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lf。
〃What the hell kind of a place are you calling from； anyhow？〃 Smithson said finally。
〃Turn it off；〃 Hall said。
There was a pause； a click； then： 〃All right。 It's off。〃
〃I am calling from a classified government installation；〃 Hall said。
〃Well； look here； mister〃
〃Let me be perfectly plain；〃 Hall said。 〃This is a matter of considerable importance and it concerns Officer Willis。 No doubt there's a court inquiry pending on him； and no doubt You'll be involved。 We may be able to demonstrate that Officer Willis was not responsible for his actions； that he was suffering from a purely medical problem。 But we can't do that unless you tell us what you know about his medical status。 And if you don't tell us； Dr。 Smithson； and tell us damned fast； we can have you locked away for twelve years for obstructing an official； government inquiry。 I don't care whether you believe that or not。 I'm telling you； and you'd better believe it。〃
There was a very long pause； and finally the drawl： 〃No need to get excited； Doctor。 Naturally； now that I understand the situation。〃
〃Did Willis have an ulcer？〃
〃Ulcer？ No。 That was just what he said； or was reported to have said。 He never had an ulcer that I know of。〃
〃Did he have any medical problem？〃
〃Diabetes；〃 Smithson said。
〃Diabetes？ 〃
〃Yeah。 And he was pretty casual about it。 We diagnosed him five； six years ago； at the age of thirty。 Had a pretty severe case。 We put him on insulin； fifty units a day； but he was casual； like I said。 Showed up in the hospital once or twice in a； because he wouldn't take his insulin。 Said he hated the needles。 We almost put him off the force； because we were afraid to let him drive a car thought he'd go into acidosis at the wheel and conk out。 We scared him plenty and he promised to go straight。 That was three years ago； and as far as I know； he took his insulin regularly from then on。〃
〃You're sure of that？〃
〃Well； I think so。 But the waitress at that restaurant； Sally Conover； told one of our investigators that she figured Willis had been drinking； because she could smell liquor on his breath。 And I know for a fact that Willis never touched a drop in his life。 He was one of these real religious fellows。 Never smoked and never drank。 Always led a clean life。 That was why his diabetes bothered him so： he felt he didn't deserve it。〃
Hall relaxed in his chair。 He was getting near now； ing closer。 The answer was within reach； the final answer； the key to it all。
〃One last question；〃 Hall said。 〃Did Willis go through Piedmont on the night of his death？〃
〃Yes。 He radioed in。 He was a little behind schedule； but he passed through。 Why？ Is it something about the government tests being held there？〃
〃No；〃 Hall said； but he was sure Smithson didn't believe him。
〃Well； listen； we're stuck here with a bad case； and if you have any information which would〃
〃We will be in touch；〃 Hall promised him； and clicked off。
The girl at the switchboard came back on。
〃Is your call pleted； Dr。 Hall？〃
〃Yes。 But I need information。〃
〃What kind of information？〃
〃I want to know if I have the authority to arrest someone。〃
〃I will check； Sir。 What is the charge？〃
〃No charge。 Just to hold someone。〃
There was a moment while she looked over at her puter console。
〃Dr。 Hall； you may authorize an official Army interview with anyone involved in project business。 This interview may last up to forty…eight hours。〃
〃All right； 〃 Hall said。 〃Arrange it。〃
〃Yes sir。 Who is the person？〃
〃Dr。 Smithson；〃 Hall said。
The girl nodded and the screen went blank。 Hall felt sorry for Smithson； but not very sorry； the man would have a few hours of sweating； but nothing more serious than that。 And it was essential to halt rumors about Piedmont。
He sat back in his chair and thought about what he had learned。 He was excited； and felt on the verge of an important discovery。
Three people：
A diabetic in acidosis； from failure to take insulin。
An old man who drank Sterno and took aspirin； also in acidosis。
A young infant。
One had survived for hours； the other two had survived longer； apparently permanently。 One had gone mad； the other two had not。 Somehow they were all interrelated。
In a very simple way。
Acidosis。 Rapid breathing。 Carbon…dioxide content。 Oxygen saturation。 Dizziness。 Fatigue。 Somehow they were all logically coordinated。 And they held the key to beating Andromeda。
At that moment； the emergency bell sounded； ringing in a high pitched； urgent way as the bright…yellow light began to flash。
He jumped up and left the room。
26。 The Seal
IN THE CORRIDOR； HE SAW THE FLASHING SIGN that indicated the source of the trouble： AUTOPSY。 Hall could guess the problem somehow the seals had been broken； and contamination had occurred。 That would sound the alarm。
As he ran down the corridor； a quiet； soothing voice on the loudspeakers said； 〃Seal has been broken in Autopsy。 Seal has been broken in Autopsy。 This is an emergency。〃
His lab technician came out of the lab and saw him。 〃What is it9〃
〃Burton； I think。 Infection spread。〃
〃Is he all right？〃
〃Doubt it；〃 Hall said； running。 She ran with him。
Leavitt came out of the MORPHOLOGY room and joined them； sprinting down the corridor； around the gentle curves。 Hall thought to himself that Leavitt was moving quite well； for an older man； when suddenly Leavitt stopped。
He stood riveted to the ground。 And stared straight forward at the flashing sign； and the light above it； blinking on and off。
Hall looked back。 〃e on；〃 he said。
Then the technician： 〃Dr。 Hall； he's in trouble。〃
Leavitt was not moving。 He stood； eyes open； but otherwise he might have been asleep。 His arms hung loosely at his sides。
〃Dr。 Hall。〃
Hall stopped； and went back。
〃Peter； boy； e on； we need your〃
He said nothing more； for Leavitt was not listening。 He was staring straight forward at the blinking light。 When Hall passed his hand in front of his face； he did not react。 And then Hall remembered the other blinking lights； the lights Leavitt had turned away from； had joked off with stories。
〃The son of a bitch；〃 Hall said。 〃Now； of all times。〃
〃What is it？〃 the technician said。
A small dribble of spittle was ing from the corner of Leavitt's mouth。 Hall quickly stepped behind him and said to the technician； 〃Get in front of him and cover his eyes。 Don't let him look at the blinking light。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because it's blinking three times a second；〃 Hall said。
〃You mean〃
〃He'll go any minute now。〃
Leavitt went。
With frightening speed； his knees gave way and he collapsed to the floor。 He lay on his back and his whole body began to vibrate。 It began with his hands and feet； then involved his entire arms and legs； and finally his whole body。 He clenched his teeth and gave a gasping； loud cry。 His head hammered against the floor； Hall slipped his foot beneath