g man.

Mario heard the orderly say, "All right, Vukich, get that filled at the
dispensary. Take one after each meal and come back to see us when the
bottle's empty. Unless the pain gets worse, of course. But I don't think
it will."

"Thanks, doc," the patient drawled.

Both men looked up then and saw Mario.

"Hi, Joe," the orderly smiled. "What's wrong with you? You don't look
sick!"

"Nothin' wrong with me that a day outside couldn't cure."

"Or a _night_," laughed Vukich.

Mario ran a hand over his sleek, black hair. "Better a night, sure," he
grinned back. Then he sobered and said to the orderly, "Warden wants to
see the doc. Right away."

"Mr. Halloran sick?"

"Naw ... it's business. Urgent business."

"Real urgent, Joe? The doc's doing a pretty serious exam right now."

Mario paused, then said, "You guys might as well know about it. There's
a general and a civilian in the warden's office. They're talkin' about
something outside. Warden wants the doc in on it."

Sudden tension flowed out between the three men. Down the hall, a
patient screamed suddenly in the psycho ward. The three of them jerked,
then grinned feebly at each other.

Vukich said slowly, "Well, you don't start playing catch with atom bombs
without dropping a few. Wonder what it's like ... out there?"

"We haven't _heard_ that it's any different," the orderly's voice lacked
conviction.

"Don't be silly," Vukich said flatly. "Ever since they moved the dames
from Tehama into C block we've known _something_ happened."

"Get the doc," Mario said. "I've got to be on my way."

"Me, too." Vukich's thin, clever face looked thoughtful.

The others stared blankly at him and said nothing.

* * * * *

As Alfred Court, captain of the prison, strode down the flower-bordered
path that led from the shops unit past A block to the administration
building, a side door in A block clanged open and a sergeant came out.
The sergeant turned without seeing his superior and walked hurriedly
toward the administration wing.

"Hey, sarge!" Court called. "What's the hurry?"

The sergeant whirled, recognized the captain and quickly saluted.

"Glad to see you, sir," he said. "Just the man I was looking for!"

"Good enough. What's on your mind? Better tell me as we go for the
warden's in a hurry to see me."

The two men walked abreast, both big, although Court lacked any trace of
the sergeant's paunch. As they walked and