the　alarm　finally　stopped　after　blaring　for　a　full　two　minutes.　a　crowd　was　gathered　in　the　middle　of　the　courtyard　around　the　steel　doors　through　which　thomas　was　startled　to　realize　he’d　arrived　just　yesterday.　yesterday?　he　thought.　was　that　really　just　yesterday?

        someone　tapped　him　on　the　elbow;　he　looked　over　to　see　chuck　by　his　side　again.

        “how　goes　it,　greenbean?”　chuck　asked.

        “fine,”　he　replied,　even　though　nothing　could’ve　been　further　from　the　truth.　he　pointed　toward　the　doors　of　the　box.　“why　is　everyone　freaking　out?　isn’t　this　how　you　all　got　here?”

        chuck　shrugged.　“i　don’t　know—guess　it’s　always　been　real　regular-like.　one　a　month,　every　month,　same　day.　maybe　whoever’s　in　charge　realized　you　were　nothing　but　a　big　mistake,　sent　someone　to　replace　you.”　he　giggled　as　he　elbowed　thomas　in　the　ribs,　a　high-pitched　snicker　that　inexplicably　made　thomas　like　him　more.

        thomas　shot　his　new　friend　a　fake　glare.　“you’re　annoying.　seriously.”

        “yeah,　but　we’re　buddies,　now,　right?”　chuck　fully　laughed　this　time,　a　squeaky　sort　of　snort.

        “looks　like　you’re　not　giving　me　much　choice　on　that　one.”　but　truth　was,　he　needed　a　friend,　and　chuck　would　do　just　fine.

        the　kid　folded　his　arms,　looking　very　satisfied.　“glad　that’s　settled,　greenie.　everyone　needs　a　buddy　in　this　place.”

        thomas　grabbed　chuck　by　the　collar,　joking　around.　“okay,　buddy,　then　call　me　by　my　name.　thomas.　or　i’ll　throw　you　down　the　hole　after　the　box　leaves.”　that　triggered　a　thought　in　his　head　as　he　released　chuck.　“wait　a　minute,　have　you　guys　ever—”

        “tried　it,”　chuck　interrupted　before　thomas　could　finish.

        “tried　what?”

        “going　down　in　the　box　after　it　makes　a　delivery,”　chuck　answered.　“it　won’t　do　it.　won’t　go　down　until　it’s　pletely　empty.”

        thomas　remembered　alby　telling　him　that　very　thing.　“i　already　knew　that,　but　what　about—”

        “tried　it.”

        thomas　had　to　suppress　a　groan—this　was　getting　irritating.　“man　you’re　hard　to　talk　to.　tried　what?”

        “going　through　the　hole　after　the　box　goes　down.　can’t.　doors　will　open,　but　there’s　just　emptiness,　blackness,　nothing.　no　ropes,　nada.　can’t　do　it.”

        内容未完，下一页继续阅读