"Well, you know what to do. Let me know if you need help."
"I will."
He took the coffee Pat handed him and sat down opposite me.
"The bomb, Pat," I said. "You'd better take it now and get some cultures going." I took it out of my pocket and handed it to her. She reached for it and I thought she had it and let go. She fumbled.
"Watch out!" I shouted in alarm, and grabbed for it.
Either I startled her and she triggered it or my own hand struck the release. It doesn't matter now. A thin white stream of gas hissed out of the end and hit me squarely in the mouth. Pat stood there, rigid, the cursed thing still in her hands, and slowly her lips began to quiver and a big tear formed in the corner of her right eye.
"John.... Oh, God! ... the virus!"