Disclaimer: This is a work of fictino set in a somewhat alternative universe. In our reality, there sadly is no stadardized alternative mode of control designed into all devices designed by German engineers. That’s not saying it wouldn’t be a good idea, but it’s just not the fact, as far as I know.
Kicking a broken or malfunctioning piece of German engineering is not recommended, understandably as the impulse to do it is. Kicking might have unpredictable results, theoretically including a return to working order, but also including many potential adverse outcomes. It is recommended to read the manual, as imposing and cryptic a task as it is. Good luck, in any case.
Fortunately, in our alternative universe the Professor alternative approach worked out, and the self-destruct mechanism has shut down. The continent of Africa is safe, and has not been doomed by the amount of time our heroes wasted discussing the merits – irony on that level is better left to A-movies.
I haven’t bothered to translate the dialogue in the last panel, it’s pretty much only the mechanism announcing that it has, indeed, shut off, and admonishing the Professor he should have read the manual. Then pointing out, in reply to the Professor’s remark, that it’s not the mechanisms fault that the Professor started looking at the manual too late.
So, taking it all together, the lessons for today are: don’t kick stuff to make it work again/stop working, and whereever you go, ask to see the manual to the German-designed self-destruct mechanism first thing you get there, to make sure you’ve got enough time to read it, just in case. Yeah, a lot of people will give you funny looks for that, but a surprising number will just give you the manual. ._.
More on Thursday.