Page 28 - Nutshell 4

MINIMAX: I am called Minimax. Dr. Pesky built me to operate his
equipment.

BARGELLO: Aha! You’re my driver. But what are you, anyway? A
robot?

MINIMAX: That’s right. You got anything against robots? (advances)

BARGELLO: No, no, no! I just didn’t expect one. Now, listen here,
Minimax. Dr. Pesky made me the leader; he only made you to handle
the machinery.

MINIMAX: All right, but don’t be so bossy. I deserve a little respect,
too, Great Bargello. Don’t forget: it takes one to know one, and that
goes for machines as well as people. So don’t try to tell me how to
operate the vehicles or the camera.

BARGELLO: That’s fine with me. Let’s get started. I want to search
for the smallest thing there is first, because that sounds to me like the
more difficult of the Two Extremes to find. Where’s our transport?

MINIMAX: Right here, Great Bargello.

BARGELLO: That? What the heck is that? A portable steam bath?

MINIMAX: This is the Shrinkmobile. It doesn’t go backward or
forward; it just gets smaller.

BARGELLO: (looks it over) Is it safe? I don’t see any seat belts.

MINIMAX: Not necessary. It doesn’t accelerate, so you can’t get
hurt.

BARGELLO: But after we’re through shrinking, how will we get
back to normal size?

MINIMAX: No problem, Great Bargello. The Shrinkmobile has an
on-board computer that remembers how large it was when it started.
All I do is put it in reverse.

BARGELLO: Well, okay. The Great Bargello is not afraid. Let’s go!
(they get in)