Rick shook his head, then winced. "It's a crazy idea," he said. "I don't know why. I just know it is. I could tell you, but I can't seem to think." There were sirens far away, but getting closer. Scotty put a hand on Rick's shoulder. "Don't try to think now, old buddy. The ambulance is coming. Plenty of time to talk when you're feeling better." Rick nodded weakly. It was getting very dark. He closed his eyes and leaned back. Scotty kept a hand on his shoulder. The ambulance, led by a state trooper, pulled into the grounds. An attendant and an intern jumped out. "Who's hurt?" the intern asked. "This one first," Steve said. "Then the one on the ground." Rick felt a hand grip his chin and opened his eyes. The intern was examining his face with a strong flashlight beam. "Messy but superficial," the intern said calmly. "I'll bet it hurts." "You win," Rick muttered. "How did it happen?" Steve described Rick's accident briefly. The intern nodded. He shined the light into Rick's eyes and watched the pupils contract. "Possible concussion. We'll check at the hospital." He knelt and took a roll of cloth from his bag and unwrapped it to disclose hypodermic needles in a sterile inner wrapper. He fitted a needle to a syringe and found a bottle of alcohol and a vial of sedative. Working swiftly, he wiped the vial top and Rick's arm with alcohol, then drew fluid into the syringe. "This will help the pain," he said, and pressed the needle into Rick's arm. "Now," the doctor said briskly, "let's look at the next one. What happened to him?" "Fish spear in the side," Steve replied. Scotty and the attendant helped Rick to the ambulance. He lay down on the stretcher gratefully and closed his eyes. Scotty stayed with him while the attendant went to help with the bodyguard. "Quite a party," Rick said faintly. Scotty covered him with a blanket. "You missed most of it, but I'll give you the details tomorrow. How are you feeling?" "Groggy." Rick's eyes were closed. He was never sure at what point he drifted off into deep slumber. He knew only that he had no recollection of the bodyguard being placed next to him or of the ambulance leaving Calvert's Favor. Rick awoke to bright daylight. The pain in his face had subsided to a faintly aching stiffness and he felt fine. He knew from the surroundings that he must be in a hospital, probably at Cambridge. He groped for the call bell and found it wound around the bedpost. He pushed it. In a few moments a nurse came in. "Well," she greeted him, "how are you this morning?" "Hungry," Rick replied promptly. The nurse, a pleasant-faced woman of middle age, smiled. "That's a good sign. Let's see what we can do. Ready for visitors?" "Send them in," Rick said cheerfully. "Or is it just one?" "Two." The nurse went to the door and beckoned. "I'll send in some breakfast," she said, and left.