a leg on the table lays foot swollen black rotted toes puffed straining gangrenous,
the
healer walks briskly gloved hands upheld questions bored room subordinates manipulates the leg once, twice satisfied the green clad team prey
huddles
"scalpel"
skin
separates smoothly
cleanly
one stroke, two slices, three strokes, sponge clamped, life's highways diked
one loop, two loops, three knots tiedexpertlyroutinely
deeper deeper
muscle
laid bare
sponged,
exposed, the wet white shaft shines
gleaming stainless hacksaw slices, slices one stroke hard bone two strokes marrow three strokes hard bone four
strokes
routine detachment swiftly
detached
the
destroyer in motion callous chucks severed sinew
a leg of all legs without a leg to stand on no leg no flesh no bone stumped
spontaneously routine on the floor, trashed in last week's news wrapped butcher's meat
ray ostrander © 1997 all
rights reserved
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