a novel by Ran Prieur  Book 1 Chapter 8  Apocalypsopolis Main
previous chapter On a military test range in the Nevada desert
stood an upright white box the size and shape of a port-a-john.
Monitored by cameras, a mechanical crane lowered a heavy object,
the size and shape of an American football, through a hole in
its roof. Above the football, lowered on the same cable, was a
thick multilayer circular plug, which fit into the hole. At
distances of 100, 500, 1000, and 1500 yards were four pre-fab
sheds. Inside each shed, monitored by cameras, were two human
beings and a cage of white mice. All of the mice, and five of
the eight people, now died.  Watching the monitors in the
command center ten miles away, Dr. Jenkins smiled, and Dr. Hoss
dropped his jaw in horror.  "It can't be," he muttered.  The
General patted his shoulder. "You'll get used to it," he said.
"I've seen a lot of dead people and--"  "What are you talking
about?" Hoss said. "I was referring to the experiment itself."
He glared at Jenkins. "You f