The morning passed uneventfully for the students. They spent their time on their respective projects in the organ bath unit. Pia also spent several more hours reading about pH buffers designed to be used for tissue culture. The maintenance man had still not finished in her office or in Rothman’s office either and wires still hung out of both ceilings. The electrical blueprints that had been in Pia’s cubbyhole were now in Rothman’s office. Pia had gone in to see if the worker was there as he wasn’t in her space. She wanted to give him an earful about the job not being done. But he wasn’t in there either, and after starting her reading, she forgot about him altogether.

As if taking a cue from jealous George, Will showed up and tried to engage Pia in small talk. Pia wasn’t sure if he was hitting on her or not but couldn’t have cared if he was. She answered his first few questions but then told him directly she wanted to concentrate on her reading. He took the hint and vanished.

At twelve thirty-five Rothman and Yamamoto appeared from the depths of the BSL-3. Pia couldn’t help but notice that they were acting out of character. They were actually talking excitedly to each other. Pia didn’t stare directly but watched out of the corner of her eye. The lab was quiet, which was why she had heard them emerge. It seemed that everybody was at lunch.

All at once Yamamoto came toward her as Rothman disappeared into his office but without shutting his door. Even that was out of the ordinary. Pia sensed that something was going on.

“Where are the other students?” Yamamoto asked when he reached Pia’s side. His voice had what Pia would have described as an anticipatory ring.

Pia looked up. “I believe in the organ bath unit,” she said.

“Good,” Yamamoto said. “I want you in there too. Rothman and I want to show you students something.”

Five minutes later all five people were in the organ bath room attired as per usual in caps, gowns, masks, and booties.

“Okay,” Rothman said, clasping his gloved hands together in excitement. After Pia’s surprising talk with him the previous evening and now his excited behavior, she felt she was seeing a side of Rothman that she never imagined existed. “Dr. Yamamoto and I want to show you something but in the strictest confidence. You will be here a month, Pia longer, but we would be very grateful if you could keep what you’re about to see to yourselves in that period and thereafter. Agreed?”

The three nodded their assent.

“Good. We don’t want anyone to get excited prematurely. The stakes here are very high.”