Ch. 13 Weightlessness

Ralph walked off the ship. He looked at civilization as if he'd never seen it before. The dock was full of people, tourists and vendors, regular people and regular animals. He wanted to hug them all, to tell them that they were the best thing in the world. He marveled at cars, he stared at concrete; he gazed lovingly at non-faded clothes. He wanted to run around and touch everything! Or just stare at the city all day. The city called Sydney. It is a beautiful name he thought. Sydney, Sydney, Sydney, he chanted like a spell. He turned around and looked at the ship he had just left. His legs wobbled as he did so. But, it was a wonderful feeling, your legs wobbling on actual concrete. Man-made. Where civilization was. He felt like he didn’t weigh anything, he was floating where he stood.
He looked at the line of kids standing behind him. They all seemed to be as hypnotized as he was by the city. He looked at the little ones, whose mouths hung open. He looked at Sam and Eric, who stood together as if they were one person. He looked at the others, who stood like they were all alone in the whole entire world. They were probably right to look like this. Their parents might have been killed in the war; the very thing they had been fleeing from when their plane had been shot down. Ralph thought how ironic it was, fleeing a monster but running towards a beastie. He almost laughed, but then remembered Simon. And Piggy. The mulberry boy. He was suddenly overwhelmed with joy, and sadness, all at the same time. He was so happy to be back, but he wished he Piggy and Simon were here. He wished they had returned. He started shaking, his shoulders heaved and he lowered his head to the pavement. He felt the hands of the captain on his back as he was led into a building toward a bed and the darkness of sleep.
“Come on Ralph, you can rest now.”
He awoke to a strange feeling. He couldn't place it. It was right at the edge of his mind, he tried to grab it but it slipped away. But, he didn't care, the bed was so soft, the blanket so warm, he smiled contentedly as he slipped back into sleep.
The second time he awoke, he knew the feeling exactly. It was comfort. He hadn't felt it in so long. On the island it was always worry, coldness, darkness, shame, fear and tiredness. Here he felt perfectly safe. He felt warm and rested. It was a very nice feeling; this happiness. He smiled his cheeks hurting from not doing it in so long. Then he remembered leaving the island. With the bright sun glaring at him, the smoke in huge clouds rolling into the sky. He remembered Jack running out onto the sand, coming to a stand still as he saw the officer. Saw his eyes grow wide as he took in the ship and the group of crying boys. He remembered Jack's hair blowing across his face, the savageness about his eyes, the anger burning about him like a fire. Then he remembered Jack turning and running away. Running right back into the forest, spear in hand and disappearing into the trees. The color of the trees had been so blurry, Ralph's eyes had been filled with tears, the greens and blues and browns all blended together and swirling...
Ralph snapped back into reality. It was not good to dwell on the past. It had been Jack's decision to stay. It had been Roger's decision to follow him. It had been both of their decisions to stay on the island. Why had they hid? No one could find them. They had disappeared completely. Ralph was sad. Even if Jack had tried to kill him, even if he was a murderer, he was still partly human. He didn’t want Jack to stay on that island, he could still have a chance to become normal again.
He looked around the room he was in. He was laying on a small bed, a window to his left. The room didn't have much else in it, a sink and a door which probably led to a bathroom. Another door was straight across from the bed, and it suddenly opened. It was Sam and Eric.
“Hey,” they said in unison.
“It's good to be back isn't it,” Ralph said. He stood up and walked over to them.
“Yeah, it is-”
“It's great-”
“The captain wants you-”
“He's in the kitchen downstairs.”
“Where are we?” Ralph questioned.
“We're in his mother's house-
“She's real nice-
“She made us cookies!”
“Where is everyone else?”
“The little ones went to the police-”
“Everyone else got in touch with their families-
“They've all gone home-
“Except for us.” They both looked down at the floor, sadness etched on their faces.
“Your family is dead aren't they?” Ralph said bluntly. They nodded together, then shuffled out the door. Ralph followed them, walked down a set of stairs, and emerged into a hallway. He located the kitchen and walked slowly inside.
“You're up!” The captain said. “We've been waiting since yesterday.”
“I'm sorry I was just so ti-”
“No, no it's fine,” He smiled, then it fell, and his face grew serious. “Ralph, I have some bad news. Your father and moth-“
“Are dead,” Ralph stated. The captain’s face was shocked
. “Well, yes, Ralph, You see your father died at war. His plane was shot down. You’re mother was trying to flee your home. She was killed while doing so. I’m terribly sorry Ralph. If there’s anything I can do I hope you know that I’ll try my hardest to do it.”
Ralph was silent. He didn’t know what he wanted. He supposed he had expected something was going to be wrong when he got back. Unfortunate people usually had unfortunate lives, he thought. This was just another unfortunate event in his life, but he figured why should he live it with an empty stomach?
“Captain,” Ralph said slowly, “I’d like some breakfast.”

Back on the island

Jack walked to the edge of the cliff. He sighed. He gazed at the horizon where the sun had begun to sink, his hand shielding his eyes from the glare. It had not been a good idea to stay with just Roger. Who was Jack going to rule over? Roger had not been enough, and now that he was dead, there was nobody to dominate. Stupid Roger, Jack thought. He laughed to himself. How could Roger think he could beat him in a fight? It had served him right that he had ended up dead. Jack turned around and faced the forest. Roger was now an offering to the beast. Jack shuddered, a believer now in his own lies. His own fear had betrayed him. Jack laughed again. He was more animal than human now. More claw than hand. More fur than hair. His eyes were wild. They darted about, searching the forest for the beast. Every sound he heard was the sound of a hunting monster. Every movement was the beast creeping forward. Jack’s breath turned to a pant. His hands were clenched, his teeth gritted together. Suddenly there was a crashing sound in the forest. It seemed to come from all sides, Jack had no where to go. Could he face the beast alone he wondered? With only a spear, could he conquer it? Jack decided no, he could not. The crashing sound was louder, he could see tree’s moving in the canopy. No, he would not let the beast eat him. He would not let the beast win. He turned and faced the ocean. He walked to the very edge where he could see rocks underneath the cliff where he now stood. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. There was weightlessness, then nothing.
The wild boar ran out into the open. He sniffed the air, his huge head swinging side to side. He was huge in size, the biggest on the island. He pawed his hoof on the ground. “The monster” that all the other pigs had run from was gone. He snorted, head held high, and turned and ran into the forest.

LOTF Ch. 2 Fire on the Mountain viewpoint: Ralph

We set the forest on fire

It was a great plan, this signal fire thing. But the problem was, there never really was a plan. It was just an idea. No beginning or end. I had come up with it at the meeting. I had also come up with another idea. The conch is now used so that whoever has it, is the only person who can speak. Apparently this rule applies to all but Piggy because whenever he had, everyone would cut in being very errant. He would complain that no one was listening to him and was clearly martyred that no one was. A little one with a mark on his face came up to tell about some beastie thing. I had to induce him to hold the conch because they were so frightened. He seemed to think the beastie was real, but it was just a nightmare! And then. And.. then. I had to open my mouth and say the word fire. Everyone went crazy, ebullience radiating off them in great waves. Everyone scattered. Some to go get firewood and others to the top of the mountain where the fire was going to go. The fire ended up being pretty big but we couldn't keep it going for long. Everyone again scrambled to get it back to the roaring monster it had been, but in the confusion a patch of trees caught fire! Piggy, who was completely freaking out, pinched my exasperation and replaced it with horror. He said that he couldn't find the boy with mark on his face. That he had went to play where the fire now was spreading and was not back. I watched as the flames ate everything in their path. Heat wove through the air in thick clumps, suffocating me. Or maybe it was the shame that blocked my throat. How could I be a good chief when I let someone die so soon?

LOTF Ch. 12 Cry of the Hunters viewpoint: Simon

Even though I'm dead, I have eyes, ears and nose that all work.

An eerie ululation sounded in the air on the island. I glided over to where it came from, Jack's tribe. My heart was distended from the pain I felt when I saw what was happening. Jacks tribe had cornered Ralph into a thicket. A cordon faced him. Ralph had hid there from last night probably. I had seen him tearing through the jungle, blood flying everywhere. After Jack had killed Piggy and captured Sam and Eric. I had seen them come apart of the tribe in order to stay alive. I knew that if they came face to face with Jack they wouldn't kill him. They were not total savages like everyone else. I had seen proof of that last night. Ralph had snuck up on Sam and Eric while they were guarding Castle Rock against him. They had told him to leave, that it wasn't safe for him there. He looked so sad and broken. I wanted to tell him that it was alright. That everything would work out. Felt better when Sam and Eric gave him a piece of meat. Ralph looked at it like it was the best thing in the world. Then he had hidden in the bushes and I had left, satisfied that he was safe for the night. But I was diddled into thinking this. Roger had been listening all along and he had brought Jack right to Ralph's hiding place in the morning. Which was where I was at now. My fists we're clenched, my blood boiling at the anger I felt for Jack and his tribe. It was all a power struggle. Jack just couldn't do the right thing and be normal. Be human. But no, he was a savage. A killer and a murderer. Ralph started to run. He flew through the forest. Only a blur I had to fly to catch up with. I smelled the blood on him from the wound on his side. He kept running. I smelled smoke and I turned around realizing they had set the forest on fire to get him out after throwing boulders in hi general area. Ralph stopped after a while. He looked confused. On his face I read, what am I going to do? Run? Hide? He needed to hide and wait till they got past. Hide!, I wanted to scream. He hid! In my special spot. He was invisible as the smoke came over the forest like a blanket. Ralph closed his eyes. Hunters came. One went to Ralph's hiding spot. Stay, I thought. Stay! He can't see you! Ralph did not stay. He sprang out of his hiding place. Jumping forward scaring the hunter so bad he fell backwards. Ralph ran again, all the way to the beach. Running, running running. He frantic footsteps keeping time with the beat of his heart which was pounding in his chest. What it would feel like to have a beating heart! But I turned my thoughts away from myself as Ralph reached the beach. He stopped dead, so did I. A ship! A ship. And a commander! Epaulettes and everything! An adult. One who could take charge. Ralph and the man were face to face.
"No adults huh? Fun and games then."
The reply was silence.
"Are you having a war? We saw the smoke."
"Yes, we are. A war" His voice was a croak.
Little ones emerged from the forest. Hunters began to appear. Ralph and people behind him started crying. I would've too if I had tears to cry. If I was alive. But I wasn't. That was that. At least Ralph was safe, safe and going home, Home. I smiled as I began to fade. My last memory was of Ralph being saved from death, war, and the demoniac Lord of the Flies.

LOTF Ch. 11 Castle Rock viewpoint: Jack

I won!

Ralph is all alone. I have taken everyone from him. There will be a cessation of challenges. I have killed Simon and Piggy. Samneric are tied up in my camp. Ralph is all alone! I'm almost delirious happiness. You know what Ralph did? He brought blind Piggy and Samneric over to my camp, asking for Piggy's glasses back. Like they thought they would get them returned! Ralph had brought the conch, acting as if it was a talisman. But it didn't have any power in my tribe. My tribe started attacking them, and I battled face to face with Ralph. It was a truculent battle. But, when Piggy fell off the cliff, brains spilled all over, Ralph seemed to break. We drove him back. Samneric were calling for help, but Ralph couldn't give it. He ran into the forest, dodging our spears by zigzagging around. He ran! He was scared. Now everyone sees how much more powerful I am than him. I'm more of a chief then he could ever be. I'm strong and brave. I am a hunter. I've shown that I can kill without hesitation. I've won the power struggle between me and Ralph!

LOTF Ch. 10 The Shell and the Glasses. Viewpoint: Ralph

What have we done?

There is only Me, Piggy, and Samneric left. Simon would be here, if he wasn't dead. We killed him. It was murder! In that awful dance, a murder was committed. What have we done? How could we have killed Simon. It's horrible that we have lost our minds. I want to be purged of the fact that I took part in killing him. We are all going barmy here. When Simon came out of the forest, he kept saying something about a dead man and a parachute. Had he been telling us what the beast was? and then there was that thing that flew over us, a parachutist. My illumination that that was the beast might be right. But how could I know for sure? The beast had moved on he mountain, it was alive. Maybe Jack and his tribe would hunt it down and kill it. They would have the tools for starting a fire to burn it anyways. They came to our camp tonight. They stole Piggy's glasses! I have no idea how we're going to start the fire anymore. They beat us all up. It was dark, I might have been hitting my own teammates. I think I was. Piggy wasn't even fighting. He was so scared that he got his asthma. I'm not angry at him, not irritated, just exasperated. My spirit is broken, a theological punishment for killing Simon. I don't know what to do. I don't feel like a good chief to Samneric or Piggy. Or to the little ones. I don't even know why they're still here with me. I'm happy but I'm surprised. I want to go home so bad. It's gnawing away at my mind. I have to get home. I have to. I will do anything no matter what it takes.

LOTF Ch. 9 A View to a Death viewpoint: Piggy

Simon was right.

Simon is dead. I'll say it flat out to you. And we killed him. Ralph and I weren't strong enough to stop them, or ourselves. I feal like it's my fault. No one would listen to him at all. He was like a phosphorescence, always looking towards the lighter, happier side of things. He didn't believe that there was an actual beastie,he believed it was us, and that maybe we could change it. It turned out he was right. I had convinced Ralph to go to the feast with Jack. There was meat after all. Besides, we could keep an eye o things. When we got there the corpulent pig was roasting over a fire. Jack and everybody else were almost done gorging themselves on pork. There was drinks in coconut shells. Ralph and I sat farther away from everyone else. But the someone burnt me with the pig, and everyone laughed which seemed to ease the tension. Jack had himself on a throne. He acted like he was a king. With his power he could be, but with his actual self, no way. He was too harsh. After we had finished eating he commanded everyone to sit. Me and Ralph stood on the edge of the obedient slaves, and Jack seemed to ignore us. He asked who would join he tribe and Ralph protested. I wasn't surprised when everyone began saying the "I will's" and "Me's." Rain started to pour and Jack demands to do their tribal dance. Ralph and I stayed behind watching the crazy beasties dance around and chant "Kill the pig, cut his throat..." But then we slowly joined them. I don't know what it was. It felt like it was pulling us into the circle. One of them pretended to be the pig and everyone attacked him, chanted, and lost their minds. By this time its pouring and there is hardly any light to see by. Suddenly something comes out of the forest on four legs! It's screamed something, moaned. I Lost sight of the creature as it was swallowed into the circle of chanting boys. They attack it, Hit it, punch it. cut it, hurt it. After a while, they all back away. Only to reveal that it was Simon. Dead. At almost the exact same moment a parachutist flies over the group and out to sea. It was dead, a decaying body floating in the water. I was paralyzed. Simon dead? What had happened up on the mountain? Was the parachutest the beastie they all claimed to have seen? the only important thing was that Simon was dead. Simon, the peace maker. Dead. The very thing he was trying to tell us about killed him. We did. Those hunters who turn crazy and us. What are we going to do?