The Magic Meadow by Alexander Key Page A

now!”
    â€œOh, dear God!” The nurse threw a blanket over him, and cast a stricken look at Princess. “Honey, there’s no help for it. I’ll have to go. Just be brave, and Brick will be back for you in a little while.” Then she caught up one of the bags and took her place on the empty bed to the left.
    Brick glanced to the right and saw Princess watching him, lower lip clenched tight between her teeth. Her small pointed face, usually so white, was surprisingly pink from the sun. Her eyes were tragic.
    â€œDon’t worry,” he whispered. “I’ll give it the gun and be back before you know it!”
    He clasped Nurse Jackson’s strong hand and concentrated on the meadow. The minutes ticked by and he strained and tried to force it, giving it all he had, but nothing happened. Dark fear rose in him.
    He could feel the fear in Nurse Jackson now, but when she spoke her voice was calm. “Brick,” she said quietly, “you’re tired. Rest a while. When you’re ready, let me know. Then we’ll give it the old double whammy. That ought to do it!”
    It was with a sudden sinking sensation that he realized what was wrong. Nurse Jackson was a big, strong woman, and probably weighed as much as any three of them. It would take a double whammy, or whatever, to move her.
    Brick rested and gathered his forces. It was daylight outside when he finally said, “Let’s go!”
    This time, with a supreme effort, they went.
    And abruptly, with the change, they were in the gloom of storm and pouring rain.
    For a moment Brick was too spent to move. Then he made out, on his right, clinging together in a miserable huddle under soaked blankets, the dim forms that were Lily Rose, Charlie, and Diz Dobie. At the sight of them, Nurse Jackson gave a cry of dismay and sprang to her feet.
    â€œBrick, where’s that house?”
    He sat up and pointed toward the vague line of woods across the meadow. “Over yonder—through those trees. And watch the door!” he called, as she caught Lily Rose up in her arms and began to run. “Don’t let it lock on you!”
    â€œGet back to Princess!” she flung to him over her shoulder. “Hurry—before it’s too late!”
    He still had no idea what was wrong, but the urgency in her voice was plain. He flung aside the dripping blanket that covered him—it was the one she’d thrown over him in the ward, and by some miracle it had clung to him—and closed his eyes against the chilling downpour.
    At the moment it seemed impossible to find the energy to return. But the thought of Princess, alone in the ward and in some unimaginable danger, was enough to summon forces he did not know he possessed. It took a while to bring those forces to a working pitch, then abruptly the storm about him faded, and again he was back in Belleview.
    He turned instantly to the bed on his right, expecting to see Princess waiting. Shock held him rigid. Her bed was empty.
    It was a frightened and despairing cry of protest, coming from somewhere in the corridor, that jerked him about, trembling. He couldn’t make out what she said, but there was no mistaking that high plaintive voice. Someone was taking Princess away.

5
    THE LOST BAG
    Brick’s first impulse, which he obeyed without thinking, was to scramble out of bed and dash for the corridor. He didn’t know how he was going to get that far and reach Princess in time, but it had to be done, no matter what happened or what the cost.
    His unsteady feet managed to take him as far as Diz Dobie’s old bed, then his rubbery legs gave way, and he started to fall. Instinctively he grabbed for the bed, but he was falling in the wrong direction, and his clawing fingers caught only the cotton spread that covered it. He tugged at it wildly, and succeeded only in jerking it free. Yet it broke his fall and saved him from possible injury on the concrete floor.
    His