Into the Code : Ark Survival Evolved : Book 1

Chapter 12 : Stone Age Plumbing

I feel my body being pushed lightly, like someone trying to get my attention. I roll over towards the source of the pushing, letting out a long groan.

Ben : "Whaaaat..."

Lifting my eyelids lightly, I see Alex with a maddening grin on his face, jittering a bit. I sigh with distaste in my voice as I sit up in my bed. He looked like he had something at the tip of his tongue.

Ben : "Uuh, what's up... This had better be important."

I asked him sourly as I rubbed my eyes awake.

Alex : "Dude, I just had the best idea ever. Follow me. Let's go!"

Alex said quickly and demanding with joy lacing every word of his sentence.

Ben : "Alright, give me a second to actually wake up first..."

I get out of my bed and do the daily morning stretch.

Ben : "What time is it Alex."

I ask him while yawning.

Alex : "I think it's about 6 o' clock."

Ben : "...You're serious..."

If I wasn't so dragged down by morning fatigue I would have smacked Alex in the back of his head. I reluctantly follow him outside of the house where he leads me to the edge of the clearing, waving his hand for me to follow. I continue to follow him, rubbing my eyes so I mind could wake up quicker.

He leads me to a small cave entrance. I see the narrow tunnel, no more than two people shoulder to shoulder could fit within, that lead good way down into the earth. I gave Alex a confused gesture and he promptly explained himself.

Alex : "Do you remember when I told you about those hot springs last night?"

Ben : "Yes..."

I respond, waiting for the explonation.

Alex : "Well, here's my idea. This cave is where the springs are. What if we made a bunch of stone irrigation pipes, alright, make a pipe system that runs back to the base, ok..."

Ben : "Just get to the fucking point."

I was getting very irritated with the prolonged explanation. I do clean cut, straightforward, and thorough explanations.

Alex : "We... Make a pool back at the base. Eeh?"

I didn't expect to hear a well planned idea this early in the morning, but I start to feel his radiant joy infect my drowsiness.

Ben : "Dude, you're a freakin' genius!!"

Alex : "I know I am."

Ben : "Ok, don't get too cocky... We will have to get a bunch of stone first. Then dig out an area for the pool and get everything to work perfectly."

I informed him. He put his hand to his chin and thought about it for a second.

Alex : "You down to give it a shot?"

Ben : "I'm 100% down for trying this mad plan, are you kidding me? It's a fucking pool, who would say now?!?"

Alex : "I know right?!?"

Our yelling echoed around the walls leading down into the cave. We both looked like mad scientists about to find the perfect experiment to conquer the world with. But I thought about something, a flaw in our plan from the get-go.