Page 50 of The Most Dangerous Games

“Good punch, kid,” Tipton says.

35.

When they’ve moved on to dessert and coffee, they hear The Host for the first time this evening, his voice seemingly coming at them from all corners of the room, surround sound.

“I hope everybody, including Mr. Tipton, is enjoying their evening,” The Host says, “and this welcome chance to become more fully acquainted.” They can clearly hear him chuckling. “Just out of curiosity, Mr. Tipton, what hurts more, your nose or your pride?”

“Get stuffed,” they hear Tipton say.

Jack spots Tipton sitting next to Yolanda Green, player #53, a former WNBA player, and directly across from twin brothers from China whom Jack had met in Chile: Lin Zhi, a gymnast, and Lin Jian, a platform diver. Tipton still has a napkin pressed to his nose. Jack can see the blood soaking through it.

“Please watch your language, Mr. Tipton,” The Host says. “There are women and children present, even if one of the children just nearly punched your lights out.”

“You’re one to talk about protecting women . . .” Tipton says under his breath.

One of the waiters trades him an icepack for the bloody napkin.

“How about you spare me the grief then?” Tipton says.

“As you wish,” The Host continues. “Despite the jet lag I’m sure you all must be dealing with, please do your best to get a good night’s sleep, as the games will resume tomorrow.”

“What games?” Yolanda Green calls out from her seat.

“Board games,” The Host says.

A ripple of laughter, nervous and confused.

“Are you being serious here?” Yolanda says.

“All will be explained in the morning,” The Host says. “For now, I think we should all call it a night.”

But they hear another voice coming from the middle of the ballroom, not from speakers.

“Not quite yet,” Jimmy Donaldson says.

36.

Jimmy strides quickly and confidently to the middle of the room. He doesn’t ask for it. He takes it.

“Okay,” Jimmy says, hands up, palms out. “Before everybody goes to bed and pretends tonight didn’t happen . . .”

A few nervous laughs.

“I’m in the same leaky boat as the rest of you.” He adds, “Though I’m aware we’ve all had enough of boats for one lifetime.”

That gets a real laugh, a little release.

Then he lets the smile fade.

“We lost Luca.”

The room stills.

“He shouldn’t have died,” Jimmy says. “That’s not me talking as a contestant. That’s me talking as the guy who was asked to help shape this.”

Reg Drummond shifts in his chair. Jack watches Jimmy closely. So does everyone else.

“When I was approached back home in North Carolina to sketch out a framework for these games, I wanted them to be hard, but I wanted them to be fair,” Jimmy continues. “Not lethal. You’ve got red buttons for a reason. That’s the whole point—danger, sure, but with a line you don’t cross.”