Illoia stood back, exhausted. She had finally finished the calves of their young patient, and done some work on his thighs. By then the lad working with her had finished the rest of the body and they had turned their patient over. That had led to hundreds of more investments but, now, finally, they were finished. At least she was, and the lad was working on the last one of his, high up under the shoulder blades.
“Mother,” he called, “can you help with this one?”
The Top Ranker's wife came back and between the two of them they pried the shoulder blade up and dislodged the investment.
“Good work, you two,” the Top Ranker's wife said, checking the vital signs. “Get the various tubes in and you can rest. We have enough crew for the rest of them.”
The lad did most of the tubes, including a needle for feeding in the arm and a different tube for feeding down the nose; as well as the various other medical hookups.
“I think he will survive,” he said. “Will you be adopting him, or should I signal his unit to have someone ready?”
Article 17
Article 17 is a military science fiction story with aliens and romance. It is set in a future reminiscent of Napoleon era Britain. The war was going very poorly until the military installed a dictator. This story follows one of the dictator’s great men: Cladin Tomirosh, Leader, and thrice decorated hero.
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Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!
Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.
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Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,
Von