Ralph's father wasn't there to meet him. They'd told him he would be, but he hadn't. They said he'd be there soon, must be there soon, but Ralph knew better. He knew better about a lot of things now.
Piggy's aunt was there - nobody had bothered to tell her the truth, just said her nephew had been with the boys on the island, according to the blond one. When all the boys had stepped off the boat, she noticed. She knew.
Her nephew hadn't got off the island.
Ralph wanted to go up to her and apologize, he didn't know what for. What would he say anyway? That he was Piggy's friend? It was a half truth; Piggy had been a truer friend to him than anybody, but what had Ralph done for him?
In the end, he simply walked right past her. Somehow, the whole thing was too pitiful to endure and he sped up his steps.
No one showed up for Simon.
The twins were bundled off together. Ever since they'd left the island, the twins kept far away from Ralph, ashamed of what they'd done.
Ralph might have spoken to them but he didn't know if that would make them feel worse.
According to the woman in the blue suit, "Your parents have arranged for you to go on holiday in the country. Aren't you two lucky? They won't be there for a few days, but you'll be fine since you have each other, right?" She shut the taxi door on them, clutching on to each other looking more lost than ever.
Ralph didn't stick around to see Jack and Roger. As soon as they'd landed, men in dark suits and white coats had surrounded them, while the naval officer repeated what he'd been told.
Around him, more boys were collected, Maurice and the littluns and even Percival Wemys Madison. Ralph stood in the midst of it all and felt like crying.
He didn't. Instead, he just kept walking, trying to find his way through a world that seemed to be both embracing and rejecting him.
What else was there to do?