you should know that Tonto is gone"
"Gone?"
"Yes, the doctor will explain in more detail, however I can tell you that he died from illness"
"I see, how long ago?"
"Two weeks, he...he wasn't aware at all while ill, he kept calling for you despite the reports he had given to your friends and us right before he collapsed, at least at first, near the end..."
"I see"
The two head to the fort where the doctor explains how severe the pneumonia had been the entire time he was at the fort
"The Captain told me he had a fever the entire time he was here"
"Yes he did, he came here to help with a problem but was already becoming ill by the time he arrived, he just managed to give the commander a report about your apparent death before he collapsed. The fever raged the entire time despite my efforts, as it is it took soldiers who spoke Tonto's language to get him to take any medicine since he really only listened to you in that state. Near the end he wasn't even aware of where he was or that he was severely ill, all he was aware of was that he was oh so very tired, medicine was nearly impossible at that point"
"Was his death peaceful at least?"
"Yes, as peaceful as I could make it considering I had a hard time giving him medicine to help him sleep"
"I see...thank you for that doctor"
"I wish I had been able to see him through the illness"
"It's not your fault, this illness could have happened at any time, striking at random, taking lives at random as well, I know you did everything in your power to help him, where is he buried?"
"I'll take you to the grave, it's...it's inside the fort, despite the risks of doing so I felt he deserved better than leaving him outside to be discovered by those who wouldn't understand and dishonor his grave"
And so the doctor leads the Lone Ranger to where he had buried Tonto. The Lone Ranger would ultimately stand there for two hours before leaving the grave to help the commanding officer of the fort with his Indian problem
"I've done what I could while caring for Tonto but..."
"This problem is complicated I know"
Fortunately a peaceful solution is found within two weeks and the Lone Ranger leaves the fort to continue his fight for justice. What neither the Lone Ranger or the fort commander knew was that the doctor had lied to the both of them regarding Tonto, who was actually alive but hidden from everyone for his own safety. What the fort commander was unaware of was that the doctor had been threatened by some Indians regarding Tonto's life and as such to save Tonto he had to "kill" Tonto. In secrecy and the cover of getting some supplies that were needed for Tonto's "burial" the doctor had managed to sneak Tonto away from the fort to a hidden cave that only the doctor was aware of. He would sneak away each night to care for Tonto who was slowly but surely getting better during the time it took for both the Lone Ranger to get to the fort and the time that the Lone Ranger helped with the problem, the fever was finally broken and Tonto was now aware of his surroundings and regaining his strength, he also understood the reasons behind the doctor's thoughts, though he wasn't happy with the doctor about lying to his friend, but being weak still there wasn't much he could do about it at the moment. Though he was surprised to hear from the doctor that the Lone Ranger was alive the doctor managed to prove what had been told even without the Lone Ranger actually there
"I will explain everything to my commanding officer once you are well again"
"Me Tonto leave now"
"No Tonto, not yet, you still are too weak, but soon, I will let you go"
"Where Kemosabe?"
"I don't know Tonto, he left after the problems were resolved, thinking you were dead, there's a grave Tonto, one I faked to keep you safe"
"Tonto understands, not happy, but me understand why doctor lie, me sleep now"
Tonto does indeed go to sleep and the doctor knows that Tonto would be well enough within a week, after which he would have to reveal the truth to his commanding officer, and try and find some way of letting the Lone Ranger know the truth as well. His prediction proved correct a week later Tonto was no longer dizzy when moving even slightly and his appetite was back to normal as well
"Well, you're well enough to leave, however I want you to come back to the fort with me first"
"What for?"
"Because quite frankly I highly doubt my commander will understand that I speak the truth and my reasons without you with me"
"Tonto go with you, than find Lone Ranger"
"No message for him?"
"Him think Tonto dead, maybe not believe message from Tonto"
"You thought he was dead and he turned out to be alive"
"You say I die, him believe doctor"
"I see...maybe you should still send a message, just in case"
"Wait...Tonto not go to fort"
"Tonto..."
"You bring commander here, fort think me dead too, might not let Tonto in, even with you saying to"
"Didn't think of that, very well we'll do things your way, however not here"
"Me wait at designated meeting point for Lone Ranger and me"
A few hours later found the doctor at the fort
