Two hours later, as requested, Max reported to the briefing room.
It was the same room where she’d first met her competition. Once again, the holographic map of the globe was rotating over the circular desk. Red spots glowed and throbbed all over the world. In Africa. The Amazon rain forest. Washington, DC. London.
She figured those were the trouble spots where the CMI was hoping to accomplish some kind of significant change. Charl and Isabl were in the room. So were the head judge and eight strangers Max had never met before.
More strangers, Max thought. Now that she actually had some friends, kids her own age, she was a little wary of starting over with a new group she knew nothing about.
“Max?” said Isabl. “Welcome. It’s time for you to meet your team.”
“My team?”
“Our benefactor handpicked these eight ladies and gentlemen to assist you on your first mission, which you, of course, will help select.”
“So, I get to help pick the mission but not the mission team?”
“These scientists and engineers are all tops in their fields, Max,” said Charl. “For instance, Dr. Sherpa here is an expert in quantum mechanics.”
“So’s Vihaan.”
“Professor Huang specializes in agricultural issues.”
“Is she smarter than Hana?” muttered Max.
“Mr. Okusi is a computer scientist—”
“That’s Keeto’s department.”
“Max?” said Isabl. “You’re being difficult.”
“Sorry. But sometimes, I just can’t help it.” She turned to the group of esteemed scientists and engineers. “Um. Hi. Glad you could make it. Hope it wasn’t a wasted trip, but, well, it might’ve been.”
She gestured to another one of those smoky ceiling domes shielding what had to be a security camera. “Is our friend watching us?”
“Which friend?” asked Isabl.
“You know—Mr. or Ms. Benefactor.”
“I’m not sure.”
“I’d like to talk to him or her about my team.”
“But these are his rules,” added Charl. “This is his team.”
“Good. We settled that one,” said Max. “He’s a he.”
She shook her head. Rules. Restrictions. Dictates. She liked those about as much as Einstein did, which was not at all.
She walked up to the camera. “Hello, sir. I’m, uh, Max. Max Einstein. And I can’t wait to start changing things for the better. So, uh, thanks for the vote of confidence. I’m eager to get started. Today. Right now. Let’s do it! Woo-hoo!”
She gave the camera a mighty arm pump.
All the super-serious scientists in the room were gawking at her, some with their mouths hanging open.
“I’m happy to be your first finisher,” she said to the camera. “But. Well. But…”
“There can be no ‘buts,’” said the head judge. “If you are unwilling to perform your duties as outlined by the benefactor—”
“Oh, I’m willing, sir. In fact, I’m more than willing. I’m eager. However, I do have one little request. Actually, to be honest, it’s not really a request. It’s more of a demand.”
Max wondered if her headstrong enthusiasm for a wild idea might do her in.
The judge raised his bushy eyebrows. “A demand?”
“Yes, sir. And it’s nonnegotiable. We’re talking zero wiggle room.”
“And what is this ‘demand’?”
“Well, no offense to the brilliant scientists here in the room, or to you, wise and munificent benefactor.”
This time, she comically bowed at the camera.
The main judge touched a clear earpiece that Max had noticed he was wearing.
“What is your demand?” he said, repeating what someone, probably the benefactor, had just said to him.
“Well, it’s pretty simple,” said Max, focusing on the camera. “I want the other eight contestants to be my team. Siobhan, Keeto, Toma, Hana, Vihaan, Tisa, Annika, and, yes, even Klaus. They have to be my field crew. I don’t mind if some of these adults help us with logistics and office stuff, but the kids you assembled here are absolutely brilliant. That’s who I want with me. The best and the brightest.”
“But they’re children!” blurted Professor Huang.
“Exactly right,” said Max. “They have no preconceived notions. No fixed ideas about how things have to be done. Their minds are open. They’ll see the world with fresh eyes and attack problems with fresh ideas. And, if you ask me, that’s exactly what this tired old world needs. As someone much smarter than me once said, ‘A new type of thinking is essential if mankind is to survive and move toward higher levels.’” Max looked up at the camera again. “So, do we have a deal, sir? I hope we have a deal. I love good deals.”