The Magic Meadow by Alexander Key Page B

rain-soaked pajamas were clinging to him, and he was shaking with cold. While he looked desperately around, hoping to see a wheelchair he could use, he clutched the bedcover about him and then began crawling to the door. He was still yards away from it when he heard Princess cry out again.
    Brick scrambled frantically ahead, yelling with all the power of his lungs, “Stop! Stop! Don’t take her away! Stop!”
    The turn of the corridor was in sight when he heard quick footsteps approaching. Suddenly Miss Preedy, who should have been off duty by now, appeared in the doorway. Behind her loomed a policeman.
    â€œWhat’s going on in here?” she demanded. “Where have you been? What are you doing on the floor?”
    â€œIt’s Princess—they’re taking her away! Please don’t let them,” he begged. “Please!”
    â€œShut up!” Miss Preedy snapped. “They’re taking her away because I ordered it.” Then, in a voice that shook with fury, “Where’s that thieving black woman?”
    Brick gaped at her. “Nurse Jackson is no thief!”
    â€œShe’s a thief and worse! I caught her stealing clothes and valuable drugs, and she assaulted me. I’ve ordered her arrest. Where is she?”
    â€œShe—she’s gone,” Brick faltered, and looked imploringly at the policeman. “Please, won’t you help me?”
    The policeman ignored Miss Preedy’s demand to search the rest of the building. “Is it proper to leave a patient lying on the floor like this?” He stooped quickly, scowling, and said, “What’s wrong, young feller?” Then he exclaimed, “Say, your head’s wet, and your face is red. Have you got some kind of fever?”
    At the word “fever,” Miss Preedy turned quickly and stared down at him. Her eyes widened, and she gasped.
    Brick bit his tongue so he wouldn’t even think of sunburn, which he knew no one would believe anyway, and an electric chain reaction skipped through his mind with a speed and logic that would have shamed any computer.
    Abruptly he cried, “Stop Princess! She’s got it too! It’s contagious—she’ll infect everybody! We—we’re supposed to be kept here … isolated….” He hesitated only a split second while he dredged up the worst thing he could think of, then blurted out, “Dr. Swartz said something about typhus.…”
    Brick didn’t know whether anything as terrible as typhus produced a flushed face or not, but he figured they wouldn’t be too well acquainted with it in Belleview either. At any rate, the dread word had the desired effect upon Miss Preedy, for she gave a stifled shriek like a strangling mouse and flew into the corridor.
    In a matter of seconds a white-jacketed, white-faced attendant hurriedly thrust a wheelchair containing a tearful pink-faced Princess into the ward, then turned and vanished. The policeman, muttering to himself, took time to lift Brick to a bed, then hastened out, closing and locking the door behind him.
    â€œOh, Brick!” Princess said in a voice that quavered, “I—I’m so glad to see you I could cry! How did you ever make them bring me back?”
    â€œTell you later. We’ve gotta get going. Where’s your bag?”
    â€œRight here in the wheelchair. My feet are on it. I told the man it had all my things in it, and that—”
    â€œCan you wheel yourself close to me?” he interrupted. “Hurry!”
    But he had hardly spoken when he saw that it was impossible. She was swaddled in blankets, and was securely strapped into the chair. Nor was there space enough between the beds for the wheels to roll, for the policeman had put him on the center bed which had belonged to Charlie Pill. The quickest solution was to get back onto the floor and take off from there.
    He slid to the floor and scrambled over beside Princess. She