Читать книгу All In The Game - Barbara Boswell, Barbara Boswell - Страница 9

“Do you think we’ll get mail-in-the-tree today? Or a visit from Slick Bobby with some kind of instructions?” Cortnee asked during her rigorous aerobic workout, which she performed daily on the beach. Today she wore her tiniest bikini, the neon-pink one. “We haven’t had a victory contest or a food contest this week.”

Konrad, Rico and Jed gathered on the beach in various positions of repose, watching Cortnee. The twins were there, too, Lauren braiding her hair into a thick plait, Shannen tying strings to three makeshift bamboo fishing poles.

“I checked the tree for mail earlier and there wasn’t anything,” Shannen reported. “Why don’t one of you guys go check it now?”

“Later,” said Jed.

“And we’re almost out of bait,” continued Shannen. “Somebody should go to that place farther down the beach and see if more clams have washed up. That’s the best bait on the island.”

“Later,” murmured Rico.

“We can check for tree mail and then swing down for clams after we fish, Shannen,” Lauren suggested.

“I just thought maybe someone else would like a chance to do the daily errands around here,” murmured Shannen, adding tersely, “for a change.”

“Remember how those idiots in the other tribe ate some bad raw clams instead of cutting them up for bait?” Konrad sniggered. “Man, were they sick! When they tried to hang on to the rope in that tug-of-war between the tribes, they fell flat on their faces.” Clearly, it was a fond memory for him.

“Our tribe won every single contest, forcing the other tribe to keep voting off their own till they were all gone,” observed Jed. He began idly doodling in the sand with a stick.

“We won all the contests, so our tribe was able to stay intact a long time, and it’s mainly thanks to you, Jed,” Lauren said, her voice filled with admiration.

Jed nodded his head. “True.”

“Partially true,” corrected Shannen. “You forgot to add that you couldn’t have done it alone, Jed. I didn’t hear you say that all of us did our part to win, either. Did you forget that we’re a team?”

“Jed isn’t a team player—he doesn’t want to share credit for anything,” Cortnee called between deep breaths. “He really believes he does everything better than anybody else.”

Jed opened his mouth to speak, but Rico beat him to it by sighing heavily, gaining the attention of the cameramen. “I just want to say that I don’t miss the other tribe because I barely knew them, but I do miss Keri and Lucy from our tribe.” Rico sighed again. “I really bonded with them. They were probably some of the best friends I ever had in my life.”

“You voted them off the island without blinking an eye, Rico,” Shannen pointed out.

“Untrue!” protested Rico. “Maybe it looked that way because I hid my pain so well, but I’ve been torturing myself for getting involved in this unholy alliance with you guys. You made me turn against my friends!”

His face a portrait of agony, Rico stared soulfully into the camera that had been turned on him the moment he began to speak. He pouted when the camera abruptly shifted to Shannen, who was now baiting the hooks, frowning in concentration.

“Cut to the evil twin. Nice move, Ty,” junior cameraman Reggie Ellis whispered to Ty, who was filming Shannen. “Makes for good TV. She looks distinctly unmoved by Rico’s brooding torment. Like she’s remembering how Rico was the first to suggest that they ‘vote off those schemers Keri and Lucy because they’re allied against us.’ The viewers will remember, that’s for sure.”

“Rico wants to show the talent agents who’ll be watching that he has range,” Ty said dryly. “That he’s not just a song-and-dance man.”

“Yeah, he’s good at brooding and backstabbing,” Reggie observed. “The kid does have that slightly sleazy manner about him, too. A handy survival trait in showbiz.”

“I can see Rico winning an Oscar someday. Unless he decides to run for political office instead,” murmured Ty. “He’d do well in that arena, too.”

Having completed her task of baiting the hooks, Shannen looked up and saw Ty filming her. She shot him a withering glare before looking away.

“Looks like she’d enjoy baiting those hooks with pieces of you, Ty.” Reggie guffawed. “Y’know, for somebody who volunteered to be on this show, she sure hates having the camera on her. I think I’m starting to be able to tell which twin is which, just from that. Lauren doesn’t pay any attention to the camera, but Shannen looks as if she’d like to shove it down your throat.”

“You noticed that, too?” Ty was casual.

Reggie nodded. “We’re not the only ones to wonder. I logged onto the Internet last night, and there’s a debate going on as to why the twins auditioned to be on this show in the first place. Especially since Shannen looks eternally ticked off because she’s here.”

“Remember their interview tapes? Both twins said they did it as a lark,” said Ty.

He didn’t add that he wondered himself why the Cullen twins had auditioned for the show. The “for a lark” reason didn’t ring true to him. Nine years ago Shannen’s behavior had been quite purposeful. Filming her every day here on the island didn’t contradict his impression that she was a person who rarely made an unplanned move.

But there had been nothing calculated about that hot kiss they’d shared last night. It had been as impetuous as it was passionate. Ty tried to tamp down his nascent arousal.

“Maybe Lauren did it as a lark, but Shannen doesn’t strike me as the lark type.” Reggie chuckled. “If we’re talking birds, she’s more of a shrike. You know, the one that impales its prey on a stake. Oh, Ty, quick, pan over to Cortnee. She has her back to us and is touching her toes. Every red-blooded male in the audience is gonna love that. And she’s wearing that pink thong bikini that almost caused a meltdown on the Internet the first time she put it on.”

“You can have the pleasure of filming her, Reg. I know you’re one of Cortnee’s top fans. I’ll keep my camera on the twins and Konrad. Looks like they’re going fishing.”

Each carrying a primitive bamboo fishing pole, Shannen, Lauren and Konrad walked briskly into the ocean. Ty followed close behind, camera whirling.

“Do you think we should go out in the rowboat?” asked Lauren as the surf broke around their knees. “We might have better luck catching fish in deeper water.”

“Yeah, but then we’d have the fun of swimming with the sharks when that leaky old tub sinks,” growled Konrad. “Remember when those two idiots in the other tribe took the boat out and it went down like a stone with them in it? Had that big dramatic rescue ’cause they couldn’t swim. You know Slick Bobby and Clark Garrett woulda rather seen them drown. And now they claim the boat’s fixed, but I don’t buy it. They’re still hoping to get lucky with a fatal accident.”

“That’s entertainment for those two human piranhas,” Shannen pointed out.

“Never mind the boat, then, let’s try our luck right here,” suggested Lauren, casting her pole. “Oh, don’t look now, but we’re on camera again. I was sure the whole crew would stay on the beach filming Cortnee. Doesn’t she do her jumping jacks after touching her toes? None of the guys want to miss that.”

“Gets old when you see the same stuff day after day.” Konrad shrugged. “Me, I’d rather hang out with you two, even though I don’t know which the hell is which.”

“Konrad, how gallant!” Lauren smiled sweetly.

Shannen turned her head to see Ty standing less than a foot behind them. She swung her fishing line at him, clipping him with the clam bait.

“Oops.” She snickered. “So sorry.”

“You’re only sorry that your aim was off.” Ty turned off the camera. “You meant to smack me in the face with the clam guts. But you missed, Shannen,” he added, saying her name with alacrity.

“You’re sure I’m Shannen?” She looked ready to whip the pole at him again. “How do you know I’m not Lauren?”

“Could be, you know,” Lauren chimed in. “We’re dressed exactly alike. Denim cutoffs, red bandanna triangle tops. The only difference is that one of us has a braid and the other has a ponytail. Can you be sure who styled her hair which way?”

“You two play that twin stuff for all it’s worth,” said Konrad, with respect. “No wonder. Two people looking exactly the same…talk about messing with minds! If I had a twin in the lineup with me, nobody could ID me. Because it might be my twin, y’know? I could’ve beat the rap every time.”

“We’ll keep that in mind if we decide to go in for a life of crime, Konrad,” said Shannen.

“I don’t have a problem telling them apart.” Ty moved closer to Shannen. “This is Shannen. Unquestionably.”

When she took a step backward, he advanced, knowing she would force herself not to retreat again. She would view that as a tactical error.

He was right. She stayed put.

“Remember the rules? The crew isn’t supposed to interact with us in any way.” Shannen’s fingers clenched the pole tightly, and she stayed as still as she could, despite the unsteadying waves rising and breaking around her. “You’re supposed to be invisible. So shut up and film, Tynan.”

“Who’s to know I’m not? From on shore, it looks like I’m filming the three of you out here.”

“How do you know his name, Shan?” Lauren was puzzled. “We weren’t introduced to any of the crew. Clark and Bobby said to think of them as part of the camera equipment and forget they’re human.”

“Which isn’t hard to do, in his case,” Shannen sneered.

“You dodged the question, babe.” Konrad studied her curiously. “How come you know his name?”

“Maybe she made a good guess. Am I right, Shannen?” Ty’s bland tone contrasted sharply to his baiting smile.

“As a matter of fact, you are. I read a book about names, and Tynan means ‘condescending, self-righteous jerk,’ so I immediately guessed he must be a Tynan.” Shannen met and held his gaze. “An obvious fit.”

“If Cortnee was out here, she’d say, ‘What did the book say that Cortnee means?’” Konrad laughed.

It was a startling moment. Shannen recovered first.

“The first time Konrad laughs, and you aren’t filming, Tynan,” she scolded. “You’re not doing your job. I ought to tell Slick Bobby next time he oozes by so he can pass it on to Clark. Then you’ll get fired.”

“But you won’t tell, will you, Shannen?” Ty leaned down to wash off the bits of clam that clung to his bare shoulder. Like the other cameramen, he rarely wore a shirt during the long days of filming in the sun. He was bronzed and muscular.

Shannen quickly looked away from him, staring instead into the sparkling clear water.

“How do you know my sister won’t tell on you?” demanded Lauren, her eyes darting from Shannen to Ty and back again.

“Because I read the same name book that she did, and Shannen means ‘not a snitch,’” said Ty.

“A bitch but not a snitch,” amended Konrad.

Lauren stamped her foot. “My sister is not a bitch! You should apologize to Shannen right now, Konrad.”

“He doesn’t have to, I’ve been called worse names than that.” Shannen stole a glance at Ty. When she found him staring at her, she looked away again. “It doesn’t bother me.”

“I’m sure whoever called you…worse names, regrets doing so, Shannen,” Tynan said quietly.

“I’m sure I don’t care, Tynan,” she retorted. “Sticks and stones and all that.”

“Y’know, that’s just crap,” Konrad said vehemently. “Some of the names I got called as a kid made me a helluva lot madder than getting whacked with any stick. And in the joint, you better watch your mouth—you get what I’m saying? You diss somebody there and you’re dead meat. It’s worse than punching him out.”

“That’s an interesting point.” Ty raised his camera. “Would you say that again when I turn the camera back on?”

“Sure.” Konrad looked pleased. “Uh, should she say the bit about sticks and stones before I say it?”

“Yeah, that’s good.” Ty nodded. “Shannen?”

“I’m not saying anything,” Shannen said crossly. “You aren’t directing a movie, and we’re not supposed to rehearse our lines. Get out of here, Tynan. Go back and film Cortnee.”

“Hey, I made an interesting point,” argued Konrad. “It should be on TV.”

“I’ll give you a lead-in, Konrad,” Lauren volunteered. “Okay, Tynan, ‘Camera, action, take one,’ or however that drill goes.” She tilted her head, her expression suddenly wistful. “Shannen, remember how the kids at school used to call us freaky clones? And Gramma told us to say, ‘Sticks and stones may break our bones but names will never hurt us.’”

“Who called you freaky clones?” demanded Konrad. “Just tell me who and when I get back I’ll break every bone in their—”

“Nobody ever called us that.” Shannen heaved an exasperated sigh. “It was just Lauren’s cue for you to say your—oh, turn off that camera, Ty. This is ridiculous.”

Ty turned off the camera. “Makes you really respect directors, doesn’t it? Imagine doing take after take after take of the same botched scene.”

“Acting is harder than I thought,” admitted Konrad. “Care to try it over again?”

“No!” Tynan and the twins chorused.

The four of them looked at each other and laughed. They immediately lapsed into silence, nonplussed by the unexpected moment of camaraderie.

“I got a fish!” Lauren suddenly shrieked, hanging on to her bamboo pole, which was waving and twitching. “I bet it’s big, it’s really strong! Help!”

Tynan turned on his camera to film Lauren clutching her fishing pole as it swayed precariously, back and forth and around. Konrad reached over and took hold of the string, swinging it out of the water. The fish on the primitively fashioned hook went flying into the air.

“Get it! Get it!” cried Lauren.

Konrad did, catching the impressive-size fish with his bare hands.

“That was so quick!” marveled Shannen. “Like watching Gramma’s cat reach up and nab the bird who’d made the fatal mistake of flying onto the porch while he was napping there.”

“Except we can eat the fish,” said Lauren. “That bird incident—yuck, it was so gross!”

Ty’s lips quirked. He caught Shannen’s eye and found her looking at him. Both immediately turned their attention back to Konrad and the fish.

“I think I’ll turn off the camera until that fish is officially pronounced dead,” said Ty.

“Feeling queasy, Ty?” taunted Shannen. “You didn’t seem to have any qualms filming us drinking snake blood in that over-the-top victory contest a couple weeks ago.”

“The snake blood scene was sexy in a vampire-ish sort of way, to quote a TV critic,” said Ty. “But nobody is going to find strangling a fish sexy in any sort of way.”

“That’s disgusting!” scolded Shannen.

Ty wondered if she was referring to him, snake blood or fish strangulation.

“The fish is dead,” announced Konrad.

Ty resumed filming.

“This fish would make a decent-size meal for two people, maybe even three, but we’ll only have a few mouthfuls each if we split it six ways,” said Konrad. “So let’s not.”

“It’s only fair to share it with everybody,” insisted Lauren.

“We could outvote her.” Konrad turned to Shannen. “Two against one not to share.”

“My stomach wants to go along with you, but my better instincts tell me that Lauren is right.” Shannen sighed.

“Better instincts? More like idiotic instincts,” Konrad muttered, then added a few unintelligible growls as they trooped back to shore.

Cortnee was so delighted to see the fish, she squealed with joy and hugged Konrad and the twins in turn.

Rico and Jed tried to look happy but weren’t altogether convincing.

“Their smiles are so fake, I’m surprised their faces haven’t cracked,” observed Shannen to no one in particular. “They want to be the heroes, but you can’t catch anything, lounging around on the beach all day.”

“Told you it was stupid to share,” Konrad needled her.

Ty noticed that Reggie had moved closer to film the group, and he turned off his own camera. “Shannen.” His voice was lower than a whisper, but Shannen heard.

“Don’t talk to me,” she warned, her voice even quieter than his.

It was a warning Ty didn’t heed. “Meet me tonight. Same time and place as last night.”

“No!” She looked alarmed. “I can’t! I…I—” She was truly rattled.

“Be there,” said Ty, and moved away from her.

“Shannen, what’s wrong?” Lauren called out to her.

Shannen looked up to see Reggie, a few feet away, filming her.

Lauren was staring at her, confused. “You look—you don’t look happy, Shan.”

“Maybe she’s jealous because she wasn’t the one to catch the fish,” mocked Jed.

“Maybe I’m not happy because I expect you’ll try to grab yourself some glory and insist on cooking the fish yourself,” Shannen countered. “Thereby rendering it inedible.”

Jed took instant umbrage. “I’m a damn good cook. I even contributed a recipe that I invented myself to the Living off the Land cookbook.”

“What was it, how to barbecue roadkill?” Konrad snickered. “Step one, you pick it off the side of the road. Step two—”

“It was how to make elk stew,” Jed inserted disdainfully. “And—”

“Whatever,” snapped Cortnee. “Just don’t get anywhere near this fish!”

“He’s only had a few cooking…mishaps here on the island.” Lauren tried to make peace.

“You mean disasters, not mishaps,” corrected Rico.

“I’ve never cooked a bad meal,” Jed said huffily. “You’re all just a bunch of picky eaters.”

“Jed’s already proved that he doesn’t know the difference between cooking something or cremating it,” Shannen said flatly. “I vote that he not cook the fish.”

“I’m with you, twin,” said Rico.

“Me, too,” said Konrad.

“You’ve got my vote,” said Cortnee.

“Are we seeing cracks in what has previously been a staunch and solid alliance?” Bobby Dixon asked in his smiling, smooth soliloquy, filmed a mile down the beach.

A light breeze ruffled his thick hair and he smoothed it down with his hand, dimpling deeply.

“Tonight, after the victory contest, these six survivors, who have stuck together from the very beginning, will have to vote out one of their own.” His voice took on a note of urgency and suspense. “What shifts of allegiance will occur to form new alliances as we count down to five and then to the Final Four? Who has what it takes to be Victorious?”

Later the six contestants gathered around the fire, eating the fish cooked by the twins.

“That was great,” Rico said expansively, patting his washboard stomach. “If the food is as good at that diner your family owns, I’m heading there as soon as we’re off this island.”

“Shannen and I have been short-order cooks since we were in junior high,” said Lauren. “Of course, it’s much easier at home, because we don’t have to catch the food ourselves.”

“Well, no matter what you hear, the food in prison isn’t bad,” Konrad interjected. “And you get more of it than one lousy fish split six ways.”

“I’m still hungry,” wailed Cortnee. “Having only a couple bites of fish and a blob of wretched rice is like being on a starvation diet.”

“I cooked the rice and it wasn’t wretched, it was fine,” snarled Jed.

“It really wasn’t wretched at all,” Lauren hastily agreed.

“Uh-oh, look what’s headed our way.” Shannen was the first to spy Bobby Dixon strolling down the beach toward them, wearing his immaculately pressed khaki slacks and matching safari shirt.

“He looks so neat and clean all the time, I can’t stand it.” Cortnee groaned. “It’s been how long since we had a hot shower? And washing your hair in the ocean is really bad. There’s a reason why saltwater shampoo was never invented.”

“Wouldn’t it be thrilling to see Slick Bobby look less…dapper?” Shannen flashed a naughty smile. “It might even take my mind off being hungry out here all the time.”

“Yeah, but it’ll never happen.” Rico heaved a disgruntled sigh. “We’ll stay hungry as long as we’re on the island, and Bobby will stay clean. You just know he has his clothes cleaned and pressed every day over in the crew’s camp. And somehow he never sweats, no matter how hot it is.”

“Makes you wonder if the guy’s human,” murmured Shannen. “I’ve had my doubts. Those dimples of his look like computer animation.”

“I bet Slick B would sweat if we poured fish guts over him,” said Konrad, staring moodily into the bean can holding the fish remains. They’d saved the can from their first days on the island, to use as a container.

“Anybody want to try it and see?” Rico asked eagerly. “Cortnee? Twins?”

Shannen laughed. “You’re evil, Rico.”

“Hello, all.” Bobby joined them, dimpling at the camera. “No mail-in-the-tree today. I brought the contest requirements to you in person.”

“Watch out, Bobby. They’ve hatched this juvenile plan to drench you in fish guts,” Jed called out.

Konrad scowled. “Anybody know what that stoolie is talking about?”

The others shrugged and shook their heads.

“I do know that Jed is a rat.” Cortnee sniffed. “And if he didn’t win every contest and get himself immunity, I’d gladly vote him off.”

“You can dream, but it’s never going to happen, baby-cakes.” Jed positioned himself so his sculpted body had full camera advantage. “And keep in mind that we’re no longer a team anymore. Now it’s everyone for himself—or herself, as the case may be.”

“Jed is right,” agreed Bobby. “It’s everyone for him-or herself, and the contest today is a rowboat race. All six of you will take turns rowing out to the crew’s boat and back.”

He pointed to the large boat anchored about a hundred yards out in the sea. “The one with the fastest time, of course, wins immunity in the council vote tonight.”

“Have I ever mentioned that I crewed in college?” Jed began his warmup exercises. “And kayaked down the Colorado River when the white water was at its highest and fastest?”

“Kayaks are for sissies,” scoffed Shannen. “Lauren and I rode the white water at its highest and fastest using rubber duck floatees.”

Shannen glanced up to see Tynan and Reggie chuckling behind their cameras. She pretended not to notice them, turning her attention to Rico and Cortnee, who were also laughing at her joke. But when she looked over at her sister, Lauren wasn’t even smiling.

“Are you okay, Lauren?” asked Shannen, concerned. Lauren looked so…cross? Shannen almost did a double take. Was Lauren angry about something? But what?

“Sure.” Lauren smiled slightly, shrugging. “I’m fine, Shannen.”

“Hey, Jed, my man, since you’re so sure you’re going to win, would you mind letting us five losers go before you?” Konrad asked with unusual servility. “You know, to build up the suspense and all?”

“I don’t mind going last,” said Jed. “Although I can’t guarantee suspense, because the outcome will never be in doubt. I’m going to win.”

“Yeah?” With mercurial speed, Konrad’s expression turned to disgust, and he suddenly picked up the can of fish guts and tossed it at Bobby.

But Bobby was on the alert, thanks to Jed, and deftly jumped aside. “That was uncalled for, Konrad!” Bobby was peeved. His clothes, however, remained pristine, as if he’d just picked them up from the dry cleaner’s. “You could be disciplined for—”

“Disciplined for a little food-fight fun?” Shannen cut in. “Where’s your sense of humor, Slick B? Anyway, this isn’t high school, and you can’t ‘discipline’ anybody.”

The crew snickered. Bobby Dixon’s off-camera behavior as a prima donna had earned him no friends among them.

“That chick has a righteous attitude,” said Heidi. “She doesn’t put up with anything from anybody.”

“She never has,” murmured Ty wryly. “Since she arrived on the island,” he was quick to add.

Ty and two others remained on the beach filming, while cameramen Reggie and Paul were stationed on the crew boat, to film the contestants racing to it. Bobby Dixon was also on the boat with a large stopwatch to record the times. The production assistants were scattered in both locations.

Cortnee went first and threw herself down on the sand on her return. “I’m so tired I could faint. That awful rowing took more energy than playing the lead in my senior-class musical.” She wiped away tears with the back of her hand.

Rico went next, then Lauren and then Shannen.

“Well, that was hellacious,” Shannen groaned, sitting down between Lauren and Rico after her own long row. “My arms feel like they’re going to fall off, my hands are getting blistered and I’m exhausted. Not to mention hungrier than ever.”

She looked into the camera and met Tynan’s eyes. “I’m going to bed right after the council meeting, no matter what.”

Slowly Ty turned his head from one side to the other. He mouthed the word “tonight” and watched her jaw drop. Clearly, she was not expecting such obvious interaction with him.

But nobody noticed except her. The others were ignoring the camera and cameraman to watch Konrad push the rowboat into the water.

“I said I’m going straight to bed tonight,” Shannen repeated, giving Ty her most forbidding grimace. “Nowhere but my own bed.”

“You girls should’ve done what Konrad is doing,” said Jed, who was standing nearby, watching Konrad in the rowboat heading out to sea. “You should’ve saved your strength and taken your own sweet time, like him. He knows I’m going to win, and since every other score is irrelevant, why wear yourself out?”

He swaggered off toward the water to wait for Konrad to return with the rowboat.

“I hate Jed,” Cortnee said fiercely, watching him walk off. “He thinks he’s so hot. Did you know he slept with both Keri and Lucy? They each tried to get him to switch his alliance from us to them, and he let them think he would. I wanted to tell you all, but I didn’t think the time was right. Till now.”

“He slept with both of them?” Lauren gasped. “Cortnee, are you sure?”

“I heard them, I heard everything.” Cortnee shuddered. “They were right outside the tent on my side and I’m a light sleeper. I wake up at the slightest noise.”

“Do you hear people get up during the night to, um, well—you know?” Shannen was not her usual frank self.

“Uh-huh. I heard you or your sister get up last night to—” Cortnee laughed. “No need to be shy, we’re among friends—to use the facilities.”

“I can’t believe Jed would use Keri and Lucy for sex,” said Lauren. “If he did, he would’ve switched his allegiance from us to them, and he didn’t. He was loyal and he stuck with us all this time. You…you must’ve misinterpreted what you were hearing, Cortnee.”

“I know exactly what I heard,” insisted Cortnee. “Believe me, I didn’t misinterpret a thing.”

“The man is slime.” Shannen scowled.

“And the reason why Jed didn’t switch from us to them is because we five were the stronger choice,” Rico pointed out. “Loyalty had nothing to do with it. Too bad we’re stuck with him now. He’ll keep winning every contest for immunity, and we’ll get kicked off, one by one.”

“We made our version of a deal with the devil. Now it’s time to pay.” Shannen looked over at Ty. “Gramma always says, ‘If you let the devil into the cart, you’ll have to drive him home.’ And she wasn’t talking about hitchhiking in biblical times.”

Ty grinned broadly. Shannen lifted her chin and turned away.

Konrad joined the group after his long, slow turn in the boat race. He looked downright cheerful. “So, tonight we vote out Jed. Everybody cool with that?”

“If only!” Shannen gingerly moved her aching arms and flexed her fingers again. “But Jed’ll have the fastest time and win immunity so we can’t vote against him. We five will have to vote out one of us. Jed is going to be the winner in this game, I think that’s screamingly obvious.”

“Speaking of screaming.” Konrad cocked his head. “Do I hear some?”

“I don’t hear anything.” Lauren looked around. “Even those screeching monkeys are quiet for a change.”

Seconds after she’d uttered that declaration, a scream pierced the tranquil air. All heads turned in the direction of the ocean.

Jed was standing in the boat, yelling at the top of his lungs.

“That was definitely a scream,” Shannen said dryly, turning toward Konrad. “A primal one. Is there a scorpion in the boat with Jed or something?”

“It looks like Jed is trying to throw handfuls of water out of the boat.” Cortnee looked confused. “Why isn’t he rowing?”

“Too bad he doesn’t have a bucket,” said Konrad. “Lots easier to bail with a bucket than with your hands.” He surprised everybody by roaring with laughter.

“The boat’s sinking!” exclaimed Rico. “Look, it really is! In another couple minutes, Jed is going to be in the ocean.”

“Oh, poor Jed!” cried Lauren.

“Yeah, poor poor Jed.” Konrad laughed harder. “Good thing Mister Wilderness Guide is such a strong swimmer, huh?”

“Good thing,” agreed Shannen. “Because the rowboat is history. All that’s left is an oar. Well, Konrad did say it was a leaky old tub.” She shot a quizzical glance at him.

They all stared out at the lone floating oar and at Jed, two far-off blurs in the sea.

“Everybody!” Cortnee cried. “I just thought of something. Since the rowboat sank, Jed won’t be able to complete the contest. He won’t get immunity. One of us will have the fastest time and one of us will win immunity!”

“It won’t be me,” predicted Konrad. “I was really slow out there.”

“We noticed.” Shannen said dryly. “There were times when we couldn’t see you at all, you were slouched down so far in the boat. You have an interesting way of rowing, Konrad. And you’re good at predictions, too, it seems,” she added, raising an eyebrow in his direction.

“Thank you, ma’am.” Konrad bowed from the waist.

For a few more minutes they all watched Jed swimming toward the crew’s boat as the waves broke over him. There wasn’t a trace of the sunken rowboat.

Later, a soaking-wet Jed was returned to shore in the dinghy from the crew boat. He stomped into camp with accusations of sabotage and demanded another chance in another rowboat.

As the cameras continued to roll, he threatened to sue the show and the network and everybody on the island, especially Konrad, if he ultimately won the game.

Bobby Dixon was unmoved. “Sorry, Jed. The rules of the game plainly state that do-overs are never allowed. There’s no proof of any wrongdoing, and the cameras were on the rowboat at all times.”

“On the rowboat, but not on Konrad!” argued Jed. “He got himself out of sight and did something to make it sink, I know he did. He cheated!”

“Not winning is obviously difficult for you, Jed, but you must accept it and move on like everybody else,” Bobby said unctuously. “In today’s contest, the fastest time was Rico’s, and he wins the immunity statue.”

Bobby handed Rico the foot-high painted wooden totem pole that looked as if it had been purchased at a roadside souvenir shop.

“This is the first time in the game that anybody but Jed has won that thing,” said Shannen. “No one can vote against Rico tonight. Gee, I wonder who everybody will vote off the island?”