Matt went to Doc's office the next morning, but when he tried to open the door it was locked. That door had never been locked in all the years he had known Doc, and the marshal felt a chill as he knocked softly. After a moment the old man came to the door, but instead of letting Matt in he came out.
"Doc?"
"Let's go get some coffee, Matt." The marshal started past him and Doc caught his arm. "Festus is all right. He's sound asleep and Ma Smalley is sitting with him. I just need to talk to you and Kitty before you see him." Matt didn't move and the old man sighed. "You're just going to have to trust me, Matt. Let's get Kitty and I'll tell you what's going on. I don't want to have to explain it twice."
Now Matt and Kitty sat in Delmonico's trying to understand what Doc was telling them. "He's got total amnesia from that blow to the head."
Matt was appalled. "He can't remember anything?"
"What do you do about that?" asked Kitty.
Doc shook his head. "The books don't have a lot to say about amnesia...at least nothing that's helpful. It has different causes and degrees, and it can last for minutes or days or months..." He ran his hand over his face. "Or forever." Matt and Kitty looked at each other, then the marshal spoke. "Well, what do you do for it, Doc?"
The old man shrugged helplessly. "I don't know, Matt. There's no treatment for amnesia. Sometimes the memory comes back suddenly, sometimes gradually over time. Sometimes never."
"Doc, you must have some idea!" Fear made the marshal sound angry and Doc blew up.
"Well, I don't!" snapped the old man. "Don't you think if I knew what to do, I would do it? There just isn't anything to do!" They glared at each other and Kitty interposed.
"You two need to settle down. Getting upset isn't going to help Festus."
"I know that, Kitty," said Doc gruffly. They sat in silence for a while, then Doc stirred restlessly. "The only thing I can think of is for us to spend a lot of time with him. Take him around town, show him places he knows, talk to him about things we've done together. Maybe if we keep reminding him who he is, he'll remember it."
"Can we see him now, Doc?" asked Kitty. The old man nodded and they left for his office.