A door and two tubes

The next room was surprisingly barren. There was the a door opposite them. Next to the door was a tube, about 2 inches around, that extended from floor to ceiling, with a small opening in the middle. Wires ran from the top of the tube to the door, and there was a constant "whoosing" sound from the tube.

In one corner of the room was another tube set into the floor, a little smaller around and sticking up a foot or so.

That, a flourescent light in the ceiling, and the door they walked in were the only things there.

"Ooooh-kay," Paul drawled.

Harvey was quite excited by this. "You have to escape *into* the escape room... That's a neat twist!" He started examining the wiring on the door.

"I wish we could talk to someone first... we're really locked in right now," Karen added.

"Yeah, we should let them know," Susan said, and banged her fist on the door. "HEY, YOUR FRONT DOOR LOCKED US IN".

Harvey was a little disappointed that he wouldn't get a chance to solve the puzzle... but there was no response. Susan made to bang the door again but Harvey stopped her. "This shouldn't take long, let us just solve this and we can explain in person."

Susan moved over to the tube. After checking the wiring she stuck her finger in the hole in the tube. "Ok, my guess is that there is a switch at the top of this tube that will unlock the door. There is air blowing up the tube, so stick something light in here to blow it up and hit the switch."

Karen checked out the tube in the floor. "I think there is something in this tube."

Paul looked down, "yeah, it's a small white ball. Smooth, probably a ping pong ball."

"There you go then," said Susan, "put the ping pong ball in this tube and it'll open the door. Easy"

Harvey laughed excitedly and walked to the floor tube. "Good job Susan! Umm... any idea how we get this ball out of the tube? Sheesh, that's a tight fit"

They puzzled over it for a while. There was nothing to fish the ball out with. Paul tried blowing down the side of the tube hoping it would push the ball up, but it barely moved. The tube didn't seem to unscrew.

After twenty minutes Harvey said, "OK, I was wrong and this is ridiculous, lets get some help."

Paul banged on the door and called for someone, but there was no response. "What the hell is this, Karen?"

"Don't blame her. Shit, there should be an emergency way out? Nothing opens these doors?"

Nothing but the right solution... hopefully...