The Smog by John Creasey Page A

out the poison content, and leave the oxygen content free for humans and plant life to breathe. Can’t say much progress has yet been made. The car manufacturers of Detroit and elsewhere have been working on car exhaust systems, but—”
    â€œDr. Smith,” Clitheroe interrupted, rather creakily.
    â€œSir.”
    â€œCan all of this be thoroughly documented?”
    â€œThoroughly.”
    â€œThen why hasn’t it been brought to the notice of the proper authorities?”
    â€œMy God, I’ve been screeching about it for years!”
    â€œI can hardly believe it.”
    â€œYou see what I mean by political obstinacy.”
    â€œ My department—”
    â€œYour department receives a monthly review of the statistics and the official government department prognostications. So does the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. So does the Meteorological Office. So—oh, everyone gets them and they either go in the file or in the waste paper basket. No one ever replies—no one ever asks for elaboration of statements made.”
    â€œI really can’t believe it,” Clitheroe said, hoarsely. He looked very tired, as if the session had exhausted him.
    â€œThat’s right, call me a liar,” said Smith, without any umbrage. “The only man who has ever really shown interest, outside the different Foundations, Research Institutes and Universities, has been Dr. Palfrey—Z5. Didn’t you tell me that you have advised the various governments from time to time, Palfrey?”
    â€œYes,” Palfrey said. “I—”
    â€œAnd the response?”
    â€œIn most cases very prompt,” Palfrey said. “I have had the whole resources of Z5 working to find out the cause of the increased pollution, and most governments have cooperated. But the investigation has so far been carried out secretly. We—”
    â€œ Why, in God’s name?” cried Smith.
    â€œBecause we saw no point in causing the public to panic,” Palfrey said. “We have everything at the ready, all governments alerted. A tape-recorded report of this conference will be received by every government within forty-eight hours. The conference was necessary to make sure that every department concerned took the brakes off. This needs absolute priority.”
    Erasmus Smith squeaked. “It should have had it long ago! I warned them. My experiments showed conclusively how deadly—”
    â€œNo doubt the authorities did not believe that the degree of concentration of the gases in the atmosphere could ever reach the proportions which you created in your experiments,” Palfrey said.
    â€œDr. Palfrey,” said the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, “supposing there was a concentration of the smog in a densely populated area, what could be done as of this moment?”
    Palfrey was toying with his hair.
    â€œAs far as I know, very little.”
    â€œ And you’re right,” breathed Smith.
    â€œWould there be time for an evacuation?” asked the Army and Civil Defence representatives almost simultaneously.
    â€œNone,” said Endicott, without hesitation. “A high concentration would not necessarily kill immediately but it would incapacitate.”
    â€œI don’t altogether agree,” objected one man. “Unless the concentration was built up during the night when everyone was asleep.”
    â€œIn any case the roads would become so jammed, nobody could get away in time,” Smith argued. “With the cars at a standstill, engines running, the situation would quickly get out of hand. There would be no time for an evacuation. A few might escape, but very few. A whole community could be wiped out in an hour, Mr. Home Secretary—”
    â€œI shall do everything in my power to improve your opinion of politicians,” stated Clitheroe heavily. “I really think I should go. If you will excuse me, Dr.