How does Uncle help Salva through this traumatic event?

In Chapter Seven, Salva is overwhelmed by the grief and fear that accompany Marial's death. He clings to Uncle, looking around constantly. A lion took Marial in the night. He never would have walked off on his own, so the lion must have seen the small and weak boy and took him. Uncle tries to comfort him, telling Salva he has a gun and they will soon be out of lion country. Salva, however, despairs; he has lost his family and now his friend.