packaged in wrappers rich in subliminal mands to watch 。a certain television station at a certain hour on a certain day。 Even if the subject throws the piece of mail away without opening it； he'll be affected； because the envelopes will also be printed over with subliminal messages。 The major magazines and newspapers entering Black River during the period of programming will carry ads full of subceptive mands that direct the people to watch the movies。〃 He was getting a bit breathless in his recital。 〃A motion picture theater could not ordinarily prosper in a town the size of Black River。 But Big Union runs one as a service to the town。 During the summer； every day but Sunday； there's a matinee show for children。 The prints of the films shown at those matinees will be our prints； with subliminals urging the children to watch the television movies that will contain the key…lock program。 All radio stations reaching the area will carry' special thirty…second spot ads； hundreds of them； with subaudial subliminal directives。 These account for only half our methods。 By the time all of this washes through the munity； everyone will be in front of a television set at the right time。〃
〃What about the people who don't have television sets？〃 Klinger asked。
〃There's not much to do in a place as isolated as Black River；〃 Salsbury said。 〃The recreation hall in the camp has ten sets。 Virtually everyone in town owns a set。 Those who don't will be directed； by the first wave of preliminary subliminals； to watch the movies at a friend's house。 Or with a relative or neighbor。〃
For the first time； Klinger looked at Salsbury with respect。 〃Incredible。〃
〃Thank you。〃
〃What about the drug？ How will that be introduced？〃
Salsbury finished his whiskey。 He felt wonderful。 〃There are only two sources of food and beverage within the site。 The lumber camp men get what they want from the mess hall。 In town everyone buys from Edison's General Store。 Edison has no petition。 He even supplies the town's only diner。 Now； both the mess hall and the general store receive their goods from the same food wholesaler in Augusta。〃
〃Ahhh；〃 the general said。 He smiled。
〃It's a perfect mando operation for Holbrook and Rossner。 They can break into the wholesaler's warehouse at night and quickly contaminate several different items set aside for shipment to Black River。〃 He pointed to the cathode…ray tubes where the list of requirements for an ideal site was being reprinted。 〃Number four。〃
Klinger looked at the screen to his left。
4A。 SITE SHOULD HAVE RESERVOIR THAT SERVES NO LESS THAN
90 PERCENT OF TOTAL POPULATION
4B。 BLACK RIVER RESERVOIR SERVES100 PERCENT OF TOWN RESIDENTS
100 PERCENT OF LUMBER
CAMP RESIDENTS
〃Ordinarily； in a backwoods village like this；〃 Salsbury said； 〃each house would have its own fresh…water well。 But the mill needs a reservoir for industrial purposes； so the town benefits。〃
〃How did you choose Black River？ Where did you learn all of this stuff？〃
Salsbury depressed a tab on the programming keyboard and cleared the screen。 〃In 1960； Leonard bankrolled a pany named Statistical Profiles Incorporated。 It does all the marketing research for his other panies…and for panies he doesn't own。 It pays for a trunk line to the Census Bureau data banks。 Ve used Statistical Profiles to run a search for the ideal test site。 Of course； they didn't know why we were interested in a town that met these particular requirements。〃
Frowning； the general said； 〃How many people at Statistical Profiles were involved in the search？〃
〃Two；〃 Salsbury said。 〃I know what you're thinking。 Don't worry。 They're both scheduled to die in accidents well before we begin the field test。〃
〃I suppose we'll send Rossner and Holbrook to contaminate the reservoir。〃
〃Then we get rid of them。〃
The general raised his bushy eyebrows。 〃Kill them？〃
〃Or order them to mit suicide。〃
〃Why not just tell them to forget everything they've done； to wipe it from their minds？〃
〃That might save them from prosecution if things went badly wrong。 But it wouldn't save us。 We can't wipe from our minds all memory of what we had them do。 If problems develop with the field test； serious problems that throw our entire Operation in the garbage； and if it turns out that Rossner and Holbrook were seen at the reservoir or left any clues behind…
well； we don't want the authorities to connect us with Glenn and Peter。〃
〃What problems could arise that would be that serious？〃
〃Anything。 Nothing。 I don't know。〃
After he bad thought about it for a while； Klinger said； 〃Yes； I suppose you're right。〃
〃I know I am。〃
〃Have you set a date yet？ For the field test？〃
〃We should be ready by August；〃 Salsbury said。
9
Friday； August 26； 1977
TAT…TAT…TAT…TAT…TAT…TAT 。 。 Since his experience with Brenda Mackim on Monday；
Salsbury had been able to resist temptation。 At any time he could have taken full control of another good…looking woman； could have raped her and erased all memory of the act from her mind。 He took strength from the knowledge that the bitches were his for the asking。 Whenever he could honestly conclude that the field test was a smashing success； and that no danger of discovery existed； he would screw every one of them that he wanted。 The bitches。 Animals。 Little animals。 Dozens of them。 All of them。 Because he knew the future held an almost endless orgy for him； be was able to cop； if only temporarily； with his desire。 He went from house to house； using the key…lock code phrase； interviewing his subjects； observing and testing。 Denying himself。 Working hard。 Doing his job。 So strict with himself。 。 。 He was proud of his will power。
This morning his will power shattered。 For the past four nights； his sleep had been disturbed by grotesque dreams that featured his mother and Miriam and sudden violence and blood and an eerie； indescribable atmosphere of perverted sex。 When he came awake this morning； shouting and flailing at the bedclothes； he thought of Emma Thorp…deep cleavage in an orange sweater…and she seemed to him like an antidote for the poisons that had churned through him while he slept he had to have her； was going to have her； today； soon； and to hell with self…denial。
The smooth stream of power in him was again transformed into a rhythmic； alternating current； crackling across countless arcs； a hundred million synapses。 His thoughts ricocheted with great energy from one subject to another； submachine…gun thoughts： tat…tat…tat…tat…tat…tat…tat
At 7：45 he left Pauline Vicker's rooming house and went to the cafe on the square。
The sky was cloudy； the air humid。
At 8：25 he finished breakfast and left the cafe。
At 8：40 he reached the Thorps' place； the Last house on Union Road； next to the river。
He rang the doorbell twice。
The chief of police himself answered。 He hadn't gone to work yet。 Good。 Wonderful。
Salsbury said； 〃I am the key。〃
〃I am the lock。〃
〃Let me in。〃
Bob Thorp stepped out of his way； let him by； then closed the door after him。
〃Is your wife here？〃 〃Yes。〃
〃Your son？〃
〃He's here too。〃
〃Anyone else？〃
〃Just you and me。〃 〃Your son's name？〃 〃Jeremy。〃
〃Where are they？〃 〃In the kitchen。〃
〃Take me to them。〃 Thorp hesitated。
〃Take me to them！〃
They went along a narrow but brightly papered hallway。
The kitchen was modem and stylish。 Mediterranean cupboards and fixtures。 Coppertone refrigerator and upright freezer。 A microwave oven。 A television set was suspended from the
ceiling in one corner and angled toward the big round table by the window。
Jeremy was at the table； eating eggs and toast； facing the hall。 To the boy's right； Emma sat with one elbow on the table； drinking a glass of orange juice。 She was wearing a blue； floor…length corduroy housecoat。 Her hair was as golden and full as he remembered it。 As she turned to ask her husband who had rung the bell； he saw that her lovely face was still soft with sleep…and for some reason that aroused him。
She said； 〃Bob？ Who's this？〃
Salsbury said； 〃I am the key。〃
Two voices responded。
At 8：55； making the weekly trip into town to lay in a fresh supply of perishables； Paul Annendale braked