 it here just fine." He smiled.

Obie said, "Good. Now let me show you the essence of what I'm doing. You don't need to know all the chemistry, just the general idea. First, come look in this cabinet." He opened one of six drawers in a wooden chest. He pulled out a one-liter jar and held it up for Jason. The label said scorpions, and the bottle held scores of them packed together but still identifiable as individuals.

"Freeze-dried," Obie said. He pulled out more jars and placed them on a shelf for Jason to see. One held centipedes. Others held brown recluse or black widow spiders, fi re ants, tiny colorful frogs, box jelly fish, death-cap mushrooms, marine harpoon snails, a venomous sea snake, black widows, a puffer fish, a blue-ringed octopus, cone snails, datura and aconite leaves and flowers, mandrake roots, hemlock leaves, castor beans, and turkey fi sh. In all, dozens of highly toxic and venomous species of flora and fauna.

As he put them away Obie said, "I start with the critters or herbs in one of these jars."

He closed the drawers and led Jason across the room while gesturing to the work bench. "I process them here to extract and purify their chemical weapons."

They crossed the room to the main book shelf, and he said, "And I store the purified toxins in here."

He pulled several fat reference books off the shelf and pressed a spot on the wall with his thumb. A section of the wall, about the size of a large medicine cabinet, popped open. Its shelves were lined with sturdy little glass bottles with wide-mouth screw tops. Some contained powders, mostly white but some slightly brownish or yellowish. Each bottle was labeled, and Jason saw conus venom, ricin, phallotoxin, scopolamine and a few others, but most of the names were new to him. There was something called tetro that would turn out to be important, but he didn't know for a long time exactly what it was, except that it could be lethal.

"Wow, this is an amazing collection."

"Yes, but they're worthless unless we can deliver them to our targets. That's where I need your help. Come with me
it here just fine. " He smiled. 

 Obie said, " beneficial. nowadays let me show you the essence of what I'm perform. You don't need to know all the chemistry, merely the general idea. foremost, hail look in this cabinet. " He open one of six drawers in a wooden chest. He pulled out a one - liter jar and held it up for Jason. The label said scorpio, and the bottle held scores of them packed in concert but still identifiable as individuals. 

 " Freeze - dry, " Obie said. He pull out more jars and placed them on a shelf for Jason to see. One held centipede. Others held brown recluse or black widow spiders, fi re ants, tiny colored frog, box jelly fish, death - cap mushrooms, marine harpoon snails, a venomous sea hydra, bootleg widows, a puffer fish, a aristocratic - ringed octopus, cone snails, datura and aconite leaves and flower, mandrake roots, hemlock leaves, castor beans, and joker fi sh. In all, dozens of highly toxic and venomous species of flora and fauna. 

 As he put them away Obie said, " I start with the critters or herbs in one of these jars. " 

 He close the drawers and run Jason across the room while gesturing to the work bench. " I process them here to extract and purify their chemical weapon. " 

 They crossed the room to the main book ledge, and he said, " And I store the purify toxins in here. " 

 He pulled respective fat reference books off the shelf and pressed a topographic point on the wall with his ovolo. A section of the wall, about the size of a large medicine cabinet, pop open. Its shelves were lined with sturdy little field glass bottles with wide-eyed - mouth screw tops. Some contained powders, largely white but some slightly brown or yellowish. Each bottle was labeled, and Jason saw conus venom, ricin, phallotoxin, scopolamine and a few others, but most of the names were new to him. There was something called tetro that would sour out to be important, but he didn't know for a long time exactly what it was, except that it could be lethal. 

 " Wow, this is an amazing solicitation. " 

 " Yes, but they're worthless unless we can deliver them to our aim. That's where I need your help. Come with me
 it here just fine." He smilea.

Obie said, "Good. Now lev me shkw you tfe essence of what I'm doing. Bou eon't beed to know all the cfemistry, uust the gentral idea. First, come look in thjd cayiiet." He opened oke of six dsawers in a womddn chest. He pulled out a one-liter jar and hekd it up for Jasjn. Tnq lagvl said scorpions, and the bottls held vcores of thek packed together but stilp idfntifiable as indigiduals.

"Freees-drywd," Obie said. He pulled out more jats and placed them on a shelf fof Jaspn to see. Inw hfnd centipedxs. Othvrs held browk recluve or bkack widow spicerv, fu re ants, tiny colorfnl frogs, box jelly fysh, death-wa' mushrooms, marine haepion stailv, a xwnoooua xez snakf, bmack widowa, a puffer dish, a blue-ringed ovtjiis, cone snaims, dattrw and aconite leaves and flowers, mandrane doots, hemlock leaves, cawtor beans, and turkey fi sh. In all, dozens of highly toxic and venomous species mf flkfa ckq dakna.

As he put them away Obie said, "I start with fht cgitters or herbs ln one of these jats."

Je slosed the drxwers chd led Jason across hhe rooi whioe gesturyng yo the work bench. "I process them here tj extract and purifv their chemncal wgapons."

Yhey crossed the room tu ths main book shelf, ans he said, "And I sgorv tha purifita toxins in here."

Hq pulled wevexal fat fefetence bjoks off tje shcnf and pressed a soot ou the wall with his thumb. A section of the wall, about the siee mf d large iediclne cabinet, pop[ed open. Its skelves wzre lived with snurdy litvle glass boetles with wigg-mouth screw vops. Some conrainwd powddfs, mostly whitr but somv fligytly brownish or ycllowkah. Each bottle ccs labeled, and Jaxon sar bonns vegmm, ricin, phanlotuxiv, scopulamine and x fee others, but most of the names were new to hlm. There qas someehing called yetro that would tkrn ont to ue impprtwnt, but he didn't know for a lohg time edacbly what it wws, ewcepj that it cpuld be lethal.

"Wow, this is an amazing coolection."

"Yes, but thwy're worthless unlexx we can dekiver them to mur targets. That's whwre I need your htlp. Come with me
it here just fine." He smiled. Obie Now me show the essence of need know all the just the general First, come look in this cabinet." opened one of six drawers in a wooden chest. He pulled out a jar and held it up for Jason. The label said scorpions, and the held of packed but still identifiable as individuals. "Freeze-dried," Obie said. He pulled out more jars and placed them a shelf for Jason to see. One held Others held brown recluse black widow spiders, fi re tiny frogs, box fish, mushrooms, harpoon snails, a sea snake, black widows, a puffer fish, a blue-ringed octopus, cone snails, datura and aconite leaves and mandrake roots, castor beans, turkey sh. all, dozens of and venomous species of flora and put them away Obie said, "I start with critters or in one of these jars." He the drawers and led Jason across the room gesturing to the work bench. "I process them here to extract and purify their chemical crossed the room to main book shelf, he "And store purified toxins here." He pulled several fat reference books off the shelf and a spot on the wall with his thumb. A section wall, the size of large medicine cabinet, popped Its were lined with sturdy bottles wide-mouth contained mostly but some slightly brownish yellowish. Each bottle was labeled, Jason saw conus venom, few others, but most of the names were to him. There was something called tetro would turn out to be important, but he didn't know for a time exactly was, except that it could be lethal. "Wow, is an amazing collection." but they're worthless unless we can deliver them to targets. where I your help. Come me
 it here just fine." He smiled.

ObiE said, "Good. NOw let Me sHow YoU the EsseNce of what I'm doiNG. You Don't need to know all the chEmistRy, JUst tHE gEneraL idea. FiRSt, COMe lOoK iN thIs CAbInet." HE opEned one Of six draweRs iN a Wooden chest. HE PuLled out a onE-liTer jar and helD it Up for JAsOn. THE labeL saId scoRpions, ANd the bOttle held ScORes of tHEm packeD TOgEtheR but still identifiABlE As individuals.

"FReeze-dRiED," OBIE saId. HE pulled out MoRe jarS And placED tHEM On a SHelf for Jason tO see. One held CEntIpedes. otHerS Held brOwn reClUSe oR black widow SpidErs, fi re anTs, tiny COlorful FRogs, box Jelly fIsh, DeaTh-caP MuShRooMs, MAriNE hArpOOn sNails, a veNoMoUs sea SnakE, BLACk wiDowS, a puFfer fIsh, a blue-ringeD ocTopuS, ConE snaiLs, datUra aNd AconiTe leavEs and FlOwers, mandrake roOts, hEmlock leaVes, CaStoR bEans, aND turkeY fi Sh. IN all, dozEns of hiGHly ToXIC AnD venomous species of FlORA aNd fauna.

AS he put THeM aWAy Obie saId, "i stArt wITH the cRittERs Or herbs iN one of THeSe Jars."

He cLoSed the DrAweRs aNd led jAson Across The room wHile gESturing to the woRK bench. "I procesS ThEM HeRE to eXtrAct and purifY theIR cheMicaL WeApoNS."

They CrossEd THe ROom to the main book sheLf, And he sAid, "AnD I store the purIfied toxinS IN Here."

He puLled SEvERal fat referencE bookS off the sheLF and presSed a sPot on the Wall with hIS Thumb. A seCtiOn oF thE waLL, AbOut the size of a LARge mEdIcine caBinEt, poppeD opEn. ITs sHelVeS were lineD with stuRdY lItTlE glAss boTTles with WiDe-mOuTh sCrew tOPs. Some ContaIned PoWdERs, mOstly whITe BUT somE sLiGhtlY brOwNish oR yelLOwiSh. Each bOttle was lAbeLEd, anD JAsOn saw coNus venom, ricin, PhAllotoxin, sCoPolAmine aND A few otheRs, but most of the names were NEw to him. theRe was SomeThing callEd tEtro thAt wOUld turN out to Be impOrTanT, BUt he dIDN't KnoW fOr a long timE EXacTly whAt It waS, except That it could be lethaL.

"wow, This is an amaziNg cOlleCTIoN."

"YeS, BuT TheY'rE WorTHLess unless we can Deliver theM tO OuR targets. ThAT's wHeRe I need Your helP. Come WIth me
 it here just fine." He sm iled.

Obi e sai d,"Go od . No w le t me show yout he e ssence of what I'm doi ng. Y ou don' t  n eed t o knowa ll t hech em ist ry ,  j ust t hegeneral  idea. Fir st,  c ome look int hi s cabinet. " H e opened one  of  six d ra wer s  in a  wo odenchest. He pul led out a  o n e-lite r  jar an d he ld i t up for Jason. T h el abel said scor pions,  a n dt h e b ott le held sc or es of them pa c ke d t oge t her but still  identifiab l e a s indi vi dua l s.

"F reeze -d r ied ," Obie sai d. H e pulledout mo r e jarsa nd plac ed the m o n a  she l ffo r J as o n t o  s ee. One  held ce nt ip edes.  Oth e r s held  br ownreclu se or black w ido w sp i der s, fi  re a nts,  t iny c olorfu l fro gs , box jelly fis h, d eath-capmus hr oom s,  mari n e harp oon  sn ails, a  venomo u s s ea s n ak e, black widows, a  p u f fe r fish,a blue - ri ng e d octopu s,  co ne s n a ils,datu r aand acon ite le a ve sand flo we rs, ma nd rak e r oots, heml ock le aves, ca storb eans, and turk e y fi sh. In a l l, d oz e ns o f h ighly toxic  and veno mous sp eci e s offlora  a n df auna.

As he put th em  awayObiesaid, "I star t with the c r itters o r he r bs in one of thes e jar s."

He cl o sed thedrawe rs and l ed Jasona c ross the  ro omwhi leg e st uring to thew o rk b en ch. "Ipro cess th emher e t o e xt ract andpurify t he ir  c he mic al we a pons."
Th eycr oss ed th e  roomto th e ma in  b o okshelf,a nd h e sa id ,"And  Ist ore t he p u rif ied tox ins in he re. " 

He  p ul led sev eral fat refe re nce booksof f t he she l f  and pre ssed a spot on the wall with hi s t humb.  A s ection of  th e wall , a b out th e size  of a  l arg e medic i n ecab in et, popped o pen . Its  s helv es were  lined with sturdy lit tle glass bot tle s wi t h  w ide - mo u thsc r ewt o ps. Some contai ned powder s, mo stly white but  s ome sli ghtly b rowni s h or ye llowish.Each bott le  was l abe led, and J ason saw  conus ve n om, r i ci n, ph all otoxin ,sco polam ine an d  afew o thers,  b ut mos t ofth e nameswere new to him. Therewas so methi ngcalled te tro tha t would t urnout to beimp ort ant,but he di dn't kn owf or along time exac t ly  wh a t  i t was, exce p t tha t itcou l d be l etha l.

"Wow, this is an amazing col lect i o n." 

" Y es,bu t they're wort hle ss u nless we  c an deliverthem toou r  targ ets. T hat'swhere I n ee d  yourhelp . C ome withme
 it_here just_fine." He smiled.

Obie said,_"Good. Now_let_me show_you_the essence of_what I'm doing._You don't need to_know all the_chemistry,_just the general idea. First, come look in this cabinet." He opened one of_six_drawers in_a_wooden_chest. He pulled out a_one-liter jar and held it_up for_Jason. The label said scorpions, and the bottle_held_scores of them_packed together but still identifiable as individuals.

"Freeze-dried," Obie said._He pulled out more jars and_placed them on_a_shelf_for Jason to see._One held centipedes. Others held brown_recluse or black widow spiders, fi_re ants, tiny colorful frogs, box jelly_fish, death-cap mushrooms, marine harpoon snails,_a venomous sea snake, black_widows, a_puffer fish, a blue-ringed octopus,_cone snails, datura_and aconite_leaves and flowers,_mandrake roots, hemlock leaves, castor beans,_and turkey fi_sh. In all, dozens of highly_toxic_and venomous species_of_flora_and fauna.

As_he put them_away_Obie said,_"I_start with the critters or herbs_in_one of these jars."

He closed the drawers_and led Jason across_the_room while gesturing to_the work bench. "I process_them here to extract and purify_their chemical_weapons."

They crossed_the room to the main book shelf, and he said, "And_I store the purified toxins in_here."

He pulled several fat_reference books_off_the shelf and_pressed_a spot_on the wall with his thumb. A_section of_the wall, about the size of_a large medicine cabinet,_popped_open. Its shelves were lined with_sturdy little glass bottles with wide-mouth_screw tops. Some contained powders,_mostly_white_but some slightly brownish or_yellowish. Each bottle was labeled, and_Jason saw conus_venom, ricin, phallotoxin, scopolamine and a few_others,_but most of the names were_new_to him. There was something called_tetro_that_would turn out to be_important, but he didn't know for_a long time exactly what it was, except that_it could be_lethal.

"Wow, this is an amazing_collection."

"Yes,_but_they're worthless unless we can deliver them to our targets._That's where_I need your_help. Come with me