Escape 1: Escape From Aliens Read Online Free PDF Page A

He grinned as he watched the skim of water flow slowly toward the refuse basin. The cell floor had a slight incline to it so that any liquid would naturally flow to the drain hole. Which was now plugged. He pulled his finger away from the spot above the mesh and the water flow stopped. With a nod he resumed touching the sensor spot.
    “Diligent, I think I need a bath. A full body bath!”
    Water flowed out. After a minute it did not stop flowing. In fact it was gushing out as if under a lot of pressure. Keeping his finger against the Turn On spot was doing the trick.
    “Hmmm. Wonder how long it will take for this cell to get waist deep in water? And I wonder just where your emergency drain holes might be. Oh, did I tell you that Humans float?”
    Forty minutes later Bill felt his bare feet leave the floor as the cell’s water level hit five feet deep. He turned to float on his side, still keeping his finger against the Turn On sensor in the cell wall. He could feel the continuing inflow of water as a gushing spurt just below the Turn On wall spot. Long minutes later the water level had risen to nearly seven feet. He sucked in air, held his breath and plunged his head and shoulders into the water so he could keep his finger on the Turn On spot. The waterproof backpack kept his midbody suspended while his feet stuck out of water toward the ceiling. He scanned the cell floor below him, confirming the refuse drain hole plug was still blocking any drainage of water. The food slot had not disgorged any new food slab, though it would soon be noon and time for a second meal. Would the slot open while exposed to a flood of water? Bill didn’t know but he assumed there were automatic devices built into the containment cell that would prevent any of its devices from damaging the module. The ending of the upward pull on his body by the rising water confirmed that. While he still felt the inflow of water below his finger, the water level was not rising. Which meant a drain or drain holes had opened somewhere in the cell. Letting go the Turn On spot he surfaced with a gasp.
    “Nice bath, you mother fucker!”
    As before there was no response to his comment. Presumably the Rules of Captivity saw no need to further talk with a captive once the hopelessness of their situation had been explained. Well, he had changed the conditions in his cell. Time to do more damage.
    “Mr. Diligent Taskmaster, I don’t like your fake yellow sun!
    Floating on his back, he looked up at the fake blue sky and yellow orb. With a kick he pushed himself toward the near wall edge. It made sense to him that a second ring of holo emitters had to lie somewhere on the ceiling. The center of the ceiling and the spot where the wall met the ceiling were out as emitter locations just due to the physics of laser projection. He splashed the water surface to right himself. Which put his head just two feet below the ceiling. Though the water level was dropping slowly. He scanned the water surface and saw four v-rivulets. The rivulets became little vortexes leading down into the water. Dunking his head he saw the vortexes led to four thumb-sized holes on the wall that looked to be three feet above the floor. Made sense. You don’t want rising water to link up with the power outlets behind the laser beads. Holding his breath with ease, he noticed that one hole was sucking in water to the left of the oval door outline. The spot where he’d killed the first bead. He decided to call that spot north. Looking to the right and left, he saw similar holes sucking in water. He called those spots east and west. Glancing back to the wall he had bumped into he saw the fourth drain hole. At south spot. With a kick he lifted his head and shoulders above the water level.
    “Damn, but air feels good!” he gasped.
    Bill pulled his boots off his neck, untied them, stuffed one boot into his shirt, then sank his teeth onto the lace of the other boot. Closing his eyes, he lifted both palms