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 about it. Be back here in thirty minutes."
Ralph nodded, and quickly ran back into the forest, which, in some areas on the island, was alight with fire. Ralph ran and ran, breathing in and out rapidly. He tripped over a rock, and he skinned his knee. But he just picked himself up again and continued to run. Finally, after several minutes of running, Ralph came to the place where the tribe used to stay.
After a few moments of searching, Ralph finally gave up what he was looking for. Realising that his time was almost up, Ralph quickly ran back to the meeting place as fast as his legs could carry him. And he made it, just barely.
”Right, everyone out on to the motor boat!” ordered the naval officer.
The trip out to the motor boat was spent in total silence. What words might have been spoken were lost to shock. They all stepped up the stairs onto the motor boat. Ralph led the procession followed by the littluns, and then Jack and the choir. Ralph could barely contain himself as he walked along. Disappointed about in failure to find what he was looking for. He stepped toward a seat, with his head miserably hanging down, while tears flowed down his face in a steady stream. The littluns wailed and moaned and even Jack and the choir boys were not ashamed of their sobbing. Everyone took a seat, Ralph and the littluns on one side, Jack and the choir on the other.
The boat started into motion, as they left the island forever. No one said a word. Ralph buried his head in his hands. Silence frightened them for a few moments, but finally Ralph stood up, and walked toward Jack. All eyes were upon Ralph, as though he was holding the conch.
"Shove over," grumbled Ralph to Roger, who sat nearest to Jack.
Roger moved over a bit, and Ralph sat beside Jack in the space that had been provided.
"I want to talk to you," Ralph said clearly to Jack, even though Jack's head was turned in the other direction.
"What?" Jack snapped, turning his head toward Ralph.
Ralph stared at Jack, who was still appearing like a savage. Ralph stared deeply into Jack's eyes, which were decorated on the lids and surrounding skin with red paint. Then, a familiar chant arose in Ralph's mind,
Kill the pig, cut his throat, spill his blood!
Kill the pig, cut his throat, spill his blood!
Ralph did not stare for much longer, for his eyes began to filll up with tears. Ralph ripped his gaze away from Jack's, and stared at the ground, instead.
"Nnnothing," he finally stuttered.
Ralph began to stand, but Roger rose a bit as Ralph did, and then shoved him back down. Ralph stared at Roger confused and searching for some kind of twisted answer.
"Huh?"
"Go on, talk," Roger said, gesturing toward Jack.
"I don't have anything to say," Ralph said sternly.
"No, you came over here to say something. Now say it," Roger growled.
Ralph now took notice that Roger out of all the others had not cried. Before he managed to get a reply back, the motor boat halted, stopping beside a cruiser.
"All out onto the cruiser!" called the naval officer.
Everyone stood up instantly. While they started out, Jack cut in front of Ralph, shoving something into Ralph's hands. Ralph hesitated, but he finally looked down as Jack walked on. There Jack had left in Ralph's possession was a pair of spectacles, with both lenses broken.