17.
"Very well," said the mecianical voice, "I will turn you over."
There was a slight humming sound as North was gently turned around and brought face up. "Is that better?" came the voice.
"Fine!" replied North.
"Are you hungry?" asked the Med-Com. "I will order some breakfast for you if you are. You have not eaten for some hours."
"Yes," North affirmed.
"Would Muga, toast and eggs be sufficient?" asked the Med-Com .
"Fine!" nodded North.
"Your mother and father are waiting to visit with you. Shall I summon them now, or would you rather eat first?"
"I'd like to see them now."
"Very good," replied the Med-Com. "I will have them sent in. If there is anything else, simply say 'Med-Com' and tell me what it is, and I will respond."
"Thank you!" North told it, as the machine shut down. A few moments later North's father and mother entered the room.
"You look better my son!" exclaimed General Star.
"Are you comfortable, my son?" asked his mother.
"Yes," answered North to his mother's question, "I feel like I'm floating on a cloud in this thing. I wish I could touch you, but I can't in this force field."
"That's all right," assured his mother, "as long as you are comfortable and in no pain."
"I have some discouraging news, my son," North's father announced. "It will be some time before the doctors will let you fly. You will miss this year's Games, but they say you will be fully recovered by next year.
"How long before I will be able to go home?" was the question.
"You will have to be here another three weeks," explained the gentleman. "They are growing a new bone for your wing and will not be able to put it in for one week. They will then want to keep you in that Med-Com for another two weeks to give you full time to recover."
"How is Morn?" asked North.
"He is fine," replied his father. "He is waiting outside to see you. I have been expressing my thanks to him for saving your life, and offered him a reward, but he refused it. He had all he needed."
"That sounds lilke Morn!"
"We will leave you now, so you can see your friend and have your breakfast," the parents said.