Chapter 22

22 ENERGY," SAYS FRANK EINSTEIN, KID GENIUS AND INVENTOR. "Power that can be converted into motion, light, heat—energy in all its different forms! That's what this is all about, Watson." "MMMmphh mmm rrrmmm mmm," answers Watson. Frank nods. "Oh yes. Of course—also forces. The way energy is applied. The way

energy works in the world. Absolutely right, Watson." Watson wiggles. "Rrrrarr rrrr ruuhhhh ruhhhh!" Frank Einstein scratches his head with an oversized metal finger. "Oh yeah! This is the perfect chance to test my HYPOTHESIS... and the ultimate challenge for my Electro-Finger invention." Watson, lashed to the front of a rubber raft drifting ever faster toward a roaring sound at the base of the dam in the river, would like to say, "Einstein, this is it! I'm done! You're crazy. This is not the perfect chance to test anything! And: HELLLLLLLP!" But Watson can't say any of that. Because Watson is not only taped to the raft. His mouth is also duct-taped completely shut. So all he can do is wiggle, bug his eyes out,

and make noises. "We are presently moving quickly toward a column of water being sucked under the dam," says Klink. "Uh-oh," says Klank. "Good OBSERVATION," says Frank. The sucking sound of the dark, whirlpooling water ahead grows suddenly louder and scarier. Watson shakes his head and "MMMrrr rrrr rrrrrs" some more. "I've seen a diagram of this plant," says Frank. "That whirlpool is caused by the intake under the dam. The water spins a monster-size turbine... which runs the generator... which spins metal wire inside a magnetic field... which then produces electricity." "Quite right," confirms Klink. "I do not want to get sucked underwater and chopped into little bits

by a monster turbine!" "RRRRaaa reeeee reee!" adds Watson. Frank crouches in the front of the raft, resting the Electro-Finger on Watson's stomach to aim it. "So! My hypothesis is—if I can hit the generator with a charge of electricity from the Electro-Finger... it will shock-stop the generator. The stopped generator will freeze the turbine. The water intake will stop. And we will be free." The raft draws closer to the whirlpool. Now the deep, powerful hum of the spinning turbine rumbles scary-loud. "Hmmm," says Klink.

"Oooooooooh," says Klank, hugging the sides of the raft. "Eeeeeeee," moans Watson, thrashing and bugging his eyes out. "Great!" says Frank. "I knew you guys would approve. Begin EXPERIMENT!"

Frank points the Electro-Finger down into the whirlpool, where the base of the dam should be. "This burst of electrons should hit the generator, reverse its north and south magnetic poles, and stop the generator..."