Giving the game away

If your homeland has been overrun by more powerful invaders, you may have had the presence of mind to find a hiding place for your loved ones. Well done.

But as you’re being marched away into captivity, slavery or worse, don’t – whatever you do – give the game away by wistful glances towards the place where you’ve hidden them. Otherwise one of your more vindictive captors is bound to notice where you’ve looked and will then, depending on how evil he, she or it is, either:

• raise the alarm, bringing other enemy troops into the area and ensuring the capture and enslavement of your family; or
• if they’re feeling particularly sadistic, leave them where they are – but only after cutting off the way out of their hiding place, thus ensuring their eventual doom.

– Inspired by Apocalypto (Mel Gibson, 2006)