“One for three is fine with me,” Edward said. “Now we know which of the alkaloids we will concentrate our efforts on.”
“Maybe we should just bottle this stuff and sell it the way it is,” Stanton joked. “The sixties generation would have loved it. I mean I feel great, almost euphoric. Of course, maybe I’m just reacting to the relief of the ordeal being over. I have to admit I was scared.”
“I thought I experienced some euphoria as well,” Edward said. “Since we both felt it, maybe it’s a result of the alkaloid. One way or the other, I’m encouraged. I think we’ve got a psychedelic drug with some calming properties as well as some amnestic properties.”
“What about this clairvoyant feeling?” Stanton asked.
“I’d like to think that is a reflection of an increase in overall brain function,” Edward said. “In that sense perhaps it could have some antidepressant effect.”
“Music to my ears,” Stanton said. “Tell me, what’s the next step with this compound?”
“First we’ll concentrate on its chemistry,” Edward said. “That means structure and its physical properties. Once we have the structure we will work out the drug’s synthesis to obviate our reliance on extracting it from the mold. Then we’ll move on to physiological function as well as toxicity studies.”
“Toxicity?” Stanton questioned. He blanched.
“You had a minuscule dose,” Edward reminded him. “Not to worry. You’ll have no problems.”
“How will you analyze the drug’s physiological effects?” Stanton asked.
“It will be a multilevel approach,” Edward said. “Remember, most compounds with a psychedelic effect function by imitating one of the brain’s neurotransmitters. LSD, for example, is related to serotonin. Our studies will start with single-cell neurons, then move on to synaptosomes, which are ground-up, centrifuged live brain preparations, and finally involve intact neural cell systems like the ganglions of lower animals.”
“No live animals?” Stanton asked.
“Eventually,” Edward said. “Mice and rats most likely. Also perhaps some monkeys. But that’s down the line. We’ve got to look at the molecular level as well. We’ll have to characterize binding sites and message transduction into the cell.”
“This sounds like a multiyear project,” Stanton said.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Edward said. He smiled at Eleanor. Eleanor nodded in agreement. “It’s damn exciting, though. It could be a chance of a lifetime.”
“Well, keep me informed,” Stanton said. He got to his feet. He took a few tentative steps to test his balance. “I have to say, I do feel great.”
Stanton got as far as the door to the lab when he turned around and returned. Edward and Eleanor had already begun work. “Remember,” he said. “You promised to read that damn prospectus, and I’m going to hold you to it no matter how busy you are.”
“I’ll read it,” Edward said. “I just didn’t say when.”
Stanton made his hand into a pistol and put it to his head and pretended to shoot.
“Kim, you have a call on line one,” the ward clerk called out.
“Take a message,” Kim shouted back. She was at the bedside of a particularly sick patient, helping the nurse assigned to the case.
“Go take your call,” the nurse said. “Thanks to you, things are under control here.”
“Are you sure?” Kim asked.
The nurse nodded.
Kim scooted across the center of the surgical intensive-care unit, dodging a traffic jam of beds. Patients had been coming and going all day. She picked up the phone, expecting either the chemistry lab or the blood bank. She had calls in to both places.
“I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time?” a voice asked.
“Who is this?” Kim demanded.
“George Harris, your Salem contractor. I’m returning your call.”
“I’m sorry,” Kim said. She’d forgotten she’d placed the call several hours earlier. “I didn’t recognize your voice.”
“I apologize for taking so long to get back,” George said. “I’ve been out at the site. What can I do for you?”
“I wanted to know when the trench will be filled in,” Kim said. The question had occurred to her the day before and had produced some anxiety. Her concern was what she’d do if the trench was filled in prior to Elizabeth’s head being returned to her coffin.