CHAPTER 6
After countless days of suffering, Joe awoke in a sunny room.
He was agonizingly stiff, swollen, and sore. He couldn't find a
part of his body that didn't hurt. Dr. van Damme and several other
persons stood around looking at him. Joe tried to move and
discovered that his entire body was restrained.
"Well it looks like our surprise is ready to be unwrapped,"
said Dr. van Damme."
Joe's torso and legs were released. He discovered that his
hands were surrounded by some type of box, his feet were in casts,
and he had no feeling or freedom of movement in his extremities.
"Dr. Morgan would you describe for us please your
modifications to the subject."
An elderly doctor came forward. "Thank you Dr. van Damme. This
is a procedure we have been working on at the request of another
branch of our organization. We have been able to alter the
subjects fingerprints."
The assembled onlookers showed great interest.
"Do go on Doctor."
"Well using computer controlled lasers at an oblique angle we
were able to eradicate the center of the original print. An
electron gun was used to, I guess burn would be the best term, a
pattern onto the finger. The resultant scarring is regulated, and
becomes indistinguishable from the loops and whorls of a natural
print. With a sufficiently sophisticated program you can not only
change someone's prints, but give him another person's."
Understanding the possibilities inherent in this, the crowd
murmured it's approval. Another doctor was working on releasing
Joe's feet from their confinement. At Dr. van Damme's cue he
explained what he had done.
"What you are looking at gentlemen represents a turning point
in reconstructive bone surgery. I have actually accomplished two
feats here, if you'll pardon the pun. I have taken the subjects
feet and rebuilt them to Dr. van Damme's specifications. What were
a man's size ten wide are now a perfect woman's size eight medium."
There was talking by his audience but no questions,so he
continued. "What is really interesting are the other adjustments I
was able to make. You know how we podiatrists tell the girls to
stay off of high heels. Slaves to fashion that they are, they never
listen to us and, as a result, suffer many foot ailments as a
result. It seems that the human foot was just not designed to walk
in high heels."
"Doctors, what I have done, is to devise and create such a
foot! I strengthened the weight bearing bones and made alignment
changes to the metatarsal bones. These feet could run a marathon in
spike heels."
The amazement of the group was apparent.
"And now last, but certainly not least, Dr. Brenner will
enlighten us as to his accomplishments."
"Thank you Dr. van Damme. I too work in reconstructive
surgery. One problem faced in severe damage to the hands and feet,
is the permanent loss of nail growth, which serves to protect the
fingers and toes. Our material department has been able to
fabricate an acrylic polymer that is indestructible by any means
available to us here. What this means is that we can formulate a
replacement nail that will last forever."
The Doctor busied himself with the box which held Joe's left
hand. "You have to be very precise in your measurements with these
because once they set, that's it. These were modeled to Dr. van
Damme's specifications and have been anchored to the subjects
finger bones."
Looking at Joe, he giggled and said, "I would avoid countries
which practice torture if I were you, young man. I can guarantee
that your fingers will pull off before those nails do."
Still groggy, Joe just looked at him blankly. His hand was
freed from the box. Joe tried to move his fingers, but they were
too sore. He held his hand up to his face and gasped. At the end of
each finger was a long oval nail at least an inch long.
AND THEY WERE BRIGHT RED!
The doctor went on, "These nails will take some getting used
to and I must warn you to be careful until you are accustomed to
them. They could be dangerous."
Addressing Dr. van Damme he went on. " I believe you will find
that these nails will not chip and the colors will not fade."
Joe's other hand was freed and it joined it's mate. Joe
stared, in shock, at the long red talons, now permanently attached
to his fingers. The doctor released Joe's feet from their
containers.
"I also took the liberty of replacing the subjects toenails
while I was at it."
Joe struggled painfully to move to a position from which he
could see his feet. He was rewarded with the sight of ten cute
little red toenails peeking back at him. He noticed that his feet
were indeed much smaller and somehow more graceful. He moved them
and observed that they flexed in a peculiar manner.
Engrossed with his fingers, Joe failed to notice Dr. van Damme
motion everyone to leave. he looked up to find her alone with him.
"Please doctor. Tell me what's going on here. Why are these
things being done to me?"
"Because, Mr. Watson, you are at hand. We needed a test
subject and you're it. Also, as I once told you, we have contracted
with your wife to erase any trace of Joe Watson from the face of
the earth and dispense appropriate retribution in the process."
Joe wanted to learn more but she spun on her heels and walked
out.
