logically, you usually find that what, on the surface, appears to be difficult, is actually very simple.”
“If you say so, Max,” 99 replied. “What’s the first step?”
“I think first we better get these spiders out of our pockets,” Max replied. “One bite, and we’d never get to items one and two.”
The capsules containing the poisonous spiders were put back into the file, then Max went to the door of the execution chamber and peeked out. “No guards,” he reported.
“The guards seem to appear only when Ways or Means calls them, Max,” 99 said.
Max faced Ways and Means. “One peep out of you, and it’s curtains,” he warned.
“Guards!” Means bellowed.
“All right, smarty-that does it!” Max said. He turned to Hymie. “Get some curtains somewhere and rip them up and then bind and gag these two!” he ordered.
“I protest!” Means said. “You told us we couldn’t peep. You didn’t say anything about yelling.”
“Technically, he’s right, Max,” 99 said.
“And, another thing,” Hymie said, “there aren’t any curtains. This is an underground installation. No windows.”
“In that case-under the circumstances-”
At that instant, a dozen guards burst into the room.
“Grab’em!” Ways commanded.
The guards began moving in on Max, 99 and Hymie. But Max snatched the pistol from Hymie and pointed it at Ways’ head.
“One more step, and he gets it!” he threatened.
The guards halted.
“I’m reassessing my position,” Ways told the guards. “Take one more step, and let’s see what happens.”
The guards moved a step closer.
Max pulled back the hammer of the pistol.
“Forget the ‘grab’em,’ ” Ways ordered the guards. “Return to quarters and wait for further yells.”
Obediently, the guards departed.
Max handed the pistol back to Hymie. “I hope you remember what you just saw,” he said. “That maneuver may come in handy some day.”
“Will it be safe to leave now, Max?” 99 asked.
“Safe, yes. But not easy,” Max replied. “We have to take that refrigerator with us.”
They moved on to the laboratory. Number One was still clicking away, turning out one love poem after another.
“She’s sure hooked on some guy,” Max said. He looked around the lab. “I wonder if it’s somebody here? That’s a nice looking electric typewriter over there,” he said. “Do you suppose?”
“Too bad for her if he’s the one,” Means said. “His ‘e’ key sticks.”
“You’re right,” Max said. “It would be a tragedy. That’s the way it always starts-with an ‘e’ key. Then it’s a ‘u’ key, then a ‘b’ key, then the magic margin goes on the blink. Six months, and she’d be supporting him.” He glared at the typewriter. “He looks like the type, too,” he said.
“Max, how are we going to get her out of here?” 99 asked.
“That’s easy enough, 99. We have both the Ways and Means.”
Struggling, Ways and Means carried Number One from the laboratory, then, ducking, through the corridor. When they reached the pool, they halted.
“You got her in,” Max said, “so there should be no reason why you can’t get her out.”
“Pushing a refrigerator into a pool is one thing, but pushing a refrigerator out of a pool is something else,” Means said.
Max nodded agreement. “This requires some calculation,” he said. “We’re lucky we have a computer with us.”
Max typed out the problem on Number One’s keyboard, then waited for the solution. A second later, Number One responded with a tape.
Max read:
I’d climb the highest mountain,
I’d swim the deepest river.
I’d stack a pile of lumber, dear,
Even if, in my finger, I got a sliver.
All for you!
I’d cross the burning desert,
I’d leap the broadest gorge.
I’d hammer out a horseshoe, dear,
Even if my finger I scorched on the forge.
All for you!
“Well, there’s the answer,” Max said. “But I think it must be in code.”
“That’s only another love poem, Max,” 99 said.
“Oh. I didn’t recognize it.”
“Max, we can’t depend on Number One,” 99 said. “She’s too much in love to think. We’ll have to work this out ourselves.”
Max studied the situation a moment, then said, “I think I have it, 99.”
He swam out into the pool, found the cover to the drain, and removed it. The water level began descending. When all the water had drained out, a half-dozen or so guests remained in the pool, swimming on the bottom.
“Anything they do here, they enjoy it,” Ways said.
“Then they’ll be ecstatic over what I have in mind for them,” Max said.
With the aid of the guests, who formed themselves into a human freight elevator, Number One was raised out of the pool. Then the car that Max had rented was brought around and she was loaded on top.
“All right, everybody into the car,” Max said. “We’re off to Washington!”
“Max. .”
“I know, 99-we’ll be a little crowded. But it’s only a three or four day trip. And the scenery will be nice. And we’ll be good company for each other-we have a lot in common; we’re all in the same business.”
“Max, couldn’t we call the Chief and have him send a plane for us?”
“You forget, 99-my line is busy.”
“You could use the ranch phone, Max.”
Max shook his head in disgust. “99, that’s a very good idea,” he said. “It’s just too bad that you suggested it. Thinking like that could cost you your job, you know. It’s very poor politics, 99, to have better ideas than the man in charge.”
“Sorry about that, Max,” 99 said contritely.
Max was in a cheery mood a few days later as he approached the Chief’s office. The mission had been completed successfully-Ways and Means were behind bars, Hymie was being de-brainwashed, and Number One had been rescued-and, after checking in, he intended to begin a two-week vacation, which, as he saw it, he amply deserved.
Max halted at the door and knocked.
“Give the password,” a voice replied from inside.
“It’s me, Chief,” Max said.
“Enter.”
Max opened the door and stepped into the office. 99 was there, too, seated beside the Chief’s desk.
“I’m sorry I forgot the password, Chief,” Max said.
“You didn’t, Max. That was it.”
“What was it?”
