فصل چهل و هشتم

chapter-48

“Everything should be in that box on the top shelf!” said Miguel as the robot rose up on its extendable scissor-lift legs.

The towering shelf was gigantic—maybe twenty-five feet tall.

“Retrieving carton,” chirped the robot.

Its folding supports opened in a crisscross X pattern that vertically elevated the box-grabbing apparatus closer to the ceiling.

“This is so awesome,” said Miguel.

But then the robot stuttered to a stop.

It was five feet short of the shelf.

“Maximum height limit has been achieved,” it peeped. “Contacting control center for alternate, taller, big-boy robotic research assistant.” “No!” said Kyle as loudly as he could while still whispering.

“No!” Miguel said to the robot.

The bot blinked. “Awaiting further instructions.” “Kyle?” said Abia. “Why won’t you let the robot summon assistance?” “Because if it contacts the control center, lights are going to start flashing upstairs. In the control room. On Mr. Raymo’s tablet computer. Maybe even in Mr. Lemoncello’s office.” “And the bad guys will know someone is down here in the basement!” said Miguel. “Good catch, Kyle.” “Thanks.”

“So what are we going to do now?” said Abia, leaning back to examine the top shelf. She swung her flashlight across the crate.

Squinting, Kyle could read the markings on the outside of the box. It was clearly the one they needed. But it was perched at the tippy-top of a metal shelving unit towering unsteadily over them.

Kyle grabbed the nearest shelf. Gave it a short shove.

The whole thing wobbled.

“I am not able to climb up there to retrieve it,” reported Abia.

“Me neither,” said Miguel. “I’m afraid of heights.” “I’m not,” said Kyle, dipping into the backpack again. This time, he pulled out Mr. Lemoncello’s drone slippers.

“Do you know how to use those devices?” asked Abia.

“Sure. They’re slippers. You slip them on your feet.” Kyle sat on the floor and yanked off his tennis shoes.

“You could crash and injure yourself!” said Abia when Kyle stood up, his feet snug in the fuzzy slippers.

“I’m not going to injure anything,” said Kyle. “I’m just going to float up there and grab a box.” He stomped on his heels.

Nothing happened.

He went up on tippy toe.

Nothing.

“Do like in The Wizard of Oz,” suggested Miguel.

“Huh?”

“All you have to do is knock the heels together three times and command the shoes to carry you wherever you wish to go!” Kyle shrugged. It was worth a try.

He clicked his heels together three times and said, “Up there. That, uh, shelf.” He felt a tingle in his toes and a tickle under the soles of his feet. As the drone propellers started spinning, there was a soft BRRRRR, like that of an electric toothbrush. Three seconds later, he rose off the floor.

He was floating in front of the rickety shelving unit. It was a slow ascent but absolutely amazing. Pretty soon he was higher than the stalled robot. A minute later, he was level with the cardboard carton labeled “Family Frenzy: Diagrams, Mock-up, and Patent.” “Grab the box,” coached Miguel.

Kyle leaned forward.

“Whoa…”

And nearly lost his balance.

After flapping his arms to steady himself, he tried again.

This time he grabbed the carton.

“Dump it in that wire basket dealio on the robot!” cried Miguel.

“Good idea,” said Kyle, still wobbly with the extra weight of the box in his arms. “Uh, any idea how I get down?” Miguel and Abia answered together: “Knock your heels together….” “Riiiight. Three times.” He clicked his heels again. “Take me down, please.” Kyle slowly drifted down and placed the cardboard container in the robot’s basket.

“Uh, now take me all the way down to the floor,” Kyle said to his slippers after knocking the heels together three more times.

“Lower box!” Miguel said to the robot.

The robot did as instructed.

Abia lifted the lid.

“It is the patent and shoebox,” she declared. “Everything we need is in here. Mr. Lemoncello’s original mock-up with all the tokens he either whittled or borrowed from his librarian friend, Mrs. Gail Tobin. Here’s the Barbie doll go-go boot and the tiny harmonica and the cat charm from the librarian’s bracelet.” “Excellent,” said Kyle.

“This is exactly what we need,” added Miguel. “Nothing stops a lie faster than cold hard facts.” “So let’s go dig up some more,” said Kyle.

“You got it, bro.” Miguel turned to the robot. “Researchio? Go find me everything you can about the Benjamin Bean affair!”