“So, how come they’re not talking or moving?”

“That’s the problem. I discovered that the energy source required to jump-start them is huge, at least a million jiggy-watts of power. I don’t have anywhere near enough in my generator. I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he added glumly as he sat on the floor.

Howie sat next to Freddy. “A million jiggy-watts, huh? Heck, the hydroelectric dam where my dad works only has half that much power.”

Freddy looked at his friend. “But aren’t there two dams-an upper and a lower one?”

“Yeah, so?”

“So they each produce half-a-million jiggy-watts?”

“Yeah?”

Freddy said excitedly, “Well, the last time I checked, 500,000 plus 500,000 equals a million.”

“But how are you going to use the dam’s power to fire up the Fries?”

“I know just how, but I’m going to need your help. It could be dangerous, though.”

Howie paled. “Gee, Freddy, I don’t know.”

“Are you my best friend?”

“I’m your only friend.”

“Okay, so are you a man or a mouse?”

Howie pulled out a handful of cheese cubes. “Squeak-squeak,” he said.

“Listen, Howie, if we pull this off, we’ll be world-famous. That’s always been my dream. We’ll meet the president, for gosh sakes. We’ll even go to Disney World.” Howie didn’t look impressed with any of this.

“Gee whiz, Howie, what will it take for you to help me?”

Howie thought for a bit and then said, “The world’s largest cheese cube is at a museum in Paris. It’s made from the world’s most stinky cheese, Pâté du Pooty; it’s a hundred feet high and weighs eight and a half tons.”

“It’s yours.”

“Let’s go get those jiggy-watts.”

CHAPTER3

THE JIGGY-WATTS CAPER

“Freddy, are you really sure this is a good idea?” shouted Howie.