Get Smart 4 - Max Smart and the Perilous Pellets by William Johnston Page A

To the group, he said, “Take five. Then, after recess, I’ll demonstrate the rest of these weapons. I think you’ll be particularly interested in our new white corpuscle destroying machine. It has an intriguing boxing glove attachment. Dismissed!”
    The freshmen straggled out, followed by The Professor.
    “Max! Wake up!” 99 pleaded, patting Max’s face.
    Max stirred. “What’s the next question?” he said fuzzily.
    “Are you all right, Max?”
    “I don’t think I know the answer to that. Do you have an easier one?”
    At that moment, Frank Sadwell returned to the room. He was carrying a pail of water. “The Professor asked me to revive him,” he explained to 99. “He wants him to be in shape for the next demonstration.”
    “I’m revived,” Max said.
    Frank Sadwell threw the water into his face.
    “Why did you do that?” Max asked, annoyed and dripping.
    “I always follow orders,” Frank Sadwell replied. “The Professor said, ‘Throw some water in his face and revive him.’ ”
    “But, I told you, I was already revived.”
    “That only covered the ‘revived,’ that didn’t cover the ‘water,’ ” Frank Sadwell said. “You should have said, ‘I’m already revived, and you don’t have to throw water in my face.’ How was I to know?”
    “My apologies,” Max muttered.
    “Outside,” Frank said to Max and 99. “The Professor wants you to get some fresh air so you’ll be in shape for the next demonstration.”
    “Couldn’t we stay in here?” Max asked.
    “The Professor wants—”
    “I know, I know—outside.”
    Max and 99 left the room, followed by Frank Sadwell. When they got outside, Frank moved on, and joined The Professor, who, a short distance away, was talking informally to a number of the freshmen.
    “Max, how are we going to plant the explosive?” 99 said worriedly. “There isn’t any place out here to drop it.”
    “99, I think the time has come to make a policy decision,” Max said.
    “Yes, Max?”
    “The question is, which is more important, planting that explosive or saving the life of Jack Sharp?”
    “Who, Max?”
    “Sorry. That beating mixed me up a bit. Max Smart, I meant to say.”
    “I don’t think I understand, Max.”
    “99, the only way we can plant that explosive is to return to the classroom. But, if we return to the classroom, The Professor will continue to use me to demonstrate the KAOS weapons. And, frankly, 99, I don’t think I’ll survive. Now, do you understand?”
    “I think so, Max. But what’s the answer?”
    Max threw up his arms, covering his head.
    “I’m not the lie-detector, Max. I won’t hit you,” 99 said.
    “Instinct,” Max explained. “From now on, whenever I hear that question, ‘What is the answer,’ I’m going to duck.”
    “Then, what can we do? Is that better, Max?”
    “Yes, but it doesn’t answer the question. Which is more important, 99? Planting the explosive, or my life?”
    “Max, that’s easy. Your life is more important.”
    “I tend to agree with you on that, 99.”
    “But, on the other hand, planting the explosive is very important, too.”
    “Yes, it’s a difficult decision to make.”
    “It’s your life, Max.”
    “That makes it easier,” Max said. “Let’s run.”
    “We better not run, Max,” 99 said. “That might create suspicion. Let’s just walk.”
    “99, this is my life. I say let’s run!”
    “Let’s compromise, Max. Let’s trot.”
    “That’s fair.”
    Having reached the decision, Max and 99 trotted toward the gate.
    “After we escape,” 99 said, “maybe we could drop the pellet on the school grounds from the helicopter. We might hit it, you know.”
    “99, we couldn’t even hit the school grounds with two bodies,” Max said. “We tried it, remember? When we parachuted.”
    “Well, we could try, Max.”
    Max halted. “It’s no use,” he said. “Duty first. I can’t leave, 99, until after I’ve planted that explosive. Even if it costs me my life.