Lord of the Flies" Chapter 13TearsThe naval officer turned to stare at the motor boat as it sailed up to the beach, giving the boy's time to dry their eyes

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“Lord of the Flies”

Chapter 13

Tears

The naval officer turned to stare at the motor boat as it sailed up to the beach, giving the boy’s time to dry their eyes. Ralph turned to look at the roaring flames that leapt up from the island, everything that it touched crumpled. Ralph felt the tears well up in his eyes, as he thought about the time he and the other boys spent on the island. At first things had been going well, they had learned how to survive in their new environment. But soon, Jack’s lust for power had corrupted them. They had begun to war and kill, eventually setting the island alight.

Finally, when Ralph and the boys stopped crying, the British officer turned back to them and gave them a genuine smile. For all of his experience of warfare, he still couldn't understand why the children had done the things they did.

Turning away from his dark thoughts, the officer looked the children up and down, mostly Ralph, and said,

"Come with me, and we'll take you aboard my motor boat. There, you can get cleaned up. Once you've rested, you can tell me all about your little 'war game.' Then, once we've reached Britain, we'll find your mums and dads, and all of you young one's will be reunited with your families."

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The smaller ones, the youngest of Jack and Roger's tribe, ran joyfully towards the British officer. The older ones, Ralph included, stayed further back, distancing themselves from the naval officers. The British officer waited for them to come closer; and little by little, the older boys walked closer to the sea shore.

All except for Ralph. He stayed where he was, and when the officer told him to come into the boat, he replied,

 "I'll be there in a minute. Let me just get something first."

The officer tipped smiled again, and replied,

"You may go, but be quick ...

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