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out of one of the trunks.
    “That’s mine,” Maria, the nurse, says. She takes it and moves away to open it.
    “Wait up,” Mark says. “We want to get film of you each opening your bags. Do you think you can wait until everyone has theirs and then we can do an intro on camera, one at a time? It’ll give Lexie time to set up her equipment too. My battery is almost dead, and I didn’t think I would be the one having to do this, but what the heck. Welcome to ‘Endure and Win.’ I’m Mark and that’s Lexie”—he points—“and we don’t know any more than you guys about how this competition’s gonna work. We just operate the cameras. I’m glad you all survived the first test—jumping out of the aircraft. I can’t believe some of you jumped without shoes on, but you made it. And it has to be Murphy’s Law that the only person who got injured was the one wearing strong work boots and solid clothing.” Everyone glances at the Mexican then Mark continues. “Allen Dockery said he’d be back in three days, but anything could happen between now and then. Lexie thinks the Assistant Producer’ll show up before that, with some of the crew, and maybe even the host.”
    “Who is the host?” Jared asks.
    Mark shakes his head. “Like I just said, I don’t know anything about the game. Sorry. However, did anyone get any sort of info? Any special hint or anything? Maybe one of you guys has something that’ll help get the game going, and even clear up some of the mystery.”
    Nobody says anything, and Mark continues, “If it’s something you can’t disclose to the others, I need you to tell either me or Lexie in private so we can be sure to film you following up or acting on it. We won’t tell anyone else. We had to sign something to say we’ll keep our mouths shut. Does anyone have any questions?”
    “How do we know if we’re supposed to be working in teams or as individuals?” Lela asks.
    Mark shakes his head. “Like I said, Old Man Dockery kept most of that kind of info to himself. He most likely told the administrative staff, but not us. Any more questions?”
    Mark waits a few seconds. “I guess we just all work together until we know different, then. Lex and I will help around the camp as much as we can until we get our own space when the others arrive.”
    Everyone starts talking at once.
    “Hey, y’all,” Billy says, “The other trunk has the same combination as the first.”
    I hear a lot of people exhaling when the second lock springs open.
    Trip starts passing the rucksacks out to whomever claims them. “Whose is this?” he says.
    I’m busy assembling my camera, but I glance up. “That’s mine,” I say and set the camera down and snatch my rucksack away from him. Once my camera’s working, I take over from Mark. I figure he’s gone to plug into the solar battery charger and is putting the spare battery in his camera, but I can’t look back to watch him.
    Once everyone has their rucksacks, they form a circle. The other stuff that was in the bags has been placed in a pile in the center. Someone has dragged a couple of big logs across, and people are sitting on them.
    “Listen up,” the lawyer, Andy, says. “We’re gonna introduce ourselves and open our bags one at a time. I’ll start.”
    I catch a strange expression on Trip’s face—like a school kid who’s been smoking cigarettes. Is there something in his bag he doesn’t want us to see?

Chapter 6
    “I’m Andy Riggs. I’m an attorney, twenty-eight years young and single.” Did he just throw a pointed look at the redhead? He drags his fingers through his curly blonde hair. Isn’t that a wedding ring? I make sure I get a close up of his dark blue eyes and ruggedly handsome face before focusing on his bag. “We all know each of us was allowed to bring one survival item. Mine is this”—he holds up a small box, and I narrow my eyes. “It’s flint. I wasn’t sure if Dockery would let me bring it, but he said it was