Page 85 of The Botanist (Washington Poe)

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To make the terminal bean

To make it cruel and mean

The things you will need

Are puppy dog tails and dandelion weed

The tongue of a quail

And the slime from a snail

The tears of a crone

Or maybe just acetone?

Mash until sleek

Then leave it a week

Be careful not to touch

As it doesn’t take much

Because you know there’s no vaccine

Once you’ve had the terminal bean

He reread the first and eighth lines. ‘Everybody out!’ he ordered. ‘Now!’

‘One moment, ma’am,’ Flynn said into her mobile. ‘What is it, Poe?’

‘We need specialists, boss.’

‘Why?’

‘The poem’s about a poison bean.’

‘So?’

‘It also mentions acetone.’

‘Shit,’ Flynn said. She began urgently whispering into her mobile.

‘What is it?’ Karen Royal-Cross said. ‘You’re scaring me. Why’s acetone important? It’s just the stuff they use in nail-polish remover.’

‘Ricin,’ Poe said. ‘Acetone is used to make ricin.’

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