The LONG Question
By DAVID MASON
Illustrated by GIGLIO
$100,000 wasn't hay, even for a quiz
show prize. It was certainly worth
spending a little time to win....
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Infinity November 1957.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
"We promised you folks something special this week," Larry Lonigansaid, his smile glittering under the bright lights of the studio. "AndWin-a-Mint always keeps its promises, don't we? So, folks, tonightwe're putting up the biggest mint offered yet on this program ... onehundred thousand dollars!"
The applause was deafening.
"Now, then, here's the young man you all remember, the boy who hit thetop money on our little group quiz last week, and earned the right toWin-a-Mint! Here he is, Mr. Don Gerson! Come on out, Don!"
Don Gerson was a tall, thin young man with a serious look. He did notwear glasses, but somehow he looked as if he ought to. He walked ontothe stage with a kind of forced confidence and shook hands with Lonigan.
"Now, then, Don, we haven't told you very much about what we're goingto do for you, have we?" Lonigan asked.
"No, sir."
"So I think it'll be as big a surprise to you as it will to ouraudience." Lonigan laughed, and looked archly into the cameras. "Butfirst, we'll have to introduce you all over again, for anybody whodidn't see the fine show you put up for us last week. How old are you,Don?"
"Twenty-eight."
"And you're not married, are you? Engaged? Do you trust your girlfriend not to go out with other fellows if you aren't handy?"
"Well, I don't know ..." Gerson grinned shyly.
"Did you tell her you'd be going away for a little while?" Loniganasked, winking at the cameras.
"That's what I've been told," Gerson said.
"Uh huh. But we didn't tell you anything else, did we? Did your bossgive you a leave of absence?"
"Oh, yes."
"Tell us, Don, what do you do for a living?"
"I'm an accountant."
Lonigan's grin grew wider. "Yes, folks, Don works for the greatNational American Insurance Company, of which you've all heard. Weasked them to let us borrow Don here for two months, and they've beenkind enough to agree. Now, working in insurance, Don, I guess you'vegotten pretty good at logical predictions, eh? I mean, isn't it part ofthe insurance business to guess what's likely to happen?"
"I'd say it was." Don Gerson was looking mildly puzzled.
"Well, Don, we've set up a situation where you'll get a chance to guesswhat's happening next, and if you guess right, even halfway, you'llWin-a-Mint!" Lonigan boomed the last words impressively, and theorchestra blasted the theme chords into his words.
"Here's what we're going to do, Don," Lonigan went on. "You're going togo down to the airport, where we've got a special helicopter waiting.Our copter will take you to the island of Santa Antonia, two hundredmiles off the coast. It's a lovely island, Don ... you'll really likeit. There's a comfortable little house there, and we've had the placeall stocked up for you. There's even a nice big deep-freeze from theHandi-Freezo people, filled right up to the top."
Lonigan paused, to get the effect.
"Of course," he continued, "There isn't anyone else on the island.Nobody at all! And no ra