Edison’s Alley (31 page)

“And if I don’t?”

Edison’s face drooped. “In that case, justice must take its course.” Then he held out something to Nick. Something shiny. “Finish Tesla’s machine for me.”

Nick looked closer. It was a gold pin in the shape of an
A
, with an infinity crossbar.

“You were born to be one of us, Nick. We are meant to be on the same side. In time you’ll realize this.”

Nick knew the Accelerati were about power. They were about control. And greed. They were about everything Tesla was against.

As if reading his mind, Edison said, “Don’t make the same mistake poor Nikola did, son. Your story does not need to end tragically. It can be glorious and bright.”

Nick reached out and took the pin, turning it over in his sore fingers while Edison, ancient Edison, waited to see what Nick would do.

His soul in exchange for the lives of his brother and father. Edison had said it was his choice, but what choice did he have, really? Perhaps that’s what made Edison such a successful
businessman. He left his rivals only two options: bad or worse. Nick thought of Caitlin. He thought of Mitch and Vince. His one consolation was that they were not a part of this equation. This was
between him and Edison.

“Choose your path, Nick. I promise I will honor whatever choice you make.”

Indecision would indicate weakness, and that was the last thing he wanted to show the man. Without any further hesitation, enduring the pain of his blistered fingers, and aching heart, he
affixed the gold pin to his shirt.

Edison smiled and put his crinkled papier-mâché hand on Nick’s shoulder.

“Welcome,” he said, “to the Loyal Order of the Accelerati.”

NEAL SHUSTERMAN
is the author of thirty books for young readers, including the best-selling Unwind and Skinjacker trilogies, and the critically acclaimed
The Schwa Was Here
and
Downsiders.
As a screen and TV writer, Neal created scripts for the
Goosebumps
and
Animorphs
TV series, and he wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie
Pixel Perfect
. He co-wrote
Tesla’s Attic
, the first book in the Accelerati Trilogy, with Eric Elfman. Neal has two grown sons and lives with his two daughters in Southern California. For more information, go to
www.storyman.com.

ERIC ELFMAN
is a screenwriter, a professional writing coach, and the author of several books for children and young adults, including
The Very Scary Almanac
and
The Almanac of the Gross, Disgusting & Totally Repulsive
; three
X-Files
novels; and two books of scary short stories,
Three-Minute Thrillers
and
More Three-Minute Thrillers
. He has sold screenplays to Interscope, Walden Media, Revolution, and Universal Studios. He lives in Brandywine Canyon, California, with his wife and son. Visit his Web site at
www.elfmanworld.com.