The Test(16)

—N-no! You kill me and they live! That’s the deal. You let both of them live.

—What? Why would I do that?

—You said one person has to die. That person is me. I die. Me. There’s no reason to kill anyone else.

—There isn’t now! But what do I do fifteen minutes from now? You want me to pick two different people altogether?

—I— Yes. My wife and son live. You let them go.

—I see. That doesn’t seem really fair to all the other people, now does it? You’re saying that I can kill anyone, except your wife and kid, and for what reason again? Because these two . . . what? Because they know someone? Well, knew someone, you’d be dead. But still. You get the point. It doesn’t sound fair at all! I think it stinks of—what’s the word I’m looking for?—nepotism! That’s the word. Nepotism. You see, besides the money and all the things I asked for, we’re here for a reason. There is a purpose to all this. And that is to send a message, a message to the powers that be that we won’t stand for things like greed, corruption—we don’t like that one at all—and nepotism. Nepotism is in there. So if I let that happen in here, it would kinda ruin the message.

—It’s n—

—Stop! Stop! But I understand where you’re coming from, Samaritan. I do. I sympathize. I’m not . . . insensitive to your pain. If it were me . . . Yeah, if it were me, I’d try to get myself a bit of nepotism, too. It’s a natural response. Don’t worry about it. I’m not blaming you one bit. In fact, I’m going to do you another favour. That’s right. I’m going to start counting right now.

—No!

—Look! I know you’re hurting! And the longer this goes on, the more it’s going to hurt. I say let’s get through this as fast as we can, you and I. We’ll do it real quick, like ripping off a plaster—and then we can start the healing process. Here we go. One . . .

I can’t fight for them anymore. I don’t have the strength. I . . . I can hear what he’s saying, I can make out the words, but the meaning is gone. It’s just empty sound. Nothing makes sense. Nothing but one, two, and three. I know the world ends on three. I wish there were more to me than this, but there isn’t. I have expended it all. It feels like I’m abandoning my family, but I have nothing else to give. This is my legacy. Fifteen minutes. A chance.

—OK. I’ll do it.

—You’ll do what?

—Kill me now. You kill me and let them live for another fifteen minutes.

—You sure? You said yes before, but then you changed your mind. That’s not cool. People get false hopes, it’s—

—Yes! I’m sure! You kill me. Then someone else decides.

—You’re absolutely sure?

—Yes.

I am.

—Hmmmm . . . no.

—I’m sure!

—Yeah, but no.

—Why? You said yes before. I’ll do it. I want to do it.

—I know what I said, but I’ve changed my mind. I can’t kill you, Samaritan! You have a job to do! I think you can be great at it with a little more practice. Do you have employees? Yes? No? Well, if you do, you’ll understand. If you find someone good at their job, you don’t let that person go. You do everything in your power to keep that person because good employees are hard to come by. That’s kinda what you are, my employee. You’re like . . . my assistant! Is that good, assistant? Anyway, shut the fuck up and do your job.

This won’t end. It’ll never end. He’ll keep going and going until everyone’s dead. He won’t let me die.

—I . . . I’m begging you, don’t do this. PLEASE!

—You’re repeating yourself now. Come on, Samaritan! Are you seriously going to watch your wife and son die because you don’t have the balls to make the call? It’s a tough call, I’ll give you that. I know one thing, though. You’ll regret not making it when I paint the wall with both of their brains. I would.

I can’t do it.

—Shoot me first. I can’t— I’d rather be dead.

—You know the rules, Samaritan. If I kill you, then you can’t choose and I have to shoot both of them. I don’t know about you, but that seems like a lot of unnecessary death. Look at your kids, Samaritan! I’m guessing that’s your daughter back there. Look at your wife. They’re going through a lot of anxiety right now. This whole waiting game, it’s torture. Cruel and unusual, my friend. So think of your family and hurry the fuck up!

Tidir is looking at me. She knows there’s no way out of this. She would volunteer if she believed the man in charge would listen to her. She’s afraid he won’t. She’s afraid he’ll do the opposite if we don’t play by his rules. I would give my life without hesitation. I know she’ll gladly give hers if it means saving our son, but I don’t know if I can do it for her.

—Oh, I think you’ve made up your mind, Samaritan! I can see it in your face. You look like a man who’s made a decision. All you have to do now is say the words.

She knows what I have to do, but it’s too hard. I won’t kill my wife.

—Tougher than you thought. I get that. I’ll make you a deal, Samaritan. You don’t need to say it. We both know what you chose. All you have to do is nod. Just nod and I’ll do the rest.