Free Danny Dunn and the Homework Machine by Jay Williams, Abrashkin Abrashkin

homework.”
    The mouths of the two visitors opened wide, and even the Professor looked shaken at this.
    Danny went on and told the whole story: how he had come to think of using the computer as a homework machine, how Miss Arnold had objected, and how he had quickly run off Irene’s social studies report which had appeared as gibberish. When he had finished, even Dr. Quibberly was looking at him with a certain amount of respect, while Dr. Grimes was almost grinning and the Professor was frankly chuckling with amusement.
    â€œI see,” Professor Bullfinch said. “It’s quite a tale, my boy. I don’t think we need go into all the details of it right now. There are a couple of points I think I ought to discuss with you later, such as the matter of counting up to a million by thousands—”
    â€œYes, sir,” Danny said meekly.
    â€œHmm! Well, never mind that now. I believe the matter is fairly simple, gentlemen. It won’t take long to fix.”
    â€œVery well,” said Dr. Grimes.
    â€œBut be quick about it,” Dr. Quibberly said, glancing at a big, old-fashioned silver pocket watch. “We’ve waited long enough already.”
    The Professor rolled up his sleeves and went to work. The minutes ticked by, with Dr. Quibberly growing more and more impatient and Dr. Grimes looking grimmer and grimmer. Finally, the Professor straightened up. His round face was flushed, and his bald head shining with perspiration.
    â€œI’m afraid I can’t locate the trouble,” he said. “I felt sure it was in the output, or the translating mechanism which operates the typewriter—”
    â€œPerhaps it’s those new switches of yours,” Dr. Grimes suggested. “It may be that they don’t work quite as well as you thought they did. Or perhaps the temperature isn’t right.”
    â€œI thought of that,” said Professor Bullfinch. “But the gauges show that they’re operating. And the thermostat is set properly. It’s impossible for anything to be wrong there.”
    Danny gazed at the Professor as if he were about to say something, but then his attention was caught by Dr. Quibberly, who had snapped the case of his watch shut with a decisive click. He put the watch into his vest pocket and buttoned up his jacket.
    â€œI’m sorry,” Dr. Quibberly said, “but I feel that we’ve spent quite enough time on this—this miserable demonstration of ineptitude.”
    â€œReally, Dr. Quibberly,” said the Professor, “if you can only wait a little longer—”
    â€œI’m sorry. I can’t wait for foolishness.”
    Irene, standing next to Danny, looked at her friend with astonishment. “What’s the matter? Are you cold?” she asked.
    Danny’s teeth were chattering and his knees shaking.
    â€œC-c-cold with nervousness,” he muttered. “We can’t get him lo. I m-m-mean, we c-c-can’t let him go!”
    â€œYou sound just like I did when I started to read my report.”
    Danny could not help grinning, but it was a weak and sickly grin.
    The Professor said, “I’m sure I can repair the computer. I can’t imagine what caused the trouble, but I know—”
    Dr. Grimes snorted. “Maybe it’s sabotage, Bullfinch,” he said jeeringly.
    â€œGood-by, gentlemen,” said Dr. Quibberly. He started for the door.
    A cold sweat broke out on Danny’s forehead. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his handkerchief, to wipe his face. There was a loud clatter as two objects fell on the floor. The noise stopped Dr. Quibberly.
    Danny looked down. On the floor were two identical boy scout knives.
    He grabbed them up. He was red with embarrassment. Something crumbled between his fingers, and he gaped at the knives for a moment; then he raised his eyes to stare first at the Professor, then Dr. Grimes, then at Irene.
    Then he shouted,