more sub to that.”
Peaches snatched the Plan from his hand. “I’m not even going to talk to you any more,” she said disgustedly. “I’m going to work on this code.”
“Mind if I peek over your shoulder?”
“Yes. But I’m sure that won’t stop you.”
“Anyway, I’m glad to see that you’re speaking to me again,” Max said.
As they sank lower into the earth they studied the words on the sheet of paper.
“Have you noticed,” Max said, “that those first three words are all the names of men?”
“Shhhh! I’m working.”
“There’s ‘Sad Al’ That’s obviously a man named Al. And ‘Astor.’ That’s the last name of a man. John Jacob Astor. Remember him? He was in the fur trade. Which reminds me of a little joke. What kind of a garment is the same as a long walk?”
“Shhhh!”
“No, that’s not the right answer. The right answer is: a fur piece. Get it? A fur piece is a garment. And it’s also a long walk. For instance, if you were to ask a stranger how far it is from Washington, D.C., to New York City, he would reply, ‘It’s a fur piece.’ ”
“Will you please be quiet!”
“Sorry about that.”
Frowning, Max continued to study the words. “Mays,” he said. “That could be Willie Mays. But I’m sure he isn’t mixed up with KAOS.”
“Shhhhh.”
“Anyway, we know there are three men involved. So, what else do we have? ‘Bronco Con.’ Bronco is a horse. And ‘Con’ is short for ‘confidence game.’ In other words, a phony horse. Or, in still other words, a Trojan horse. Yes, now it’s all coming clear. What we’re looking for is three men in a Trojan horse.”
The elevator came to a halt, and the door slid open.
“All out,” Max announced.
“Where do we go from here?”
“Well, this is a series of tunnels-a little like a maze. If you know your way, it’s very simple to get from here to the secret exit-which is a manhole that opens in a deserted section of the city. However, if you don’t know your way, you could get lost down here and never find your way out.”
Peaches looked at him, fear-stricken. “You’re going to lead us out?”
“That’s right.”
Peaches screamed. “Help! Somebody! Help! We’re lost!”
“If I were thin-skinned, I’d consider that as evidence of a lack of confidence in my ability,” Max said.
“Help!”
At that moment, a man in an usher’s uniform appeared. He was stooped, and had a long white beard. He looked to be about one-hundred-and-ninety.
“At your service, Mr. Smart,” the man creaked.
“Just in time, Willowby,” Max said.
Peaches pointed. “Who’s he?”
“This is Willowby, our head usher,” Max replied. “You see, we were losing so many secret agents down here we had to put in guides. That was years ago. We haven’t lost a secret agent since. That is, none of ours, anyway.” He turned to Willowby. “Isn’t that true?”
“That’s true,” Willowby replied. “And I ought to know-I’ve been down here from the first.”
“All right, Willowby,” Max said, “which way to the secret exit?”
Willowby pointed to the entrance to a tunnel. “That way, sir.”
“Thank you.”
“Oh… Mr. Smart,” Willowby said, “one thing. I haven’t been out lately, you know. What’s the news on the outside?”
“World, national or local?”
“Well… how is the President doing these days?”
“I’m afraid, Willowby, that he’s having a bit of a hard time with some of the members of the Senate.”
“That’s too bad,” Willowby said. Then he smiled. “But Mr. Lincoln can handle it.”
“Yes, yes, I’m sure he can,” Max said. He turned to Peaches. “Shall we flee?”
As they proceeded down the tunnel, Max again put his mind to deciphering the Plan. “So far,” he said, “we have three men in a Trojan horse. Now, the next phrase is ‘Map Change.’ That’s pretty clear. These three men in a Trojan horse intend to change the map. But how would they do it? I suppose they could collect all the maps in the world and draw in false lines. But that would take too long. What’s the next word?”
“Three Bs,” Peaches replied. “And please be quiet.”
“Three Bs. Of course! Three bombs! Three men in a Trojan horse intend to change the map of the world with three bombs! Super-destructive bombs, no doubt.”
Ahead of them, an aged voice called out. “Halt! Who goes there?”
“That would be Ponsenby, the second usher,” Max explained to Peaches.
They approached the man, who, like Willowby, was stooped and had a long white beard. “Oh… Mr. Smart,” he said. “Are you lost again?”
“If I were lost, would I be here?” Max replied sharply.
“I thought maybe you bungled into the right tunnel-like the last time.”
“Never mind that,” Max said. “Which way to the secret exit?”
Ponsenby pointed. “Thataway.”
They started to go, then Max stopped and turned back to Ponsenby. “Incidentally, if you’re interested,” he said, “Mr. Lincoln is having trouble with the Senate.”
“Don’t give me that,” Ponsenby said. “Lincoln was assassinated.”
“Oh. How did you hear?”
“Heard it from a fellow who was passing through here. A John Wilkes Booth.”
“Oh… yes.”
“Actor fellow,” Ponsenby said. “I asked him to do me some imitations. But he was in too big a hurry. Had to go hide in a barn, he said. Didn’t say why.”
Max saluted. “Keep alert, Ponsenby.”
“Don’t I always?”
Max and Peaches continued along the tunnel.
“Is it much further?” Peaches complained.
“Try not to think about it. Concentrate on the code.”
“How can I with you babbling in my ear?”
“Shh!” Max said. “I’m trying to think.”
Peaches turned her attention back to the Plan.
“Three men in a Trojan horse intend to change the map of the world with three super-destructive bombs,” Max mused. “Now, how could they do that? Simple. By setting off those bombs in the three main capitals of the world, that’s how. A bomb in Moscow. A bomb in Peking, And a bomb in New York.”
“New York isn’t the capital,” Peaches said. “Washington is the capital.”
“Yes, I know, that’s what they think in Washington. But in the eyes of the world, New York is the capital. Blow up Washington, and what do you get? A few politicians. But blow up New York and you destroy the symbol that holds the whole nation together.”
“The Statue of Liberty, you mean.”
“No, the Automat. Where else can you get a piece of apple pie for a nickel? That’s what we’re fighting for, you know. Mom’s apple pie. And the Automat turns out a piece of apple pie that makes Mom’s taste like warmed over glue. Yes, I think I’ve got it. The code is broken. The Plan is revealed. Definitely. Three men in a Trojan horse- Strike that. Make that three men in three Trojan horses. Three men in three Trojan horses will change the map of the world by exploding three super-destructive bombs in the three main capitals of the world-Moscow, Peking and New York.”
