“You’re an Indian medicine man?” asked Captain Myers, in disbelief.

“That’s correct.”

“Well,” said the captain, with a barely suppressed smile, “I’ve had some offers of help from all kinds of people. Firemen, wrestlers, circus people, you name it. But you’re the first Indian medicine man.”

“Captain Myers,” said Harry, “he’s serious. What’s going on here is directly concerned with Red Indian magic. If you’re going to get those children out of there alive, then you’re going to have to listen to what he’s got to say.”

“Who are you, his caddy?” asked Captain Myers.

“No, sir. I just happen to be one of the only living people who’s ever seen what the hell it is you’ve got in that bus there.”

“You’re one of the only living people who’s ever seen children? What are you trying to tell me?”

“Not children,” put in Singing Rock. “Not children at all. But the reincarnated bodies of twenty-two ancient Indian medicine men.”

Captain Myers paused for a moment, looking from Neil to Harry to Singing Rock and back again.

“Sergeant,” he said coldly, “I want these men escorted away from here. I want them to get the hell out. I also want you to take their names and their addresses, so that I can bust all three of them for obstructing the police at a critical and dangerous time.”

He looked back at Singing Rock. “I don’t know who you people are, or what kind of a stunt this is, but I warn you I’m going to find out, and then I’m going to put your ass in a sling. Twenty-two ancient Indian medicine men! They don’t even talk that crazy in the nut-house.”

Singing Rock said earnestly, “I know how you feel, captain. It does sound crazy when you first hear it. But it’s the absolute truth. It’s happened before in New York, and it’s happening again here. The spirits, the manitous of all those ancient wonder-workers have infiltrated the minds of the children. Right now, they’re preparing to summon down one of the greatest of their ancient gods.”

Captain Myers fixed his eyes on Singing Rock for a long moment. Then, without a word, he turned his back and continued to check over his map.

Harry shouted, “Are you pigheaded or are you just pigheaded? Didn’t you hear what the man told you?”

“Yes!” snapped Captain Myers, jerking his head around. “And it makes me heave! Every time there’s a murder, or a kidnapping, or an officer hurt in the course of his duty, the goddamned sewers open and people like you come crawling out! People who try to capitalize on human suffering and sensational crime! Now, get out of here before I have you arrested and locked up! You’re wasting my time!”