Contest

'Adaptive intelligence?'

'Yes. The ability to evaluate a scenario in an instant, take in all the immediately available solutions, and then act. We often call this reactive thinking -- the ability to think clearly under pressure and use any available means to solve one's problem. Based on our prior experience with humans, it was anticipated that the human contestant would probably not be an offensive, proactive contestant. Rather, he or she would be more defensive, reactive to a situation of someone else's making. So a quick-thinking, adaptive personality was required. You.'

Swain shook his head. He hardly thought of himself as a quick-thinking, adaptive personality. He saw himself as a good doctor, but not brilliant. He knew of countless other surgeons and physicians who were miles ahead of him in both knowledge and ability. He was just good at what he did, but quick-thinking or adaptive?

'Make no mistake, Contestant, your skills as a physician have been under scrutiny for some time now. Clear, reactive thought, under intense pressure -- have you ever experienced that before?'

'Well, yes, lots of times, but still... I mean, God, I've never been in combat--'

'Oh, but you have,' Selexin said. 'Your selection was based on your response to a life-threatening combat situation not so long ago, a situation that involved multiple enemies.'

Swain thought about it. A life-threatening combat situation involving multiple enemies. He wondered if college football counted as life-threatening. Christ, it sounded like something that would be better suited to somebody in the army or the police force.

The police force...

That night...

Swain thought about that night one month ago in October, when the five heavily-armed gang members had stormed the ER at St Luke's. He remembered his fight with the two pistol-toting youths -- remembered tackling the first one, then punching the second one in his wrist, dislodging his gun -- and then struggling with the first one again -- and falling to the floor in a heap -- and then hearing the gun discharge that final fatal shot.

Life-threatening? Definitely.

Swain suddenly realised that he was rubbing the cut on his lower lip.

'There is another thing,' Selexin said, interrupting his thoughts. The little man lifted his small white hand, offering the grey wristband to Swain.

'Take it, put it on. You will need it. Especially if we are separated.'

Swain took the wristband but did not put it on. 'Now, wait just a minute. I haven't agreed to be a part of this little show of yours yet--'

Selexin shook his head. 'You have not understood what I have been telling you. Your selection for the Presidian has been finalised. You no longer have any choice in the matter.'

'It doesn't seem like I ever did.'

'Please, just look at your wristband.'

Swain looked at the watch, at the display beneath the glowing green light. It read:

INCOMPLETE--3

Selexin said, 'See that number -- three. Soon that number will reach seven. When it does, we will know that all seven contestants have been teleported into the labyrinth. Then the Presidian will begin.' He looked seriously at Swain. 'You are here now, and whether you like it or not, you have become an integral part of this contest.'

Selexin pointed at the wristband. 'And when that number hits '7' you will become fair game for six other contestants who all have the same goal that you have. To get out.'

'What's that supposed to mean?'

'Remember what I told you,' Selexin said. 'Seven enter, but only one leaves. The labyrinth is completely electrified. There is absolutely no way out. Except by teleport. And that is initialised only when one contestant remains in the labyrinth. That is the exit from the labyrinth -- and only the winner leaves. If, of course, there is a winner.'

Selexin slowed down. 'Mr Swain, the other contestants, they don't care whether or not you decide to accept your status as a contestant. They will kill you anyway. Because they are all well aware that unless every contestant bar one is dead, no-one leaves the labyrinth. The ultimate contest, Mr Swain.'

Swain looked at the little man in disbelief. He let out a slow breath through his nose. 'So you're telling me that not only are we stuck in here, but that soon there will be six other guys in here too, whose only way out is to make sure that I'm dead.'

'Yes. That is right.'

'Holy shit.'

----ooo0ooo------

Swain stood in the stairwell, by the fire door leading to the study hall. Holly stood behind him, holding onto his shirt tail.

He looked at the thick grey wristband now clasped firmly around his left wrist. It looked like a manacle from the arm of an electric chair -- thick and solid, and heavy too. The little green light glowed while the display still read:

INCOMPLETE--3

Swain turned to Selexin, 'So there are only three of us in here now. Is that right?'

'Yes. That is right.'

'Does that mean that we can walk around safely now?'

'I do not understand.'

'Well, not everyone is in the labyrinth yet,' Swain said. 'So say I want to wander around and have a look at this place -- what happens if I bump into another contestant? He can't kill me, can he? Not yet.'

Selexin said, 'No, he cannot. Combat of any kind between contestants is strictly prohibited until all seven have entered the labyrinth. In any case, I would advise you against 'wandering about'.'

'Why not, if they can't hurt us, we can safely have a look around the library.'

'That is true, but if you decide to wander, you do hazard the risk of being sequenced.'

'Sequenced?'

'Yes. If you do happen to meet another contestant before all seven have been teleported into the labyrinth, you can be assured that he -- or she -- cannot hurt you in any way. You may converse with other contestants if you want to, or you may ignore them completely.' Selexin spread his palms. 'Very simple.'

Then he held up a finger.

'However. If you do meet another contestant, there is nothing to stop that contestant following you until the remaining contestants have been teleported into the labyrinth, and the Presidian has commenced. That is sequencing, and it has proved to be a common tactic in previous Presidia.

'Another contestant can quite rightfully walk two feet behind you for the whole time until the Presidian commences and you cannot touch him -- for just as he cannot hurt you, you cannot hurt him either. And once the last contestant has been teleported into the labyrinth and your wristband reads '7', well...' Selexin shrugged. 'You had better be ready to fight.'

'Great,' Swain said, frowning at the thick grey wristband clamped to his wrist.

At that moment, the display flickered.

Swain was momentarily startled. 'What's this?'

Selexin looked at the wristband. The display read:

INCOMPLETE--3

Then it vanished and the screen came up again, reading:

INCOMPLETE--4