Del Davis Tree Farm

"This sure isn't the Starbucks I was in a few minutes ago!" Josh remarked as he picked himself off of a somewhat uncomfortable futon in a small apartment painted in primary colors, and furnished somewhat sparingly. The place seemed comfortable, and somehow distant at the same time.

Josh picks up the manila folder resting on an end table next to the futon. He couldn't help but feel amused that whoever furnished this place purchased furniture that simply did not go together. Having an old floral print sofa (Josh missed the teal couches from the staircase room) complimented with a futuristic end table and lamp and a coffee table that seemed to be made entirely from glass made little sense to him, but then again, Josh's agreement to participate in this bizarre contest didn't make much more sense.

Several tense minutes passed as Josh looked over the paperwork inside the folder. In it were the rules of the game which he was now a participant, a detailed map of where he was, another map of Norway with Svalbard included as an inset on one edge of it, and a small world map with Svalbard circled, and a line pointing to a corner in southwest Missouri. Also included was the contract that Josh signed at Starbucks, even though he had no recollection of doing so.

"Interesting," Josh sighs. "I have six months to get back to America, and they've stuck me here almost at the North Pole with only the money I've got in my pocket and the clothes on my back, and they expect me to be able to just book a flight or a boat out of here. What, am I supposed to get a job at the local McDonald's or something to raise money for this? Jesus Christ, why am I here?"

Josh looked out the window. It was dark, and it would continue to be dark for quite some time. He wasn't sure when the sun would finally peak out over the horizon, but he knew that it was probably too late to start anything now. Tomorrow morning, no matter how dark it was, Josh Burbank would go out and start looking for a way off Svalbard. Hopefully there would be someone out there who spoke English.

Moments later, Josh changed his mind, grabbing his jacket from the coat hanger. It was going to be inadequate protection out there in the cold, but it was all he had. No matter, though. Surely there was at least one tavern in this village, right? Hell, maybe Josh could find out where Svalbard's first Starbucks was?

It was too bad that Beth wasn't here, or even Scott...

1. Next contestant: Scott Childers.
2. Josh finds another note.

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