Machine Man

It was a good hospital; very exclusive. The company spared no expense. Workplace accidents were always a big deal at Better Future—or, rather, it was a big deal that nobody make them into a big deal. Doing what we did, our public image was tightly managed. The last thing the company wanted was a journalist sniffing around, asking about our peculiar death and injury rate.

Also, I think they were worried I might sue. I wasn’t going to. It was my own fault. But I guess these things are never… well, clean cut.

So I got a private room with a view over the Gardens. At dusk the glass skyscrapers on the far side of the park radiated orange fire. At ten each morning, I was bathed by a beautiful nurse. There were all the painkillers I could want. Nobody visited me. It was very pleasant.

3.