Page 14 - Nutshell 4

immune rejection. Your brain will require a few months of retraining
in proprioception; your muscles and joints will need physiotherapy, as
well. For how long, we cannot predict: this is, as I said, a new—and
therefore somewhat experimental—therapy. Your parents made it
clear from the outset that you would have the final word on
approving the operation. You don’t have to decide right now, but we
all thought you should know what lies in your future.”
Tommy’s eyes were now glued on the incubator.
“Is this as close as I can get?” he asked.
“I’m afraid so,” replied Dr. Manus. “The environment must be
kept sterile. Only authorized personnel can enter that room.”
“Oh. I wondered if they have always been the same size as mine—
or would be by now?”
“Yes. That is the result of strict control of temperature,
oxygenation and chemical balance inside that sealed vessel.”
Then it was time to go home. The sparkle had returned to
Tommy’s eyes, and he spoke excitedly to his parents on the way
home about all the things he would be able to do. Waiting would be
difficult now, but at least he had been given hope. Nevertheless, his
father cautioned him.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to keep this information to yourself, son.
The scientists need to maintain privacy and security within the
university. And I don’t think talking about it at school is going to win
you many friends. They will challenge you to prove the existence of
what you just saw, and you won’t be able to. Better just to talk to us
about it, and continue doing your studies the best you can. If you
want to go ahead with the procedure, it will mean taking off about
half a year. And after that, you can resume classes at a different
school.”
Tommy considered that, and saw that his father was right. But his
father did not have to endure the torment from his classmates. It
would be an even greater challenge repressing his outrage. But could
the chance to start a new life with normal hands to be his only source
of comfort for the next two years? With the optimism of youth, he
had no doubts about undergoing what would be a painful period of
adjustment, with no guarantees of success. He slept better that night,
and awoke with a good appetite. His parents were relieved that the
trip to the regeneration lab had been a success.