Read Online Tesla's Attic (9781423155126) by Neal Shusterman - Free Book Online Page A

it’s been suggested I may be going to hell, this is what I imagined the gate would look like.”
    Mitch timidly laid his hand on the volume and solemnly swore to tell absolutely no one about the Shut Up ’n Listen under threat of fire and brimstone. Once the oath was made, he was visibly relieved.
    â€œThere,” he said. “That’ll do it.”
    â€œOne more thing,” said Nick. “I need both of you to help me find the other objects and get them back.”
    â€œYou mean going door-to-door?” asked Mitch. “I’m not good at that. Last year I did this wrapping-paper sale for Boy Scouts, and somehow I ended up with more wrapping paper than I started with.”
    â€œLeave it to me,” said Vince. “I have ways of finding things hidden in the shadows.”
    And so, with an understanding reached, Nick felt a little bit better about the situation.
    â€œDo me a favor,” Vince said. “If my mother accosts you between here and the front door, tell her I was friendly and social.”
    â€œActually, you were,” Mitch said.
    Vince just glared at him. “Get out.”
    â€œWe don’t want her to freak,” Nick told Mitch as they approached Caitlin’s house. “Or to think this is a big deal—and having both of us at her front door might be overwhelming.”
    â€œBut it is a big deal,” Mitch protested. “And Caitlin Westfield can’t be overwhelmed.”
    â€œMaybe not,” Nick admitted, “but one person at her door is a visitor. Two people are a conspiracy. That’s why you should wait here and let me talk to her.”
    In the end, Mitch agreed. Of course, Nick’s real reason for leaving Mitch out of this particular equation was that he wanted the chance to talk to Caitlin alone.
    While Mitch lurked in the shadows across the street, Nick rang Caitlin’s doorbell. He paced back and forth on the oversize porch of her oversize house, wondering if she was currently being suffocated by an oversize Adam’s apple. Finally the door opened. It was Caitlin, who was alone, but didn’t look especially thrilled to see him.
    â€œHi,” she said. “Nick, right?”
    â€œYeah. Sorry to come over without any warning or anything, but I really need to talk to you.”
    She crossed her arms. “About what?”
    She wasn’t making this easy, and Nick noticed she wasn’t inviting him in.
    â€œSome of the stuff at the garage sale,” he said. “It might be…toxic. Yeah. And I just wanted to warn you. I’d be happy to give you your money back for that reel-to-reel tape recorder.”
    â€œThanks for your concern, but you gave it to me for free. And besides, I’m very happy with it, toxic or not.”
    Nick knew he had to choose his words carefully so as not to arouse suspicion. “Well, can you at least tell me if it…works?”
    â€œSorry to disappoint you,” said Caitlin, with an impatient flick of her head, “but it doesn’t.”
    â€œReally?” Nick asked, blinking in surprise.
    â€œYou said yourself it was a piece of junk.”
    He had said that to her, but that was then, before he’d seen the toaster. And the Shut Up ’n Listen. And the wet cell.
    â€œCan I at least try it out?” he asked.
    â€œToo late,” Caitlin said. “I smashed it for my art project.”
    That threw Nick for a loop. “You what?”
    â€œWith a sledgehammer. Into tiny pieces. Glued them to a big canvas. Media Frenzy , I call it. So whatever it is you’re worried about, you don’t have to worry.”
    Nick stood there for a minute at a complete loss for words. “Oh,” he finally managed, “well, if you smashed it—”
    â€œI did. Is there anything else you wanted?”
    â€œNo, that’s it.”
    â€œWell, then. Bye.”
    And she closed the door, not quite slamming it in his face, but