"What if—and I'm just saying what if—they don't plan on coming back?"
"Impossible!"
Robert waved his hand confidently. "While the points don't directly affect the outcome of the competition, the contestants we've invited this time are all quite skilled. At least half of them should be able to survive for more than thirty days."
"After sixty days, it'll be a test of endurance and willpower, but it can't go on forever. We'll announce the hidden rules during the next supply drop."
"The limit is one hundred days. If more than one contestant makes it to the end, we'll convert the total amount of food they've gathered into points. The one with more points wins. That's perfectly reasonable, right?"
"As long as we set high point values for the game we drop, it's sure to lure them back."
"Let's hope so."
...
A bright moon hung high in the night sky.
