Leonora K found herself sitting in her canvas director\u2019s chair with her broken leg perched on a small wooden table<\/p>\n
It had been two weeks since her accident<\/p>\n
Her doctors had instructed her not to put weight on her injured limb<\/p>\n
This restricted her movement which she found frustrating<\/p>\n
She was reading a book<\/p>\n
It was called<\/p>\n
Henry Wanton and his Travels to Unknown Worlds of the Apes and Cynocephali<\/i><\/p>\n
It has been written by a Zaccaria Seriman in 1749 and was considered to be an early example of Italian Science Fiction<\/p>\n
Her brother was swimming in the pool near to where she was resting and threw a handful of water in her direction<\/p>\n
Be careful you oaf this is an antiquarian book <\/i><\/p>\n
You will not be able to join me for weeks sis shitty world isn\u2019t it?<\/i><\/p>\n
Fuck off when I am able I will drown you<\/i><\/p>\n
Her brother soon became bored and swam to other side of the pool<\/p>\n
Leonora looked at the plates in her book<\/p>\n
One particularly intrigued her<\/p>\n
It showed a number of creature\u2019s human in appearance but with canine heads<\/p>\n
They were in deep conversation<\/p>\n
Two dogs were mating in front of them and a horse stared into the middle distance<\/p>\n
It is a disease you know <\/i><\/p>\n
Her leg paused before it replied<\/p>\n
I can see no reason why these creatures should not have evolved like you and I save for their canine heads <\/i><\/p>\n
Three weeks later when the plaster was removed Leonora was horrified to discover that she had grown an extra leg identical in all aspects to the injured one<\/p>\n
Even the nail polish she was wearing at the time of her accident was there<\/p>\n
She asked the nurse why she had grown an extra limb but the nurse could see her extra leg<\/p>\n
She called her brother into the room but he too could not see her extra leg<\/p>\n
She began to accept her extra healthy leg<\/p>\n
Until one night when she was in bed she could hear her limbs arguing<\/p>\n
You will fade like a broken toe nail and drop off<\/i><\/p>\n
I will not when I am healthy I will snap you in half <\/i><\/p>\n
Fuck you<\/i><\/p>\n
Fuck you <\/i><\/p>\n
Fuck you<\/em><\/p>\n Leonora spoke to her other leg which had remained impassive throughout<\/p>\n Let them argue like spoilt children ignore them and they will soon get bored <\/i><\/p>\n It is none of your business perfect leg <\/i><\/p>\n Leonora pulled the blanket down and soon her legs stopped arguing<\/p>\n The same happened the following night although her uninjured leg did not get involved in the argument choosing to remain silent<\/p>\n As part of her rehabilitation Leonora had to use the swimming pool<\/p>\n Each day she asked her brother about her extra leg but his answer was always the same<\/p>\n You have two legs sis not three the one you broke is slightly withered and very white but if you swim you will soon build it up <\/i><\/p>\n Meanwhile you are my piebald sister<\/i><\/p>\n Over six weeks passed and Leonora\u2019s injured leg grew stronger and stronger until one night when she was woken from her sleep by the sound of a shot<\/p>\n She pulled the blanket back and saw that her previously injured leg was suffering from a bullet wound<\/p>\n The injured leg and the third leg started arguing again when you were asleep and a duel was proposed and you can see the results <\/i><\/p>\n Why did you not stop them?<\/i><\/p>\n Why should I have done so it was nothing to do with me?<\/i><\/p>\n But I am bleeding <\/i><\/p>\n Well then get help <\/i><\/p>\n Leonora managed to make it to her brother\u2019s room where she collapsed<\/p>\n She woke in a hospital bed<\/p>\n Her brother was in the room<\/p>\n They caught the guy that shot you sis and let\u2019s say he will not be bothering us anymore I believe that he had an accident when in police custody <\/i><\/p>\n But my legs fought a duel <\/i><\/p>\n It\u2019s the morphine try to rest I am informed that if you progress as well as you have been then you might be released by the weekend <\/i><\/p>\n And before you ask yes you do have two legs although strangely the whiteness is no longer present on your injured leg <\/i><\/p>\n It is almost as if you have been next to the pool for the last two weeks <\/i><\/p>\n Leonora\u2019s eyes felt heavy and she faded into sleep once more<\/p>\n When she awoke it was daylight once more and the sun was streaming in through the open window<\/p>\n She motioned to get out of bed and she did so she realised that she had only two legs<\/p>\n In panic she removed her hospital gown<\/p>\n Where is my injured leg? <\/i><\/p>\n It died while you were in the coma <\/i><\/p>\n You will have to put up with me now Leonora I am a better fit don\u2019t you think? <\/i><\/p>\n Leonora was speechless and just sat staring at her legs<\/p>\n A nurse entered the room<\/p>\n What are you doing Leonora are you too hot? <\/i><\/p>\n What did you do with my injured leg the one that received the bullet wound? <\/i><\/p>\n It is there right in front of you <\/i><\/p>\n I had three legs when I entered the hospital and one had been injured in a duel <\/i><\/p>\n The nurse smiled and helped Leonora with her gown<\/p>\n Dr Spencer will see you this afternoon and I think he will recommend a few weeks rest on Asteroid 267 before you return to your brother <\/i><\/p>\n And do not worry about the man who shot you the police have dealt with him <\/i><\/p>\n He is now floating in blue space with all the other miscreants <\/i><\/p>\n For eternity and a day <\/i><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n On Opposite Earth Leonora K found herself sitting in her canvas director\u2019s chair with her broken leg perched on a small china table<\/p>\n It had been two weeks since her accident<\/p>\n Her doctors had instructed her not to put weight on her injured limb<\/p>\n This restricted her movement which she found exciting<\/p>\n She was reading a book<\/p>\n It was called<\/p>\n Henry Wanton and his Travels to Unknown Worlds of the Apes and Cynocephali<\/i><\/p>\n It has been written by a Zaccaria Seriman in 1749 and was considered to be an early example of Italian Science Fiction<\/p>\n Her brother was swimming in the pool near to where she was resting and threw a handful of water in her direction<\/p>\n Be careful you oaf this is an antiquarian book <\/i><\/p>\n You will not be able to join me for weeks sis shitty world isn\u2019t it?<\/i><\/p>\n Fuck off when I am able I will drown you<\/i><\/p>\n Her brother soon became bored and swam to other side of the pool<\/p>\n Leonora looked at the plates in her book<\/p>\n One particularly intrigued her<\/p>\n It showed a number of creature\u2019s human in appearance but with canine heads<\/p>\n They were in deep conversation<\/p>\n Two dogs were mating in front of them and a horse stared into the middle distance<\/p>\n It is a disease you know <\/i><\/p>\n Her leg paused before it replied<\/p>\n I can see no reason why these creatures should not have evolved like you and I save for their canine heads <\/i><\/p>\n Six weeks later the plaster was removed\u00a0 Leonora was horrified to discover that she had grown an extra leg identical in all aspects to the injured one<\/p>\n Even the blue nail polish she was wearing at the time of her accident was there<\/p>\n She asked the nurse why she had grown an extra leg but the nurse just smiled<\/p>\n She called her brother into the room but he too could not see her extra leg<\/p>\n She began to accept her extra healthy leg<\/p>\n Until one night when she was in bed she felt that she could hear her limbs arguing<\/p>\n You will fade like a broken toe nail and drop off<\/i><\/p>\n I will not when I am healthy I will snap you in half <\/i><\/p>\n Fuck you<\/i><\/p>\n Leonora spoke to her other leg which had remained impassive throughout<\/p>\n Let them argue like spoilt children ignore them and they will soon get bored <\/i><\/p>\n It is none of your business perfect leg <\/i><\/p>\n Leonora pulled the blanket down and soon her legs stopped arguing<\/p>\n The same happened the following night although her uninjured leg did not get involved in the argument choosing to remain silent<\/p>\n As part of her rehabilitation Leonora had to use the swimming pool<\/p>\n Each day she asked her brother about her extra leg but his answer was always the same<\/p>\n You have two legs sis not three the one you broke is slightly withered and very white but if you swim you will soon build it up <\/i><\/p>\n Meanwhile you are my piebald sister<\/i><\/p>\n Over three weeks passed and Leonora\u2019s injured leg grew stronger and stronger until one night when she was woken from her sleep by the sound of a shot<\/p>\n She pulled the blanket back and saw that her previously injured leg was suffering from a bullet wound<\/p>\n The injured leg and the third leg started arguing again when you were asleep and a duel was proposed and you can see the results <\/i><\/p>\n Why did you not stop them?<\/i><\/p>\n Why should I have done it was nothing to do with me?<\/i><\/p>\n But I am bleeding <\/i><\/p>\n Well then get help <\/i><\/p>\n Leonora managed to make it to her brother\u2019s room where she collapsed<\/p>\n She woke in a hospital bedh<\/p>\n Her brother was in the room<\/p>\n They caught the guy that shot you sis and let\u2019s say he will not be bothering us anymore I believe that he had an accident when in police custody <\/i><\/p>\n But my legs fought a duel <\/i><\/p>\n It\u2019s the morphine try to rest I am informed that if you progress as well as you have been then you might be released by the weekend <\/i><\/p>\n And before you ask yes you do have two legs although strangely the whiteness in no longer present on your injured leg <\/i><\/p>\n It is almost as if you have been next to the pool for the last three weeks <\/i><\/p>\n Leonora\u2019s eyes felt heavy and she faded into sleep once more<\/p>\n When she awoke it was daylight once more and the sun was streaming in through the open window<\/p>\n She motioned to get out of bed and she did so she realised that she had only two legs<\/p>\n In panic she removed her hospital gown<\/p>\n Where is my injured leg? <\/i><\/p>\n It died while you were in the coma <\/i><\/p>\n You will have to put up with me now Leonora<\/i><\/p>\n I am a better fit don\u2019t you think? <\/i><\/p>\n Leonora was speechless and just sat staring at her legs<\/p>\n A nurse entered the room<\/p>\n What are you doing Leonora are you too hot? <\/i><\/p>\n What did you do with my injured leg the one that received the bullet wound? <\/i><\/p>\n It is there right in front of you <\/i><\/p>\n I had three legs when I entered the hospital and one had been injured in a duel <\/i><\/p>\n The nurse smiled and helped Leonora with her gown<\/p>\n Dr Spencer will see you this afternoon and I think he will recommend a few days rest on Asteroid 267 before you return to your brother <\/i><\/p>\n And do not worry about the man who shot you the police have dealt with him <\/i><\/p>\n He is now floating in blue space with all the other miscreants <\/i><\/p>\n For eternity and a day<\/i><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Leonora and her brother were sitting on the edge of the pool<\/p>\n They had been swimming for most of the morning<\/p>\n She had enjoyed her swim and as normal her brother was good company<\/p>\n The Second Sun was high in the sky and she felt herself tanning slowly<\/p>\n It is lovely to feel heavenly one more <\/i><\/p>\n Yes you have been rather sick <\/i><\/p>\n First the accident and then the infection you have been through the mill Sis <\/i><\/p>\n I suppose I have<\/i><\/p>\n I will miss our swims together while you convalesce on the asteroid <\/i><\/p>\n I am a little worried about the journey as we will have to pass through Blue Space <\/i><\/p>\n You will also have to pass through Yellow Space which I am told is an unforgettable experience <\/i><\/p>\n Do you know how fast these ships travel?<\/i><\/p>\n Probably Max 486 and above you will not spend very long in any sector <\/i><\/p>\n I hope so as I do not want us to bump into any abandons <\/i><\/p>\n Maybe you will bump into the guy who shot you<\/i><\/p>\n Do not frighten me anyway you know that my legs fought a duel <\/i><\/p>\n Her brother ran his hand along Leonora\u2019s bronzed thigh<\/p>\n He smiled<\/p>\n I must say that the surgeons have done a wonderful job it looks as good as new <\/i><\/p>\n As he finished his sentence Leonora felt a slight shudder run down her new leg<\/p>\n Her brother did not notice it but her whole body tingled<\/p>\n Two days later Leonora stepped aboard the Space-Shift that was to take her to Asteroid 267<\/p>\n She waved to her brother who was sitting at a library window<\/p>\n For an instant as she turned she thought she saw her missing leg on the chair opposite him<\/p>\n They were reading the same book<\/p>\n Henry Wanton and his Travels to Unknown Worlds of the Apes and Cynocephali<\/i><\/p>\n The image troubled Leonora but soon she became sleepy and was dreaming by the time that the ship had reached Red Space \u00a0\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n In her dream Leonora saw her brother making love to her pseudo self on the diving board<\/p>\n She had three legs but he did not seem to notice her disfigurement<\/p>\n Her injured leg was bleeding again and the blood was slowly dripping into the swimming pool below<\/p>\n He had captured her DNA once more<\/p>\n It was a skill he celebrated and although Leonora was very careful in ensuring that her DNA was not carelessly cast away but she knew that even the most minute toe clipping or lost hair would be enough<\/p>\n In a perverse way she enjoyed her brother\u2019s attention to detail<\/p>\n Leonora watched as her pseudo-self wrapped her legs around her brother<\/p>\n Suddenly her injured leg gave way and a huge amount of blood spilled into the swimming pool discolouring it immediately<\/p>\n Then both her brother and her pseudo-self fell the darkening waters<\/p>\n They did not surface<\/p>\n Leonora felt herself scream<\/p>\n You were dreaming it was only a dream <\/i><\/p>\n A nurse was standing above Leonora<\/p>\n Where are we?<\/i><\/p>\n We are still in Red Space but the pilot has announced that we should be in Yellow Space within an hour <\/i><\/p>\n I was dreaming that my brother was making love to me on the diving board above our pool <\/i><\/p>\n Do not worry it is only the result of the medication you are on <\/i><\/p>\n These dreams will fade <\/i><\/p>\n Will they close the shutters when we pass through Blue Space? <\/i><\/p>\n We always close the shutters when we pass through Blue Space<\/i><\/p>\n Between Earth and Asteroid 267 there were four space sectors<\/p>\n Red Space<\/p>\n Yellow Space<\/p>\n Blue Space<\/p>\n White Space<\/p>\n White Space was much smaller than the others and Asteroid 267 was located on the very fringes of this sector<\/p>\n Red Space was the nearest to Earth and was really a massive void with very little to excite the traveller<\/p>\n The debris of a number of communication satellites and the occasional dust field was all there was to see<\/p>\n Yellow Space was the total opposite and was not like deep space at all<\/p>\n To anyone passing through this sector it was like passing through deep countryside with rolling hills and deep valleys and flowers and trees of all descriptions<\/p>\n The perfumes of this idyll could be experienced by all as the Space-Shifts were so sophisticated that even whilst travelling at speeds exceeding Max 486 the essences were captured<\/p>\n Leonora closed her eyes for a second and felt the musk like perfumes excite her senses<\/p>\n After four hours a small red warning light came on and an announcement was made<\/p>\n In forty minute the shutters\u00a0 will begin to close as we will be entering Blue Space in AT45 <\/i><\/p>\n Leonora could see that in the distance there was what appeared to be a dark void<\/p>\n It was almost as if Yellow Space for all is beauty suddenly stopped<\/p>\n As the Space-Shift slowly turned towards the void she began to notice that the colours of the sector were beginning to look tired as if a rich season had run its course<\/p>\n The shutters decended slowly<\/p>\n Blue Space was the place of nightmares and many books and films had been created exploiting the many myths and stories that originated in the sector<\/p>\n In short Blue Space was a dumping ground for all kinds of malevolence<\/p>\n After execution all planets in the federation would dispose of the remains of offenders in this sector<\/p>\n Muderers terrorists rapists and perverts were all to be found there<\/p>\n They were transported in disposable coffins which would in time break down in the vacuum leaving their contents to slowly decay<\/p>\n But this was not always the case as disembodied limbs and heads could often be seen floating in the void to the distress of anybody who saw them<\/p>\n It had been illegal to pass through Blue Space without the shutters low for over fifty years<\/p>\n Leonora heard a dull bump above her seat<\/p>\n A fellow passenger blind in one eye smiled at her<\/p>\n It is most probably the head of the traitor Gerpetpet they say he was released in this area <\/i><\/p>\n Leonora did not answer and was watching the digital clock at the far end of the cabin which was counting down<\/p>\n 23.58 I would try to get some sleep as we will be in this sector for quite some time <\/i><\/p>\n The nurse who had woken her up had returned<\/p>\n I had the most dreadful of dreams last time<\/i><\/p>\n Then I will give you a ceded pill it will help you to relax <\/i><\/p>\n She handed Leonora a small pink pill which she swallowed with some seg water<\/p>\n Leonora was back beside the swimming pool with her brother but he was ignoring her<\/p>\n She looked at her legs<\/p>\n There were only two<\/p>\n She looked at the water in the pool<\/p>\n It was clear only reflecting the high sunlight<\/p>\n Why are you ignoring me?<\/i><\/p>\n I am not ignoring you<\/i><\/p>\n What are you reading? <\/i><\/p>\n Your antiquarian book <\/i><\/p>\n I never said you could now give it to me <\/i><\/p>\n Italian Science Fiction I did not know you read Italian <\/i><\/p>\n Give me the fucking book you know how careless you are <\/i><\/p>\n Her brother stood up holding the book over the pool<\/p>\n You dare <\/i><\/p>\n An announcement woke Leonora up<\/p>\n We are now entering White Space would all passengers please prepare for landing <\/i><\/p>\n Leonora looked at the digital clock<\/p>\n 00.56<\/p>\n She had been asleep for twenty three hours but her dream seemed only to have lasted for moments<\/p>\n The shutters were raised and she could see Asteroid 267 clearly as White Space was so reflective<\/p>\n The Asteroid was noted for its many seas and temperate climate and was along with Asteroid 112 a popular holiday destination<\/p>\n She had been booked into Set 86 <\/i>a resort on the far side of the asteroid and about an hour from Shift-Central<\/p>\n The resort was partly recreational and partly designed for convalescing patients<\/p>\n Nudity was encouraged but was not stipulated although the benefits of third sun were heavily emphasised in the promotional literature<\/p>\n Leonora did not care either way as she often swam naked in the pool with her brother<\/p>\n The disquiet she felt about her new leg was beginning to recede and the limb was rarely conversational<\/p>\n When it did speak it was only to engage in small talk<\/p>\n Her other leg remained silent<\/p>\n Welcome to Sodium Five <\/i><\/p>\n A gentle female voice purred over the speakers as Leonora made her way was towards the Processing Bay<\/p>\n The procedure was over in seconds and a nurse ushered her towards a travel pod which was going to take her to her resort<\/p>\n A Nurse Grainger will await you when you dock <\/i><\/p>\n You will leave in two asteroid minutes <\/i><\/p>\n The pod moved forward smoothly and soon entered a well-lit tunnel and began to travel at high speed<\/p>\n Quite soon it slowed and finally stopped at a short platform lit by orange lights<\/p>\n Leonora please follow me <\/i><\/p>\n Are you Nurse Grainger?<\/i><\/p>\n No just a common Hubot<\/i><\/p>\n Nurse Grainger was not a Hubot but an Android<\/p>\n In appearance and in movement she looked completely human but her voice betrayed her as it was rather metallic and stiff<\/p>\n Welcome Leonora I trust your stay with us will be a pleasant one <\/i><\/p>\n You will see me twice a day<\/i><\/p>\n Once with the doctor and once without <\/i><\/p>\n The rest of the time will be your own <\/i><\/p>\n In your apartment you will find all you will need to find about Set 86 just press the red button on the main monitor and Lucy will be your guide <\/i><\/p>\n Leonora followed Nurse Grainger along a shaded path that fringed the beach<\/p>\n The resort was indeed clothing optional with most of the guests naked on the beach although some were missing limbs<\/p>\n Nurse Grainger stopped in front of an apartment<\/p>\n This is Ayre 46 you will stay here during your time with us please settle in at your own pace and I will see you with the doctor at Z8 tomorrow <\/i><\/p>\n As you can see the beach is in front of you and do try to swim as much as you can <\/i><\/p>\n Enjoy your stay Leonora <\/i><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n To Be Continued \u00a0\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Leonora K found herself sitting in her canvas director\u2019s chair with her broken leg perched on a small wooden table It had been two weeks since her accident Her doctors had instructed her not to put weight on her injured limb This restricted her movement which she found frustrating She was reading a book It […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1818"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1818"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1818\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n23.57
\n23.56
\n23.55
\n23.54<\/p>\n
\n<\/i><\/p>\n