When the old keeper forgot one latch, the 400-pound silverback reached through the steel

that made other people want to stand straighter.

“Tell me what you think,” he said.

I could have softened it. I almost did. But Tom had spent his life respecting animals enough not to lie about what they were, and I owed him at least the human version of that.

“I think Winston has known your normal longer than most people have,” I said. “I think he’s continue reading …