3
Later that day, with bags packed, Max, 99 and Professor Wormser von BOOM reached the pier and boarded the ship that would take them to Africa. Max and the Professor had a stateroom together, and 99 was alone. As Max and von BOOM were unpacking, Max said, “If you’ve never sailed on an ocean liner before, Professor, I can give you a few tips on some of the strange shipboard customs.” There was no reply. Looking around, Max discovered that von BOOM was gone. He thought back over what he had said, then left the stateroom and went to the mess, where he found von BOOM seated alone in the huge empty room waiting to be served dinner. Max led him back to the stateroom and the unpacking continued.
On the first day at sea, von BOOM wandered off and was eventually found a total of six times. Disgusted, Max decided that he and the Professor would remain in their cabin during the rest of the trip. But one whole day in seclusion was too much. So, on the third day, Max and von BOOM left the cabin and joined 99 on deck, where, disguised in dark glasses, they reclined in deckchairs, staring out at the ocean.
“Big deal,” Max complained. “We had the same view from the cabin porthole-only it was smaller and rounder.”
“Isn’t this sea air wonderful, though, Max?” 99 said.
Max sniffed. “It smells like the inside of a salt shaker.”
99 turned her attention to von BOOM. “Incidentally, Professor,” she said, “while we were in the secret passageways below headquarters, what was the key word that Max used that sent you out looking for the post office?”
“Line,” von BOOM replied.
“Oh, yes, I mentioned the line on my hand,” Max said. He frowned. “Line? What’s the connection with post office?”
“Whenever I’m in a hurry, there’s always a line at the stamp window,” von BOOM explained.
“That makes-” Max began.
“Look!” 99 interrupted, pointing into the sky. “Isn’t that the most interesting bird you’ve ever seen! It’s so big. And such odd wings.”
Von BOOM leaned forward, squinting. “As a scientist, I’d say that’s a phenomenon,” he said.
“It’s the wrong color for a phenomenon,” Max said. “I know a little bit about birds myself. And that is nothing more than a fat black seagull.”
“It’s getting closer,” 99 said. “It looks as if it’s flying straight toward the ship.”
“Those are not wings,” von BOOM said. “That’s a propeller.”
Max hooted. “Your memory is worse than I thought, Professor,” he said. “If you can remember ever seeing a seagull with a propeller-”
“It’s a phenomenon!” von BOOM insisted.
“Seagull!”
“Phenomenon!”
“Seagull!”
“Phenomenon!”
“Helicopter!”
Max and von BOOM turned to 99. “Helicopter?” they said in unison.
“Just look!” she replied.
The helicopter was settling down to the deck only a few yards away. Two men were peering out from the glass, bubble-type cockpit.
“Or. . it could be a passenger pigeon,” Max. said limply.
The helicopter touched down. The hatch opened, and, leaving the engine running, the two men jumped down and approached Max, 99 and von BOOM.
“This looks like them,” the first man said.
The second man got a slip of paper from his pocket and studied it, then looked closely at Max, 99 and von BOOM. “Could be,” he said. “Let’s just check it out-one Agent 86, one Agent 99, and one old guy who looks like he needs a keeper. Check?”
“Check,” the first man replied.
The second man put the piece of paper away, then drew a pistol. “Agent 86 and Agent 99, you stay,” he said. “Von BOOM, you come with us.”
“KAOS!” 99 cried.
“Or. . very large baby seagulls,” Max suggested.
“With a gun, Max?”
“99, tell me, exactly what proof do you have that there are no juvenile delinquents in the seagull family?”
“Cut the chatter!” the second man commanded. He yanked von BOOM to his feet. “Let’s cut out, Pops!” he snarled.
The two men backed toward the waiting helicopter, taking von BOOM with them, holding the gun on Max and 99.
“Max! Aren’t you going to do something?” 99 urged.
“Right now, there’s nothing I can do,” Max replied. “But I certainly know what I’m going to do when we get back to land.”
“What, Max?”
“Read up on seagulls.”
The kidnappers and their prize reached the helicopter. They hustled von BOOM aboard, then closed the hatch. At that instant, Max leaped up and raced forward. As the helicopter rose from the deck, he lunged forward and got a hold on the landing gear. The helicopter soared upward-with Max dangling below.
“Max! You’ll be killed!” 99 screamed.
Max shouted back. But his answer was lost. The helicopter had already become a speck in the sky.
Summoning every ounce of his strength, Max clambered torturously up the landing gear. In time, he reached the hatch and rapped on it.
One of the KAOS agents opened it. “Yeah?” he said nastily.
“Avon calling,” Max gasped.
“Hold it,” the KAOS agent said. He turned to his companion, the KAOS agent at the controls. “Let me see that piece of paper with the description on it,” he said. “There’s an Avon lady at the hatch that I got a suspicion I seen before.”
For the KAOS agents, the delay was costly. While the first man was checking the description on the piece of paper, Max pulled himself up into the cockpit.
“How am I described?” Max asked, looking over the first man’s shoulder.
Curiosity was a mistake. For Max, the delay was costly. The KAOS agent, recognizing Max, pulled his gun and got the drop on him.
“Okay, you can go out the same way you came in,” the KAOS agent ordered.
Max looked back. It was at least a thousand-foot drop to the ocean.
Max addressed the KAOS agent who was acting as pilot. “Could you lower this thing a little?” he said. “That first step looks a teensy-weensy bit high.”
“It’s an optical illusion,” the pilot replied. “But, if you’re afraid of the fall, I’ll give you a little tip. Hold your arms out like-”
Von BOOM had risen from his seat. And, as the KAOS agents and Max watched, intrigued, he stepped through the open hatchway and plummeted downward.
“What’s he? A nut?” the first man asked.
“No,” Max replied, peering out at the falling professor, “I think he just had a sudden urge for a seafood dinner.”
“Catch him!” the KAOS agent who was holding the gun barked at the KAOS agent who was at the
