Steamborn: The Complete Trilogy Box Set by Eric Asher

Author:Eric Asher [Asher, Eric]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction
Amazon: B01ESLPPCY
Published: 2016-04-24T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Alice and Gladys stayed with Jacob until he finished eating. They might have stayed longer, but Smith arrived before they could find anything to lighten the mood. Gladys had terrible stories about what had happened to her people, and what could happen to her if the warlords ever found her.

Smith glanced at the paper bag on the floor and smiled. “They bring you something from The Fish Head?”

Jacob nodded. “Best rice ball I’ve ever had.”

“Best everything you have ever had. The Fish Head is one of the best-kept secrets in Bollwerk.” Smith sat down in the low chair and rolled up Jacob’s pant leg. He opened the panel over the calf and peered inside at the mass of tubes and metal. Smith poked and prodded and checked various parts of Jacob’s leg with everything from a thermometer to a strange pair of spikes. A wire ran between the spikes, and a gauge on top of one of the spikes seemed to fluctuate up and down with Jacob’s heartbeat.

“Looks good, Jacob. You are generating your own power now.”

“What?”

“This,” he said as he raised the spiked mechanism, “measures the current inside your leg. You press it to the open contacts, and it shows you what’s going on.”

“What’s the current do?”

“It runs an internal heater so you can survive in the cold, for one. It also engages some optional gearing if you need it. Press the buttons above your knee in series, front to back. It will put extra power into your kick, or let you jump higher, or even run faster.”

“Run faster?”

Smith nodded as he closed Jacob’s leg. “Yes, but be careful with that one. You only have one biomech leg. That means the strides on your right leg will be much longer and much faster than your left. It will make it very easy for you to fall down and break your face.”

“Thank you?”

Smith grinned. “I do not know much about the humor in Ancora, but the sarcasm? I do like it, Jacob.”

“Now, how has the pain been?” Smith asked as he flexed Jacob’s foot.

“Not too bad as long as I keep pressure off it. It’s been … it’s been kind of like a toothache, but in my leg.”

“That is good.” Smith slid a thin greasy tool under the edge of Jacob’s knee. Smith apologized when Jacob winced.

“What was that?”

“It will help numb the pain for a short time,” Smith said. “Now, I’m going to push on your leg. Let me know if the pain is too much.”

Jacob braced himself against the burning needles of agony he expected, but he only felt a dull ache. He slowly released his grip on the wheelchair’s armrests and stared at Smith. Smith wore the closest thing to a smirk Jacob had ever seen on him.

“I think you are ready. Come, let us be rid of your chair.” Smith extended his hand and Jacob grabbed it. The tinker pulled him to his feet with little effort and let go.

Jacob wobbled and flailed for a moment, but then something whirred and clicked in his leg.

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