we’d be out on the streets or worse back at the Skyburb 7 Home for Unclaimed Urchins Oh hi Jessie I say I’m just trying to wake this sleepwalking robo-dog He’s done another midnight prowl of the storeroom Jessie laughs If this is your idea of midnight I think you’d better start going to bed earlier Well sometimes it’s worth it I reply We were up until 2 o’clock this morning and look what we discovered I crawl back inside the packing case and grab a strange metal object I’d never seen before 2 o’clock this morning I’m expecting an excited reaction from Jessie but as soon as she sees it she ruffles my hair and sighs 5
Sorry Max she says I can see why you’d be excited about it but those things have been in the museum’s collection for years Oh I reply What is it It’s called a bicycle pump Back in the 21st century people had to use those things to pump up the tires of their bicycles Why did they do that Well the tires helped bicycles ride smoothly along the ground Along the ground Wow that’s quite primitive and dirty too It’s all a bit disappointing especially because I thought I was going to earn a few dollars from it Jessie and I have a special arrangement when I 6
identify a new object for her she pays me a few dollars for it It’s very helpful pocket money It helps me keep my tummy full and Oscar’s joints well oiled Never mind replies Jessie There’s something in the workshop that might be of interest to you Don’t tell me you’ve baked another batch of cyber scones Even better than that a new item from Professor Wong Whenever I hear that name I know something exciting is about to happen Professor Wong is the big boss of the Bluggsville City Museum When the museum comes across an item she isn’t familiar with she hands it to Jessie If Jessie 7
can’t figure out what it is she passes it on to me and Oscar Sometimes we know right away what it is and other times we do everything we can to find out Today looks like it might be one of those days Jessie disappears into her workshop and comes back a moment later with a small black plastic cylinder in her hand Have a look inside she says Jessie hands the cylinder to me and I pop the lid off There’s a strange shiny object inside I tip it into my hand and hold it up in front of my eyes It’s all metal except for a round plastic part sticking out at the end The metal is black and yellow and has tiny words printed on it None of them make any sense to me 8
