Sleepers

It was quite amazing when I first heard about it, and exciting to boot. A new TV show calling out for entrants with a prize of two million bucks, and all you had to do to win was get a good nights sleep.

Call me old fashioned but I signed up and mailed the entrance sheet that very day. Two million bucks, fuck me, yes, count me in.

Two days later I got the call to head in to the station for medical, insurance, sign the disclaimers and I was in. I couldn't believe how easy it was.

But there was a catch.

They flew myself and six others out to Borneo where they'd constructed a huge building in the middle of the bush. A special truck met us at the airport and we were driven to the site.

It was primary jungle, only they'd cleared out a patch a square mile in size, and right in the centre was this huge construction - biggest I ever saw - it covered a half square mile in size and right at the centre was a bed which was illuminated by a single solitary spotlight that was suspended from the ceiling. It had no walls at all just rows of pillars to support the roof.

Standing next to the bed felt strange, I could hear everything that was going on around me but I couldn't see it, and the daylight only illuminated about two hundred yards in.

Shit. This was some deal.

I was first up, they weighed me, and wired me up to a zillion sensors then we left camp and took a golf buggy to the sleeping area. It was explained to me that I had just thirty minutes until darkness fell, but that the spotlight above the bed would be left on through the night, although it would be dimmed. Finally they said I could quit any time just by calling out. My progress through the night would be monitored by cameras placed about the building.

I climbed into bed, wished them goodnight and watched as they returned to camp.

I smiled. This was a cinch. Two million buckaroos and gravy to boot. I settled into the comfort of the bed and let my head hit the pillow. I was full of happy thoughts, shopping sprees, flash fancy cars and women.

Then I heard a shuffling noise, I opened my eyes to look about but the darkness was absolute. I was illuminated by the glowing light from the single spot but beyond that was just blackness. I figured it was my mind playing tricks, after all they told me that would happen. My head hit the pillow again and I pulled the blanket up to my chin.

I lay there, comfortable. I could hear the jungle nightlife outside going about its business, but it was soothing and almost hypnotic.

Then I heard the shuffling noise again, louder this time. I sat upright and strained trying to figure out what could have caused it, but there was just a growing noise from the bugs attracted to the light.

Then, the blanket was pulled off the bed as if an invisible hand had ripped it away, I yelled out, in surprise more than anything, but it had gone. I sat on the edge of the bed and looked around, but there was nothing. I became aware that my heart rate had increased, and beads of sweat were forming on my face. I needed to sleep but all I could hear were the bugs, the dim beam from the spot had attracted every insect you can think of and without the blanket I was covered in them, I needed the damn blanket. I resolved to check out the area surrounding the bed so I stood up and walked slowly around keeping the bed frame just within reach. About two yards from the bed I could just make out the blanket in the half light so I took a pace or two to reach it, but just as I reached forward to grab it the light went out and I was left in total blackness.

No. Fuck no. All thoughts of the blanket now snapped out of my mind as I tried to picture where I was stood in relation to the bed. I swallowed and tried to remain calm as the bugs attracted to the light now swarmed about wildly. It was crazy, they were landing on my body and I could feel one or two bites from the bug cloud that swarmed about in the darkness.

Something brushed against my calf and I spun around instinctively but it had shuffled away into the blackness. I paced about with my arms outstretched trying to feel for the bed but it was useless, I'd become totally lost in a confusing sea of insects that crawled and bit into my skin. As I frantically continued to paw the air in my attempt to find the bed, more and more things were brushing against my legs and I felt the desperate urge to shout as my sweat ran off my forehead and down my torso.

My heart was now beating fast and although I knew I had to remain calm I became slowly aware of a sense of growing anxiety as the loss of the bed meant no sleep and no Megabucks.

A loud shriek from somewhere around me caused me to freeze, it was probably some resident monkey, but it sounded loud and close, the bugs had thinned out but the constant drone of their wings made the situation seem strangely surreal.

It hit me then that without the comfort of the bed, sleep was unlikely, I had to find the bed.

Then, with a dull click the spotlight came back on and I could see the bed through the fog of insects, it was about ten steps away. I grabbed the blanket and ran for the bed, in seconds I was back on it and wrapped tightly in the blanket.

I desperately tried to calm myself and doze, but the constant drone of flying insects made sleep impossible. As dawn broke and daylight slowly crept into the far reaches of the building, I resigned myself to my lost cause, and cursed my luck.

They collected me several hours later, tired, and covered in bites.

As the buggy headed back to base camp, I finally dozed.