Binary - Michael Crichton [35]
'It is so potent that it has never been manufactured as a single gas. Instead, it's a binary - that is, it's produced as two separate gases, each harmless by itself. But when they mix, they're deadly. The gases are designated Binary 75 and Binary 76 respectively. They're generally stored in yellow and black tanks. The film you are going to see is a French Army training film showing the effects of ZV on a condemned prisoner.'
Phelps got up and turned on the projector.
On the screen they saw a man in denim clothing standing in an enclosed room. The man was looking around nervously.
'This subject,' Nordmann said, 'is going to be exposed to the LD500 dose of the gas, that is, five tenths of a milligramme. It is a fully lethal dose.'
Faintly from the other room they heard, 'My fellow Americans, it is with great pleasure that I -'
At the bottom of the screen appeared the words GAS 75 INTRODUCED. The prisoner did not react. Moments later: GAS 76 INTRODUCED. The prisoner responded instantly. He placed his hand on his chest, coughed, and wiped his nose.
'- join you in this great tradition, this reaffirmation of the democratic process -'
On the screen: EARLY STAGES - RUNNING NOSE, CHEST TIGHTNESS, DIMNESS OF VISION
'- and I must urge you to follow the vision of our great land, to seek the promise, to fulfil the expectations. Let me make one thing perfectly clear '
'Will somebody shut that door?' Graves said.
On the screen the prisoner appeared in close-up. His nose was running profusely; the liquid dripped down to his shirt. His eyes were hard black dots.
PINPOINT PUPILS A full-body shot showed the man bent over in evident pain.
MIDDLE STAGES - CRAMPS AND NAUSEA The prisoner vomited explosively, and the caption stated unnecessarily, VOMITING.
Very faint now from the living-room they heard the sound of prolonged applause.
On the screen the prisoner was clearly confused and in great pain. A dark stain appeared on his trousers.
INVOLUNTARY URINATION
The man staggered and leaned against the wall. His legs and arms twitched and jerked spastically.
STAGGERING
The prisoner looked around briefly, but his face was contorted in agony. He lost his balance and fell, twitching and jerking, to the floor. The camera panned down to follow him. From the other room the applause continued.
DROWSINESS
The man was not really awake. He lifted his head from the floor in short jerks and finally flopped down, not moving.
COMA The camera remained on the man. His chest was still moving slightly. Then it stopped.
CESSATION OF BREATHING A moment later.
DEATH
The screen faded to dark. And the last letters appeared. TIME FROM INTRODUCTION OF BINARY GAS TO DEATH: 1.7 MINUTES.
The film ran out. The screen was white. Phelps turned the room lights back on.
'Jesus Christ,' Graves said. He lit a cigarette and noticed that his hands were shaking.
'As I said, that man received five times the minimum lethal dose,' Nordmann said quietly. 'Had he got less, he would still have died - more slowly.'
'How much more slowly?'
'From tests on animals, it may take as long as an hour or two.'
'That same progression?'
'The very same.'
'Jesus Christ,' Graves said again.
He walked back into the living-room, which seemed glaringly bright. Through the windows he could look out over the downtown area of the city. He stood with his back to the television and listened to the familiar voice saying, 'My fellow Americans, and my fellow Republicans, we have come to a momentous time for our nation. We face great problems, and we face great challenges. We must act now to -'
The set abruptly clicked off. Graves turned and saw that Phelps had done it. 'I hope you understand now,' Phelps said. 'Wright has half a ton of that gas. In the San Diego area there are a million people. Plus some very distinguished visitors. We can't afford cat-and-mouse games any longer.'
'I agree,' Graves said, staring out at the street below. There were no trees. He wondered why they hadn't put any trees in downtown San Diego. Trees made a difference.
Behind