Free The Island by Michael Bray Page B

Chase knew the game was up. He considered trying to fight it, to try and lie his way out of trouble, but Lomar’s piercing gaze told him that any lie would be seen through, any excuse dismissed. “Yes. That’s right,” Chase said.
    Lomar nodded. “Cancer of the lungs I believe. Terminal according to your medical scan.”
    Chase nodded. “Apparently. But your health scan cleared me to take part, if you intend to throw me off the show I–” A raised palm was enough to stop Chase in his tracks.
    Lomar smiled a thin, toothless gesture. “Don’t try to talk your way out of it. It’s not necessary.”
    “I can still do it. I can still take part.”
    “Mr. Riley, please, let me speak.” The slightest air of authority. Chase imagined Lomar would be terrifying during board meetings when he dialled that aggression all the way up to eleven if his staff wasn’t getting the job done as he wanted it.
    “I’m sorry,” Chase muttered. “It’s just that... This is important to me. You have no idea.”
    “Actually, I do. I selected you, remember? All of you. I know the motivations for you taking part. I know the situation, Mr. Riley. Make no mistake about it.”
    Chase nodded, folding his hands in his lap.
    “Now I’m sure I don’t have to tell you, that we can’t have a contestant on our show that is already facing death regardless of if he wins or loses. The public would feel cheated. You see my dilemma?”
    “If the public feel cheated that I’m already dying, then maybe it’s them that are the problem, not me.”
    Lomar grinned, then stood and walked around the desk to the window, which gave him a spectacular view of the ocean. “I can’t speak for the public, only myself. But you are of course right. That doesn’t change the fact that the public will feel cheated. I can’t have that.”
    “Then why bring me here? Why not just reject me at the application stage? Why give me false hope that I could do this?”
    “Mr. Riley, please!” This time, the snap in his voice was clear. Sharp. This wasn’t a man used to being questioned. “Let me finish.”
    Chase sat in silence, watching as Lomar opened a drawer and took a small silver device. It looked like a cross between a pistol and a tattoo gun. Smooth chrome, handle moulded for comfort. Chase felt fear bristle down his spine, wondering if he was about to be killed for trying to deceive a mega power like Lomar, for wasting his time and resources. He wondered if it would be quick, if they would put him out of his misery then take his body out to sea and dump it overboard. Panic was close to taking over. Lomar was approaching now, chrome device held loose and hanging at his side. Just as Chase had decided to try and make a run for it, Lomar placed the device on the table in front of Chase then returned to his seat. Chase looked at the device, confused and curious in equal measure. On closer inspection, the device was some kind of drug delivery device. The needle protruding out of its end covered in a rubber tip.
    “What is this?” Chase asked. Lomar smiled. Crocodile this time like when he was asked about what was on The Island.
    “Vaccine.”
    “For what?”
    “Your cancer of course.”
    Chase stared at the needle gun, then at Lomar, looking for the joke, for the first hint that he was being tricked. He saw nothing but curiosity in the billionaire’s face.
    “I don’t understand.”
    “Like I said, Mr. Riley. I can’t have the public chastising me because one of our contestants is already dying.”
    “I don’t think you understand. I have cancer .”
    “And there is the vaccine,” Lomar said, slowly and patient as a man trying to explain something simple to a child. Lomar leaned on the desk, crocodile grin spreading. “When you reach The Island, you will learn that science has made many things possible that the public know nothing about. The treatment for cancer has existed for at least twenty five years. Only those rich or powerful enough can