Q & A

[Flash Bazbo]

This is my first shot at this, shouldn't be too tough... then again, similar statements have introduced some real stumpers in these very pages! Here goes...

McTeagle is walking to his office one morning, when something suddenly dawns on him. So, he pauses at a local bus stop and asks four of the people there the same simple question. He receives the following succession of responses:

• "Yeah! As a matter of fact, I'll be taking on Deep Blue tonight."
  
• "Let's see... oh, sorry. Wet!"
  
• "Who, me? Nope, not since Hercules died, my friend!"
  
• "Uh, sure, here ya go."
  

Satisfied, McTeagle thanks the last respondent and saunters along.

What was McTeagle's question?

[daniel801]

i guess he was having a nicotine fit, right?

[Lepton]

Oooooh....
I like it, I get it, but I don't know the answer yet.

[Marvin]

Hmmm...Something to do with matches?

[Alter Ego]

Do you have any matches?

Ed - Oops! Only now did I see Marvin had some invisible text in his mesg. Heh heh. Yeah. I think that should do it. Though #3 really has a high opinion of himself.

[This message has been edited by Alter Ego (edited 02-25-2002 09:18 PM).]

[Flash Bazbo]

Just like that... you got it, Marvin & Alter! You're right, Alter -- respondent #3 sure is a wiseacre. In fact, this puzzle was inspired by a conversation I overheard several years ago in a transmission repair shop, when one mechanic pulled the "Hercules" line on his co-worker.

Of course, McTeagle's not a smoker... he just remembered he had a pilot light out.

[daniel801]

i don't get credit for the answer?

[Flash Bazbo]

Sorry, Daniel... a belated commendation for you!