"I wish I could say that wasn't true," the Scarecrow said with a shake of his head, "but that does seem to be the case these days." He withdrew his hand, scratching again at his forearm, wondering if what he'd heard about the infection had any truth to it.

"I'll take what circumstances I can get, in that case," he continued, putting on a hopeful smile despite the tears still forming in his eyes. "Why, that's better than not making your acquaintance at all, isn't it?"