5 Sabotage!

Chapter 5 Sabotage! Sarah and Luke stared uneasily at the dying flowers. But there was no point in thinking about DeLay now. They had to help Tesla with his demonstration. The luncheon guests stood around on the plush gold and blue carpet, eyeing Tesla's machinery with curiosity and

chatting among themselves. "Mark Twain is here!" gasped Sarah. "He's one of the greatest American writers of all time. And is that Edith Wharton with the little dogs? I love her books so much!" Two little dogs yapped and wriggled in Edith Wharton's purple satin-clad arms. A lady in a smart blue jacket with puffed sleeves was stroking the dogs and chatting to the author. "And Susan B. Anthony!" Sarah said happily. "You know, the suffragist? She spent her whole life fighting for women's right to vote!"

A man with a luxuriant brown moustache and round gold glasses smiled at Luke. "And I think that's Theodore Roosevelt, he'll become President in 1901," Luke said quietly. "And is that the famous inventor Thomas Edison in the striped blazer?" All Luke could see of Edison's face was the top of his straw boater hat as the famous inventor gazed grumpily at the carpet. Luke was impressed by the blazer, which was the very latest men's fashion for this era. He was less impressed by the hat. Why was Edison wearing it so low? Its brim practically grazed the top of his nose.

"Now I will call for your attention!" said Tesla suddenly. "I am here to change your lives—forever!" Sarah grinned at Luke. She had suggested that line. "Which of you would like to see your own bones?" inquired Tesla. There was a shocked sort of murmur around the room. "I call for a volunteer to test my machine," said Tesla. "We will see what you are truly made of.

Please, will someone step forward?" "I'll give it a try, young man," said Theodore Roosevelt jovially. "You want me to stand in front of this contraption?" "Yes, yes," said Tesla. "Please, stand Just so. Yes. Allow me now to—"

BANG! Roosevelt jumped back as a shower of sparks exploded from the machine, followed by a great gust of smelly black smoke. A glowing spark landed on Edith Wharton's purple satin shoulder. Her dogs yelped in her arms. The room was rapidly filling with smoke. Luke exchanged a worried glance with Sarah. Was this DeLay's doing?