"Don't be ridiculous," he said. "This is a steam engine."
"That's what the thing was. Crazy, huh?"
" 'Absurd' was the word I was thinking of."
"The Air Force confirmed it."
"Nonsense," returned Smith. "I was just speaking with the President and he told me the first two had been identified. But he said nothing about steam engines."
"What did he say?"
"He said . . ." Smith's voice trailed off. "What did he say?" He reached for his keyboard. Remo seized his hands.
"Do you mind?" Smith said. "I input the confirmation."
"Can't you remember it without the computer's help?" Remo demanded.
"I've been handling so much data today that it's all a blur," Smith admitted.
Remo let go. Smith's fingers attacked the keyboard. He brought up the file.
"Odd," said Smith in a weak voice.
"What is it, Smitty?". Then Remo saw what it was. Smith's file indicated that the earlier KKV strikes involved an American Big Boy and a Prussian G12.
"Now, how could I have forgotten something like that?"
"What I want to know is how you could have put it aside. Those identifications may be our only lead."
"Yes, indeed. I imagine I was so preoccupied with file setup that I lost track of time."
Remo looked at the ES Quantum Three Thousand in the corner of the room. It gleamed under its tinsel and ornaments.
"Why don't you ask it?"
"Why don't you ask me yourself?" the ES Quantum said.
"Smitty?"
"Computer, File 334 contains hard data on the KKV situation. Can you correlate?"
"Affirmative."
"Then do so."
"Answer in memory."
"I cannot get used to how quickly you process data."
"This data was processed when you originally input the data."
Smith frowned. "Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you did not ask," the ES Quantum replied.
"Since when do I have to ask?"
"You always have to ask. I am not a mind reader."
"This is starting to sound like a bad marriage," Remo whispered to Chiun. The Master of Sinanju nodded.
"Please give me the answer," Smith said, brittle-voiced. "Both locomotives recently changed hands on the open market, passing from their original owners to a transshipment point in Luxembourg. There is no record of their final destination."
"Hmm," said Smith. "We have to know where they ended up. Where they came from is not that important."
"An agent handled each transaction."
"Who?" asked Smith.
"A conglomerate known as Friendship, International."
"More data."
"Friendship, International is a multinational conglomerate with interests in one hundred and twenty-two corporations, institutions, and holding companies. Current net worth is in excess of fifty billion dollars."
"Who is the CEO of record?"
"There is no record."
"Stockholders?"
"None. It is privately held."
"Offices?"
"Central office of record is in Zurich, Switzerland, 55 Booggplatz. However, that is a vacant warehouse. A phone line does connect with the Longines Credit Bank."
"That's our lead," Remo said.
"Go immediately. Find out who bought those engines and where they went."
"Now we're getting someplace."
"I will monitor your progress from this end. You still have your communicators?"
"Yes," said Remo.