Separation

Ralph, Jack and the hunters are still off doing their thing in the forest. After a while, Simon returned, with a little trickle of red along his forehead. I was oddly grateful for the return of someone. "They'll be back after dark," Simon said to me, and immediately left afterward. I only now wonder where he has gone, for he walked right back into the mysterious forest. Did he not care about the beast? Then I did not think much of it. I hoped that they actually would be back by dark; if not, I would be very worried of spending the night alone with only a pack of littluns.

They did come back by dark. Very dark, that is. When they came back, I sensed something had happened Ralph was somber and frowning as ever, and broke a dreadful news to me. I couldn't believe it. The beast was real. I still felt a shred of doubt, but now with so many pairs of eyes, so many witnesses, I had to abandon that doubt. Jack, however, was not scared of the beast. "What about my hunters?" He said. Ralph delivered the separating blow - "Boys armed with sticks." Jack flared, quietly, stood up, and left. Now Ralph done it, I thought. Jack (attempted) to blow the conch, and the boys on the island slowly walked over. I already knew the purpose of the meeting, and from the dread and exasperation in Ralph's eyes I could tell he did too. After breaking the news to the boys, Jack then moved on to vilify Ralph. "Ralph said my hunters are no good," Jack accused. I didn't like Jack at all, but I had to admit that he was a persuasive and strong speaker. However, his persuasive skills were still no match for Ralph's authority as chief. Jack attempted an uprising, an impeachment against Ralph as chief, but I could tell that it would fail. I was scared for the storm in Jack that would snap, scared to see what he would do. When he called a vote against Ralph for chief, not a single hand moved. I could not see Ralph in the darkness. Jack was deathly humiliated. "I'm not going to play any longer. Not with you." And with a decisive turn he ran away.

I was personally rather happy about the recent turn of events. As everyone sulked, I proposed to move the fire down to the beach, away from Jack, away from the beast. I was elated - my idea was met with complete agreement and action started immediately. With finally something physical, tangible to do, the boys began to work quickly. I, feeling happy with the acceptance of my idea, decided to pitch in, and use my specs to light the fire myself. Such was life on the island without a certain pain! I was about to rejoice, when I noticed the large decrease in number of the population of boys. Maurice was gone. "Where's Bill and Roger?" asked Ralph, trying his best to sound casual. I realized that the ones who left must have gone to play with Jack instead. Thus began the separation.

Comments

  1. JackOctober 29, 2019 at 10:12 PM

    Boys armed with sticks? Well then, Ralph, you tell me, what killed the pigs on the island? What gave you the meat that you craved? What makes the boys on the island fear me? Hm?

    ReplyDelete

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