Free Benjamin Franklinstein Meets the Fright Brothers by Matthew McElligott Page A

other Custodians.”
    Jaime pulled her hood up over her head and slipped out the door.
    â€œShe seems nice,” said Scott.
    â€œIt is good to know the Order survives,” agreed Franklin. “Although it sounds like we have much work to do. What is our next move?”
    â€œI hate to say it,” said Victor, “but Scott and I need to pay the Wright brothers another visit.”
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
    The Secret of the Wright Brothers
    Victor followed Scott through the window and dropped down onto the warehouse floor. He surveyed the immense room.
    â€œIt’s all gone!” whispered Scott. Where there had once been mountains of disassembled bicycle parts, only a few scattered piles remained. “Where did it go?”
    Victor looked around the room. “That freight elevator—I bet they took everything upstairs.”
    Scott ran over to the elevator. “Should I push the button?”
    â€œDefinitely not,” said Victor, examining a pile of reflectors and fenders. “We’re here to collect evidence, then get out before we get caught. Just take pictures of everything you see, and I’ll make notes. Got it? Scott?”
    Victor looked around. Where had Scott gone?
    â€œUp here!” Scott shouted from the top of a metal staircase.
    â€œ Shhh! Someone will hear you!”
    â€œCome on up! I found a door.”
    Victor hesitated. Whatever the Wright brothers were up to was probably going on upstairs. Reluctantly, he climbed the staircase.
    â€œIt’s locked,” said Scott, yanking the doorknob.
    â€œGive me a minute.” Victor pulled a case from his pocket and knelt by the keyhole. He opened the case and selected two stainless-steel tools: a thin tension wrench and an L-rake lock pick.
    Thirty seconds and one soft click later, he turned the knob and eased the door open a crack.
    â€œNice!” Scott whispered, impressed.
    Cautiously, Victor pulled the door open a little more and peeked inside. He could hear two faint voices, masked by a loud hissing noise.
    â€œWhat do you see?” Scott asked.
    â€œI can sort of hear them, but I can’t see a thing,” Victor said. “A bunch of crates are in the way.”
    â€œIf we can’t see them, they can’t see us, right?” Scott pushed past Victor and skittered up against the stack of crates. He looked back at Victor and waved him in.
    Victor took a deep breath and crawled across the rough wooden floor to where Scott was hiding. The hissing grew louder.
    Â 
    VICTOR’S LOCK PICK SET

    â€œThat was crazy!” Victor said. “If they’d seen you—”
    Scott peered over the top of a crate. “I think they’re too busy to notice. Look.”
    Victor peeked between two crates. He and Scott were at the edge of another enormous room, as large as the one downstairs. At the center stood the Wright brothers. Orville hunched over a table staring intently at some large papers—blueprints, Victor guessed. Beside him, Wilbur operated a blowtorch that hissed flames, welding a section of a monstrous metal contraption. Forty feet long and almost as wide, it was constructed of countless bicycle chains, sprockets, and frames welded together into a terrifying skeletal system.
    Wilbur twisted a valve on an acetylene tank and shut off the torch. Orville helped his brother stretch a long piece of canvas across the top of the contraption, fastening it to the framework.
    â€œThey’re making wings,” Scott whispered. “It’s a giant bat!”
    â€œThat’s no bat,” Victor said. “They’re the Wright brothers. It’s a giant bat plane !”
    Orville and Wilbur cocked their heads. Victor clamped his hand over his mouth, and the boys ducked down behind the crate. Two sets of footsteps