ips to each region."

"So," Lansing went on, "learning about you meant there was another batch
of passengers to round up. And when I was told the warden was
yourself--I know something of your career, Mr. Halloran--I was
delighted. Frankly," he grinned at Knox, "we're long on military and
scientific brass and short on people who can manage other people."

"I see." Halloran pressed a buzzer on his desk. "I think some of my
associates ought to be in on this discussion."

"Discussion?" barked Knox. "Is there anything to discuss? We simply want
you out of here in an hour--"

"Please, general!" the warden said quietly.

* * * * *

If the gray-clad man who entered the office at that moment heard the
general's outburst, he gave no sign. He stood stiffly in front of the
warden's big desk, a little to one side of the two visitors, and said,
"Yes sir, Mr. Halloran?"

"Hello, Joe. Know where the captain is?"

"First afternoon inspection, sir." He cocked an eye at the clock on the
wall behind Halloran. "Ought to be in the laundry about now."

The warden scribbled a few words on a small square of paper. "Ask him to
come here at once, please. On your way, please stop in at the hospital
and ask Dr. Slade to come along, too." He pushed the paper across the
desk to the inmate. "There's your pass."

"Yes sir. Anything else, warden?" He stood, a small, square figure in
neat gray shirt and pants, seemingly oblivious to the ill-concealed
stares of the two visitors.

Halloran thought a moment, then said, "Yes ... I'd like to see Father
Nelson and Rabbi Goldsmid, too."

"Uh, Father Nelson's up on the Row, sir. With Bert Doyle."

"Then we'll not bother him, of course. Just the others."

"Yes, sir. On the double."

Lansing slouched around in his chair and openly watched Joe Mario walk
out. Then he turned back to Halloran and said, "That chap a ... a
trusty, warden?"

"To a degree. Although we no longer use the term. We classify the
inmates according to the amount of responsibility they can handle."

"I see. Ah--" he laughed embarrassedly, "this is the first time I've
been in a prison. Mind telling me what his crime was?"

Halloran smiled gently. "We try to remember the man, Dr. Lansing, and
not his crime." Then he relented. "Joe Mario was just a small-time crook
who got mixed up in a bad murder."

Lansing whistled.

"Aren't we wasting time?" growled the general. "Seems to me, warden, you
c