Chapter 4: The Elephant on the Move
An elephant won't simply sit,
it tends to move about a bit,
this trait, when coupled with its size
makes it a nightmare to disguise.
- Jack Prelutsky
Lee knocked hard on the door to Phlantz's suite. It was only a matter of seconds before Phlantz opened it, but it seemed too long for Lee. He was worried about where Amanda was and whether or not Phlantz had found her.
"Yes?" Phlantz asked, looking Lee up and down.
Lee had the feeling that Phlantz had been expecting someone else. It wasn't even noon yet, but maybe the time for Phlantz to hand over the formula had been moved up. His contacts were probably due to show up soon. Lee knew had to find Amanda and get her out of that suite fast.
"Good morning, sir," Lee said. "Are you Fenton Phlantz?"
"Yes," Phlantz said warily.
"I'm pleased to meet you! I'm Larry Stevenson from the Promethian Institute for Creative Research."
Phlantz shook his hand but said, "I've never heard of the Promethian Institute before."
"We're relatively new," Lee explained. "We are a scientific organization dedicated to promoting unusual research and creative projects. According to our information, a few years ago, you were working on developing magnetic rubber bands?"
"Oh, yes," Phlantz said. "But I haven't done anything with those for years. They work well enough for shooting at the refrigerator, but they keep getting stuck on the paperclips and thumb tacks in my desk."
Lee had no idea why Phlantz was shooting rubber bands at his refrigerator, but he didn't really care, either.
"Well, it sounds like a fascinating project to us, and we'd like to hear more about it as well as your other, more recent projects. It's possible that you might be eligible for a grant from our institute."
"Really?" Phlatntz was interested now. "Please, come in! I'm expecting some friends soon, but I'd love to talk to you!"
Lee was concerned about the "friends" Phlantz was expecting. He and Amanda didn't have much time.
Not noticing Lee's unease, Phlantz continued talking.
"I could make you a cup of coffee, if you like. It's a pleasure to talk to someone who appreciates originality and creativity. The trouble with most scientific organizations is that they become too concerned with maintaining the 'dignity' of science. I don't mean that dignity is a bad thing entirely." Phlantz carefully patted his hair and his beard as he spoke, smoothing down hairs on his head that didn't need smoothing and not making any difference at all to his beard. "It's just that some people allow it to interfere too much with the creativity and inquisitiveness that is the very essence of scientific discovery . . ."
Lee let Phlantz yammer. He kept his movements casual as he looked around the suite. It was difficult not to show his relief when he spotted Amanda peering around the edge of the bedroom door, afraid to move in case Phlantz might see her. Lee didn't look at Amanda too long. He didn't want to give her presence away to Phlantz.
Instead, he looked over at the collection of wires on the coffee table and said, "Is that one of your latest projects?"
"Oh, yes!" Phlantz said excitedly. "Let me show you!"
As he bend down to pick up the tangled mess, Lee motioned to Amanda. Amanda darted toward the door.
"These are my singing Christmas tree lights," Phlantz explained. "Let me plug them in for you."
Amanda had to dive behind a chair as Phlantz turned to find an outlet.
"Wait!" Lee said, stopping Phlantz. "What do you mean 'lights'? There are no bulbs on the string."
Nothing about the jumble of wires and metal bits said 'Christmas' to Lee.
"It doesn't require bulbs," Phlantz said, turning back toward Lee. "That's the beauty of it."
Amanda peered out from behind the chair and started moving toward the door again.
"You see," Phlantz continued, "the electricity running through the wires causes the metal pieces to vibrate and glow. The vibrations produce musical tones. The effect of the gentle glow and soft tones is actually quite soothing, but there are some problems that I still have to work out."
"Like what?" Lee asked.
Amanda was just about to open the door.
Phlantz sighed. "When the metal parts heat up, they are in danger of setting the tree on fire."
Amanda paused, a horrified look on her face.
"And, of course, they should not come into contact with human skin," Phlantz added.
"I think maybe it would be better if you didn't demonstrate it right now," Lee said, shooting a warning look at Amanda.
Amanda recovered herself and carefully eased the door open, slipping out into the hall. Lee started to relax.
"I know what you're thinking. Bulbs would be much safer, but it's impossible to produce the same vibrations with bulbs! I tried to turn the lights into bulbs by putting glass globes around them," Phlantz said, "but the vibrations broke them. It was really rather spectacular, all that shattering glass, and the sounds it made . . . but that made the lights useable only once, and it just didn't have the proper Christmas feel. Plus, it took me all afternoon to clean up the mess."
Lee just stared at Phlantz.
"Anyway," Phlantz said, "it isn't something that you'd want to have happen in your living room. At least, not most people. I'd say that if you were going to try it, it should be in a room with a tile floor for easier clean-up. The glass bits in carpet—"
There was a knock on the door.
"That might be my associate," Lee said. "I'm expecting her to meet me here."
Maybe now they could finish their mission before Phlantz's "friends" showed up. If only they knew where Phlantz kept the formula!
"I'll find out," Phlantz said, setting down his dangerous musical Christmas tree lights.
When Phlantz opened the door, Amanda was there, but she wasn't alone. Two tall, muscular men stood on either side of her, holding her arms. A third man, almost as tall as the other two but much thinner, stepped into the room without even waiting for an invitation.
"Bring her inside, quickly!" the thin man said to the other men.
"What's going on?" Phlantz asked.
The thin man said, "We had just arrived when we found her listening at your door. I think we just caught a spy."