NOW THAT THEY WERE ALL TOGETHER, AND WOULD NOT FREEZE, LENNY CAME TO THE fire for a talk. The survivors sat in a ring like children, and he stood above them. Mara tried not to look at Ashley. She tried to look interested and calm.

“Welcome to Civilization,” said Lenny. “As you know, I’m your producer. And your host. This show is kind of my baby, which makes you all, well . . .” He chuckled. “Anyway, the point of the challenge is to see what happens when a team of survivors”—here he pointed at each of them in turn—“are given freedom to rebuild society from the ground up. You’re strangers to each other. You come from different backgrounds. But each of you is here for a reason. We see something special in every one of you.”

A camera guy, creeping backward, tripped on a root and squeaked. Lenny cleared his throat.

“Remember,” he continued, “this is a new kind of show. It’s a competition, but you’re competing together. Everyone who makes it to the end wins.” There was an incantatory quality to his voice that suggested he had practiced the lines, but it was subtle. He had practiced well. “You don’t have to worry about rules. You make the rules. You can hunt, fish, cut down trees, whatever you want and need. You can build a skyscraper! Whatever you dream about. It’s yours. Although”—he paused for a second and touched his ear; he was getting a message through an earpiece—“we do ask that you don’t eat rabbits.”

“They’re protected?” said James.

“No,” said Lenny. “But the network has a thing for rabbits. I guess if you catch one, we won’t stop you, but we probably won’t film it.”

“Also,” said Kyle, “rabbits carry tularemia, and we don’t have access to soap for proper sanitation.”

Mara could have sworn that Bullfrog rolled his eyes.

“So we agree,” said Lenny. He went on to cover logistics that Mara already knew, or had assumed. Survivors would not be provided food or water, nor replacement clothing, so they should care for what they had. If they changed their appearance they should do so on film, for the sake of continuity. The crew would come and go throughout the day; at night they went to their own camp nearby. They were not to speak to the survivors, though survivors could talk to the cameras whenever they chose. “There are cameras in the trees, too, and you’re welcome to interact with them—share your worries, show off something you made. Think of them as your personal confidants.”

Now Lenny adjusted his visor and shifted his weight. “One more thing. If you have your period, ladies—is anyone on their period?”

Mara let herself look at Ashley. She could feel the men trying not to look at either of them.

Ashley raised her hand slightly.

“Cool,” said Lenny. “That’s completely cool. Don’t worry about it. We have tampons on demand. Just, uh, when you’re done with a tampon, give it to me and I’ll get rid of it for you.”