Chapter Twenty-Two
With bathing and shaving and incidental monster-baiting out of the way, and the stretching and range-of-motion exercises seen to, it was time for FNS. As usual Nurse Drake moved aside the wedges, clearing space for the bike. But as she began binding him into the sling it became clear she indeed had something quite different planned.
When Karl rose from the mat he was prone rather than sitting up. Last to lose contact was his face, and as he was hauled into the air he hung head-down from his knees like a trapeze artist. With his legs folded over the supporting strap and bound uselessly doubled-up, it was his arms that dangled free as he was maneuvered over the bike. There he was lowered into place. His hands were fitted into the pedals and strapped there. Blood already
