Chapter 4

           IntheglassStationtheBigNursehasopenedapackagefromaforeignaddressandissuckingintohypodermicneedlesthegrass-and-milkliquidthatcameinvialinthepackage.Oneofthelittlenurses,agirlwithonewanderingeyethatalwayskeepslookingworriedoverhershoulderwhiletheotheronegoesaboutitsusualbusiness,picksupthelittletrayoffilledneedlesbutdoesn’tcarrythemawayjustyet.

           "What,MissRatched,isyouropinionofthisnewpatient?Imean,gee,he’sgood-lookingandfriendlyandeverything,butinmyhumbleopinionhecertainlytakesover."

           TheBigNursetestsaneedleagainstherfingertip."I’mafraid"—shestabstheneedledownintherubber-cappedvialandliftstheplunger—"thatisexactlywhatthenewpatientisplanning:totakeover.Heiswhatwecalla‘manipulator,’MissFlinn,amanwhowilluseeveryoneandeverythingtohisownends."

           "Oh.But.Imean,inamentalhospital?Whatcouldhisendsbe?"

           "Anynumberofthings."She’scalm,smiling,lostintheworkofloadingtheneedles."Comfortandaneasylife,forinstance;thefeelingofpowerandrespect,perhaps;monetarygain—perhapsallofthesethings.Sometimesamanipulator’sownendsaresimplytheactualdisruptionofthewardforthesakeofdisruption.Therearesuchpeopleinoursociety.Amanipulatorcaninfluencetheotherpatientsanddisruptthemtosuchanextentthatitmaytakemonthstogeteverythingrunningsmoothoncemore.Withthepresentpermissivephilosophyinmentalhospitals,it’seasyforthemtogetawaywithit.Someyearsbackitwasquitedifferent.