Indulgence by Tony Thorne MBE (ereader manga .txt) 📕

cavernous pocket in her apron and held it up for them to see. Then she leaned over Charlie and placed it around the end of the small pipe coming from below his attachment, securing it with a rubber band. She then proceeded to similarly equip the others. The doctor continued. “Your units are already working, but the meal you just consumed contained less than the right amount of food that you need in a day, so your built-in computer did not reject any of it. However, as soon as your disposal bags have been secured, we will serve you with some dessert.“ He paused, and gave his wife a signal. She lifted up a tray with four large plates resting on it. Each was filled high up with what looked like a big slice of fruitcake, topped with a thick custard sauce. The four patients could hardly wait to get at it and were soon tucking into it eagerly. While they were eating, the doctor explained that the units were battery powered, but did not need replacing. Any body movement by the wearer automatically activated a tiny charging system.


There came a sudden humming noise from Charlie`s attachment. He was the smallest of the four patients, and at least half of his dessert began to squeeze out into the disposal bag. The others soon had the same experience, but with different amounts. The doctor beamed. “That was most successful, I`m sure you will agree. Now, are there any questions?“

Roger had a big one, that had been nagging at him ever since they had arrived at the clinic. “Doctor Wyceka, I am very grateful for what you have done for me, and I`m sure the others are, too.“ He paused while they all nodded enthusiastically. “However, it must cost a fortune to run this place and provide all the treatment and everything. I don`t understand how you can do it. You must want us to pay something towards it.“

The doctor smiled again. “You do not have to pay anything for the treatment; as what we removed will repay us for that. You will not miss what we have taken from each of you. For example, I can promise each of you that your remaining kidney is perfectly healthy, and we have patients here who desperately needed a replacement.“

Lucy gave a little shriek; Fred and Charlie went pale, and Roger gulped.

“So, I suppose those other patients we saw in the same room with us were all waiting for transplants?“

The doctor`s smile widened. “You are very astute, Mr. Haggerty. Yes, those patients were here waiting for treatment in our transplant department ...“
Fred had to interrupt him, looking grim. “At a high price, I suppose?“

“What we charge them has to be sufficient to pay for your operations, too … that's only fair. However, the prosthetic attachments are donated by a distant relative of mine.“ He paused and pointed across the room to one of the big windows. “He lives in a castle up on that highest mountain, you can see there in the distance.“

Lucy had recovered enough to butt in faintly. "We were not told that you were going to remove anything. What else did you take?"

The doctor`s smile became even wider, this time revealing most of his teeth. “So, you did not read the small print in the contract you signed carefully enough? What a pity that is. It stated that you agreed to us surgically removing anything in the way of sucessfully completing the operation. You were each selected carefully, and as you were unable to pay with cashcash anything, how else could we complete the operation successfully? As to anything else, you will certainly not miss the amount of surplus blood we removed from each of you. We will be giving it to the donor of the attachments before you leave us. T, considering that`s all he ever wants in payment; but do not fear, he never visits our clinic nowadays. He`s far too old now to travel by air ... safely.“

The End

©2008 Tony Thorne MBE


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Publication Date: 10-07-2010

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