Machine Man (serial)

My three graduate lab assistants were already in the Glass Room: Jason, Elaine, and Kathline. Kathline was the one who wasn’t Chinese. I was supposed to be teaching them something while they worked for me, but I had never been sure what. They in turn had decided I was unlikely to help their careers, and spent their time making the robot arms perform obscene gestures and shooting each other with cytoplasms. I only once saw them look at all interested in what I was doing, and that was when I was in Lab 4, tying my shirt around my stump, trying not to die.

There was an awkward silence. Elaine said bravely, “Welcome back.” Kathline nodded. Jason glanced at my pant leg, the one that hung off the edge of my office chair like a flat noodle, then away. I think he was angry at me for provoking this situation, the pressure to be sympathetic.

“Thank you.”

Silence descended again. Kathline shuffled her feet. Elaine cleared her throat. “If there’s anything we can do…”

“Oh,” I said. “There is.”

13.