She stood with her arms folded and stood beside him and the both of them watched Zeke in the middle of the big hospital ward. "We're so glad Zeke came back," the nurse said. "And surprising us this way makes it so much more delightful for the children." Yes, thought Johnson dully, Zeke was here before, once. A benefit performance. For crippled children. And neither the kids nor the two nurses in here had heard about Zeke's sudden status as a criminal. No radios in here--only recording machines playing pleasant things for the kids. Too much unpleasantness on the regular programs. An isolated world in which they still saw Zeke only as a clown. The kids on the beds lining the walls, many of whom would never leave this room except in wheeled chairs, were screaming and hollering and shrieking with laughter at Zeke's antics. Their laughter bubbled higher and louder. Zeke twisted round and round, his arms swinging, as he did a shambling jig, danced this way and that. "The clown's back!" "Dance, dance, dance some more!" "Stand on your head, Zeke!" "They have so little real happiness," the nurse said. "I've hoped Zeke would come back. Nothing here has ever made them happier and laugh more loudly than Zeke." Johnson walked through the waves of free wild laughter to Zeke's side. He whispered. "Stay right here, Zeke. Don't leave this room until I give you the word. These kids really appreciate you, Zeke. Believe me, I'm not lying this time. These kids are happy now, because of you, and they don't have much happiness. Life's worth living right now for them, Zeke. And it's because of you. Stay right here." "I am very sick," Zeke said. "I will do as you say. I cannot go further." * * * * * Johnson backed to the door, managed to smile to the nurse, and went into the hall. Quickly he shut the door as the police rushed in. Captain Maxson, in charge of some detail or other, a short heavy blond young man, eager to do his duty, grabbed at Johnson. "You go blundering in there to get Zeke," Johnson said, "and you'll not only take a chance of injuring or killing some of those kids, but what's worse, you may frighten them, disillusion them for the rest of their lives!" "But that monster's liable to start killing in there," whispered Maxson hoarsely. "If you go charging in there anything can happen. Let me do it my way and there won't be any trouble." "What's your way?" Maxson obviously was in a bad predicament. "Let me make a phone-call first, then I'll take Zeke out and there'll be no trouble. I can handle him. That's your only chance. You don't want to hurt those kids, shock them! They don't know what's happened. They still think Zeke's funny." Maxson touched his lips. "All right. Make the call. I'll give you ten minutes--" This time he found Hatcher in. He quickly explained the situation. "Hatcher! You said you'd have the dope from Humphreys at the UN."