Quicker Than Any Escalator, Faster Than Any Lift

(All the writing in this set was inspired by dreams. For more info
read: 'An Explanation - 25 Dreams'.)

Escalator or lift.

I decide to take the escalator, because I think it will be quicker than
the lift. I call the lift before heading to the sliding stairs - to
make a point.

Behind me there is a ping and seconds later the lift doors open. A
crowd walks in.

Okay, so it came straight away. I can still get upstairs quicker that
the lift if I walk while the escalator ascends.

This doesn't happen, because the escalator is jammed with people. It
crawls up into the building and behind me I can see the number above
the lift doors change from 0 ... to 1.

When I get off the top of the escalator I am still not on the first
floor. I'm on a nothing floor. I have to take another escalator, which
is broken so that I have to tramp up the frozen, metal steps.

And then another escalator.

And then another.

Finally, I am at the first floor.

If I need to go any further up, I will take the lift.

The floor plan is huge and I don't know where to begin looking for the
CDs I wish to purchase, but I am in no hurry; if my journey out of the
building is anything like my journey into it, it is something to be
delayed.

As I walk towards rows of CDs - this open space is more like an airport
lounge than HMV - I notice something that looks like a launch pad to my
left. It is a square hole in the ground, with yellow and black stripes
around its perimeter. Two burly men stand at either side of the hole
and launch clear tubes the size of bobsleighs into it. They do this
about every thirty seconds.

As I get a bit closer, I see people inside the tubes, squashed up
against the plastic, grinning, laughing.

The men raise them up, position them over the shaft, lower them a
little way, and then with a thunk! they are gone, sucked down into the
hole.

Above the men, above the launch pad, there is a yellow sign with bold,
black writing that exclaims: 'DROP THE BOMB!'.

It's a quick way to get out of the building. Quicker than any
escalator, faster than any lift, falling faster than gravity, with your
stomach raised up into your throat and your hair standing on end.

The idea of it makes me feel sick and exhilarated at the same time. My
feet are carrying me towards it.

Maybe.

Just maybe.