Get Smart 7 - Max Smart - The Spy Who Went Out to the Cold by William Johnston

post office!” Max commanded.
    The driver turned in the seat and looked at them. “You’re from out of town, eh?” he said.
    “Yes, yes—hurry,” Max said.
    “I can’t do it,” the driver said. “It’s the code of the Spanish taxi drivers never to take undue advantage of a tourist. I can’t cheat you. There’s no need to go all the way into town to the post office. There’s a mailbox right inside the terminal.”
    “Look—” Max began wearily.
    “Max, let me try,” 99 said. She addressed the driver. “It’s very simple,” she said. “We don’t want to mail a letter. We’re looking for someone—a small, dumpy man who looks as if he needs a keeper. We think we may find him at the post office.”
    The driver peered at her, scowling, then looked at Max. “A small, dumpy guy that looks like he needs a keeper, eh, lady? What do you want with two of them? Trying to make up a set?”
    “I am not dumpy,” Max said.
    “Could you just take us to the post office?” 99 said. “And let us worry about the reason?”
    The driver shrugged and faced front. “Why not?” he said. “The code of the Spanish cab driver is: If some tourist nut insists on getting took—be of service.”
    A half-hour later, they reached the post office, located in the center of Madrid. Max and 99 jumped out and headed up the steps—just as von BOOM came out the door and headed down the steps.
    “Professor!” Max called.
    But at that same instant, from behind them, came the sound of thundering hoofs, which drowned-out Max’s shout. Whipping around, Max and 99 saw a solid wall of fierce-looking bulls pounding toward them through the street.
    “Well, now we know what that ticket clerk meant, 99,” Max said.
    “When he said to watch out for what we Americans call policemen? You mean he meant—”
    “Bulls,” Max nodded.
    “Max! We’ll be trampled!”
    “Run, 99!”
    “But, Max! The Professor!”
    “99, the Professor is already a block ahead of us. Now, run!”
    Max and 99 raced up the street, with the bulls thundering behind them, getting closer. Ahead of them, Professor von BOOM drew farther and farther away.
    “He sprints very nicely for a small, dumpy man,” Max commented.
    “Max, run faster! If we don’t, we’ll not only lose von BOOM, but the bulls will get us.”
    “You know, actually, this is the sort of thing we ought to relax and enjoy, 99,” Max said. “This is not just a simple stampede. It’s a ceremony.”
    “Really, Max?”
    “Oh, yes. This is the way the bull-fighting season starts. The bulls are chased through the streets to the bull ring. It’s a very interesting and colorful sight. That is, it is if you happen to be behind the bulls.”
    “Max, we’re gaining on von BOOM.”
    “I knew he’d slow up sooner or later, carrying all that dump with him.”
    “But . . . Max . . . the bulls are gaining on us!”
    “See that corner up ahead, 99? According to my calculations, the three of us, you and I and von BOOM, will reach it at the same moment. You get the Professor by the right hand, and I’ll get him by the left hand, and we’ll steer him around the corner.”
    “Good thinking, Max!”
    A few moments later, they reached the corner. 99 got von BOOM by the right hand. Max got him by the left hand. Then they turned. Unfortunately, 99 turned left, and Max turned right. They collided, bumped heads, and dropped to the street, unconscious. Professor von BOOM had just enough time to drag them both to safety before the bulls went thundering past.
    After a while, Max and 99 regained consciousness. Professor von BOOM helped them to their feet.
    “It worked, 99,” Max said. “We saved him. Look, he doesn’t have a scratch on him. But, let’s not waste a lot of time congratulating ourselves,” he said, getting out the international flight schedule. “We still have to get to Vladivostok. Now here . . . here’s a flight to Athens from Madrid. And, with any luck at all, it will get us there in