rd　shove　with　the　heels　of　my　hands　and　the　clamp　on　my　side　closed。　John　's　leg　jerked　and　he　gasped。　I　had　pinched　him。

〃Sorry；　John　；〃　I　murmured；　and　glanced　at　Harry。　He　had　gotten　his　clamp　fixed　more　easily　（either　the　extension　on　his　side　was　a　little　bigger　or　John　's　right　calf　was　a　little　smaller）；　but　he　was　looking　at　the　result　with　a　doubtful　expression。　I　guessed　I　could　understand　why；　the　modified　clamps　had　a　hungry　look；　their　jaws　seeming　to　gape　like　the　mouths　of　alligators。

〃It'll　be　all　right〃；　I　said；　hoping　that　I　sounded　convincing　。。。　and　that　I　was　telling　the　truth。　〃Wipe　your　face；　Harry。〃

He　swabbed　at　it　with　his　arm；　wiping　away　tears　from　his　cheeks　and　beads　of　sweat　from　his　forehead。　We　turned。　Homer　Cribus；　who　had　been　talking　too　loudly　to　the　man　sitting　next　to　him　（the　prosecutor；　judging　from　the　string　tie　and　rusty　black　suit）；　fell　silent。　It　was　almost　time。

Brutal　had　clamped　one　of　John　's　wrists；　Dean　the　other。　Over　Dean's　shoulder　I　could　see　the　doctor；　unobtrusive　as　ever；　standing　against　the　wall　with　his　black　bag　between　his　feet。　Nowadays　I　guess　they　just　about　run　such　affairs；　especially　the　ones　with　the　IV　drips；　but　back　then　you　almost　had　to　yank　them　forward　if　you　wanted　them。　Maybe　back　then　they　had　a　clearer　idea　of　what　was　right　for　a　doctor　to　be　doing；　and　what　was　a　perversion　of　the　special　promise　they　make；　the　one　where　they　swear　first　of　all　to　do　no　harm。