" Having been instructed in his native tongue to compel instant obedience." Having been instructed in his native tongue to compel instant obedience. The man slapped Joe's face so violently that Joe cried. Having learned his first lesson, Joe painfully maneuvered his body to where the attendants could help him out of bed and walk him to the bathroom. He noticed that the bathroom was austere and lacked a mirror. While bathing under the observation of one of the attendants, Joe noticed the curious lack of hair on his body. "Oh well. It'll grow back," he thought. After poking himself with his new fingernails a couple of times, he learned to move slowly and carefully. He went to wash his hair. "So they shaved my head too." While washing his face he found out about his peculiar lack of eyebrows. After he had dried off Joe was handed what looked like a standard green hospital gown. It was different from the normal hospital gown in two respects. It was made of silk instead of the normal cotton, pulled over the head rather than tying up the back, and fell to mid thigh. Joe was able to return to bed unassisted. Walking back, he noticed unaccustomed pressure on his feet and tension in his calf muscles. While Joe had been in the bath, the other attendant had been making up his bed. Joe discovered that the new sheets and pillow cases were slinky and slippery. "Well I'll be," he thought. "Satin sheets. At least they go first class here." Joe began to relax. Now that feeling had returned to his body, he took stock of himself. The stiffness and soreness had been reduced by the hot bath. There was a odd itching sensation at various points on his body. He probed his hips and buttocks were the feeling was concentrated. Nothing seemed wrong. He scratched his chest which also itched. He touched a nipple that was swollen and sensitive. Pulling out the front of his gown he observed that his nipples were enlarged. Further investigation disclosed the presence of a hard lump in each breast. "Probably a reaction to some new drug they're testing on me," thought Joe. "Just my luck, they're probably looking for a cure for breast cancer." One of the attendants returned with a food tray. After setting a table in place over Joe's bed, he put the tray on it and left. |