Free The Mystery of Silas Finklebean by David Baldacci, Rudy Baldacci

forward.
    Freddy and the rest of the gang threw themselves in all directions as the big purple Fry whizzed around the room like a ball in a pinball machine, knocking over shelves, smashing equipment, and punching holes in walls. For twenty minutes they all watched as the purple blob whizzed around the room faster and faster.
    Finally, Wally came crashing down. The lab lay in ruin. Everyone stood and gathered angrily around him.
    He started muttering, “Wally is a good Fry. Wally kept his promise. No blue stuff.” He opened his eyes and looked up at them. “Hey, guys, is it lunchtime yet?”
    Ziggy scolded, “Wally, you drank the blue stuff and destroyed Freddy’s lab.”
    “What do you have to say for yourself?” added Theodore severely.
    Wally sat up, looking confused. “Now wait just a minute. Are you sure it was
me
? There are other Fries in the room too, you know.”
    “Enormous and purple narrows it down considerably,” said Theodore.
    “And,” squeaked Ziggy, “there’s the blue bottle right there in your hand.”
    Wally held up the bottle. “I’ve never seen this before.” His eyes got really big. “It must have been
planted
on me. Oh, my gosh, there’s a conspiracy going on. People are out to get me.”
    “Why would anyone want to get
you
, Wally?” said Howie.
    Wally threw up his big hands. “Don’t you see, Howie? They’re jealous. I mean, look at me: Tall, handsome, smart, and PURPLE. But I want whoever did it to know this!” He paused, put a hand over his heart, and said in a high-pitched, choked voice, “I forgive you.” He wiped a tear away.
    Theodore looked over at Freddy. “Well, Freddy, you haven’t said anything. What do you think his punishment should be? Freddy?”
    Freddy was staring off into space. He obviously hadn’t been listening to any of their conversation.
    “Uh, Freddy,” said Theodore gently.
    “EUREKA!” shouted Freddy and he jumped straight up in the air. Then he gave Wally a big hug. “You big, beautiful purple Fry you. You’re brilliant!”
    He grabbed the blue bottle from Wally and raced to his work area.
    Wally looked at the other Fries. “Well, I’m glad to see at least someone here recognizes genius.” He walked away with his head held high, tripped, and landed upside down inside an old tractor tire.
    The other Fries hustled over to where Freddy was working frantically.
    “Freddy,” said Theodore, “Why are you so excited?”
    Freddy held up the blue bottle. “This, Theodore, this.”
    “The blue stuff?” said Si. “Okay, it’s blue and it’s wet, but even for a happy Fry like me, it’s not all that exciting, Freddio.”
    “Oh, it’s very exciting,” said Freddy. “It’s the most exciting thing to happen to me since I invented all of you.”
    “What do you mean?” asked Theodore. “How can that blue liquid be so important?”
    “Because
this
is what’s going to power our time travel machine.”

CHAPTER 17
    THE PRIMO FAKEOUT
    “Freddy,” called out Nancy, who was standing on the trapdoor to Freddy’s lab. “Oh, Freddy, dear, I’d like to take a tour of THE NANCY S. FUNKHOUSER IMPERIAL THEATER and Museum, and I’d like it right
now.
”
    “Great,” said Freddy with a scowl. He was putting the finishing touches on the time travel machine.
    When he didn’t answer, she said, “I know you’re in there, Freddy. I’ll give you two hours. If the theater isn’t done, then I’m telling dad about that secret passageway under the Burger Castle and that you’re up to something.” They heard her stomp away.
    Freddy shook his head wearily. “Look,” he said, staring at Si, Meese, Wally, Curly, and Ziggy. “You guys are going to have to do something with her.”
    “Like what?” asked Si. “Tell her a joke? I’m terrific at jokes.”
    “The only one who laughs at your jokes is you,” said Meese.
    “See, that’s what I mean,” said Si. “That proves how funny I am. I’m a tough critic.”
    “What I want you to do,”