Sol Tolvanos as he leaned over the Observation Room panel. His fish-white face glistened with a thin sheen of sweat, and his lips moved minutely as if mouthing silent awe, or praise. On the monitor the massive black scales of Leviathan could be seen through the vaporous shroud spiraling lazily up from the cavern floor. Enormous in the gray gloom, the heavily armored Dragon remained in a motionless hibernation. “Initiate the test,” Tolvanos whispered to the computer specialists. “Begin a slow decrease of the nitrogen level to allow a 20 percent oxygen mixture. And lower cavern temperature to 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Prime nitrogen pheromones for quick extinguishing.” The computer matrix blinked with the commands. “Are you quite certain,” Adler asked, trembling, “that you can control the creature?” “Of course I am certain, Mr. Adler,” the Russian replied, not looking up from the monitor.
