Jack Cavanaugh - Death Watch

He had more pressing problems than staying warm.

He couldn’t breathe.

Billy slung his head back, desperately trying to pull air into his lungs. The effort was strenuous, the reward small, like trying to suck liquid through a pinched straw.

Pressing the figurine against his chest, skirting the edge of consciousness, Billy prayed.

“What did I miss?” Sydney asked. She approached Hunz to thunderous applause. Neither Hunz nor little Stacy were clapping, so the ovation was not for Cheryl. A quick look at the contestants’ podiums revealed the damage. Barb Whitlock had taken a commanding lead with $66,500.

“A Bible history question,” Hunz shouted over the din. “Burial place of the patriarch Abraham and his wife, Sarah.”

Barb Whitlock was pleased with herself. “I knew attending church would pay off someday, Skip,” she said.

“What was the answer?” Sydney asked Hunz.

He looked at her strangely. “You don’t know?”

“Why would I know?”

Hunz shrugged. “Just thought you’d know, that’s all,” he said. “Hebron. The city of Hebron.”

He handed Stacy to Sydney. “I need to make a phone call,” he said.

At first Stacy objected. Hunz assured her he’d be gone for just a moment.

Skip Hirshberg summed up the contestant standings. “Barb Whitlock is our current leader with $66,500, Cheryl McClintock is in second place with $6,600, and Junior has yet to make an appearance on the money board. As for all of you in our television audience, your chance may be coming up right after this commercial break, because anything can happen on America’s favorite game show, Wonder Wheel! We’ll be right back.”

A pause, then the set crew and makeup artists streamed onto the set, applying fresh powder to the contestants, and going over notes for the next segment with Skip.

“Mommy!” Stacy reached for her mother.

“Not yet, honey,” Sydney said. “Mommy still has more game to play, more money to win, won’t that be fun?” She hefted the girl onto her hip. The studio lights and a warm child pressed against her was a hot combination.

Cheryl appeared to be holding her own on the set. In her unguarded moments, she appeared troubled. The gaudy artificial surroundings of the game show were insufficient to mask the death sentence hanging over her. Cheryl scanned the audience for Stacy. From experience Sydney knew she couldn’t see anything beyond the studio lights.

“Thirty seconds, people,” someone called.

Little Stacy watched the lights of the Wonder Wheel going round and round, oblivious to the fact that in two days she would be an orphan.

The floor director started the countdown. “And we’re live in five, four, three, two… ” His finger signaled one, then pointed at Skip Hirshberg.

“And we’re back!” Skip said to the cameras. “Let’s put that big money wheel in motion one more time! Contestants, you have five seconds.”

This time Cheryl hit her button immediately, as did the other two contestants. The results flashed on the podiums before the theme music finished.

“Cheryl McCormick, you’re our high roller!” He leaned toward her confidentially. “It pays to take advice from the ol’ Skiperoo, doesn’t it?”

Cheryl smiled, happy to have a chance at some serious money. She readied herself for the question.

Hunz returned. Stacy leaned so far out of Sydney’s arms to get to him she knocked Sydney off balance. Hunz caught the little girl with an ooofff. There was no joy in it.

“What’s wrong?” Sydney asked.

“Nothing.” But it was a lie. Sydney could tell. “Looks like Cheryl has a chance to pull into the lead,” he said, diverting her attention back to the game.

Skip was crossing the stage, something he never did in the middle of a show. “Let me tell you something about this brave little lady,” he said, approaching Cheryl. He took, her by the hand.

Cheryl looked at him warily.

“I’m sure all of you are aware of the current terrorist threat we face in America known as Death Watch.”

“Oh no,” Sydney said.

“It’s a horrible, horrible scourge, and we can only pray that our leaders will find who’s behind it and bring them to justice soon. Despite this little lady’s expectant condition, last night she beat two other contestants to the Excelsior Hotel to qualify for tonight’s program. Then, within minutes of her arrival, Cheryl McCormick received a death watch notice.”

The audience gasped.

“I thought she didn’t want anyone to know,” Hunz said.

“She doesn’t,” Sydney said. She had her suspicions who did this.

“In the face of this dastardly threat, we at Wonder Wheel would have understood had Cheryl chosen not to appear tonight. However, she insisted. And here she is, Ladies and Gentlemen. Even threat of death cannot keep people from playing America’s favorite game show, Wonder Wheel! Bless you, my dear. Bless you.”

Skip Hirshberg kissed her hand, then returned to the master of ceremonies podium.

Cheryl was shaken. She was trying to see past the studio lights. Looking for Sydney. She was angry.

“I didn’t tell them,” Sydney said to Hunz. “Honest. I didn’t!”

“Scoring the highest dollar value with a question value of ninety-four with a difficulty factor of eight for a total of $75,200 and the lead, the category is Rocks of Ages —the second time for you tonight. It was a lucky category for you before, Cheryl, do you want to play or pass?”

“Um…” Cheryl looked shell-shocked. “The difficulty factor is eight?”

“Correct. Play or pass? You have three seconds, Cheryl.”

“Um… um… play. Play.”

“Here’s your question. Possibly the earliest tangible evidence linked to Jesus of Nazareth is a limestone ossuary, or burial box, with the inscription, ‘James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.’ For $75,200, in what language was the inscription written? (a) Hebrew, (b) Latin, (c) Aramaic, (d) Greek.

Cheryl stared at her hands. They were trembling.

“She doesn’t know,” Hunz said.

“She’s a schoolteacher. Schoolteachers know everything,” Sydney said.

“Well,” Cheryl said, “James and Joseph and Jesus were Hebrew, but the language of commerce in those days was Greek. The New Testament was written in Greek.”

She was thinking out loud.

“I’m going to need an answer, Cheryl.”

She took a deep breath. “I’m going to say Greek, Skip. D.”

A buzzer sounded.

“Ooooooo, I’m sorry, Cheryl. The correct answer is (c) Aramaic. We’re going to have to deduct $75,200 from your score, which will put you in the negative column.”

Skip Hirshberg’s disappointment lasted only a moment.

“But it is great news for someone at home! Let’s go to the phones!”

The display beneath the Wonder Wheel began flashing.

727 319-WIN!

“Our computer has randomly selected tonight’s at-home contestant location. Here it is! Area code 727. Prefix 319. Seminole, Florida, it’s your turn to play Wonder Wheel! The first caller from Seminole, Florida, has a chance to win $75,200!”

Cheryl didn’t hear any of this. It was obvious she was wrestling with her disappointment, an opponent that was growing stronger by the second. Her expression said it was all she could do to keep from walking off the set. Her situation was hopeless. She was $68,600 in the red. Even assuming Barb Whitlock failed to answer any more questions correctly, Cheryl would have to win $135,100 just to catch up with her. And even if she managed to climb out of this hole and post some positive numbers, it was winner-take-all. All she’d be doing is winning more money for Barb Whitlock and Sir Talks-a-Lot.