Which wire do I cut? he asks himself, looking down at the bomb. It is a simple bomb, made from a simple timer, a few wires, and a dozen sticks of dynamite. Right out of the Bomb Disposal Squad Primer: first chapter, first lesson.
Cut the blue wire, the book said. Always cut the blue wire. If there isn't a blue wire, paint one blue and cut it. If there aren't any wires, stick a blue wire in there and cut it. And then run. Don't trip over any of the tires, though. They're on sale.
This bomb has a blue wire. It was a big blue wire, with tiny white flecks. The bomb disposal expert closed his razor-sharp pliers on the wire and gasped.
Another blue wire.
Two blue wires. Something new. Something strange. Usually a bomb had wires from different colors. The bomber who made this bomb must have run out of all of the other colors of wire, or he must have gotten a really good deal on blue wire. Two, three, four blue wires right there on the timer.
What do I do? he asks himself. I am a highly-trained bomb expert. I have a degree in this. I am a doctor of Bombology. If I wasn't out disposing bombs, I'd be setting them. I'd do a far better job on this one that the bomber who made it. Why, the red pigment on the dynamite is faded and there's a snooze bar on the timer.
Why would someone want to blow up a tire store? This is a nice tire store, with lots of discounts and free road service. And it's got a sale going. Could someone not like tire stores? A tire store maniac? Some whose psychological profile would show a history of hating tire stores, like having a tire kill his parents or being beaten up by a tire in school. I might just buy a few of these tires if I don't screw this up.
Maybe there's a hidden wire in there - one I didn't notice at first. There's a red wire over there, but it's attached to the coffee machine. I don't want coffee right now. I still want some tires. Perhaps some coffee would steady my nerves after all. I only have six hours to defuse this bomb. I'll just move the timer up a few hours, because I don't feel like waiting that long to check my handiwork. Perhaps I could have a Coke. Defusing a Coke machine is easy.
Maybe I should move this bomb somewhere else, like a subway platform or an open field. There's still a few of those left. No, if there's any place that's safe to have a bomb go off, it would be a tire store with all of its heavy objects and large plate glass windows. I'll probably get a huge discount for getting rid of this bomb. If I don't get rid of it, I'll probably be able to stick a set of four in the truck while everybody's running around. I don't have time to check the sizes on my car. I've got to figure out these wires.
There are lots of tools in my case. I have six pairs of pliers. I use only one, but the other five are good for moral support. The largest weighs fifty pounds and takes two hands to use. There's also a roll of tape that doesn't stick to anything. There's a hammer with heads on both ends. And, of course, there's spools and spools of beautiful, luxurious blue wire.
Something's ticking...
Ready to Blow 
Linear Mode
