William Johnston - Max Smart and the Perilous Pellets

“Max, then-”

“Exactly, 99! Those pellets have been planted in the human robot!”

“Then our mission is completed, Max!”

“I think that’s what I said, 99.” He picked up the black satchel and he headed for the door. “Let’s get out of here. I can almost feel that medal pinned on my chest already. It stings. I think the Chief pinned it right onto my skin.”

“Max-wait!”

“Well, what is it, 99?” Max asked, halting.

“Our mission isn’t completed, Max. Not while that human robot still exists. Max, we have a duty to the world. We have to destroy that robot.”

“I don’t see why, 99,” Max frowned. “The Chief didn’t say anything about that when he sent us out on this mission.”

“But he didn’t know about the human robot, Max. If he had, I’m sure he would have told us to destroy it. Max, think! The fate of the whole world depends on our destroying not only the human robot, but the Super Boom, too.”

Max smiled. “Oh, is that what you were getting at? You’re worried about the Super Boom, is that it? I thought you just had it in for that robot. 99, there’s no problem. The Super Boom is no longer a factor.”

“But, Max, it’s implanted inside the robot!”

“Of course it is. But our pellets are implanted inside the robot, too. Don’t you see? 99, when we get back to Headquarters, the Chief will punch that button that’s on his desk-remember? And the button will detonate the pellets. When the pellets explode, the KAOS installations will be blasted to bits. And, one of the KAOS installations is this hospital. Consequently, the Super Boom, which is planted inside the robot, which will be blasted to bits, will be destroyed in the explosion. Now, do you see?”

“I lost you, Max, back where the Chief punched the button.”

“Then will you take my word for it, 99?”

“I guess I’ll have to, Max. I’m sure I’d never be able to understand your explanation.”

“All right, now, let’s run for it, 99.”

Max opened the door a crack and peeked out. “All clear,” he whispered.

They slipped out of the room and moved cautiously down the corrider.

“Which way is the way out, Max?” 99 asked. “I can’t remember.”

“Just follow me,” Max replied. “I have an unerring instinct for this sort of thing.” He pointed. “See that door there? That’s the way out.”

“Are you sure, Max?”

“99, will you please trust my instinct,” Max said, quietly opening the door. “It has never failed me-”

Max and 99 suddenly found themselves face to face with their pursuers, who were on the other side of the door, in consultation, trying to figure out which way Max and 99 had gone.

“Stop!” Dr. Medulla cried.

Max slammed the door. “Run, 99!”

Max and 99 raced down the corridor.

Behind them they heard running. Voices shouted. “Stop! Halt!”

“I think your instinct needs adjusting, Max,” 99 said.

“Don’t be a needler, 99,” Max grumbled. “Nobody likes a needler.”

Max and 99 galloped through the hospital looking for the way out. Behind them, Dr. Medulla and the other doctors got closer and closer.

“This way!” Max shouted, opening a door.

“Max! That’s the laundry!”

Max and 99 dashed off in another direction.

“Ah! This is it!” Max cried, opening another door.

“Max! That’s the operating room!”

Max slammed the door, and he and 99 went racing off.

“Here it is!” Max exulted, opening another door.

“Max! That’s the exit!”

Max slammed the door, and he and 99 raced away down the corridor.

As they ran, 99 said, “Max-that was the exit! Why didn’t we escape?”

“The exit? I thought you said, ‘Max! That’s the ex-’ Oh, yes, you did say it was the exit, didn’t you? All right, 99, we’ll run in a circle, and when we reach the exit door again, we’ll use it.”

Behind them, Dr. Medulla cried, “Halt! Stop!”

“I think that should be ‘Stop! Halt!’ ” Max called back.

“Stop! Halt!”

“By George, I think he’s got it!” Max said.

“Max!” 99 said, “isn’t that the door? That one up ahead!”

“No, it’s the next one after that,” Max replied. “Trust my instinct, 99.”

“All right, Max. But-”

They passed the first door. Then, reaching the second door, Max whipped it open and charged through the opening, followed by 99.

“Ah! Safe!” Max crowed.

“Max… we’re not outside. We’re… Max! We’re in the hospital kitchen!”

“Trapped!” Max groaned.

Dr. Medulla and the other doctors appeared in the doorway.

“Trapped!” Dr. Medulla grinned.

“I just said that,” Max grumbled. “However, we’re both wrong. The jig is not yet up, Dr. Medulla. It just so happens that I have one more egg in my basket!”

“You don’t even have a basket,” Dr. Medulla pointed out.

“Will you try to be a good fellow for once in your life and go along,” Max said. “Let’s assume that this black bag I’m carrying is a basket.”

Dr. Medulla shrugged. “I will if they will,” he said, indicating the other doctors.

“Just this once,” the other doctors chorused.

“All right, that’s settled,” Max said. He reached into the black bag, pulled out a gadget, and raised it high. “Stand back!” he commanded menacingly.

The doctors cowered against the wall.

“Don’t throw it!” Dr. Medulla pleaded.

“One false move, and I drop this gadget!” Max threatened. “Now.. clear the doorway!”

Dr. Medulla and the other doctors quickly moved away from the opening.

“Let’s go, 99,” Max said.

“Right behind you, Max.”

They moved cautiously toward the doorway. “Let this be a lesson to you,” Max said to the doctors. “A Control agent is always prepared.”

“Max, what is that gadget, anyway?” 99 asked.

“I wish you hadn’t asked that, 99.”

“On the contrary, that’s a good question,” Dr. Medulla said. “What is that gadget, Max?”

“Run, 99!”

“Right behind you, Max!”

Max and 99 charged through the doorway, reached the corridor and raced toward the exit door.

“Max! Throw the gadget!” 99 said.

Behind them, Dr. Medulla cried, “Halt! Stop!”

“There isn’t time now,” Max said to 99. “Here’s the door. Out!”

They dashed through the exit, out into the open air, then ran toward the gate.

“Stop! Halt!”

“Max, why don’t you throw the gadget!” 99 pleaded.

“Because, 99, I haven’t the vaguest idea what it is!”

“Then why did you threaten those KAOS agents with it? And why did they cower against the wall?”

“Instinct, 99. Whenever rival groups of agents meet face to face, one agent in one group always pulls a gadget from a little black bag and cries, ‘Stand back!’ And the other group of agents always stands back, cowering against the wall. It’s tradition.”

“I’m sorry I asked that question and spoiled things, Max.”

“You’re forgiven, 99. Just run!”

They were reaching the gate.

“Stop! Halt!” the sentry cried, barring the way.

“We can’t!” Max called. “We’re being pursued!”

“You’re supposed to show your identification!” the sentry bawled.

“We’ll show our identification twice the next time!” Max promised.

“You won’t forget?”

“Scout’s honor!”

The sentry stepped aside, and Max and 99 went racing through the gateway.

“Stop! Halt!” they heard the sentry cry, behind them, as the doctor approached the gate.

“Halt! Stop!” Dr. Medulla answered.

“That’s my line!” the sentry raged.