William Johnston: Sorry, Chief…

“That ought to be easy to spot,” Max said.

“Chief,” 99 said, “do I understand that Max and I and Fang will be sailing on the ocean liner, too?”

“I don’t know-is that what you understand?” the Chief said.

99 nodded. “Yes.”

“Then you’re absolutely right,” the Chief said. “You and Max and Fang will be sailing on the ocean liner, too.” He reached into a pocket and brought out a small envelope. “Here are your tickets,” he said. “You’re sailing tomorrow at noon on the ‘Queen Edward.’ ”

Max squinted at him. “The ‘Queen Edward,’ Chief?”

“That’s the name of the ocean liner, Max.”

“Yes, I understand that. But, the ‘Queen Edward?’ ”

“Her father, the King, wanted a son,” the Chief explained.

“Oh.”

“There’s one other thing,” the Chief said. “There will be a group of touring scientists on board. They’re going to Europe to see the laboratories. Dr. X, using an assumed name, has infiltrated this group. He-”

“Chief… infiltrated… isn’t that some sort of exotic-”

“No, Max, it isn’t a mushroom. It means that he has sneaked in among them.”

“It does make a lot more sense that way,” Max admitted.

“In order to cloak his true identity,” the Chief went on, “Dr. X has joined this group of touring scientists. So, we have executed a counter maneuver, Max, by infiltrating you into the group, too.”

“I see. I will be posing as a scientist.”

“Right. More specifically, you’ll be posing as a space scientist. I’ve obtained a book on space science. You can read it-sometime between now and tomorrow noon-so that you’ll be able to discuss the subject if anyone should challenge you.”

“Good thinking, Chief. It will give me something to do this evening-after I finish packing, of course.”

The Chief turned to 99. “99,” he said, “you will be traveling as Max’s assistant. So, it might be a good idea for you to leaf through the book, too.”

“Rorff!” Fang barked.

“No, Fang, you won’t have to read the book,” the Chief replied. “You will be posing as a scientific experiment-a dog that Max intends to send into space.”

“Rorff! Rorff!” Fang barked.

“All right, if you’re really interested, then read the book,” the Chief said.

“You’re next after me, Fang,” 99 said.

“Rorff!” Fang barked.

“That’s a good idea,” Max said. “Since Fang doesn’t have any packing to do, he can read the book and then give 99 and me the gist of it. That will save time.”

“Well, work it out however you want to,” the Chief said. “Just don’t miss the boat.”

Max hopped down from his seat on the corner of the Chief’s desk. “Is that all, Chief?”

“Yes. Oh… no,” the Chief said. “One other thing.”

He went behind his desk and got an attache case from beneath it. “Our Research and Development Department has come up with some new counter-belligerence tools it wants you to test on this mission, Max.”

“Counter-belligerence tools?” Max said puzzledly. “That couldn’t be-”

“No, not mushrooms. Gadgets.” He opened the attache case. “Let’s see… here’s a beam-less flashlight. As I understand it, it throws a beam of ultraviolet light-which, of course, cannot be seen by the naked eye. The advantage is that you can make a secret search at night without having to worry about your light being observed.”

“Excellent!” Max said. “What else is in there, Chief?”

“Oh, oodles of stuff,” the Chief said, closing the attache case. “Each of the gadgets is labeled, telling you what it can be used for. You can apply each one as the need for it arises. It will be a big help to the Research and Development Department. And, that way, even if you don’t catch Dr. X and destroy the formula, the trip won’t be a total loss.”

“Chief, you can count on us,” Max said, picking up the attache case. “We’ll probably have this case wrapped up before we’re a day at sea.”

“Then we can just relax and enjoy the cruise,” 99 said happily.

“Rorff!” Fang barked.

“Don’t be a spoil sport,” Max said. “Just because they won’t let dogs sit in the deck chairs that doesn’t mean there won’t be a lot of other things you can do.”

“Max… keep in touch,” the Chief said.

“I’ll try,” Max said. “Of course, when we get out into the middle of the ocean, that may be difficult. I’m not sure my shoe will carry this far.”

“Try, anyway,” the Chief said. He waved as the trio departed. “Bon voyage!”

Max paused. “Chief, is that, by any chance, some sort of exotic-”

The Chief interrupted the question, raising his eyes toward the ceiling. “Lower the Cone of Silence!” he begged.

Max quietly closed the door.

Max, 99 and Fang arrived at the dock in a taxi a little before noon the next day. A porter took their luggage-except for the attache case, which Max retained-and they boarded the “Queen Edward,” and got in line with the other passengers who were having their tickets inspected.

“So far, so good,” Max said smugly.

“Max, we’ve only been on board a few seconds,” 99 pointed out.

“The statement still stands-so far, so good,” Max insisted.

99 peered along the line of passengers. “Do you see anyone who might be Dr. X?” she said.

He’s a scientist-he’ll be wearing a beard,” Max replied. “Do you see any beards?”

99 began counting. “Five… six… seven…”

“Let me put it another way-do you see any men with beards?”

“… thirteen… fourteen… fifteen…”

Max shrugged. “All right, knock it off. I’ll grant you-that may not be our best clue.”

A few minutes later, they reached the ship’s officer, who, seated at a desk, was inspecting tickets.

“Let’s see,” Max said, patting his pockets, “tickets… tickets

… I had the tickets right here just a second ago.”

“Rorff!” Fang barked.

“Yes, that’s right,” Max said, “I did put them in the attache case.”

He placed the case on the desk and opened it. “Let’s see now,” he muttered, “tickets… tickets…”

“You’re holding up the line,” the officer complained.

“What kind of a ‘welcome aboard’ is that?” Max grumbled. “I’ve got the tickets right here… tickets… tickets…”

“Could they be in that envelope?” 99 said, pointing.

Max picked up the envelope and read from the tag that was attached to it. “ ‘Envelope for mailing plea for HELP when all other means of communication destroyed.’ ” He turned to 99. “Research and Development thinks of everything,” he said. “It even has a Special Delivery stamp on it.”

“Rorff!” Fang barked.

“I guess you’re right,” Max said. “It isn’t such a good idea. Special Delivery does take longer.” He began pawing in the attache case again. “Tickets… tickets…”

“There they are, Max,” 99 said.

“Oh, yes! They slipped into this little opening here.”

“What is that, Max?”

“That’s the little place where you stick your finger in to open the secret compartment,” Max explained. “Without that little finger-hole, you’d never be able to find it.” He handed the tickets to the ship’s officer.

“There you are, Admiral. Two staterooms on Deck C.”

The officer counted Max and 99 and Fang. “One-two-three. That’s three,” he said.

“The mutt and I are bunking together,” Max explained. “We’re on a bit of an economy kick back at the office.”

The officer handed back the tickets and pointed. “Gangway that way,” he said.