"But you all know this." He stopped to light a cigarette, gathering his thoughts as he watched the end glow. He exhaled little gusts of smoke as he spoke again. "As far as I can tell now, this virus is unchanged through each passage in the egg, which might put it out of the synthetic class. Mutations have been induced artificially by using chemicals such as the sulfonamides to interfere with the life cycle. This has turned some disease viruses into harmless types, but, unless the Americans in their Biological Warfare Center have done it, and they aren't talking of course, the reverse is not true. Certainly I know of nobody in the democratic world who has made such a virus."
There was no mistaking his emphasis. Again Smith spoke up.
"Are you implying that the Communists may have produced such a virus?"
The answer came slowly. Hallam was frighteningly serious now.
"Yes, I believe it is possible. In the last few years there has been a tremendous amount of research on viruses and nucleoproteins in Russia. Kaganovich and his associates have published some very advanced work on the synthesis of proteins and Magidoff is an outstanding virologist by any standards."
"Ay, that's true." Ian Gordon, the little sandy haired biochemist burst out in his broad Scots brogue. "And I wouldna think they've been puttin' out all they know either, if I'm to judge from what they said at the last International Conference in Stockholm."
"But where's the point in all this?" Joe Armstrong exclaimed. "This stuff isn't deadly; it isn't even serious, now we have the antibiotics to prevent complications. As a secret weapon it could have no more than nuisance value. Personally, I think old George may be chasing something red, but it will turn out to be a red herring instead of a Communist."
There were smiles all around the table. Even Hallam grinned. He and Joe had been great friends and sparring partners for years.
Joe went on, "I believe this is just one of those wild mutations that crop up occasionally and cause big epidemics. True, I can't explain the amazing suddenness of its onset, but to call it bacteriological warfare is just ridiculous."