فصل بیست و یکم

chapter-21

“Here it is,” announced Abia, reaching for the book with 621.32097309034 on its spine. “The Age of Edison: Electric Light and the Invention of Modern America by Ernest Freeberg.” “Okay, it took like half an hour just to read the title!” said Kyle, who was totally exasperated with his partner.

Meanwhile, Abia was dutifully checking the index, flipping through pages, and examining the dense text.

“We need to hurry up. Andrew and Diane already gave the right answer. Akimi and Angus are probably down there right now doing the same thing. We’re gonna lose!” “If Akimi and Angus give the same answer that Andrew and Diane just gave, then they, too, will have answered incorrectly.” She tapped a passage.

Kyle scanned it.

According to the book, Edison was not the lone genius inventor of the lightbulb. He was in a very competitive race, where he borrowed—some said stole—ideas from other inventors who were also working on an incandescent bulb.

“So,” said Kyle, “what’s the answer? Who invented the lightbulb?” “Many different individuals,” said Abia. “Including British scientists Humphrey Davy and Warren De la Rue, plus the Canadian team of Woodward and Evans, who sold their patent for an electric lightbulb to Thomas Alva Edison.” “That’s our answer?” asked Kyle. “All sorts of people?” “Yes!” said Abia.

“Fine,” said Kyle. “What’ve we got to lose? Except, you know, the whole entire game!” They hurried around the second-floor balcony to the grand staircase sweeping down to the lobby, where they saw Akimi and Angus standing on the lemon square doing an end zone victory dance.

Mr. Lemoncello stood beside a hologram of a bald man in a bow tie wearing an old-fashioned three-piece wool suit. A watch chain dangled between his vest pockets. Kyle figured the Nonfictionator had just cooked up Thomas Alva Edison.

But Mr. Edison didn’t look too happy. His head was sort of hanging low.

“Are we too late?” asked Kyle as he and Abia descended the steps.

“No,” said Mr. Lemoncello. “Fortunately, just like the milk, Akimi and Angus had the correct answer. Andrew and Diane, unfortunately, did not.” Kyle looked at Abia. Her grin was extremely wide.

“Go on,” he told her. “Give our team answer.”

“Thank you, Kyle Keeley. It shall be my pleasure. Our answer is ‘A lot of different scientists and inventors contributed to the invention of the electric lightbulb.’ ” “You are correct,” said Mr. Lemoncello. “Therefore, Abia and Kyle will join Akimi and Angus and move on to the next leg of the competition, where the four of you will go up against Elliott and Katherine, Miguel and Pranav—the winners for the Michael Jordan exhibit. Congratulicitations!” “Way to go, Kyle,” said Akimi.

“It was all Abia on this one,” said Kyle.

“Wait a second,” wailed Edison. “I am the Wizard of Menlo Park! I am a genius!” “Indeed you are, sir,” said Abia respectfully. “But, if I may be so bold, your true genius was your ability to coordinate all the various research being done by others around the incandescent lightbulb to create a mass-producible result.” Edison turned to Lemoncello. “Does everybody in the world need to know this? I like the story they tell kids in grade school better. I did it all by myself.” “Sorry, Tom,” said Mr. Lemoncello. “At the Lemoncello Library, we value the truth more than myths.” “What about all those Percy Jackson books you have?” fumed Edison. “Those are myths!” “And they are correctly shelved as fiction.”

“You also kind of stole a few ideas,” Akimi said to Edison. “Like from those two Canadian guys.” “I did not steal anything,” said Edison. “I bought their patents. Paying for knowledge is an acceptable form of research and development.” “Tell me, Thomas,” said Mr. Lemoncello, “did you ever hire a fellow named Benjamin Bean to do ‘research and development’ for you?” “Bean? Never heard of him,” said Edison. “Now, if you will excuse me, I must go invent the talking doll!” With that, Thomas Edison vanished.