The pain had diminished slightly in Falcon’s ankle. The ankle wasn’t broken, but it was sprained, and pretty severely. He could feel it swelling up inside his high-top runner, pressing against the synthleather. Should he release the velcro straps holding the shoe closed, give the ankle more space to swell? No, he thought, it was better to keep the shoe tight as long as he could stand it. Doctors put tensor bandages on sprains, didn’t they? The shoe would serve much the same purpose. But still it hurt, and it slowed down his progress back to his own turf.