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this phenomenon. After many years of intensive investigations, the elusive secret had been uncovered. It had been found that the tribesmen had developed the ability to stimulate their brain into producing certain endorphins, which, once released into their systems, effectively closed down all non essential functions. The most surprising finding was that the endorphins detected were not unique to the tribesmen, they were in fact present in everyone, albeit in a dormant state. Armed with their findings, the scientists returned to their laboratories to develop ways to utilize their new found knowledge. It did not take long, however, for them to realize that they only possessed half of the key, and that it would be many years before they could take advantage of this technique.
    The next step had proved to be the most dangerous, and the most sensitive. It was research that had been conducted behind closed doors, a top secret project that had been kept from the media and the public for fear of the impassioned response that it would provoke.
    It had produced, within its volunteers, a most unwanted side effect. During the efforts to produce a trigger mechanism to release the sleep endorphins all of the experiments had resulted in either the death or comatose state of its subject. The basic problem had come about due to the initial success of the ‘operation trigger’. Everyone connected with the operation had thought that it would be a simple pharmaceutical problem. Thanks to the tribesmen, the project researchers had been able to produce a derivative of a plant that was indigenous to the mountain regions. The drug that had been produced from the hyssop plant had proved highly effective in triggering the desired release. The real problem was that once the trigger device had stimulated the brain, the gland responsible continued via self stimulation, to produce the endorphin. Consequently, the facility had been filled with wards full of sleeping patients. What was needed was a second drug to halt the production and allow the body to cleanse itself and revive the subject.
    The second reviving drug had been discovered quite by accident. The agency had always taken great care when selecting the guinea pig volunteers who would receive the treatment, however, on one occasion one of the volunteers had not been screened correctly. He was the only one ever to have been taken into the program who still had a living relative. The relative, who had been thought dead, turned out to be the man’s brother.’ He had been working for the government and had been involved in covert operations; working in such environments had facilitated several changes of identity, much to the extent that his true identity had all but been lost. Upon returning to civilian life, he had felt the need to try to pick up some of the pieces of his former life. By using his connections within the various government departments he had discovered that he was not the only member of his family and further than that his brother had been placed in the program by the hospital that had been treating him. Having left the world of espionage he now found himself doing the same type of work for himself. His investigations had led him to the research establishment of the space program, where by now his brother was incarcerated and comatose in the overcrowded observation ward. Using the skills he had gained during his time as an undercover operative, he had decided to mount a rescue bid to save his brother. His prowess in this field had allowed him to slip in and out of the facility and execute his rescue virtually unnoticed. Carrying his lifeless brother, fireman style, he cautiously made his bid for freedom. He had barely cleared the perimeter fence when the alarm was raised. Bundling his brother into his getaway vehicle he sped away in the direction of the city. He was aware that they were being perused, and what ensued was a cat and mouse game of capture and evasion. Finally they