Automata

Chapter 4

Oliver was the happiest he had ever been. Sam was alive and slowly getting accustomed to his new situation, even slowly getting the strength back to work on their automatons. Oliver knew that this was just the sort of revolutionary idea to save lives that Professor Bennett had been looking for, and he could not wait to present his project to the university.

Oliver now sat in his workshop, carefully outlining all the details of the preparation and procedure of the operation, and how Sam's condition had been since. He would have to describe every detail he could, so that the procedure could be repeated for future patients.

... Once the area adjacent to the lung had been prepped, I precisely inserted the motor into the lining of the chest cavity. I wound up the machine and its lever arm began moving in and out, pumping the lung as a normal body would. Upon ensuring that the clockwork was functioning perfectly, I adjusted the lung back into its rightful place and closed the part of the breast which had been pulled back. I then carefully stitched the skin back together.

Upon this time, Sam the patient woke up and was remarkably alert, and was able to express that he was able to breathe more regularly than he had before. For the past week, the patient has been seen to be walking around and functioning normally, and has not expressed any severe internal discomfort, only expressing the expected pain which follows surgery.

I consider this first operation a resounding success and greatly encourage the medical community to support me in further study and application of this groundbreaking fusion of science and mechanics. I truly believe that many lives can be saved through the method that I have invented.

Oliver heard the back door to the shop creak open and smiled when he looked up and saw Sam entering. He stood and went to greet him.

"Sam, how are you doing today? You have wound the turnkey this morning, yes?"

"Yes, yes. It still a little bit of an... odd thing to be doing, winding yourself up morning and night." Sam said, glancing down at the small bump in his shirt where the key stuck out.

"Yes, but you'll soon get accustomed to it. How is your condition this morning?"

"I am very grateful to be alive I s'pose," Sam said, smiling appreciatively at Oliver. Oliver felt his chest swell with pride and took out his notebook, poising himself to write.

"Alright, let's go through some of the usual questions. How is your overall feeling today?"

"Pretty good, I'd say."

Oliver scribbled something down.

"Have you experienced any breathing difficulties since the operation?"
"No. It's remarkable."

Oliver nodded.

"Have you felt any discomfort while winding the key?"

"Not physically."

"Finally, have you felt any sort of ticking from within your chest?"

Sam paused. "...yes."

Oliver put down his ink pen. "You have?"

"Yes," Sam said. "It feels as if a clock is ticking along with my heart beat."

Oliver pondered this for a moment. Could this be an indication of something wrong with the machine? Or is this a normal side effect of having automaton parts implanted? He hoped it was the latter.