Castaways Read Online Free PDF

scowled, hands on hips. "That's gross." Troy shrugged. "Hey, we're all sick of eating rice, right?"
    "I think I'll stick with rice," Roberta said. "It doesn't move when you eat it."
    "I'd eat a worm," Richard said, in his slow Kansas-drawl. "I used to eat possums and squirrels and groundhogs. A worm ain't much different. I bet it tastes just like chicken. Maybe put a little bar-beque sauce on it."
    Sal nudged him. "You'd eat shit if somebody paid you five bucks to do it."
    "Yeah," Richard agreed. "You got five bucks on you?"
    "It's not a worm," Stefan said. "Unlike some of you, I prepared for this contest by familiarizing myself with our locale. I did my homework."
    Troy yawned. "Well, aren't you just fucking special?"
    "I'll certainly outlast you, you foul-mouthed little troglodyte."
    Troy turned to Richard. "What'd he just call me?"
    Richard shrugged. "I'm not sure. Nothing good."
    "No," Jerry whispered in agreement, "it wasn't."
    Becka considered telling Stefan that she'd done her homework as well, but decided to keep quiet. There was no sense in drawing attention to herself. Otherwise, she might be the next one exiled.
    "Anyway," Stefan said, "this isn't a worm. It's called a blind snake."
    "A snake?" Roberta knelt for a closer look. "But it's so small."
    "Well, this one is rather large, all things considered. Probably an adult. They rarely exceed twelve inches in length, if I remember correctly."
    "Is it poisonous?" Jeff asked.
    "Not at all. They're timid creatures. Harmless, unless you're an ant or a termite, like our friend Troy here."
    "Fuck you, motherfucker." "No, thank you. You're a bit too greasy for my tastes."
    "You think you're better than me, Stefan? Is that it?"
    Stefan rolled his eyes. "Heavens no. I'm sure you make valuable contributions to society."
    "I bend wrenches for a living. Maybe I'll take one upside your head when we get home."
    "You'll get there before me. I will be the last person left on this island."
    "Not if we cook you and eat you first, you yuppie fuck."
    Ignoring him, Stefan turned his attention back to the blind snake. "Interestingly enough, they're an all-female species."
    Ryan peered at the snake. "What does that mean?"
    "It means that they lay eggs without the benefit of a male snake to fertilize them."
    "Where's the fun in that?" Pauline asked.
    The men laughed obligingly at Pauline's joke, and Becka gritted her teeth to keep from responding. A dozen different sarcastic replies came to mind. She glanced at Shonette, who rolled her eyes.
    The group began to split up again. Stefan, Jeff, Raul, Pauline, and Roberta walked on, along with half the crew. Jerry pulled Sal and Richard aside, and watched until the others had disappeared around a turn in the path. Then he gathered Sal, Richard, Troy, Shonette, and Ryan together. Mark and Jesse remained behind as well, filming their discussion.
    Becka tugged on Jerry's shoulder. He leaned close.
    "What about Matthew?" she whispered.
    Jerry glanced over at the loner. Matthew stood apart from the group, staring off into the jungle. Jerry sighed.
    "Matthew, you want to join us for a second?"
    Shrugging, he stepped forward.
    "Here's the thing," Jerry said. "Stefan, Jeff, Raul, Pauline, and Roberta have a pretty strong alliance. We think we may be able to pull Roberta, but the others are sticking together. Stefan and Jeff need to go. They present a physical threat in the challenges."
    Troy interrupted. "Not to mention Stefan is an asshole."
    "Yes," Jerry agreed. "There's that, too. And after what just happened, I think it's a good bet that he's gunning for you tonight. Let's make sure he doesn't get the opportunity."
    "How?" Richard asked.
    "Me, Becka, Shonette, Ryan, and Troy were talking. There's five people in their alliance. We were thinking maybe you guys would want to join us. You, too, Matthew, if you like. We don't know for sure who they're going to vote for tonight, of course. It'll probably be whoever Stefan says. Like I said, I'm guessing