Wanderer's Escape Read Online Free Page A

paused to take a sip of the drink.  Delicious sweetness filled his mouth, together with a slightly bitter undertone.  He quickly took a larger sip, burning his tongue.
    “Wow!  Ouch!”
    Sal chuckled.  “Careful.  I burnt my tongue three times trying to drink it too fast.  It is something special isn't it?”
    “ Where did you get it?  Are there stores at the back of the ship?”
    “ Not quite.  We've had an interesting few hours.” Matt's tone was dry as he joined Jess and Sal.  “First of all you won't recognise the main room.  Ah... that is... umm... sorry...” he stumbled to a halt, remembering that Jess couldn't leave the chair he sat in. 
    Jess chuckled.  “You'll just have to describe it to me.”
    “ Um... yes... well, when I went back before you fell asleep it was still just an empty area, and the rear door wouldn't open.  I spent a few minutes looking for any hidden doors or controls but there weren't any.  Just the same indentation the other doors have, and that didn't do anything.  I came back to tell you both but you'd already fallen asleep.  I explained to Sal, decided to go take another look and found the door from the flight deck wouldn't open.  We were stuck. 
    Must've been in here ten, maybe fifteen minutes.  I was starting to consider waking you up but Sal was against it.  She thought you needed the rest.  Then, suddenly, the door slid open.  I went back and the far door opened too.  I stepped into the main room and couldn't believe my eyes.  It had completely transformed.  There are two big, comfy sofas and four chairs, all facing a large screen.  A big table and chairs with space for twelve.  It's narrower though, most of the right side – opposite the airlock – is sectioned off now.  A door leads into a small corridor which has three small rooms each with a bed, side table and lamp.  There's also a small toilet and shower area.  Each of the rooms had a few clothes, nothing special but a damn sight better than prisoner overalls.”
    Jess noticed for the first time that Sal and Matt were wearing different clothes, dark blue trousers and shirts.  The colour wasn't that different to the near rags prisoners normally wore but the clothes were clearly clean and new.
    “And in the main area there's this device that... well... it seems to create food and drink somehow.  I've never even heard of anything like it, but it's made us several drinks and a meal already.  I don't see how it could have stored the fresh food we had anywhere.  The hot chocolate seems the most popular so far.” He added with a smile.
    “ It's wonderful.” Jess said, sipping some more.
    “ Speaking of which, that was supposed to be mine.  I'm going to go get another,” Sal said, heading back.
    “ You're looking well kid,” Matt said.  “Especially considering...” he gestured at the top of Jess's head, words failing him.
    “ Especially considering the ship has decided to wire me in?” asked Jess with a grin.  “Don't worry.  Please.  I'm sure it doesn't mean me any harm.”
    “ You think it's alive? Conscious?  Aware?” Matt stared intently at him.
    “ I'm not sure about alive, but aware?  Yes.  Though not exactly.  It's hard to put into words.  It's like there's a large chunk of it missing, the part that decides.  The part that takes action.”
    “ And is that part going to be you?”
    Jess nodded.  “I think so, yes.  Not in a sinister way though.  It needs a pilot, was designed to obey the needs of someone.  It's not trying to take me over or force me to be a part of it.  It's more like it's trying to make itself an extension of me.”
    “ And that doesn't scare you?”
    “ Scare me?  It's bloody terrifying.  But I don't feel like I'm in danger from the ship.”
    They sat in silence staring at the blue mists floating past the screens.  Jess sipping his way through the chocolate.  Sal came back with her own mug, but didn't break the silence. 
    By the time