The Arm and Flanagan

By David Dvorkin

When Jimmy Flanagan returns from war with one arm missing, he's one of the lucky ones. First, because he returned alive. Second, because an experimental program allows him to be fitted with an advanced, high–tech artificial arm. Now he's free of the Army, he has a new arm that's better than the one he lost on the battlefield, and his girl has been waiting for him. He should be a happy man....

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Dvorkin
• Release date: Feb 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465786050

David Dvorkin

David Dvorkin was born in 1943 in England. His family moved to South Africa after World War Two and then to the United States when David was a teenager. After attending college in Indiana, he worked in Houston at NASA on the Apollo program and then in Denver as an aerospace engineer, software developer, and technical writer. He and his wife, Leonore, have lived in Denver since 1971.David has published a number of science fiction, horror, and mystery novels. He has also coauthored two science fiction novels with his son, Daniel. For details, as well as quite a bit of non-fiction reading material, please see David and Leonore’s Web site, http://www.dvorkin.com.

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THE ARM AND FLANAGAN

by

David Dvorkin

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 by David Dvorkin

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Jimmy stared at the doctor uncomprehendingly.

The doctor repeated himself. It’s revolutionary technology, Sergeant Flanagan. It’s an experimental program. Civilians probably won’t have access to this for years, but the government is determined to do whatever it can for its wounded warriors.

Wounded warriors, Jimmy repeated.

You’ve given so much to your country. Now your country wants to give back to you.

Jimmy perked up. You found my arm? You can reattach it?

The doctor sighed. No, no, of course not. I doubt if it was recovered from the battlefield. Even if it was, it’s been far too long. It’s no longer viable.

Viable, Jimmy said. He smiled. What a great word.

I’m sorry, Sergeant, the doctor said, betraying a hint of impatience, but I’ve already explained all of this to you. Your original arm is long gone, but thanks to a special budget allocation, we’re able to fit you with a very expensive, very advanced replacement that will be even better."

Better than a real arm? Jimmy asked.

Better than the original one. The one you lost in the explosion.

I almost made it, Jimmy said. Four years, three tours. Not a mark on me. I was almost there.

Mm, hmm, the doctor said.

The door to the examining room opened and a young woman in blue scrubs came in carrying a long, narrow cardboard box.

And here it is! the doctor said heartily. Your new left arm.

The nurse put the box on the examining table next to Jimmy. He avoided looking at it and looked at the nurse instead. She was pretty and had a warm smile. Once, he might have flirted with her. Once, before his arm had been blown off. What chance would he have now with a girl?

There was Terrie, of course. He knew he couldn’t put off calling her. He should at least listen to some of the messages she’d been leaving for him. She wanted to dump him; he knew that. Might as well get on with it.

Might as well get on with it, Jimmy said.

Exactly, the doctor said. Take your shirt off, please. Nurse.

The nurse stepped forward to help.

No, Jimmy said. He stood up, pulled his shirt out of his pants awkwardly with his right hand, and started tugging it over his head even more awkwardly. Even when it covered his head, he could sense the stares of the other two, he could feel the combination of sympathy and annoyance at his refusal of help. Finally, he got the shirt off, dropped it on the room’s single chair, and climbed back onto the table.

The doctor motioned with his head and the nurse left the room. Jimmy watched her sadly as she disappeared behind the closing door.

The doctor did something to the dressing covering the stump that ended halfway down Jimmy’s left upper arm. The dressing fell away. It landed on the examining table and slipped to the floor. The doctor leaned toward Jimmy, frowning, as he examined the stump. Lift, he said.

What?

Lift your arm, please. I want to have a look at the rest of it.

My arm, Jimmy said. You mean this. Nonetheless, he lifted it, surprised again, as he always was, at