he longed for the day when he would see them fall like leaves out of his mind, and death take them.

"tony the tin man. tony the tin man."

how had they known that his father was a used metal dealer?

colonel peter cooper was waiting for him.

"you surely took your time, anthony. the reaction was registered, but it would take us hours to pin-point its source without your help. now then, explain as calmly as you can what you have felt or experienced. or, more to the point, where are they?"

"no. you will have to answer me certain questions first."

"i haven't the time to waste, anthony. tell me at once what it is and where."

"no. there is no other way. you have to bargain with me."

"one does not bargain with restricted persons."

"well, i will bargain till i find out just what it means that i am a restricted person."

"you really don't know? well, we haven't time to fix that stubborn streak in you. quickly, just what is it that you have to know?"

"i have to know what a restricted person is. i have to know why the children hoot 'tony the tin man' at me. how can they know that my father was a junk dealer?"