Page 19 of The Most Dangerous Games

“Whatever it takes.” Ant’s smile holds.

The man studies him. “And if what we put in front of you is fear?”

Ant leans back. “Fear’s just a tool.”

“Are you willing to put your life on the line?” the man asks.

Ant doesn’t answer right away. He lets the silence do the work. “I’ve done it before.”

Silence.

“I’m willing to kill for a billion dollars if I have to.”

The man nods his head slowly.

“I’m getting the sense that you don’t suffer fools gladly, Mr. Tipton,” he says.

“So get to the point, then,” Ant says.

“Do you consider yourself a hard man, Mr. Tipton?”

Ant’s smile widens. “I consider myself effective.”

“Think of the other contestants as fellow soldiers,” the man says. “Would you be willing to betray one of them?”

“Betray a mate? Never.”

Lie.

And somewhere in the tent, something gives a soft, almost cheerful beep.

“Have you ever been convicted of a crime of which we are unaware?”

“Never.”

Lie.

“One last question,” the man says. “Do you consider yourself honorable?”

“Without question,” he says.

The biggest lie of all.

15.

Tent 37

Alek Andrich hates any small room.

She was never claustrophobic before the war, before air-raid sirens became a part of her daily routine. A routine of running and locking a door behind you and listening for the moment the world breaks. A routine that chased her and her family to all the places they’d called home with a bomb shelter in the basement. There was always a bomb shelter.

“Before we begin,” the man on the other side of the desk says, “is there anything you’d like to ask me?” His tone is professional. Calm as someone used to being obeyed.

“I’m fine,” Alek says.

“You’re sure?”

“I thought you were here to interview me,” Alek says.