“How about forty-eight hours?”
Most of the hands dropped.
“And seventy-two hours?”
Only a few remained raised.
“After seventy-two hours, your judgment becomes extremely impaired. You drive with the same skill as someone with a blood alcohol level of zero point two. You’d be constantly falling asleep, taking micro-naps for minutes at a time, without being aware of it-even if staying awake was a matter of life and death.”
Bill could relate. He’d had his share of sleepless nights. Especially in the last year.
“After seventy-two hours without sleep, you begin to hallucinate. You become paranoid, delusional, unable to function. Isn’t it true, Dr. Nikos, that an EEG done on a person without three days of sleep is identical to someone suffering from acute schizophrenia?”
“True, Manny.”
“How was my last EEG?”
“Perfectly normal.”
“I ask the audience, do I seem to be experiencing any symptoms of sleep deprivation? Would you believe me if I told you I’ve been without sleep for seventy-two hours? How about ninety-six hours? A hundred and twenty? Dr. Nikos, do you have the time?”
The doctor made a show of rolling up his sleeve and looking at his watch.
“It just turned nine o’clock.”
“Nine o’clock. Which means I’ve been awake now for nine hundred and eleven straight hours.”
The audience was stunned to silence. After a moment, a single person began to applaud. It snowballed into a roaring ovation. Bill joined in.
Dr. Nikos joined Manny on the stage, eyes twinkling. He patted the larger man on the shoulder, then held out his palm to quell the clapping.
“Manny is part of the final phase of our project, the clinical test subject. Our drug, Nonsomnambulox-N-Som for short, has already passed the Chemistry and Pharmacological reviews of the Food and Drug Administration. Manny has taken one pill every day for the last thirty-eight days, which was the last time he’s had a conventional night of sleep.”
The applause began to build again. Dr. Nikos talked above it.
“The R amp; D is nearing an end, and pending Medical approval, we’re ready to go into production. Needless to say, what this drug could do for the economy, for the efficiency of the human race, for the quality of life of every person on this planet-it staggers the imagination. We can take some questions.”
Hands went up throughout the room, lawyers and politicians and businessmen; a who’s who of status and influence in the Midwest.
“Is the pill expensive?”
“We plan on introducing N-Som to the market at fifteen dollars a dose. Are eight hours of your life worth fifteen dollars?”
“What about side effects?”
“I’ll let Manny field that one.”
Manny grinned, showing perfect teeth.
“Since taking N-Som, I’ve lost fifteen pounds in fat and gained eight pounds in muscle mass. My immune system and healing abilities have increased dramatically. I also don’t get tired. In fact, three days ago I was on a treadmill for eighteen hours.”
The audience murmured its disbelief. Dr. Nikos beamed.
“We were even more amazed by this than you folks are, but we’ve found a reasonable scientific explanation. N-Som stimulates the pituitary gland, increasing production of human growth hormone. Manny may be the most fit human being on the face of the earth.”
A woman at a far table spoke.
“What about dreams? I, for one, wouldn’t give up my dreams for anything.”
Someone else chimed in. “I love my dreams, too.”
There were many nods of agreement, Bill one of them. On most days his dream life was better than his real one.
“The dreams.” Manny’s eyes got a faraway look, and his smile was beatific. “They’re the most vivid dreams you’ll ever have. Even though they only last a few minutes, they seem to go on for hours. And you remember them, every detail, from beginning to end.”
“And when does the stock go public?”
General laughter. Dr. Nikos joined in.
“That depends on the FDA. And actually, the CDER agent responsible for N-Som’s approval is sitting among us. Bill, please come up here.”
Bill shook off the momentary surprise and was beckoned up to the podium. This was unexpected. Though getting in front of groups was part of his job, he liked to be prepared first.
He walked to the stage and Dr. Nikos shook his hand warmly. Manny offered his hand next; his grip was like slamming your fingers in a car door. Bill disengaged himself and Dr. Nikos put an arm around his shoulders.
“May I introduce Dr. William May, from the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. We shall continue to extend our fullest cooperation to the Food and Drug Administration, and I’m sure once our data is examined, N-Som will be judged even safer than aspirin.”
More applause. Bill felt a tad queasy; he wasn’t sure if his stomach was balking at the creme brulee, or if he was afraid he’d be asked to say a few words. Thankfully, Dr. Nikos wrapped up his speech and escorted Bill back to the head table amid a standing ovation.
“Dr. May, let me introduce my daughter, Dr. Theena Boone.”
Dr. Boone was around Bill’s age, in her mid-thirties, dark and shapely. She had a smaller version of her father’s Greek nose and enough hair on her head for several women. The soft black curls rested on her bare shoulders, and the neckline of her dress made eye-contact an effort.
“A pleasure, Dr. May.”
Bill took her hand and responded in kind.
“Please sit, Dr. May.” Dr. Nikos pulled out a chair for Bill. “I have to be social for a little bit.”
Dr. Nikos and Manny blended into the gathering crowd. Bill sat and faced the woman. He’d neatly slid from one uncomfortable situation into another. Small talk wasn’t one of his strengths.
“Your father is an excellent speaker.”
To Theena’s credit, she seemed completely at ease. As if suddenly being forced into conversation with a complete stranger was normal for her.
“He believes all Greeks should be outspoken; the result of seeing Zorba too many times.”
Unlike her father, Theena didn’t have the slightest trace of an accent. Her voice was low, but soft in an undeniably feminine way.
“He does remind me a bit of Anthony Quinn.”
“Don’t let him hear you say that; he’d be insufferable. I’m to understand that you’ll begin your investigation tomorrow?”
Bill nodded. “It’s not an investigation, really. All I do is review your testing and give a preliminary report to the committee.”
“But you have the power to stop the process before it gets to that, correct?”
“Yes.”
She took a sip of wine, leaving the tiniest trace of red lipstick on the glass. The rim had a complete circle of half moons around it, like a deliberate design. Bill thought of his own wine, back at the other table. A nice Merlot would take off the edge.
“I’ve seen Dr. Nikos lecture before, but this was the first time he introduced Manny. It’s incredible.”
“Yes, we’re all terribly excited. Manny especially. This drug has done wonders for him.”
“Was he the first human test subject?”
Theena’s demure expression flickered.
“Actually, no. There was someone else who began the program at the same time as Manny. But there were… complications.”
“Something to do with the drug?”
“No, nothing like that. It was a personal matter. The N-Som worked fine.” Theena smiled. “I hope you aren’t ignoring Mrs. May to be sitting here with me.”
Bill automatically looked at his wedding band.
“She… died last year.”
“I’m so sorry. Was it sudden?”
Bill almost blurted out a yes. He caught himself in time.
“She was sick for a long time.” The image of Kristen, lying in the hospital bed, filled his mind. “And you? Is Mr. Boone off mingling?”
Theena wiggled her large diamond ring. It caught the light and winked.
“Last I heard he was in Texas. I kept the name because anything is preferable to Stefanopolous. So, how does one get a job at the FDA?”
Bill thought about the long, boring version. After completing his studies at the University of Chicago and his internship at Rush-Presbyterian, Bill was undecided between a residency or private practice. He’d known from a young age that he’d be an M.D., but when the day finally came he realized that he enjoyed learning about medicine more than actually practicing it.