The Transformation of Jane Chapter Five I was still bleary eyed from having been awakened from such a deep sleep and the very vivid dream as I let Maggie in and apologised for oversleeping. She wasnât using a crutch or a limb, and she came in to the kitchen twitching and kicking out with the stump of her left leg to help keep balance, saying she was going to make us some coffee. I was surprised to see her friend Sarah walk in behind her, also in riding gear, although specially tailored to accommodate her two artificial legs. She had put short black leather riding boots on the low-heeled feet, and her tight cream leather riding breeches. These were cuffed just above the knee joints, one mechanical, one real but almost hidden by the BK socket, and put the black calf shafts of her limbs in plain view, not that she was the least bit shy about being seen like that. Quite often she wore her legs without their cosmetic coverings if she and Maggie were going to do anything Îsportyâ. It was much easier cleaning bare prostheses rather than the foam covers if they got dirty, and the covers were easily torn if she fell while wearing the legs. Most of the left BK limb was visible together with the knee and part of the right AK socket, reminding me vividly of the way Robyn had looked in the dream. The sight of Sarahâs two prostheses and Maggie hopping around the kitchen in her specially tailored jodhpurs, getting coffee for us, confused me as to whether I really was awake or back in the dream again. A quick squeeze of my thighs confirmed that I still had both my own legs, and I excused myself to go and get dressed. After we had finished our coffees and I had pulled on my new high leather riding boots, the three of us went out to the yard where our horses had been saddled and were patiently waiting for us. Sarah went out first, walking round her horse with just the slightest tell-tale limp on her right hand side, and checking that the girth on her specially adapted saddle was pulled up tight. Her horse spooked a bit as Maggie hopped out, supporting herself on my shoulder as she went up the steps and mounted her favourite mare. As Sarah quickly moved back out of the way, she almost fell as her full-length right limb buckled under her, the bend at the knee joint only stopping when it hit the flexion limit stops. Since she still had her own left knee she just managed to recover her balance and quickly limped round to the steps, obviously favouring her right limb and stump. With surprising ease since she only had one of her own knees Sarah went up the steps of the mounting stage, but then she had had many years of practice as a double amputee. Hoisting the calf section of her right limb up with her hand, she swung it over the saddle and put the foot down into the stirrup. She carefully placed the left foot in itâs stirrup and then reached down and fastened the quick release clips that held the two feet and calves of the legs into the modified stirrups in much the same way as ski bindings. The clips kept the feet in securely place on the stirrups and held the lower parts of her limbs upright and close in to the specially adapted lower part of her saddle. Only having one knee and none of her own calf muscles to help her rise in the saddle she had to make sure that Îherâ calves and feet were fixed in such a way as to make best use of the limited strength in her stumps. Having seen her swimming in Rob and Maggies pool I knew that her left BK stump was quite strong and well muscled, and itâs strength helped give her a fairly natural walking gait on her prostheses considering her right leg had been taken off 5äabove the knee. Having only the one real knee and not much lifting strength in her right stump required that the lower parts of her two prostheses were held very securely in position. Her own left knee and muscular stump provided most of the effort, and that special stirrup arrangement helped get the most leverage what remained of her legs. Although she was a frequent visitor to the house and I had often seen her both walking on, and also moving about without her limbs, by the pool, it was the first time I had seen her ride, either with or without her limbs. I was fascinated, and Iâm afraid I openly gawped as I watched her adjust and tighten the lower-leg bindings and then settle her stumps back down into the two sockets of her prostheses. She had to ease the flesh of her stumps where they entered the sockets to make herself more comfortable, as they were now at slightly different angles compared to how her two leg stubs normally sat down in the suction sockets when she walked on them. Catching me watching her, she said, ã A long time ago I tried using two lace-up sockets fixed to the saddle, just like the single one Maggie uses, and I found riding like that was a lot easier and more comfortable. It felt much more positive that way, as the sockets were laced quite tightly onto my stumps, which were only covered by socks, or my very close fitting leather breeches. I could feel directly what was going on without the hard shells of my limb sockets getting in the way. The problem was that without any legs, or at least one full leg of my own, mounting and dis-mounting was really difficult here in the yard, and I was virtually helpless if I got thrown or if I need to stop for a pee while I was outä While I had been watching Sarah mounting her horse and adjusting her special stirrups, Maggie had been lacing her AK stump into itâs lace-up socket on her saddle, and when I looked over she was just tightening it up. ãRight girls, lets goä, she said, ãIâve arranged for one of the stable lads to leave a picnic hamper down at the lake, which should make a nice break for usä. We nodded our agreement, urged our mounts on, and trotted out of the yard after her. As I rode beside Sarah I kept sneaking glances at her, fascinated by the sight of her limbs clamped into their stirrups. Although I was used to Maggies appearance and adventurous dress style, I found myself captivated by Sarahâs well shaped bum in those tight leather breeches, and her unequal length legs with their black carbon-fibre sockets and limb mechanisms clamped into the tan leather saddle. A couple of times she caught me watching and smiled as I looked away in my embarrassment. ãIâm sorry, I donâ t mean to stare, itâs just that I find the way you handle your horse with those legs really amazing. I know that being around Maggie all day I shouldn ât be surprised at what amputees can do, but you are something else on those legsä. When we stopped for lunch Sarah unclipped her limbs from the stirrups and lifted both feet clear of the irons. ãCould you steady me as I dismountä, she said, ã Iâm quite tired and my right stump is a bit sore after that near fall back in the stable yard. I donât want to fall in this lumpy grassä. She got off without really needing my help and we walked over to a tree where Maggie had started undoing the picnic hamper. As we reached the tree her right foot seemed to snag on a clump of grass, because she lurched heavily into me, and, caught unawares, I couldnât hold her and we fell to the ground together in a giggling heap. ãSee, I told you I was tiredä she said laughing and lying back in the grass. ãGive me a hand and pull my right leg off would you, I could do with some air on my stumps after all that exercise in this heat. Hang on a sec and Iâll undo the suction valve for you, Iâll handle the left leg myselfä. Still more than slightly embarrassed, I did as she asked and laid the limb down beside its shorter partner. Like some of Maggieâs limbs, which I had handled previously, Sarahâs prostheses were of carbon-fibre, and were very light, rigid and strong. Both the left and right sockets were made of slightly flexible translucent plastic, and they both smelled a little of Sarahâs sweat. I could feel a familiar tension start to build in my loins as I arranged her limbs, and watched her massage her stumps to ease them after the exertion of the ride. She caught me looking at her again, and once more she smiled that particular smile in return. Blushing furiously I wondered if I was reading the right message into that smile. We had an enjoyable lunch and then took our time meandering back to the house where we left Maggie, as she was due to go out to a dinner function with Rob that evening. We left our mounts with the stable lads and Sarah and I drove back to her house in her 4 X 4. After letting us in and checking the answerphone, Sarah limped over to the breakfast bar, leant up against it and said, ãFix us both a drink and weâll get out of our riding gear. I need to get off these legs, and into a more comfortable pair. If you feel like it you can join me. It could be fun!ä ãDonât worryä Sarah said, with that mischievous grin of hers as she went into the lounge and flopped down on the sofa, ãMaggie has told me about your experiments on her peg. She sayâs youâre really very good on it, and she knows youâve been wearing it regularly while sheâs been away on business. No No, donât worry, she said you could, and sheâs glad you have a better idea of how she feels having one leg. I envy the two of you, because you can both wear a lovely heel on your remaining leg, and I can never do that with my two prosthetics. And from something she said last week, I think she suspects that youâve been using a pair of Robâs pegs. You have been trying them out, havenât you?ä Since I figured denial would be pointless I sheepishly admitted that I had, and told her how enjoyable they had felt. ãAh Ha!ä she said triumphantly, ãYouâve just won me a little bet I had with Maggie, that you had been, and that you did enjoy wearing them. Maggie said you enjoyed wearing a high shoe or boot with her peg so much, that she couldnât imagine you wanting two artificial legs without any nice high heels. Iâve seen you watching me on my limbs for weeks now, and I knew I was on a winning bet with that one. Thankyou for proving me right.ä I handed the drink to her and we talked about the ride and the picnic. In what seemed like no time at all we had finished our drinks. She got to her Îfeetâ after easing her right socket, and walked over to the stairs, ãCome on, I need a shower, and you must as well. You can use the guest room and borrow some of my clothes to go home inä. One step at a time she climbed up the stairs, left leg first, then bringing the full length right limb up to that step. Walking behind her I found myself imagining what it felt like walking on that combination of AK/BK limbs. I knew that I enjoyed wearing Robâs two pegs, but having knee joints, even if one of them was real, must make so much difference. We got to the top and Sarah limped in to the master bedroom and sat down heavily on a couch opposite the bed. ãCan you help me off with these walking legs, my stumps are a bit sore. My stumps are fairly tough, but that much riding is a little too much! I feel like going Îcasualâ for the rest of the afternoon.ä I went over to the couch and pulled her right limb off for her as I had done at the picnic, only this time I wasnât embarrassed. ãIn the left closet youâll find all my legs, could you go and get a pair of pegs for me. I think Iâll put on the new pair with the specially cushioned leather lined sockets. Theyâre the ones to the right of my dressy legs with the white high-heeled sandals on. Thanksä. I brought them back to her, and examined the BK left peg while she easily slipped her naked right stump into its open ended socket, fastened the waist belt and clipped its elastic suspension straps onto the fittings on the front and back of the socket. The left peg was very light, so obviously the shaft was hollow and even with its knee joint it felt very rigid. It had a small round rubber soled foot that flared out from the aluminium shaft, which divided where it met her stump. There was no proper stump socket, just an open-ended pocket that her stump rested in. The shafts that went up to the thigh bucket were like those on a pair of braces and had a pair of quick release locks to let her bend the limb when she sat down, and to help make standing up easier. The thigh bucket was of moulded plastic, well cushioned with plastic foam and lined with soft white leather. Judging from the ease with which she had put the right peg on, the thigh sockets didnât seem to be very tight fitting, and must rely solely on the elastic suspension belts to hold them up on her full left thigh and right stump. Her right peg also had an aluminium shaft, but the knee joint was a simple hinge in the shaft with a quick release lock, and it was almost invisible when the peg was straight. With their soft leather socket linings, foam cushioning and loose fit, these were obviously prostheses made more for comfort rather than purely functional walking use. ãThatâs better, I think Iâll wear these pegs for the rest of the day. With their small feet and the fact that I keep the knees locked when I walk, I have to use crutches for balance when Iâm on them, but the sockets are so comfortable that they are the only choice for me today. I normally wear thin stump socks to stop my skin sticking to the leather and chafing, but its cool enough this afternoon, I think Iâll go Îau naturalâä she said as she eased herself up off the couch. To stand up she released the left joint lock, bent her knee, rolled over on to her left hip, planted the right peg over towards her left side and pushed up on the arm of the couch. As she got upright, she straightened her left leg, the knee lock clicked, and she clipped on a pair of forearm crutches. She made it look so easy, it made me frustrated when I thought of how I would struggle with limbs of that length. With practised ease she stumped her way over to me, and I watched with open admiration as she handled the pegs and crutches with such grace, her breasts bouncing with the shock of each peg footfall. She had had many years of experience with peg legs and proper articulated limbs, and it showed in the way that she walked on those long pegs, even though their sockets were not tight on her stumps. It was hard to imagine that she had ever walked on anything other those pegs the way she moved so naturally on them. "I'm going to have a quick shower. You can use the guest room down the hall. See you in a bit" she said as she stumped past me into the en-suite bathroom. After I had showered I went back into the master bedroom wearing just knickers and a borrowed T-shirt. I went over and sat down beside her on the couch. She turned to me and said ãIf you want you could try on a pair of my old temporary pylons. Both legs have lace-up leather corset type thigh sockets, and I think theyâll be about the right size for your Îstumpsâ, well the left one at least. When I had to wear them I couldnât take much direct weight on either stump, so the tops of the stump buckets were shaped to take all of my weight on my bum bones. They might hurt a bit Îcos youâre skinnier than I was!, and although you can tighten the sockets up a bit, your bum will probably tend to sit down a little too far off the weight bearing cuff on the right limb. Obviously the left one will be alright as its for a BK leg, and this right limb will be OK as the knee is open, and the calf section only becomes a shaft below the knee joint". I stood up, got the pylons from the closet, went back to the bed and began putting them on. Bending my calf's and feet back underneath me as I pulled the sockets up, I eased the leather sockets snugly up onto my full length Îstumpsâ and pulled the laces tight to fix the stump buckets firmly on my thighs. Knowing what I would need next, probably from talking with Maggie, Sarah handed me a pair of wide belts and I strapped my, now unnecessary, lower legs up out of the way. Flipping over onto my front with my well-practised stump kick, I eased myself back off the bed and into an upright stance on those two unfamiliar full-length limbs. I had decided to keep the right knee locked, since it had no spring assistance, and to try walk with the left knee free, since its joint was spring assisted and naturally wanted to come to rest in the straight position, with a little click-stop lock. It would flex with a good stump kick, but it naturally came back to its straight position. In fact it was designed to be especially stable for a new BK stump, with muscles that were still weak after amputation. In itâs Îstraightâ position the thigh section bent slightly forwards over the knee joint, so that when weight was placed on it the tendency was to lock up even more firmly. I clipped a pair of Sarahâs forearm crutches on and eased myself round and stood for a few seconds to get used to these two limbs that had been made full length to match Sarahâs height before her amputations. She was normally about 3 inches taller than my bare-foot height when she had her legs on, and these pylons made me an awful lot taller than I had been when I experimented stumping about on Robs two pegs. It felt weird and more than a little frightening being so much taller without the comfortable feeling of platforms or high heels securely fitted to my own two feet. Whether I wore boots or shoes they always fitted snugly, and whenever I wanted to I could always remind myself what I was wearing by flexing my toes, or rocking my foot back on it's heel and feeling the height of the heel as my ankle rocked back on it. I also enjoyed the feel of supple soft leather gently encasing my legs when I wore boots, and now all I could feel was the rigid leather sockets on my thighs. Like most women I used heels and boots as part of my seductive wardrobe, with the added benefit that I genuinely enjoyed wearing very high heeled shoes or platform boots. I was used to heels of anything up to 7 or 8 inches on my most extreme boots and shoes, but now, as all circulation below and just above my knees slowed down, I could feel nothing properly below about mid-thigh or mid 'stump'. This made me acutely aware of the full length of the limbs beneath me, that I could now only control with my two new thigh Îstumpsâ. Easing my weight from side to side to settle myself down into the sockets, I kicked the left limb a few times to see how the spring assisted knee unit behaved. ãLooking at the way youâre standing there so casually on my legs, checking them out. You seem as though itâs the most natural thing in the world to check out a new pair of prostheses. I can see youâve played this game before!ä Sarah said with a chuckle, as I placed each limb forward in turn, testing how my weight felt coming down on it, before bringing it back level with its mate. I shuffled sideways a little to see what the stability of the feet was like in that direction, and then started across the room to where Sarah was sitting on a couch. The ends of the pylons were roughly foot shaped rubber soled wooden units, a fair bit larger than my normal shoe size and without any ankle joint. Lifting both crutches clear of the floor I found they felt fairly safe and stable to stand still on, but, as I had suspected, I found I really needed the crutches to help me walk safely on those tall pegs. The locked right pylon felt very direct and stable, but had no ground clearance when I kicked it forwards. As it swung through, the rigid foot unit tended to snag the carpet unless I hitched my right hip up, helped by a push from the crutch. The left limb, with its spring-assisted knee joint, was much easier to walk through on. The small bend of the knee joint as I kicked my Îstumpâ forwards gave just enough extra clearance to keep the foot clear of the carpet, and I now had an even better idea of what Rob felt like on his limbs, even though they were both articulated. When I had tried Robs pegs, I had experimented with unlocking each of the knees in turn and kicking my stumps to feel the effect of a leg swinging from them, but they were free hinges, and much too unstable to walk on when unlocked. After a few paces I got the hang of that left leg and started to enjoy the feeling of having a proper articulated limb on my Îstumpâ. I found that it behaved better if I worked it much faster than I had seen Maggie and Sarah kicking their AK limbs. The technique was to hitch my left hip up slightly and then kick the stump through quickly to flex the knee and get the foot moving clear of the floor. Then I would bring the stump back smartly to get the limb locked in extension more quickly, and plant it down much more firmly than the rigid right limb. Because it was so basic its action felt very quick and direct, and the click as the knee straightened transmitted a satisfying little shock up to my stump. When I walked, the back kick as I locked the left limb straight and moved my weight on to it also helped maintain my forward motion. I started off with a half step on to the right peg and then, with a push backwards from the right stump, a strong stump kick, full pace and half kick back on the left leg. My forward motion allowed me to roll my weight forward over the peg, the length of the foot giving me a little gain in height to help me swing the stiff right peg through. Walking around the bedroom I kept seeing my reflection in the full-length mirror and at one point I just stood still and admired myself standing up there like a natural on those pylons. Sarah beckoned me over to the door where she was waiting for me. With my walking style getting better all the time I stumped over to her, and we went down the corridor towards the stairs. Surely she didn't expect me to tackle the stairs after so little practise! Sensing my apprehension as I paused for a moment she turned to me and said "Don't worry we'll take the lift. I wouldn't do that to you so soon! We'll go down and get another drink and a bite to eat and see how we feel then". She smiled at me in that particular way again. To be continued...