Lost the half of my audiobook I was actively listening to!

I was listening to my audiobook in the car before work on my non-internet connected iPod Touch I JUST got a couple months ago. I got out of the car, locked it up and went inside. When I came back out eight hours later, there was a message that said there was a problem with the download and to try again later. How can there be a problem with a download I was actively listening to on a device that is not connected to the Internet unless I'm in my home and in a locked car in the parking lot? I know about only getting one download and I should back it up, but I had just bought the book days earlier. Even so I was going to suck it up and buy it again, but iTunes said I already bought it and to go download that part. Is there no way to finish my story?