“When he next opened his eyes, he was alone.
Triumff stiffened with a start. The steady drip of water resounded from somewhere, but nothing else: no voices, no sign of life. He wondered how long he had been asleep. Surely the attendants would have woken him if it had passed closing time? That implied that it was still before six o’clock. Yet where were the attendants?
Triumff tried to whistle, but his lips refused. He was up to his chest in many thousands of gallons of water, and his mouth was dry.
Then he saw the line of bubbles. They were crossing the centre of the pool and heading his way. He caught his breath.
Plip plip plip plip plip, they went.
They were ten yards away, coming straight for him. The steps out of the pool were ten yards to his right. He fancied the idea of clambering out of the pool where he was, using the seat as a leg up, but his limbs felt dull and heavy, and didn’t seem strong enough to support him.
Plip plip plip plip plip, came the line of bubbles.
He became aware of how fast he was breathing.
“This is silly,” he whispered out loud. “I can’t just sit here, waiting to be harried by a line of bubbles.””
3.5 out of 5
http://thebooksmugglers.com/2009/09/free-reading-triumff-by-dan-abnett-–-excerpt-4.html
