PONS Die drei ??? Fragezeichen Dangerous Quiz Show

1. Mail for Justus

It has been like this for a few days. Justus is hardly eating anything, he can't concentrate, he is just functioning and working half-heartedly or not at all. And in the mornings it is even worse.

Aunt Mathilda and Uncle Titus are starting to seriously worry about him and are wondering if he is sick. But his friends know more about Justus' problem. Maybe today Justus' agony will have an end. At this moment something is happening at the gate. It might change the whole situation immediately.

Dick, the long-serving mailman for this neighbourhood in Rocky Beach, arrives at the white mailbox of the Jonas family. And Justus runs to the driveway.

"Hello Dick!" he greets the mailman excitedly. "Is there anything for me?"

Peter and Bob join them because they are curious. They also want to know if the long-awaited letter has finally arrived.

"Well, let's see," Dick mumbles. "Here's a brochure from the new carpet store down on Strawberry Road. A huge joint, I tell ya! They've got . !"

"Diiiick!"

"Yes, I get it," the mailman grins. "There are two invoices, a postcard from - wait a minute ."

"Hey! That's none of your business!" Justus tears the postcard out of the curious mailman's hands indignantly. Everyone in the neighbourhood knows that Dick normally reads everything that isn't firmly sealed.

"Yes, and that's it," Dick closes his big brown postbag again.

"Oh no!" Justus moans. "You're telling me, there's nothing else?"

"Sorry." Dick gets on his bike.

"Bummer!" Bob rants. "They're really taking their time! Maybe we should ."

"Oh!" Dick cries at that moment and brakes. "I almost forgot. This large envelope also arrived for you, Justus." The mailman pulls a large-sized envelope out of his bag and offers it to the three boys with a serious expression on his face.

Justus and Bob simultaneously take a deep breath and stare at the mailman with the envelope in his hand, looking back and forth between the man and the envelope. They are both thinking the same thing: This rotten, vicious, cunning .

"You . you. you," Justus stammers. He can't even think of a suitable expression because he is so surprised.

"Yes, you . you," Bob also rants. Justus runs towards the mailman and tears the envelope from his hand. He reads the sender's address and cheers: "It's the one!"

Without another word he and his friends turn around and run towards the old gateway disappearing into the tunnel to their trailer. Titus Jonas, who is watching everything, is standing at the front door. He looks at the mailman, quite confused. "Uh, Dick, maybe you can explain what just happened?"

The mailman shoulders his bag and raises one eyebrow with a conspiratorial look on his face. "You'll be rich soon!" he murmurs mysteriously and cycles away without another glance.

At the same time in the trailer - their 'headquarters', as they call it - Peter and Bob are longingly awaiting Justus' reaction. They sit there holding their breath, watching their friend who is reading the letter. The Three Investigators are squeezed in between the computer, fax machine, answering machine and telephone which belong to the basic equipment and the laboratory and several brimming filing cabinets.

"Hullo?" After a minute, Bob nervously starts drumming on the table. But first Justus wants to finish reading the letter in peace.

"Well, what's going on? Yes or no?" Peter urges him.

"Come on! Just give me one minute, guys! You should learn to be patient - it's a virtue well worth learning." Justus holds the piece of paper closer to his face.

"Don't blabber, read it to us!" Peter isn't in the mood for Justus' wisecracks.

"Okay," Justus groans mercifully. "Listen!" He puts on an act of clearing his throat, meaningfully lowers his eyes and holds the letter close to his eyes. "'Dear Mr Justus Jonas' - that's me ."

"Oh really? You're kidding, aren't you? Would you just get on with it?" Bob rolls his eyes. Justus giggles gleefully. "'. the LA Post, hereby gladly congratulates you on the correct and superior solution of this year's annual mastermind quiz, our extremely challenging crossword puzzle.'"

"You did it! You did it!" Peter cheers and runs around the trailer with raised arms like a soccer player after scoring a goal. Bob keeps yelling "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

"But," Justus stops their cheering abruptly, "unfortunately, in this case, several participants found the solution! For this reason the winner of the first prize - the participation in the quiz show 'Who cracks the nut?' - was determined by drawing lots. The lucky winner's ." Justus lowers the letter and shuts his eyes.

"Yes? What? Go on reading! What's wrong?" Bob almost forgets to breathe because of the suspense.

"Oh, come on, Justus! Don't do that I'll-keep-you-in-suspense-until-you're-begging-on-your-knees act again!" Peter growls and impatiently snaps his fingers.

". name," Justus draws out each word.

"Justuuuus!"

".iiiiiis ."

Peter rolls his eyes and Bob slaps his forehead.

".Justus Jonas!" the First Investigator blurts out and the letter flies through the air.

For about two seconds his two friends stare at him speechlessly and then an incredible storm of cheering erupts. They celebrate Justus' success by jumping up and down and cheer. He endures countless thumpings on his back. Soon he will be a candidate in one of the most famous quiz shows in California. With a bit of luck and a lot of brains you can win tons of money there.

"Slow down, guys!" Justus calms his friends down again after a while. "That wasn't everything." He picks up the letter from the floor and continues to read: "It also says here: 'Kindly arrive at KTV film studios on August 24 at 7 p.m. Two persons of your choice may accompany you to the performance. Tickets are included in the letter. Sincerely yours, Jack Humble, LA Post.'"

Slightly...