"Why won't they die?"

Lawrence turned around and glared at his lead scientist. Dr. Gert Schreiner was supposed to be one of the world's leading experts on venoms and toxic agents. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, every major organization in the world had wanted his services, and it had cost Lawrence a fortune to win the bidding war. Now, Lawrence wanted results.

"I said, why won't they die?" Lawrence pointed through a glass window at a tall, dark-skinned man who was slumped against the wall of the test room. The man's chest was heaving and his gasps could be heard through the intercom. "It's been 15 minutes. He's supposed to be dead."

"I assure you, Herr Alamain, that this is a step." The scientist stepped forward so he was next to Lawrence at the window. "The test subject has experienced all the symptoms-"

"Except for dying," Lawrence snapped. "Fifteen minutes and no death." He spun and faced Schreiner. "Have any of them died?"

Schreiner's face betrayed no emotion as he answered in highly accented English. "No, they have not as of yet. But it will come. We are merely ensuring that the gaseous delivery system is effective, and it is. What once we could administer only in liquid is now a highly concentrated and efficient gas. That is progress."

But is it enough? Lawrence asked himself. It was the second half of October and his plan was to have the toxin ready for public display in December. That was little more than a month. "Will it be ready?"

"I believe so, Herr Alamain," Schreiner said. "We are just investigating a few things."

"Such as?" Lawrence eyed the scientist.

Schreiner motioned to the man on the other side of the glass, who was still gasping as a figure in a full toxic protection suit held a vial to his mouth and poured some liquid down his throat. "We are noticing some fluctuations in the efficacy of the gas. We suspect it may be due to the subjects developing immunity to the toxin."

"Well, then, get new subjects." Lawrence did not see the issue.

"Ahh, Herr Alamain . . . that is, how do the Americans put it, easier said than done. This is a small island. Too many disappearances may alert the authorities."

The damn authorities. Lawrence shook his head. He had bribed the Mauritius authorities when he established the lab here, much like he had bribed Egyptian officials when he had built the Siwa facility. He doubted they would really care about a few men and women snatched from the poor areas of the island, but, still, the last thing he would want is for anyone to get curious and information about a rash of disappearances to reach anyone connected with the ISA. "Then find some new test subjects elsewhere. If anyone gets suspicious and word spreads, they will look there." He thought for a moment. "Mozambique. It's not far and we should be able to obtain plenty of test subjects in the slums."

Turning, Lawrence looked across the room to where Ivan Marais was seated. The man looked bored; these kind of discussions about science were never his interest. On the other hand, he was the perfect man to handle business in Mozambique.

"Ivan," Lawrence called.

Ivan stood up and walked toward Lawrence and Schreiner. "Yes, sir. How may I be of service?"

"Dr. Schreiner requires new test subjects. Therefore, I need you to make arrangements to obtain new subjects from Mozambique. They must be healthy." He looked at Schreiner, who nodded. "And it is imperative that they be the type of person who will not be missed should he mysteriously disappear."

Ivan nodded. "Very well. How many subjects do you require?"

Lawrence looked at Schreiner for the answer. The scientist pursed his lips and looked through the glass. The African man was now back on his feet. Obviously, the antidote to the toxin worked supremely well.

"At the very least, ten. Fifteen or more would be ideal." He glanced at Lawrence. "When the toxin proves lethal, we will no longer be able to reuse the subjects."

"Oh, of course," Lawrence said. That makes complete sense. "Ivan, find twenty subjects. If necessary, bring them in a few at a time. Just ensure that this project is done with utmost secrecy. I do not even want bribes. That might cause word to spread and we do not want any information to reach the ISA."

Ivan nodded once more. "Certainly. I will make the necessary arrangements. Before I take my leave, I do want to alert you, sir, about some news from Salem."

Lawrence raised an eyebrow. "News? Please. . . ." He suddenly remembered that Schreiner was there and lifted a hand to stop Ivan from talking. For the moment, it was best to keep the doctor uninvolved in the specifics of Lawrence's plans for retribution. "Doctor, are we finished?"

"Perhaps," Schreiner replied. "There is one other anomaly we are investigating, but I believe it is generally unimportant. We seem to have relapses of the toxic symptoms, but that will not be an issue once the toxin is lethal."

"Of course. Dead people will not have relapses." Lawrence acknowledged the scientist's comment with a curt nod. He wanted to get Ivan on his way. The more quickly Schreiner had his new test subjects, the more quickly he could make progress on what was important - making the gas lethal. Lawrence began walking to the door. "Thank you, Doctor. I look forward to your progress with the new subjects."

"Yes, sir." Schreiner looked back through the glass at the African man. Lawrence was paying no attention, but the man lay curled on his side, one side of his mouth and one eyelid drooping heavily. "Shall we dispose of the former test subjects in the same manner as the previous ones."

Lawrence chuckled. It was such a nice way of asking if the man in the room and the others being held at the lab should be taken outside and shot. "Of course, Doctor. If they have served their purpose, they are now expendable."

Still laughing, Lawrence followed Ivan out of the lab. "So Ivan, tell me what news you have from Salem."