A Noise at the Window

ou slide the bottle marked "Penicillin G" out of the rack, and twist one of the syringes free. Then, holding them in your hands, you hesitate.

"Whoa," says a voice at the window. It's Zack. "Serious medicine, pal. Let me in."

You help Zack climb back through the window. "That for the bloody guy? Antibiotic?" he asks, and you nod. He looks closer at the bottle. "That's not what they're using at the hospital," he says, frowning.

"It's not?" you say. "Are you sure?"

Zack gives you a look. "Sure I'm sure. Penicillin, like duh! Everyone knows about penicillin."

"All right," you say. "So what were they using?"

"Uh, I don't remember exactly," he says. "One of those chemical names. You know. Barbisol. Acidophilus. Something like that. What makes you think penicillin will work?"

Continue with the mystery

An Access Excellence Science Mystery sponsored by Genentech, Inc.