(silence)
Max hung up his shoe. “It seems we’ve lost contact,” he said to the Captain. “I was afraid that might happen when we got this far out to sea.”
“Are you sure?” the Captain said. “Maybe the Chief didn’t hear his phone ringing. Maybe he was in the shower.”
“Nooooo, I’m afraid I’ve lost contact.”
“You didn’t drop a dime in the heel,” the Captain said. “Maybe that’s what went wrong.”
“Captain, believe me, I have lost contact.”
“You’re giving up too easily,” the Captain said. “Let me try it.”
Max took off his shoe and handed it to the Captain. The Captain dialed.
Captain: Hello, Chief? You there? This is the Captain speaking. Come in.
Chief: What-um want-um, Cap?
Captain: I’ll tell you what I want-a little matter of five bucks for a ballpoint pen that burns holes in my checks!
Chief: Sposed to use-um ballpoint pen under water-um, Cap. Water-um put-um out fire.
Captain: How can I do that? No water. The last ship that went through here wore it out completely.
Chief: Caveat emptor, Cap.
Captain: What does that mean?
Chief: You give-um me back Manhattan Island, I give-um you back five bucks you pay-um for pen.
Captain: Listen, Chief, I’m not the kind who pulls rank, but…
The debate continued.
“Max, do you think the Captain is really going to throw us back in the brig?” 99 said.
“I don’t think he’ll get around to it, 99,” Max replied. “The way this is going, I suspect he’ll be on the phone for the rest of the trip.”
99 yawned. “I’m tired, Max.”
“Better turn in for a nap,” Max said.
“Rorff!”
“All right, you, too, Fang.”
“Aren’t you coming, Max?” 99 said.
Max sighed wearily. “No,” he said, looking painfully at the Captain. “I have to wait for my shoe.”
