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'I modified it in thousands of small ways,' Bacci said, 'but they all added up to two essential improvements. First, I deepened the effect of the drug.' He pressed a key on the laptop and the screen image divided into two. On the right there was a white mouse and on the left a brown rodent. Bacci pointed to the brown rodent. 'This is a prairie vole. It is unusual because when it finds a partner and mates, it forms a pair-bond for life. Mice are promiscuous and will mate with whatever partner is available. The difference in their behaviour is due to the presence of the gene that codes for the production of the hormone oxytocin, the same bonding chemical I mentioned as a key component of true love. It's been well documented that when the oxytocin gene is inserted in mice they immediately form faithful pair-bonds, and when the gene is removed from prairie voles they become promiscuous.'

Joachim was nodding hard. 'So you added oxytocin genes to the original drug?'

'Yes, along with the other bonding chemicals, such as vasopressin, I added control genes to boost the expression of oxytocin in the subject's brain. And, voila, I had turned mere infatuation into something deeper, more enduring and meaningful'

Helmut frowned. 'So it's an aphrodisiac?'

'No, it's much more than that, Vati,' Joachim said. 'Although sexual attraction is a significant aspect of Professor Bacci's drug, he's talking about stimulating the whole being -- body and mind.'

'Exactly,' Bacci said. 'I'm talking about true love, not just lust.'

'What was the second major improvement you made?' Joachim asked.

Bacci's eyes glowed with excitement. 'Now, this is what I'm most proud of. I learned how to target the drug.' He pressed another key on the laptop and a man's face appeared on screen. 'You recognize him?' Helmut did: the man was a notorious killer, convicted in the States some years ago for raping and murdering eighteen women. He had made the international news not for his crimes but because of the way in which he had been identified and captured. 'This picture isn't a photograph but a digital composite based on DNA left at the scene of one of his crimes. More specifically, it was created from the five hundred and ninety-seven genes" that specify his facial appearance - hair type and colour, bone structure, eye and skin colour, ear shape. Even his age was calculated from the lengths of the telomeres on the tips of his chromosomes. Apart from non-genetic variables like hairstyle, physical injury, surgery and lifestyle, this likeness was so recognizable that the FBI caught him within days. You must know the technology. DNA face recognition is now commonly used in many security systems. You probably use it in your bank.'

They did indeed, Helmut reflected.

The same information about your face, Herr Kappel, is present in the DNA of every hair follicle on your head. From just one I can isolate your facial code gene and insert it into the drug. As soon as a subject is injected with the serum containing your DNA, your facial blueprint is imprinted on to her inferotemporal cortex. She no longer falls madly in love with the first face she sees. She falls in love with you, and you alone.'

There was silence. Helmut glanced at Joachim, and saw that he was dumbstruck - as he was. Max was frowning, yet to be convinced.

'Brilliant,' said Joachim. 'What viral vector did you use?'

'Just a stock RNA retrovirus engineered to pass the blood brain barrier, which protects the brain from contaminants in the blood.'

'How do you know it works?' Max said.

'Because I've tried it on myself. I must admit that not every iteration was a success. My first attempt at a targeted serum, NiL Forty-two, was a disaster. To test its ability across genders I inserted a randomly selected man's facial imprint into the serum, then injected myself.'

'Didn't it work?'

'No, it worked too well. Although I experienced no sexual desire for this man, a mechanic who serviced my car, I felt obsessively devoted to him. For forty-eight hours all the love I had for everyone else evaporated. I was so focused, so infatuated by this individual that even my love for my daughter was neutralized. I would have died for the man, probably killed for him, and when the drug left my system I was so shaken by the experience that I considered scrapping the project.' He sighed. 'But I persevered, eventually balancing the gene promoters that regulate the expression of relevant proteins so that love for the targeted individual didn't preclude my love for others. I tested it again, but this time I focused on women. I colleced DNA from women near where I live and made up samples of NiL Sixty-nine. A swab of saliva from a coffee cup or a single hair was all I needed. I selected women I knew I'd be seeing over the next few days -- the woman in the local fruit store, the woman next door, the woman who sat in the local park during her lunchbreak. I chose young women, old women, beautiful women and plain women. In total I conducted twelve separate experiments, and for forty-eight hours I fell desperately in love with each of them. But my feelings for my daughter were unaffected.'

Joachim held up the vial of powder. 'So whose genetic code's in here?'

'That was one of the last experiments, although it's gone beyond an experiment now. That vial contains the code of a woman called Maria. I liked her the moment I saw her and we became friends, but I was concerned our relationship might not mature into something more lasting. I lost my wife sixteen years ago and was worried I wouldn't experience the spark of love again. I'm not a young man and time is not on my side ... so I used the drug to make me fall in love with her.

'Love's a great power for good. It's the greatest feeling in the world when it's reciprocated. Well, here it is. My vision is to sell NiL in pairs so we can create a world where the greatest source of happiness and goodwill is available to everyone. If a couple's relationship flags they can each take a drug targeted with the other's profile and fall in love again. No more divorces, loneliness or unhappiness. Like I said, it's emotional Viagra. And this time everyone will realize that their happiness and well-being didn't come from some soulless company but from me. The world will thank and reward me for bringing love into their lives.'

'How do you administer it?'

Bacci reached into his case and retrieved a beige vaccine gun, small enough to fit into the palm of a man's hand. Helmut recognized it. 'A standard PowerDermic gun is all you need to inject it into the bloodstream,' Bacci said.

Joachim scribbled in his notebook. 'How long before it works?' he said.

'You have to sleep before it takes effect, like restarting a computer after installing new software. The drug makes you drowsy, and while you sleep it alters your brain chemistry and subconsciously imprints the target's face on your inferotemporal cortex. You may even dream of it. When you awake your brain is primed. Apart from the curious side-effect of a healthy appetite you'll feel nothing until you see the target's face.' Bacci gave a delighted laugh. 'Then you experience a classic coup de foudre, as though Cupid's arrow has pierced your heart.'

Helmut frowned. 'How long does it last?'

'NiL Sixty-nine targets the somatic body cells, which have only a short life span. It lasts forty-eight hours.' Bacci reached into his silver case. 'But it's not the most advanced version.' He produced a second vial. 'This is NiL Seventy-two. It uses a viral vector that targets not only the temporary body cells but also the permanent stem cells. The effects of Seventy-two don't last a weekend. They last a lifetime. If Nil Sixty-nine is temporary love, then NiL Seventy-two is the Holy Grail - pure, everlasting, till-death-us-do-part love.'

Helmut reached for the vial and studied it. Apart from the label, it looked identical to the earlier version. His head was throbbing with die implications of Bacci's claims. 'How can you know this works?'

'I used NiL Sixty-nine three times to keep my love for Maria alive. Then, six months ago, when I was satisfied it was safe, I injected myself with Seventy-two. I haven't needed another dose.' He paused. 'A few weeks ago I widened the sample base. I injected Maria. I wanted to prove the drug's efficacy but I also wanted to help her. She had been hurt and was uncertain about commitment, frightened to trust love. I thought the drug would take away that fear.'

There was a moment of silence.

'Did you ask her permission?' asked Max.

Another pause. 'No. But I myself had already taken it, so I wasn't taking advantage of her. Anyway, I love her and now she's certain she loves me. We're happy.'

'Have you told her about the drug?'

'No.'

'But it worked?' said Helmut.

We're getting married.'

"What exactly do you want from us?' Helmut's mind rushed ahead, working out how he could benefit from Bacci's thunderbolt. If it was genuine.

'I've run out of money,' Bacci said. 'I need funding and expertise to organize clinical trials and the eventual launch. But I won't use the big investment banks because they'll hijack the project and involve the big pharmaceutical companies to milk it for maximum profit. This is my idea, born of my hard work, and I intend to reap the rewards and recognition. I also want to keep control of the project because the technology is open to abuse. I see the drug being taken by couples, equal partners in love. I need you to help me realize this vision.'

Helmut waved his hand dismissively. "We can provide what you need but our first concern is your technology.'

'Who else knows about it?' Joachim asked.

'No one. My lab technician knows aspects of the process but that's all. No one knows what it does.'

Max looked down at his file. 'Marco Trapani?'

'I've only told him I've discovered something. I haven't said what.'

Helmut noticed Max studying a photograph in the file. 'How about your daughter?'

'No.'

Helmut nodded. 'Tell no one about this yet, Professor Bacci. It's vital we have everything organized before we go public'

'So you'll take me on?' Bacci said.

Max's frown grew more severe. 'If your technology is genuine.'

'It is. I told you. I used it on myself.'

Helmut raised his hand. 'Please don't be offended, Professor. It's just that this discovery is so fantastic we need proof.'

'How can I prove it to you without going public?'"

'Joachim, you're the scientist. What do you think?' Helmut watched his younger son try to read his expression. Joachim rarely voiced an opinion unless he was confident it agreed with his father's.

'It depends,' Joachim said. 'I'd need to check out the detailed notes, formulae and overall process.'

Helmut rolled his eyes. 'What do you think?

Joachim licked his lips. 'The science sounds convincing. It could be genuine.'

Helmut glanced at Max's research file. Bacci's reputation was unimpeachable and his explanation of the drug had been clear and cogent, but it was too incredible. Still, the possibilities it presented made his heart race. He looked at his older son, a man he had nurtured to respect duty and scorn emotion, a Kappel incapable of love. 'Max, what do you think?'

MAXKEPT HIS FACE IMPASSIVE. ALTHOUGHHIS FATHER APPEARED indifferent he could sense he was interested. All his life, Helmut Kappel had stressed his contempt for love -- seeing it as the product of a feeble, diseased mind -- yet he apparently thought Bacci's drug might be more than a fanciful fairy-tale.

'He turned back to Bacci. 'No offence, Professor, but I'm sceptical.'

'What can I do to make you change your mind?'

Max smiled. 'Frankly, only one thing would convince me that your drug works.'

'What's that?'

'If I took it myself.'

His father shook his head. 'That's not going to happen.'

'Why not? I'd only take the forty-eight-hour version.'

'It's too dangerous.'

His father was only concerned about losing his heir, Max thought. 'It's the only way to settle this, and I don't think it'll have any effect.'

'I said no, Max.'

'It's perfectly safe,' Bacci said.

Helmut Kappel turned to his younger son.

'Professor, your science sounds credible and very impressive,' Joachim said, 'but I'm sure you'd be the first to admit that your trials have been less than conventional. You can't be certain of its efficacy and its safety.'

'But I can. As I said, I've taken the drug myself.'

Max glanced again at the file in front of him and the photograph of the young woman. 'You can assure my father that it's perfectly safe for me to take your drug?'

'I repeat,' Bacci said, 'it's completely safe.'

Max smiled. 'So safe you'd let your child take it?'

There was a silence as Bacci and the others realized what he had just said.

'You'd really let your own daughter take it?' Helmut asked.

Bacci stared down at the table. He adjusted the knot of his tie and ran his fingers through his thinning hair. T had other plans,' he mumbled, 'but maybe Leo doesn't deserve her. Anyway, it's as good a way as any to cure a broken heart.' He gave an almost imperceptible nod, as though he had come to a painful decision. When he looked up his face was pale. 'I know it's safe. If you let your son take the drug to prove its efficacy, I'll let my daughter take it to prove its safety.'

His father glanced at Max, checking he was still prepared to do this. Max nodded: it was the only way to end this nonsense.