Leapholes (2006) Read Online Free PDF

emergency stairwell?"
    "This kind of place," said Ryan as he pointed to another sign on the wall. Though barely visible in the smoke, it read:
    DANGER: NO ADMITTANCE, LEVEL ONE CLEARANCE ONLY.
    The coach's expression soured. "All that restricted area nonsense goes out the window when there's a fire. Out of my way." He backed up, then ran toward the door at full speed, putting his shoulder into it. On impact, he cried out in pain, but the door didn't budge.
    "That's not going to work," said Kaylee.
    The coach grimaced. "No kidding, Einstein."
    "I have an idea," said Ryan. "All I need is a rope."
    "I got an idea, too," said Coach. "All I need is a fire truck."
    "I can find a rope," said Kaylee. She went to Head Case-- the old woman who had that fifteen-foot streamer of extra bandage trailing behind her. "You don't need that, do you?"
    "No. They were bandaging my head when the alarm went off. I was still attached to the roll when I ran out of the ER."
    "Good." Kaylee tore off the extra bandage, then ripped it into thirds, long ways, from end to end. She was left with three skinny bandage strips, and she started braiding them together. "Ryan, you start at the other end, and do exactly what I'm doing."
    Quickly, they twisted the three lengths together until they had a rope. Kaylee knotted both ends, and Ryan gave it a tug. It was much stronger than a single bandage strip. "This should work," he said. "Now, Coach, you're going to take this rope and lower me down the elevator shaft to the floor below us. Hopefully, the door to the stairwell will be unlocked down there. If it is, I'll run up and unlock this one from the other side."
    "That's way too dangerous," said Kaylee.
    "Do you have a better idea?" said Coach.
    The old lady coughed from the thickening smoke. "Whatever you're going to do, make it quick!"
    Kaylee said, "Why can't someone else go?"
    "I weigh less than anyone here," said Ryan. "I should be the one who goes."
    The others were like a chorus: That's right. Yes, yes. Definitely, Ryan should go.
    Kaylee seemed a bit put off by their lack of concern for Ryan's safety, but his mind was made up. "It's just one floor," he said. "It's not like I'm going bungee jumping."
    Ryan felt his way through the smoke to the open elevator door and lowered the makeshift rope down the shaft. It was just long enough to reach to the floor below. The coach tied one end around his wrist and braced himself against the wall for leverage. Ryan took the other end in both hands.
    "Ready?" asked the coach.
    "Ready," said Ryan.
    Feet first, Ryan slid past the half-opened elevator door. It was breezy inside the shaft, and darker than he'd expected. Dangling at the end of his rope, swaying side to side, he finally grabbed a cable to steady himself. But he could find nothing to stand on. He was hanging in midair, the rope in one hand, the greasy elevator cable in the other.
    "Okay, lower me!" said Ryan.
    The coach let out too much rope, too quickly. Ryan plunged several feet and nearly lost his grip. "Slower!" shouted Ryan.
    Coach reeled back, and Ryan inched his way down the shaft.
    "I'm there!" shouted Ryan.
    Coach stopped feeding him rope. Inside the dark shaft, Ryan was suspended before the closed elevator door that served the floor below. It was a typical elevator door that slid from left to right. A vertical strip of light at the far edge told him that lights were burning in the hallway, just on the other side of the door. Ryan quickly formed a plan. It was like the rock climbing wall at a carnival. All he had to do was rappel. He put his feet on th e p anel and braced his back against the wall. Then he pushed. Slowly, the door started to slide open.
    "How's it going, Ryan?" the coach shouted.
    "It's going!" he said through clenched teeth..
    "I can't hold on too much longer. You're heavier than you think!"
    Ryan glanced at the gaping hole below him. It was ten stories, maybe more, straight down. That couldn't be a pleasant way to die. "Just hang