Time Was by Steve Perry Page A

said Annabelle, “but the upshot of all this is that we have produced nanites that can force a human body to spontaneously combust . . . providing that there is a sufficient amount of alcohol in their system at the time. Over ninety percent of all cases of spontaneous human combustion involve individuals who have been drinking heavily—much as you were last night, Tye.”
    â€œHow did you know—”
    â€œShhh,” said Annabelle. “I know everything, dear boy. Haven’t you figured that out by now? But, please, watch dear Mr. James.”
    On the other side of the two-way mirror, James’s skin began to ignite; first his arm burst into flame, then his legs, then his stomach, and within moments his entire body was aflame.
    It didn’t last long.
    With a near-blinding flash of smoke and light, James’s body exploded, drowning the room in flames.
    Bits of sticky, seared, unidentifiable tissue slammed against the mirror and . . .
    Stayed in place.
    It was grotesque.
    Unspeakable.
    And, to Annabelle, at least, wholly deserved and justified.
    She crossed back to her desk, pressed the button, and the gigantic image of St. Joan slid back into place, hiding the ugly, horrifying aftermath on the other side.
    â€œVery impressive, don’t you think?”
    Tyler couldn’t speak.
    This pleased Annabelle.
    Greatly.
    â€œToo moved to find your voice? I understand. So you can just listen for a moment.” She nodded to Simmons, who walked to the other end of the room and opened one of three wall safes in Annabelle’s office.
    From the safe he removed two items: a small glass vial with a rubber-stop top and a black case.
    â€œLast night, Tye, did you have a good time with the blonde you met at . . . oh, at that club—what was its name, Simmons?”
    â€œThe Shalott, madam.”
    â€œThat’s right, the Shalott—though I doubt anyone who works there knows the name was stolen from Tennyson. Anyway, Tye, did you have a good time with her?”
    His face was turning ash white now, but he managed to nod his head.
    â€œI understand that you were pretty plotzed on Cutty Sark, is that right?”
    Another terrified nod.
    â€œToo bad you passed out before getting to the main event. Tawny said she thought you were cute and she would’ve been happy to—well, you know.” She put out her hand and Simmons placed the glass vial into her grip.
    Annabelle showed the vial to Tyler.
    â€œDo you know what this is, Tye? The boys in the lab have dubbed it ‘Liquid Burn.’ Has a nice ring to it. This is a massive
    swimming pool where one of my nanites is having a relaxing swim. You see, the thing is, most people have the impression that a nanite can only be introduced into the human system by injection. Not true. All it takes is for someone—say, a busty blonde named Tawny who’s looking for a way to advance her career—to unstop a vial like this and pour the liquid into another person’s Cutty Sark. Do you see where I’m going with this?”
    â€œ. . . yes . . .”
    â€œSorry, didn’t quite catch that. Simmons, could you make out what Tye here was saying?”
    â€œAfraid not, madam. My hearing isn’t what it used to be.”
    â€œCare to repeat what you just said, Tye?”
    â€œ. . . said that, yes, I can see where this is going.”
    â€œSo now you know why you’re feeling a bit feverish, right?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd you’ve undoubtedly surmised, bright boy that you are, that the ‘drug test’ this morning was simply our way of checking to see if the nanite had succeeded in self-replicating.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œCare to know how it’s doing, Tye?”
    â€œDoes it matter?”
    â€œVery much so. Right now, judging by the amount of nanites found in your blood cells, there are roughly three hundred billion of my