"Nail polish!" he exclaimed.
The manhole came open with a clang.
"She's open!" Rick called.
Captain Thompson paused only a fraction of a second over Baba and climbed the ladder.
"Lock the kid and bear in the tank," Thompson ordered. "There's less danger here for the boy than there would be in the trip to the wall. You, Rick, go back to the gate. I'll run for headquarters. Make it fast!" Without another word he was up the ladder and gone.
Rick Saunders reached down and patted Johnny on the shoulder.
"Tough luck about your bear, son," he said, and then he, too, was gone. The manhole door clanged and Johnny heard a lock click into place. He hugged Baba to him.
"Gosh, Baba," Johnny said, "what are we going to do now?"
Baba, for once, had nothing to say. Johnny hugged the warm, furry creature closer to him. Tears began to streak down his cheeks. Baba didn't like this. He cocked a blue eye at the boy.
"Don't cry, Johnny!" he clicked. "Come on, stop it!" he pleaded. "Why don't we go up in the turret and see what's happening."