Machine Man (serial)

Page 7.

Her name was Lola Banks. She was twenty-four and studying part-time. I learned this as she took me through artificial legs. “This is entry-level,” Lola said. “I’m showing you this just so you know what’s out there.”

The lower section of the leg was a pole, like a crutch. The top was a metal bucket.

“That’s the socket,” Lola said. “Don’t underestimate the socket. Ninety percent of your satisfaction with the prosthetic will derive from how well you fit the socket.”

Her choice of words interested me. Most people would have said how well the socket fits you.

“But you don’t want this.” She took it out of my hands. “Look at this instead.”

It resembled a real leg, if you squinted, maybe. There was a band of metal around the knee and a foot with odd, flat toes.

“That’s so you can put a shoe on it. And I can tell from your face that you don’t think it’s very attractive, but bear in mind, if you wear long pants, the fullness of this device gives you a more natural look than a thinner unit.”

I gave it back to her. “I’m not especially interested in looking natural.”

Lola’s breath caught. “Really,” she said. “Well, let me… just a minute.” She came up with something black and lightweight that I vaguely recognized from the Paralympic Games. The foot was two arched prongs, like skis. “This is the Endolite Echelon on a microprocessor-controlled adaptive knee, for multi-axis rotation, polycentric swing, and maximum energy return. That heel, that’s carbon polymer. This baby, this is the model the Olympics banned because it gave an unfair advantage to prosthetic wearers over athletes with biological legs.” Her eyes searched mine. “You don’t seem excited.”

“No, it’s nice. It’s just… I guess I was hoping for something a little more…” I searched for the word. “Cutting-edge.”

“Ha,” Lola said, her eyes lighting up. I realized I had made a pun. I have noticed this about people in the medical profession: they have dark senses of humor. To them, a joke is never complete until it includes a defiled corpse or spray of blood. “No, seriously. This is the best we have. Which model do you like best?”

“Can I have some time?” I was thinking about the lab.

“Sure,” said Lola Banks.

7.