(insertsoundofoceanwaveshere)Thewavescrashedagainstthespaciousliferaft,astheboys

waitedinlinetogeton.Theboysweresurroundedwithgreateagerness,mingledwithalingerof
trepidation.Allexceptforoneboy,achiefthatwouldbestdefinehim.

Howlongtillwegetin,Jackwincedinfrustration,hintingthelossofhisoncegreatpower.

Willbeinitsoon,Samnericansweredoncommand,withmildharmonyandcautiousness.

(Pauseinsertpeacefuloceanwavebackgroundmusic)Thesundawnedagainstthenearnavysky,
thedyingsmokyflamesgivingtheonlyilluminationupontheboysfeatures.Theanticipationwerekilling
theboys,uponthehopethattheyfinallycouldseethefacestheywereoncesofamiliarandcomforted
by.Onebyone,theygentlybouncedandbalancedontotheraft,floatingonthecloudsofsafety.

Hurryup,RalphwhisperedtoSamneric,Iwanttomeetmyfather.Hesprobablywaitingonthatbig
ship,(mumblestohimself)Iknewhewould.Ralphlongingfortheunattainablecomfortthatheohso
wantedanddeserved.Samnericobeyed,despiteearliercircumstances,liftingaconsiderableburdenof
theirstructuredbacks.Oncealltheboyssatquitecomfortablyontheraft,theyeasedupabitasthe
NavalOfficerstartedthemotorup.Afterafewconfigurationsandtugs,theywereglidingthroughthe
impendingwaters.Theysatacrosseachotherinawkwardnessandafteracasualfewminutes,the
officerbrokethesilence.

Howdidyouboysgetontheislandinthefirstplace?

Noonehasspokenoutloudsincetheofficersconfrontation,butSamnericwerealwayssoeagerto
respondtoauthority.

Wewereonaplane,onourwaytosafety,butsomethingwentwrongandwecrashed.

Howlongwereyouontheislandfor?

Asheasked,theyallponderedthesame,beingsocaughtupintheirownlivesandworldwithinthe
islandofthebeast.Sincetheirarrivalupontheisland,theyhaveactedquitestrangely,contrarytowhat
theirpresetmindshavelearntonthetrivialandfictionalstoriesofsurvivaladventures.Surprising
themselvesontheirdrivingandsavagedimpulses,theyresuretheywillneverlosethememoriesofthe
incidentsthatdrovethemclosertocorruptionandreality,onethattheyallknowtobelife.Sincethe
momentofreflectingsilencegrewmoreuselessthannecessary,theNavalofficermusteredupanother
commentofanysortstobringtheboysbackfromwhatevertheywereeverthinkingof.

Itamazesmehowyouallwereabletosurviveonthatislandandendupallalive!Iwouldprobably
havegoneallmental,makingcommonpleasantriestotheabsentminded,likehowanynormalhuman
beingwould,withregularexperiencesoflife,butweknowalltootruethattheboyswerefarfromthe
averageboystheyoncewere,withtheirchildishandplayfulimaginationsandmemories.Theofficer
thoughtofthequeryofcommoncircumstances,butthequeryemphasizedtheboys'courseofaction
thathappenedinjustthepastcoupleofdaysormonths.Helaughedincoherently,tryingtoovercome
andrestorethedeepenedwoundofsilencethathehadalreadycutcarelessly,thoughhecouldtakethe
hint.

OneinparticularwhothoughtalltoomuchofhisactionswereJack,butunliketheotherboys,hewasin
wantofhisconsumingpoweritcouldbeoveranything,eventhetreesandhewouldn'thavegivea
damn.HecouldfeelhisunthronedpowerwanderamongsttheplateauofCastleRock,begginghimto
bebackathisrightfulplace.

Thenavalofficerwonderedwhathadmadetheseboysmute,avoidingeyecontactwithanyone.He
figuredthathehadnouseinquiring,sohewenttocheckonthemotors.

Another5minutespassed,noonesaidanything

Jackwasquietlysittingonthelifeboat.Hehadntspokenawordsincehegotonit.NotevenRoger
couldfigureoutwhatJackwasupto.

Youknowwhat?Imdone.Imgoingbacktotheisland!Jackbrokeoutashejumpedoffthe
lifeboat.

Jack!Whatareyoudoing?Rogerasked.

Shutup!JackshoutedbackatRoger.

ComeonJack,wecanfinallygohomenow!Ralphsaid,Givemeyourhand.Comebackup.

IsaidSHUTUP!!Jackyelled.

Suddenlyalltheboyswentsilent.TheyseemedshockedbywhatJackwasdoing.Someoftheboys
quicklylookedtheotherway,tryingtopretendthattheydidntknowJackwhileothersweretryingto
convincehimtocomeback.

No,Iamnotgoingback.Whoeverwantstogoback,cancomewithme!Jacksuggestedtotheboys.
NoonewasneitherrespondingtoJacknorfollowingJack.Notasingleboy,notevenRogerjumped
offtheboattofollowhim.Theyweredifferentnow.Theywerentsavagesanymore.

GuysHello????Anyone?Jacksaidashefeltleftoutbecausenobodywasfollowinghimanymore.
comeonguys!!...Anyonewanttocomewithmetotheisland?.Jackaskedagainwithahopethatat
leastonepersonwouldrespond.

Allofusarewaitingforyou,boy.Stopwastingtime.theNavalofficersaidimpatiently.

DamyouJackmumbledandbeganswimmingtowardstheshore.Alongtheway,heturned
aroundtoseeifanyoftheboyswasfollowinghim.

Ohthatidiot,stillinhisfantasyRalphsaidtohimself,thentothenavalofficer,Gofirst.Iwillbe
backattheshorewithJackafter30minutes.IfIdont,justleavewithoutus.Ralphtookadeepbreath
andjumpedofftheboat.HestartedfollowingJacktotheshore.

RalphstartedswimmingtowardstheshorefollowingJack.

Oncehewaswithinreachingdistance,heshouted:StopitJack,wevegottoleave

JackignoredallRalphwassayingtohimandoncehewasoutofthewater,helookedback,onlytosee
Ralphstillfollowinghim.Suddenly,Jackstartedrunningthroughtheshoreofthewholeisland.Ralph
wasquiteastonishedwhenhesawJackdothat,butoncehehimselfwasoutofthewater,herealized
whatJackwantedtoachieve.

BeforeRalphstartedfollowingJack,hewhispered:Herewegoagain.Rightafter,hestartedrunning
afterJackatgreatspeedtoseeifhecouldcatchupwithhim.

After5minutesrunning,JackturnedaroundtoseeifRalphwasstillshadowinghim.Hewas.Butjustas
heturnedaroundtolookforRalph,Jackstumbledwithsomeofthesmallrocksontheground,allowing
Ralphtogetclosertohim.

Ralphwasnowwithinreachingdistanceandshouted:Jack,youdontneedtodothis,youarenot
goingtogainanything.Theislandwillburnyououtandyouwilldiehere

Jackdidnotsayaword,andjustkeptrunninglikeifnothinghadhappened.

Justafewminuteslater,somethingtoldRalphthatJackwasgoingforrealandwoulddoanythingto
achievehisgoal.

AfewmetersinfrontofRalph,Jacknowhadsomethingbetweenhishandsthatlookedfamiliarto
Ralph.ItwasRogersspear,withtwosharpenedsides.OnceRalphsawwhattheobjectreallywas,he
sloweddownandkeptatasafedistancefromJackincasehedecidedtoattack.

10minuteshadalreadypassedsincethetwoleftthelifeboatandRalphwasalreadythinkingiftheNaval
officeralongwithalltheotherboyshadleftandgoneintothebignavalship.

Butrightnowhedidnotmindthat,hisobjectivewasstilltostopJackfromstayingintheislandevenifit
meanttheotherboysleavingwithoutthem.HewantedtostopJackassoonaspossiblesotheycould
cometoanagreementandluckilyleavetheislandsafely.

(Thesoundofwavescrashingagainsteachother).Backatthelifeboat,thecaptainisaghastatthe
behaviourofboththeboys.Hehadjustseena12yearoldbarbaricboyjumpintotheoceanand
escape,followedbyanotherone.Hewasshockedathowtheboysfearlesslyjumpedoffwithoutany
senseoffear,authorityorresponsibility.Hecouldn'tgetoverthefactthatjustafewmonthsoflifeon
theisolatedislandhadturnedtheseinnocent,civilizedBritishboysintoinhumansavages.Meanwhileall
theboysandthecrewontheboathadbeentakenbysurprisebyseeingJackandRalphjumpoffthe
boat.
Whatdowedonow?Wecantjustleavethembothallalone!Theislandmustbefullofflamesright
now!saidRoger.Hesrightofficer!Wemustfollowthemtomakesuretheyresafe.saidSamnEric
totheNavalOfficer.
Donotworrychildren.Iveinstructedthecrewtochangecourseimmediately.Wellbegoingbackto
theislandtofindthem.Butyouchildrenhavetostaybackontheboatwiththecrew.Illbegoingwith
theotherofficerstofindthem.saidtheNavalOfficertothechildrenwithreassurance.
After15minutes,theycouldseetheislandcomingcloser.Itlookedlikeahugestashofflamesinthe
middleofvastbluesea.Theyfinallyreachedtheshorebuttheislandseemedimpossibletoenter.The
NavalOfficerandtheotherofficerssetofftofindJackandRalph.
Icantseeanythingbutfire,ihopetheycanmakeitbackherealivesaidRogerfromtheship.

Theofficerstriedtheirbesttogetintotheislandbuttherewasnowayin.

Itssurroundedbyflamesallover.Itsnotsafetogoinside.Isuggestwellwaitforthechildrentocome
out.saidthenavalofficer.
IabsolutelyagreeSir.saidtheassistantofficer.
MeanwhileRalphhadchasedJackallthewaytotheforest.
Jackstoprunningandlistentome!Wehavetogo,butIcannotleaveyoutodiehereallalone.We
mustgetbackhomeandbacktocivilization.RalphscreamedashecontinuedchasingJack.
No!Iwillnotreturn.ImtheKING.Thisismyterritory!saidJack.
HeranonanddidnotpayheedtowhatRalphwassaying.
Jackwasstillblindedandcouldn'tseetherealpicture.HewassodesperatetobetheKingonceagain
andtohaveeveryoneunderhisauthority.Hecouldn'tthinkofanythingbutthat.AftereverythingJack
andhistroophaddonetohim,RalphstillcaredforJackandwantedtosavehim.Hefeltasenseof
responsibilityoverJack,heknewJackwasoutofhissensesandwasn'tthinkingintherightdirection.

SuddenlyJackstopped,lookedaroundtoseehowcloseRalphwasbehindhim.Hedidntseeanysign
ofRalph,butknewhewasclosebehindhim.AsJacklookedaround,hesawwhatwasleftofthesow.
Hesawthetheskullofthesowandthoughtaboutwhathadhappenedatthisplace.
Lordofthefliesshesaidsilently.
JackrealisedthatthefiretheysettohuntRalph,wasnowhuntinghimself.Hewouldnothavealotof
timetillthefirereachedhimandbesidesthat,Ralphwasclosebehindhim.Jacktookthethespear
wheretheskullwaspiercedinto,andthrewitintheflames.Ralphcouldnotbeabletogetit,incaseit
camedowntoafight.
HestoodstilluntilhesawRalphnottoofarawayfromhim.HehadtoreachCastleRockbeforeRalph
couldconfronthim.Hedidnotwanttodiscussanything,nothingatall.Therewasnothingtodiscuss.
WhywasRalphfollowinghimanyways?.Hecouldnotanswerthisquestion.Instead,heturnedaround
onceagain,thistimeRalphwascloseup.Hesprintedasfastashecould,evenfasterthantheymade
himruninschool.
Jackranthroughtheisland,dodgedtheflamesandhadtomakesurethathedidnottipeverytwo
meters.Aftera5minutesprintJackreachedhisgoal.HisCastleRockwasinfrontofhim.Thiswasthe
placeforhistribe,hisempire.NowRalpharrived.

FamiliarsurroundingsappearedasJackfinallycametoastop.HisbarebackfacedRalph,asRalph
too,drewtoahesitantstride.TheusedtobepaleandfragilesurfaceofJacksskinwasnow
concealedwithcutsandscarshehadliveduptoahuntersexpectations.Theknucklesonhisfingers
whitenedashisgriponthespeardangerouslyconstricted,insinuatingthathisfriendshipwithRalphhad
changed.Thehorizonswallowedthesuntorturouslyslow,leavingtheskydancingwiththeflamesofa
fierceorange.Thecrackleoftheinflamedislandsinkedinwiththeroaroftheoceanagainsttherocks
therocksPiggyhadlastbeenseen.Thebrokenconchshelllayofftotheright,dormantandexploitedof
itspower.CastleRockstoodbesidesthetwoboys,standingstrongandpowerfulanempirethat
stoodabovetheislandbeast.Thisoncebeautifulislandwasnowtheirownterrifyingdungeon.

RalphtookthebiggeststepforwardhecouldmasterJacksaurawasdrivinghimaway.Jack.He
said.Noresponsecamefromsavageturnedchoirboy.Ralphtriedagaintoreachhislatecompanion.
Jack.Itsovernow.TheNavycameweresaved.Hereasoned,hopeslippingintohisvoice.

Werenot!Wearentsaved.Theyhavedestroyedus,mytribe,theyhavedestroyedme.Jackhissed,
venomseepingthrough.Ralphwasdumbfounded.

Doyounotwanttobesaved?Ralphwhispered,moretohimselfthantoJack.Ralphobservedthe
hunter,noticingnow,howmuchJackhadchanged.Hewassuddenlyselfconscious.Ralphretreated,as
thepalpablefeelingofpurehatredreekingfromJacksinsides.HadJacklosthimself?Hadhecometo
apointwhereallhelongedfor,waspower?Howfarhadtheyallstrayedfromhumanity?.

Jackturned,Ialreadytoldyou!Thisisntsavingus.Everythingwasfinebeforetheycamealong.Jack
hitthegroundwiththespearinfury,causingRalphtojerk.Jackseemedtoboilupwithangerasthe
secondspassed.Whydoyoualwaysgetwhatyouwant?HeshriekedatRalphinindignation.Ralph
this,RalpthatItsalwaysyou!Hecontinuedaimlesslyslicingtheairwiththespear.Ralphtookafew
stepsawayfromthewildboy.ThefrownhadburneditselfbetweenJackseyebrows.Youwere
electedchief,youhadtherightineverything,youwerealwaysthegoodguy,andnowyougetwhatyou
wantedustobesaved.Hegrowled.Jackscreamedoutinfrustration.Ralphstaredinawe,unableto
findhisvoice.

Whatdoyoumean?Ralpheventuallyreplied.Youwereinchargeofthehunters.Intheendyouhad
yourowntribe,RalphandJacklookedlongandhardateachotherbeforehecontinued.Jack
Cantyouseewhatyouvebecome?heaskeddespondently.Jackopenedhismouthtodefend
himself,butRalphcuthimoff.TwopeoplewerekilledbecauseofyouJack.SimonandPiggy,Ralph
steppedforwardprocuringapositionwithslightmorepowerthanhehadearlier.Theywereourfriends
Jack.Andyouwantedtokillthem.Youwantedtokillme.Ralphinsisted,willingforthegoodand
ordertocometotheirsenses.Jackexpressionturnedbitter.

Iwantedtokillthebeast!Hecried.Iwantedtodogood.

Cantyousee.Therewasnobeast.Piggywasrighttosayweshouldbeafraidofeachother.Weare
thebeastJack.Ralphexplained,pleadingforreasonandharboringthesorrowforhisdeceasedfriend.
Ralphknew,however,thatthisquarrelwouldneverend.Jackandhimwouldforeverbeindeadlock,
becausetheywerentthesame,theywerethecompleteopposites.

Thebeastisreal!Jackcried.Andwiththat,thebeastwas.JacklungedatRalph,lettinghisabhorrent
feelingstowardRalphrunwild.RalphcriedoutandtriedtofightJackoff,butitwasnouse.Ralphhit
Jackinthesidewithallhehad,causingthechoirboytogroanandgetangrier.

Jackstop!Ralphscreamed.Jackdidntseemtohearhimanymore,hewasblindedbyrage.Jack
punchedforRalphsfaceandRalphtooktheharshblow.Ralphcriedout
andpushedJackoffofhim.Theybothjumpedtotheirfeet.Whatareyoudoing?Cantyouseethisis
wrong?Ralphasked.JackignoredhimandranheadfirstintoRalph,almostimitatingawildboar.
RalphwentdownwithJackonhimandtheybrawled.

Astheyscrambledaroundthehardrockfloorofcastlerock,theystartedtoretreatbackintothe
savagerytheyhadjustrecentlyescaped.Theyrepelledeachotherandstaggeredtotheirfeet.Jack
pickedupthestickhehaddiscardedearlierandlookedatRalph.Hiseyesfloodedwithhatred.His
bodywasemittingastenchofevilandominousness.Jackslowlyraisedhisspear.Ralphtriedtomove
buthisfeetweregluedtothegroundinhorror.Jackletoutabloodcurdlingscreamandchargedat
Ralph.RalphcriedoutasthespearstruckinontherightsideofhischestandwentdownwithJackon
him.Ralphgrabbedthebrokenconchshellandthrusteditintohisabdomen.Jackcriedoutandfellto
Jackside.Theybothpantedastheirfightdiedalongwiththeirwill.Everythingbecamesilencedaround
them,leavingthesoothingsoundsofthewaves,thehumsoftheoceanwindsandtherumbleofthe
beaststhatlaydormantwithinthedarkestcornersoftheforest.Ithadbeentoolateforthetwo,but
RalphandJackwouldhaveknownthattheywouldneverbeabletogetridofeachother,andthesoul
thathadcometopossesthem.AstheirbreathingcametoacloseRalphandJacksharedthesamesky,
thesameworld,andthesamerealitythathadblindedthemtheydiedtogether,thewaytheyalways
would.