‘It will now be clear to you what the two purposes or this meeting are: firstly, and immediately, to prevent the present danger from spreading any farther; and secondly, but every bit as important, to find out how it happened and make life entirely safe from this threat for the general public in the future. The two functions are linked inasmuch as until we find out exactly what happened we will have no means of knowing how many consignments have been affected, how long it has been going on and whether, even, that Spigett’s Baked Beans are the only carriers of the deadly radiation.
‘We have got to find out such facts as these: Was it initially the metal or the food product that became infected? In either case, how did it happen? To what level of radiation were they raised? What type of radiation is it? When did it happen, and what is the “half-life” of the infected food and of the tins in which it is packed? All these matters must be investigated as quickly as possible before the health authorities can know the magnitude and extent of the problem they have to deal with. Simmel, can you organize some ash-trays? I see no reason why we shouldn’t smoke; I for one feel the urge coming on already.’
‘I had some sent up, sir,’ said Dick, going over to a cupboard and collecting them, ‘but I wasn’t sure whether—’ He left the unnecessary part of the sentence in the air. While he was distributing them, Manson put the first question.
‘Sir Robert, why are we so sure that this situation is our baby, as opposed to the Atomic Energy Authority’s? If there is no information regarding how the contamination took place, how does anyone know the source?’
The Director was making his contribution to the general cloud of smoke that had coincided with the appearance of the ash-trays. ‘That is the fundamental question, Alec,’ he acknowledged. ‘And the answer is — we don’t know. Naturally the A.E.A. have started a very comprehensive investigation themselves. After all, they are the parent body, and the senior one. But they created us largely to take over the responsibility for public safety, and, as you know, we liaise very closely with the Authority at all levels. For Heatherfield’s benefit, I should explain that we deal mainly with the commercial interests involved — such as firms that use nuclear processes and materials for manufacturing their goods; whereas the Authority controls the power-stations, national research establishments and the production of fuel for weapons of war.
‘The Authority suspects — and not unreasonably, in my view — that it is far more likely that the mistake has occurred on the industrial side, since private industry has had so much less experience all round. That doesn’t mean to say that they are taking this for granted (hence their own investigations), but it does put the ball very much in our court. We’ve got to prove that we are in the clear. Also the problem of the tins is a matter involving industry and public safety — both of which tend to be our “babies”. But you mustn’t think that the A.E.A. are merely passing the buck. On the contrary, they are giving us every possible assistance — which, in fact, you will discover when Frank tells you exactly what steps are being taken by them and ourselves to deal with the immediate crisis.’
Gatt said: ‘Where is the man-power coming from — to trace the infected tins and so forth?’
‘We’ll be coming to that. But briefly, the task will be carried out — is being carried out, in fact — mainly by the police and the civil defence authorities. They are also getting considerable assistance from the fighting services. Really, this problem involves an enormous range of people, including the Ministry of Health (who are playing a major part, of course) and even the fire brigades, because they possess much of the necessary equipment nowadays. And as you will no doubt have read in the papers, the United States Army are lending a generous hand. But you’ll get this in more detail from Frank.’
Seff put the next question. His voice sounded husky and nervous. ‘Incidentally,’ he said, ‘what about the press? They haven’t been told much yet, but they’re bound to dig deeper if we don’t give them more to go on.’
‘Yes. Well, they’ve been pretty decent so far. The Public Relations Department of the Home Office put out a mutually agreed hand-out yesterday, emphasizing that it would be unwise to display curiosity at this stage, and up to now they’ve played it down pretty well. There has been no mention anywhere of radiation. The story is that the food is simply poisoned.’
Heatherfield said: ‘But isn’t it dangerous to handle the tins on the outside, even without opening them?’
Hargreaves gestured to Gatt to answer the question. ‘There may be a risk, of course,’ agreed Gatt. ‘On the other hand, the radiation level on most of them would probably be pretty low; only when a quantity of them are stored in the same place would it start to get significant. And I think the Director is right: the risk is not nearly so great as the possibility of panic. You will appreciate, of course, that the ingestion of contaminated food is more dangerous than the effect on the human body of comparatively weak radiation from external sources. Those tins probably aren’t hot enough to push out enough radiation to do much harm. But we will have a better idea of that when we’ve completed the tests now in hand.’
‘But what about the men on the ship? They didn’t eat any of the food.’
The Director nodded. ‘Quite. But don’t forget there were two tons of the stuff in that hold; and the hold was immediately adjacent to the crew’s quarters, with only a wooden partition between.’
Heatherfield nodded. ‘I get you,’ he said. ‘So, as far as pure radiation is concerned, the places to worry about are those where the stuff is stored in bulk… wholesalers, shipping offices and so on?’
‘Yes. Even window-displays in the shops themselves, and the factories where the food is canned. The “bulk-storage” problem particularly applies to you, Mr Heatherfield, since you already know Kenya is one of Spigett’s biggest markets.’
Heatherfield spoke parenthetically to the room in general. ‘I am empowered by the Governor of Kenya to order whatever steps are necessary to deal with all circumstances arising from the present situation,’ he said, ‘and that is why I am here.’
‘Well, you’d better know what the rest of us do,’ said the Director. ‘This is Frank Gresham on my right, who is our Admin wizard, as well as the Deputy Director. God, Frank!’ he exclaimed, ‘you’re not going to smoke that foul pipe, are you?’
‘Sorry, old boy!’ said Frank, continuing unabashed with the task of stuffing in the tobacco, ‘but I can’t think without it. Dick, you’d better get that fan fixed all right! Or I won’t be the popular boy.’ He turned to Heatherfield. ‘I would hardly describe myself as a “wizard” at anything. I just plod along, doing the things which nobody else can be bothered to do. However, I should be delighted to put you in the picture regarding those who actually do the important things in this establishment. So here they are, in no particular order.
‘You know about Mr Rupert already — though I confess that I don’t altogether understand how he can possibly take down everything we’re saying, since he only presses a key every now and then. But I assure you he manages it, by some strange magic.’ Mr Rupert attempted a pleasant smile, but it came out a supercilious leer. ‘Next to him is Dick Simmel, the Director’s P.A. Get on the right side of him — he can make your stay in London a very pleasant one, and it’s his job to do so.’