Disclaimer: this is a work of fiction. It is a draft; there are mistakes, many misspellings and sometimes long periods of no updates. copyright: ion fyr 2026
Pool looked like a puppy kicked by his owner—hurt, confused and forlorn. Everyone was agast at Nila’s outburst.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know where that came from. I saw you with my raincoat from my flat in Londbridge. I don’t know how you got it, or got here, but you didn’t ask.”
Pool sputtered but lacked the words to explain.
“Nila,” Etelka intervened, “we have some other rather surprising news. Pool, our friend of many years that you see here before you, whom you voyaged across Siberia with and whose hand you were clasping as you…lost yours—you both lost your hands…this Constable Pool, it appears, is not the only one.”
“What?” Nila pushed herself up on her free elbow and as much as possible on the one enclosed in the regrowth-vat. “What are you talking about?”
“It appears to be the case, Blue. This one is mechanical.” Luc pulled Pool forward, closer to the bed. “Pool, show her your arm.”
Pool did as Luc commanded, holding his stump up, and rolling back his sleeve, so the mangled gears and drive rods were visible. “It is true, Ms Tagore,” he confessed somberly. “I am not a man, but only a complicated facsimile.”
“No, Pool…Blackwood,” said Etelka soothingly. “You are our friend, and as far as we know, you have been like this all along. We have yet to find the other, and when we do we shall, find the root of this matter.”
“Nila, it is the other who has your coat, and we do not yet know how he comes to be in Singhapolis, but I believe—correct me if I am wrong, Luc—we intend to travel there, as soon as you are recovered from your injuries and hopefully if a replacement arm can be constructed for Pool.”
Daytime interjected, “the arm for Mr Pool should be ready by the end of the day. It’s not my department, but I spoke with the Chief prosthetics engineer and we found a solution that should work.” She crossed her arms. “Ms Tagore, should also be ready to travel by tomorrow, I think. Her stats are excellent and I’ve never seen regrowth this fast in my entire career.”
Daytime and Omar left them to discuss plans in the recovery room, which they did quietly amongst themselves to the beeping of the monitor.
Ion Fyr 