Free The Prisoner's Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart Page A

clear for some time that their real aim is to separate me from the Whisperer. They’ve tried to use quiet measures, small steps. Now that those have failed, they are prepared to take more extreme action.”
    “Who is ‘they’” said Constance.
    “Certain well-placed officials,” said Mr. Benedict. “Some are likely spies for my brother seeking a way to return his Whisperer to him. Others are more interested in seeing what they can do with it themselves. And still others, such as poor Ms. Argent, are hapless individuals caught up in the process, trying to do their jobs, uncertain where their loyalties should lie, and not quite up to the task of deciding.”
    “So what do we do now?” asked Kate.
    “Your lessons,” said Number Two, checking her watch.
    The older children cried out in protest, and Constance wrapped her arms tightly around her knees and hissed like an angry cat.
    “Perhaps we can delay the lessons,” Mr. Benedict said, laying his hand on Number Two’s arm. “I know it’s difficult to be kept in the dark. Naturally, I hate it myself. But you must understand that I cannot tell you everything, for in certain cases ignorance is your greatest protection.”
    “What
can
you tell us?” asked Reynie. “How about these ‘psychological motives’ and ‘personal foibles’ that Mr. Gaines mentioned, the things you’ve found useful but the committee hasn’t?”
    Mr. Benedict tapped his nose. “That is something I can tell you about. In my opinion my brother Ledroptha’s motivations are worth a great deal of consideration. Not just what he does, but why he does it. The better we know these things, the better we can predict his next move, and I believe my conversations with his former Executives have been most instructive in this respect.”
    “I’ve wondered how instructive they could be,” said Sticky. “We know Martina wanted revenge against Mr. Curtain for abandoning her—but she didn’t really know much, did she? And Jackson and Jillson were Executives a long time, but I can’t imagine they’ve been very cooperative.”
    “Oh no,” said Mr. Benedict with a chuckle. “They have done their best to be obstructive. But in the process they have given away more than they realize. Most notably, they revealed that S.Q. Pedalian received far more sessions in the Whisperer than the other Executives did.”
    The children frowned in surprise. They all knew from their mission to the Institute what these “sessions” were about; Mr. Curtain had given them to his Executives as a reward, which helped ensure their loyalty. And Reynie and Sticky, in particular, remembered all too well how “happy” the machine made you feel when you thought what it wanted you to think—what Mr.
Curtain
wanted you to think—an effect it accomplished by suppressing your greatest fears. Even if you knew the truth about the Whisperer’s darker purposes (as the boys had known), the feeling it gave you—that fleeting yet powerful illusion of well-being—left you yearning for more.
    “Why would S.Q. get more sessions?” Kate asked. “He was already the most loyal Executive in the bunch!”
    “Maybe he was loyal
because
of the extra sessions,” Sticky suggested.
    “But why would Mr. Curtain give them to him?” Constance said. “Why would he want to keep S.Q. around in the first place? That guy’s about as smart as a lump of oatmeal.”
    “Poor fellow, it’s not his fault,” said Kate. “And he’s really kind-hearted, you know.”
    “I
do
know,” said Constance, “which makes me wonder even more why Mr. Curtain would want him.”
    “You are asking all the right questions,” said Mr. Benedict, “and I am making it your assignment to reflect upon the best answer to them. You must continue with your other lessons in the meantime, of course.”
    “Can’t you tell us what
you
think?” Sticky asked.
    “Now where would be the fun in that?” said Mr. Benedict, and he took a folded slip of paper from his