Chapter 20

20 FRANK AND WATSON RACE THEIR BIKES UP THE MIDVILLE WOODS dirt path. They skid around boulders and jump small logs, hustling to the Midville Solar Array as fast as they can.

Klank runs a clomping, crashing, straight line behind them, but instead of using the path, he stomps right through the brush and over small trees—carrying (and wildly swinging) Klink by his handy Shop-Vac handle. "How embarrassing," says Klink. "I simply must make myself a more dignified form of transportation." "BAM BAM BAM!" answers Klank,

smashing happily along. Frank, Watson, Klink, and Klank burst out of the woods and into the open meadow. The tall grass waves in the wind. All four stop dead in their tracks at the sight in front of them. What used to be neat rows of blue solar panels angled toward the sun... is now a graveyard heap of broken glass and silicon bits, twisted metal supports, and snapped wires. "We have to find out who this helps," says Watson. "We have to follow the energy." A crazy scream of crushed metal and a deep, diesel-motor roar answers. It's a huge metal beast with massive spiked feet, stomping the wreckage of the Solar Array to even smaller pieces. Klank screams, "Robot monster!" and drops Klink in the weeds. Frank jumps off his bike, whips the Electro- Finger out of his backpack, and straps it on.

"We have to stop this thing now!" he yells over the shrieking and pounding. "Watson, you go left. Klink and Klank, go right. When it chases you, I'll Electro-Finger-zap it." Watson hops off his bike. "Wait, what? You're using us as bait?" The metal monster stomps some glass and heads right toward the guys. "Yes," says Frank Einstein, with calculated cool. "Now go!" Klank grabs Klink. "Attack the robot monster!" "Stooooop swiiiiingingggg meeeeeeee!" Klank runs right. The monster giant-steps right. Watson runs left. The metal beast giant- steps left. Frank kneels to steady his arm on one knee. He dials the Electro-Finger to MAX. The metal monster lifts a spiked foot right

over Watson. "Aieeeeeee!" yells a running Watson. "Now, now, now, Einstein!" Frank takes careful aim and fires an electromagnetic burst of energy toward what he hopes is the heart of the monster. Watson jumps for the tall grass over the hill, screaming, "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" The thing lunges, belches a smoke-billowing roar... then—screeeeeech, creak—freezes on one leg and falls over sideways, landing with a huge, metal THWUMMMP! Frank lowers the Electro-Finger and cautiously approaches the felled monster. Klank appears from behind a bush and carries Klink over. "Is the robot monster dead?" asks Klank. "It was never alive," says Klink. "It is a machine." Frank inspects the hulk. "A very amazing

custom demolition machine..." Klank takes a step closer. The side of the thing's skull suddenly swings open. "Shoot it!" yells Klank. "Zap it again!" Frank lifts the Electro-Finger. But before he can fire, a familiar kid with a bad haircut pops out of the machine and jumps to the ground. He stands with his hands on his hips, and he is not happy.