The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Tommy goes swimming the following Monday, and when he returns home there is a letter waiting for him. Its return address is Tannen’s Magic Shop. The letter is all part of a plan, but in the excitement, Tommy can’t remember exactly what the plan is. Rosa wants to see the letter. Tommy hands it over. It’s a list of tricks and their prices. Tommy explains that it’s just a wish list.

Rosa goes grocery shopping and Tommy races up to his room. The list is a code from Joe. Tommy needs to cut out the back panel of a Post Toasties cereal box, cut out every mention of Post Toasties, and then lay the panel over the list of tricks. This is how Tommy discovers he is to take a train from Bloomtown on December 3 and to wear an eye patch. If anyone questions him about the patch, he’s to simply answer “ophthalmologist” (515). This goes on for the next seven months. As another part of the plan, Tommy goes to a stationery store where he can use a typewriter for free and where, according to instructions from Joe, he types up an excuse letter for school. Joe copies Rosa’s signature for the letter.

For the first few months, Tommy loves everything about the trips to see Joe in the city. Tommy refers to Joe as “Secretman.” Joe says he is illegally living in an office building in the Empire State Building, at his company, Kornblum Vanishing Creams, and that’s why Tommy can’t tell anyone about him. Tommy has done a good job keeping Joe’s secret, though it’s been difficult. Also, Tommy senses a sadness in Joe that makes him worried.

Before the secret comes out, Tommy is caught twice. The first time is by the conductor of the train, who cracks Tommy’s cover story. The second time, Tommy runs into his mother. It is odd that she is there and dressed in her best clothes. Rosa is very angry with him and pulls him by the ears to a seat. She is heavily perfumed in a scent she doesn’t use often. After a while, looking pensive and apprehensive, Rosa laughs and tells Tommy to take the eye patch off. Rosa hugs and thanks Tommy. Tommy has no idea what she is talking about. Rosa and Tommy wind up spending some time in the city together. Tommy never does find out why his mother was going into the city.

On the day everything changes, Tommy is with Joe in his office/apartment. Joe asks Tommy about Sam. Tommy suggests Joe ask Sam himself. Tommy has become increasingly concerned with Joe’s isolation. Joe trips and hits his head against the corner of the desk. He is out cold. Tommy tries to revive him to no avail. Tommy remembers there is a medical station somewhere in the building. However, at this point, Tommy finally realizes the extent of Joe’s dilemma about not wanting to be found and is reluctant to do anything. Tommy doesn’t know what to do. Luckily, Joe comes to. However, this incident gives Tommy the idea to write the suicide/protest letter. He feels Joe needs help, and it is time for Joe’s secret to come out.

Tommy writes the letter using the typewriter from the stationery store. He is torn about what he is doing but “he [is] just trying to help Cousin Joe find his way home” (526). He’s not sure if his plan will work, but he has to try.

Tommy leads Sam, Harkoo, Detective Lieber, and Captain Harley to the 72nd floor. Tommy knocks on the door to Kornblum Vanishing Creams, Inc. Tommy asks Harley where Joe is. Another building guard comes up and tells Harley, “[O]ur boy is up there. The leaper. Up on the [observation deck]” (527). Harley is surprised that Joe was able to get up to the top of the building unseen. Lieber makes for the observation deck, telling Sam to bring Tommy along. Lieber notices that Tommy’s face is covered with astonishment that his prank letter has come true.

After they all cram into the elevator, Sam speaks up and announces his confusion. Lieber admits he is confused as well. Lieber figured the case of the letter was solved, but somehow Joe is actually alive, in the city, and is now enacting Tommy’s letter. As they ride the elevator, the other guard, Rensie, informs Harley that there is also a group of orphans on the deck with Joe. Lieber tells Tommy that he needs to have his wits about him, as he might need to talk to Joe. Rensie says maybe Tommy can get Joe to explain the rubber bands. Lieber repeats the words “rubber bands” interrogatively, amazed at the strange scene that awaits them all on the roof.

On the observation deck with Joe is a group of orphans with their two keepers, Father Martin and Miss Mary Catherine Macomb. It’s a chilly April day. Miss Mary is trying to keep the children under control while Father Martin tries to talk Joe down from the ledge. Joe informs them all that it is not his intention to die by suicide—rather, he wants to perform an amazing stunt for the orphans. Joe is wearing the old Escapist suit, and tied around his chest is a slender cord studded with knots. Joe gives the cord a tug. The cord reverberates with a “low D-flat” (531). Joe tells them that they will see that a man can fly. Joe demonstrates the strength of the rope, made up of 40 of the “extra-long, extra-thick rubber bands he had picked up at Reliant Office Supplies” (531). Joe tells Martin and Macomb that the children need to be near the edge with him to see the stunt. Just then Sammy’s voice rings out, calling Joe’s name. Joe sees Sam exit the elevator with all the others. When Joe sees Tommy, he remembers a remark Kornblum once made: “Only love could pick a nested pair of steel Bramah locks” (532).

This remark is connected to a story about Houdini, when Kornblum watched the master the one time he failed. It happened that a locksmith from Manchester had devised a lock that consisted of two Bramah locks. Houdini tried to pick the lock that bound him to a set of handcuffs. The first Bramah lock has only been picked once, by an American many years ago, and it had taken him two days to do it. But two Bramah locks? After many hours, Houdini gave his wife a look that she understood instantly. She asked the officiator if she could bring her husband a glass of water, which the officiator allowed. Five minutes after she had brought Houdini some water, he emerged free from the restraints. Joe found out later that Kornblum’s account didn’t quite hold up, but, nevertheless, when he saw Tommy, his son, Joe understood the truth in Kornblum’s dictum.

Joe is shocked to see how much Sam has changed; Sam’s face looks haggard. Joe says hello to Harkoo, the only man there who seems genuinely delighted to see Joe again. Joe tells Sam that Sam has put on weight. Sam agrees but then quickly asks Joe what he’s doing up on the ledge like that. Tommy’s face is expressionless. Joe asks if Sam has read Joe’s letter and then makes some arm motions outwards. Sam says that the letter said he was going to die by suicide and not perform a “Human Yo-Yo act” (537). However, everyone knows that Joe never wrote the letter in the first place. Joe tells Sam that the chance of dying is slim. Joe makes as if he is about to jump. Sam shouts that the Escapist could never fly, but Joe jumps backward. They hear the rope pull tightly and then a loud, meaty thud. Captain Harley is struck in the back of the head with the end that had earlier been attached to Joe. They all look over the side. Joe is lying down on the roof ledge of the 84th floor. He says, “I’m all right” (538) and then closes his eyes.

Sam rides down the elevator with the paramedics carrying Joe to the ambulance. On the ride to the hospital, Joe and Sam catch up. Joe tells Sam that he’s been following his work. Joe asks for a cigarette. Sam gives him one. Joe tells Sam he’s sorry about Tracy. Sam tells him that everything was a long time ago. “Everything I’m sorry about, anyway” (540), Joe says.