"Hokay," the Leader said and pressed the button. A moment later a voice answered distantly.
"Halpovitch!" the Leader yelled at the top of his lungs. Instantly Toffee made the necessary gesture, and for the second time the great man assumed the position, placing his equipment as he went. He was moaning low in every sense of the word.
"I warned you," Toffee said. "Trickery will get you nothing but a pain in the terminus."
"All right!" the Leader groaned. "Stop it! I poosh buttons! I poosh 'em twice apiece! I do what you say like a liddle lamb."
Toffee manipulated the ring, and again the Leader picked himself up from the floor. "Let's stop this horseplay," she said, "and get going."
"Horseplay!" the Leader exclaimed, advancing his finger to the buttons. "Horses vhat play mean like you should be on the backs of postage stamps."
It was nearly an hour later when the Leader released the last button and sagged back in his chair, a broken man.
"Iss all," he said. "You have louse up averything. They all say I am insane, but they gonna do it anyhow 'cause I tell 'em, the dumbells. Over-regimented, they are, like a lot of stupid machines."
Toffee glanced out the window at the now-darkened square. "The fireworks should be starting soon, if they're as efficient as you say." She turned back to the Leader. "Is there any way to get to the top of this pile of concrete where we'll have a better view?"