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Book: Darwin's Quest: The Search for the Ultimate Survivor by Jonathan P. Brazee
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Authors: Jonathan P. Brazee
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was in Hamlin’s camp while Alfhid was in Josh’s. Did they have something else going on between them? Secret alliances were a staple of the game. But they were pretty open about their friendship, not hiding it, and secret alliances were the ones which were supposed to surprise you. Then again, by throwing us off by being open in their friendship, maybe that was their plan. Making it too obvious to be taken seriously. You could what-if this to death and only get a headache out of all the possibilities.
And if Josh didn’t come back, what would that do to his group? I hadn’t really aligned myself yet, and that could be real smart or real dumb. Today, it really didn’t matter much except that I’d been a dolphin rather than a fisherman, and therefore less likely to be able to shine for the viewers. But other challenges were coming where the actions of others could determine if you lived or died. And that was where alliances came in.
Right now, Hamlin and I seemed to get along, and it might make sense to align with his group, especially if Josh didn’t come back. But I looked over at Lindadawn. Something told me that she might be a key player to have on my side. Maybe I would wait another day or so to see which way she jumped. I studied her face in profile as she watched the trout. I wondered what was going on in that guarded mind.
Laughter rose up from Hamlin’s group. Yash was standing and acting out what had to be our fishing adventure, and the others were watching and laughing. Even Josh’s group had joined the fun and laughed as Yash pranced about and gestured. We may have been two separate groups, but in the larger picture, we were one. We were the cast of Darwin’s Quest , Season 32!
The laughter suddenly died as the hidden light beamed out of the rock and a single chime sounded. We looked expectantly at the path that came from the bridge, anxious to see who would come back. I knew the holos would be focused on our faces, so I tried to look calm and collected. Finally, Josh came into view, a broad smile on his face.
“Well, I guess my head was too damn hard for a little fall like that, so they sent me back to see if I could smack it again!”
We all rushed forward to congratulate him. I thought I could see a faint flash of disappointment on Hamlin’s face as he came forward with us, but that quickly was replaced by a big smile, and he pounded Josh’s shoulders with all the outward enthusiasm of the rest of us.
I felt a little of the same, truth-be-told. Josh was a threat, and by being voted back, we knew he already had somewhat of a following. And with him back, my own decision on which alliance to join was back to square one.
Chapter 6
“Revelations!” we shouted, a little better in unison that we had the first time.
It had been a comfortable, companionable night. With food in our bellies, we sat and talked. Josh and I were able to compare notes about Production Village and Baako Silver. But mostly we spoke of our homes, our backgrounds, and what we would do with the money if we won. But even then, we were playing the game. What we would do with the money was a loaded question. And except for the Final Two, the viewers would control our fate as far as coming back into the game. If they didn’t approve of what we would do with the money, well, it would be sayonara-time next time we got killed.
We had drifted off to sleep one-by-one, then just as haphazardly, woke up and started moving around. A few were still lined up to use the toilet when the lights flashed and the wall compartment came out.
Yash seemed to have appointed himself the duty reader. He rushed over to retrieve the paper, then brought back to the firepit where most of us were gathered. Joda was still in the toilet, but so be it.
“Survival means not only finding food, but being able to weather the weather. Cross the bridge and sit down on your designated spot. Endure.”
“Shit,” said Paul quietly, something I think
And if Josh didn’t come back, what would that do to his group? I hadn’t really aligned myself yet, and that could be real smart or real dumb. Today, it really didn’t matter much except that I’d been a dolphin rather than a fisherman, and therefore less likely to be able to shine for the viewers. But other challenges were coming where the actions of others could determine if you lived or died. And that was where alliances came in.
Right now, Hamlin and I seemed to get along, and it might make sense to align with his group, especially if Josh didn’t come back. But I looked over at Lindadawn. Something told me that she might be a key player to have on my side. Maybe I would wait another day or so to see which way she jumped. I studied her face in profile as she watched the trout. I wondered what was going on in that guarded mind.
Laughter rose up from Hamlin’s group. Yash was standing and acting out what had to be our fishing adventure, and the others were watching and laughing. Even Josh’s group had joined the fun and laughed as Yash pranced about and gestured. We may have been two separate groups, but in the larger picture, we were one. We were the cast of Darwin’s Quest , Season 32!
The laughter suddenly died as the hidden light beamed out of the rock and a single chime sounded. We looked expectantly at the path that came from the bridge, anxious to see who would come back. I knew the holos would be focused on our faces, so I tried to look calm and collected. Finally, Josh came into view, a broad smile on his face.
“Well, I guess my head was too damn hard for a little fall like that, so they sent me back to see if I could smack it again!”
We all rushed forward to congratulate him. I thought I could see a faint flash of disappointment on Hamlin’s face as he came forward with us, but that quickly was replaced by a big smile, and he pounded Josh’s shoulders with all the outward enthusiasm of the rest of us.
I felt a little of the same, truth-be-told. Josh was a threat, and by being voted back, we knew he already had somewhat of a following. And with him back, my own decision on which alliance to join was back to square one.
Chapter 6
“Revelations!” we shouted, a little better in unison that we had the first time.
It had been a comfortable, companionable night. With food in our bellies, we sat and talked. Josh and I were able to compare notes about Production Village and Baako Silver. But mostly we spoke of our homes, our backgrounds, and what we would do with the money if we won. But even then, we were playing the game. What we would do with the money was a loaded question. And except for the Final Two, the viewers would control our fate as far as coming back into the game. If they didn’t approve of what we would do with the money, well, it would be sayonara-time next time we got killed.
We had drifted off to sleep one-by-one, then just as haphazardly, woke up and started moving around. A few were still lined up to use the toilet when the lights flashed and the wall compartment came out.
Yash seemed to have appointed himself the duty reader. He rushed over to retrieve the paper, then brought back to the firepit where most of us were gathered. Joda was still in the toilet, but so be it.
“Survival means not only finding food, but being able to weather the weather. Cross the bridge and sit down on your designated spot. Endure.”
“Shit,” said Paul quietly, something I think
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