Read Online The Adventures of Phineas Frakture by Joseph Gatch - Free Book Online

have a heart attack.” He hyperventilated for a few moments and composed himself before exiting his office. As soon as he reappeared, his class stood and began clapping and cheering, much to his surprise.
    “Whatever happened to being a coward, professor?” Wellwood asked when the cheering finally died down.
    “Well, as you can see, there are exceptions to the rule. Now, let’s get…”
    “Excuse me, professor,” said a secretary from the doorway.
    “Oh, what now?” asked Phineas irritably.
    “You have a call on the Aether-vid.”
    “Fine. Class dismissed for the day, as it seems that everyone else’s business takes precedence before your learning anything useful.” He followed the secretary out of the class, followed by the animated chatter of how their stodgy professor was a hero and monster fighter.
    “In here, sir. The call is waiting.”
    Phineas sat down in front of a screen and a familiar image appeared. “Isabella? What’s the matter?”
    “Hello to you too, Pinhead.”
    Phineas flinched at her childhood nickname for him. “I’m sorry. Hello, how are you, dear sister?”
    “All right, enough of the fake pleasantries; you are terrible at it. I heard the news…is it true? Are they gone?”
    His sister, now living in Chicago because of her fear of seeing the Dolonites again, had been on the mend for years. “Yes…it’s true. They are finished. I…I was there.”
    “Do you think Father is at rest now?”
    A tear welled up in Phineas’ eye. “I’m sure of it.” He wanted to tell her, let her know that he had seen him one last time. That their father still remembered them, but Phineas couldn’t bear the thought of her having to think of their father as one of the Dolonites. “No more nightmares, dear sister. We can move on. All of us can.”
    “Good. I’m glad it’s finally over. Phin? What happened to your face? Did you blow something up again?”
    Phineas touched the bandages dotting his face. “Something like that. I need to go. Come out and visit some time. I’ll tell you about it.”
    “Maybe I will. Bye, Pinhead.”

    Phineas gathered his things and walked out onto the campus grounds. A shadow passed by and, as he looked up, an imperial airship thrummed overhead. Maybe it was time to take a stand, fight the system…be a hero. Then his body reminded him of being thrown through the sewer in front of a ball of fire, and he thought, maybe not.
    He limped on, looking at the world around him. Two words, ever present in his thoughts, came forth again.
    What if?

Phineas Frakture and the Curse of Steamhotep

    Fig. 2. — Abigail Bently

Episode
1
    Majestically, an Imperial airship glided almost noiselessly across the mid-morning New York skyline. Its engines, only at half power, worked effortlessly as the mighty ship was carried along on a tailwind. Its lines were sleek, and the cabin hugged the envelope, creating less air resistance. Behind, the flag of the Imperial States of America fluttered in the wind; the banner’s red and white stripes, with the golden eagle clutching a wreath of stars, were prominent against the bright blue morning sky.
    As it made its tour, the airship slowly moved out of the city and into the residential area where it would then circle around, returning to the city proper.
    Not many would take notice of such a common sight, with the exception of children fascinated with such a ship; however, one man, walking along through one of the neighborhoods, stopped for a moment and looked up, watching the great airship as it seemed to hover for a second over his destination—the home of Professor Phineas Frakture.
    Residing on a modest ten-acre estate on the outskirts of the city, his house and laboratory stood out from the rest of the neighboring homes in that the majority of the time, the estate was discerned by billowing smoke, electrical discharges, whining engines, and a myriad of other mechanical phenomenon too great in number to go into detail.
    Neighbors knew