15

After her initial reluctance to cooperate Dr Bellman had adapted to her new circumstances just as Dr Razia had hoped. Long experience had taught him that in terms of basic human psychology, brilliant intellectuals were no different to common labourers: they were brought to heel best by a combination of carrot and stick. Or rather, stick then carrot. Rough handling followed by several days of deprivation had broken the young woman’s spirit to the extent that she had become grateful even for small acts of kindness such as a fresh bar of soap or a clean set of clothes. Only once she was rendered into this state of cooperative dependency did Razia take her to his office and bring up details of a Panamanian account in her name containing $4 million. The offer of the access codes and an additional $4 million on successful completion of the project to Razia’s satisfaction had a positively miraculous effect. She and Holst had begun work immediately and had since scarcely left the laboratory.

Even after it had been explained to her in minute detail, not once had Dr Bellman questioned the morality of their task. Having been confronted with a simple choice between continued suffering and self-interest there had been no contest. The percentage of human beings prepared to tolerate moderate discomfort, let alone lay down their lives for the benefit of others was vanishingly small. Dr Bellman and her colleagues did not, thankfully, number among them.

Razia, too, had begun his professional life as a young idealist troubled by the ethics of the work he was required by his government to undertake. But under the tutelage of his superiors he had gained an insight shared by all the greatest scientists: in the pursuit of knowledge human morals are of no relevance. If the scientist is to strive for the facts alone, nothing must be allowed to cloud the judgement. On the occasions this proved difficult, he would remind himself of the bees in his father’s orange groves. These marvels of nature cared only for the survival and prosperity of their species. Those that ceased to be productive were immediately culled by the others. The individual was of value only insofar as it contributed to the good of the whole. Nature dictated these rules with an honesty and clarity that put prevaricating human beings to shame. Had we acted with the determination of our insect cousins we would by now be bringing into the world human beings only of the highest genetic quality who would enjoy long, healthy and useful lives. Human beings wise enough to act only in accordance with the common good.

With this in mind Razia ran his eye along the row of thirty or so volunteers, each of whom had been promised the princely sum of $100 if chosen to assist in his work and began to isolate the healthiest physical specimens. He passed up and down the line three times, pausing to check teeth, nails and the brightness of the eyes of those that caught his attention. Finally, he narrowed his selection to six: three male, three female, ranging from a slightly built young woman of twenty or so to a stocky man in his forties.

His subjects greeted their selection with grateful smiles and went willingly with the guards who led them across the compound to their new quarters while the unhappy rejects shuffled away across the hard-baked dirt, casting jealous glances at their departing co-workers. Razia could have told them that they needn’t be disappointed as there would be several further opportunities to assist in the coming weeks, but there was a point at which justified deception became gratuitous cruelty. As a man of science, that was a line he was not prepared to cross.

Satisfied that he had the raw materials he needed, Razia lit a cigarette and headed over to the mess hall in search of breakfast. He had a long and taxing day ahead.