The door was shut tight, and Nugent signaled for the
executioner, who placed a container o f acid into the tube which
ran into the bottom o f the chamber. He pulled a lever, and the
container made its way to the bowl under the chair. N ugent
stepped to one o f the windows and watched carefully. The other
members o f the team did the same.
The poisonous gas was released slowly and rose up. At first, the
rabbit didn’t react to the steam, then it hit him. H e stiffened,
jumped a few times, then started shaking violently. In less than a
minute, he was dead.
Nugent smiled as he looked at his watch. “Clear it,” he ordered,
and the gas was released into the air outside through an opening in
the top of the chamber. Most o f the execution team went outside.
It would be at least fifteen minutes before the chamber could be
opened and the rabbit removed. Then they had to wash it all down.
Nugent was still inside, so they smoked and laughed together.