…Yeah, ok, that’s twisted
The Doclopedia #265
Altered (United) States: Pennsylvania “The Quarantined State”
It’s simple: You can’t go into Pennsylvania because you’ll shrink until you’re only 12 inches tall. Actually, the shrinking area doesn’t start until you get about 5-10 miles into the state, but it’s marked off by a very prominent border. Since the shrinking is permanent and you’ll die if you leave the state, it’s not a place most people are hot to go visit. Also, it’s against Federal law and you’ll be shot on sight.
The shrinking started in 1843 and it took only 3 weeks for the human population to get down to the 12 inch size. Not surprisingly, many people tried fleeing the state. They quickly sickened and died, so the people still in the state had to remain there. For whatever reason, there were an estimated 20,000 people who went into the state after that. They shrunk and stayed there, making a new life for themselves. Many of them were runaway slaves and once they got to Pennsylvania, were free from persecution. When you need every hand just to survive, you quickly forget about mere skin color.
The Pennsylvanians outside the shrinking area began marking off the border with a 30 foot wide clearing. After many years and the ready assistance of bordering states, it was finished. The “tall” Pennsylvanians then took up a protector position regarding their “little” friends. They send in all many of foods and medicines and tiny tools and machinery. In return, the little folks started sending out exquisitely made tiny arts and crafts, which sold for very high prices.
In the present time, Pennsylvania is a major center for miniaturization of all sorts of electronic and non-electronic devices. Most notable among these are the tiny 1 inch tall robots called “Harrys” because they are manufactured in and around Harrisburg. Harrys are used in all sorts of work, from manufacturing to space exploration (Harrys are a big part of the robotic workforce building the soon to be occupied Mars base) to environmental studies.
The tiny Pennsylvanians are pretty accepting of their fate. As more than one has said, “Where else in the world can you feed a family of four for a week on three pounds of groceries?”
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