I am so sorry I took so long in updating this. I haven't even really got an excuse this time. I guess I've just been lazy. Ah well, such is life!
I'd like to thank everyone that reviewed, because you're all super, and especially Mackayla, because your reviews are always along the lines of, "update, fool!" and that gets me on task. =)
As you know, this story is drawing to a close, and I'd just like to thank everyone for their continued support and awesomeness. Thanks guys!
And now, on with the story.
The tears of the world are a constant quantity. For each one who begins to weep, somewhere else another stops.
Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot
Roger stood as a sentry, watching the island from atop Castle Rock. His face was humourless; the paint obscured any features that could have at any prior time been called good-looking. He took the job seriously, he didn't move from his position, even when a cold wind began to harangue his half clothed body. The icy claws lifted his hair, tossing it in front of his eyes, tearing at his dirty, bloodstained shorts, beating his chest like an external heart. The wind tossed dirt into his eyes, stinging them, but still he didn't move.
Below, he saw a line making its way down the beach. His fingers tightened around his spear, and he inched forward, watching with emotionless eyes. The group looked pathetic, he thought, pathetic and useless. If they were trying to look powerful they were failing miserably.
They reached the rock in due time, and Roger called down, "Who goes there?" There was no smile playing on his face.
"Don't be silly! You know who we are!" Ralph called up to him.
Roger laughed without mirth, "What do you want?"
Ralph didn't give an answer, instead climbing the harsh face of the rock. When he reached the spot where Roger was standing, he found the length of a spear blocking his way.
"I want to speak to Jack," he said, mustering as much authority as he could.
Roger sneered, "The chief doesn't meet with just anybody,"
Ralph's boys climbed up behind him and made as menacing a ring around him as they could. Piggy, blind and terrified, called up, "Ralph?" Roger saw Mary move towards Piggy and put a comforting hand on his shoulder, murmuring something. Roger met her eye and smiled wickedly at her. She gave him an icy stare in return.
Mary saw Jack descend from above like a king; head held high, saying, "What do you want?" Unseen from below, Clara watched the proceedings from behind Jack.
"You took Piggy's glasses and you broke up our camp!" Ralph was livid at Jack's apparent calm, "We'd have given you fire if you'd asked for it! You had no right to do what you did! You had no right!"
Jack ignored him, "This is our end of the island," he said, "Go back to where you came from,"
"We're not here to make a war," Ralph implored.
"Too late," he heard Roger taunting behind him. He half turned to face him.
"What's the spear for, then?" Jack sneered.
"To teach you a lesson if you try anything," Ralph growled, trying to sound menacing.
If Jack was afraid, he didn't show it. A smile played on his lips as he said, "Go on then, teach me," Ralph lunged at him wildly, throwing all his weight forwards.
Below, Piggy began inching his way along the side of Castle Rock, feeling blindly.
"Piggy?" Mary moved towards him, "Do you want me to guide you?"
"No," he said, "You go up there, I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?"
He nodded, and with a final glance, she began scaling the rock, and the other girls followed her lead.
Jack dodged Ralph's dive easily, and hit him with his spear.
"Don't you touch him, Jack Merridew!" one of the twins cried.
"Or what?" the mocking voice of one of the hunters asked from above.
"Or – or we'll really teach you!" the other twin yelled, and they made for Jack.
Above the other boys' jeering, Jack could be heard shouting, "Tie them up!"
The twins were taken easily by Roger, who bound them together with ropes from the trees.
"Stop it you're –"
"Hurting! It isn't –"
"Fair it isn't! Please!" the twins cried
"Who said anything about," Roger tightened the bonds fiercely, "fair?"
"I did!"
The new, clear voice was enough to startle everyone into silence. Jack and Ralph, panting, separated themselves and stood side by side, wary but unmoving. Everyone looked to find the source of the speaker.
"I did, and you'd better listen, Ralph. And you too, Jack Merridew, I got the conch!"
At this, one of the hunters broke the silence, saying, "Your stupid conch doesn't count here, fatty!" The boys broke out into loud hooting and jeering.
"Shut up!" Piggy shouted. And miraculously, they did. After a moment, he continued, "A lot of bad things been happening on this island. And you, Jack Merridew, you're the cause of it! What's better? To have rules and agree? Or to hunt and kill?"
One of the hunters yelled, "Hunt and kill!" and the others broke into laughter, pelting stones at blind Piggy, who didn't know where they were coming from.
"Shut up!" He shouted again. This time, they didn't listen. As Piggy tried desperately to be heard above the din, Roger abandoned the twins and crept up the rock, watching Piggy from behind a boulder.
"...pack of painted niggers!"
Roger leaned against the rock.
"Law and rescue, or..."
The rock moaned in resistance.
"...sensible, like Ralph is?"
The boulder rocked back and forth, gaining momentum.
"You're acting like a crowd of kids!"
The stone was let loose, falling heavily down.
"Whee-aa-oo!" Roger cried.
"Ralph!" Piggy screamed. The rock hit his side, and he was sent flying, almost comically, tumbling over himself. There was a quiet, anticlimactic thud as he hit something.
The group stood in silence, shocked. It was Ralph who first found his voice.
"Murderers!" he screamed, "Murderers! Murderers!" and he ran past Jack, into the bushes.
Jenny and Mary were shocked out of their daze by Ralph's cries. As he passed, they saw tears streaming down his face.
"You killed him!" Jenny screamed, "You killed him!"
"Murderer! You killed him you murderer!" Together, they ran at Roger, beating him, screaming, crying.
Jack's voice was cold and commanding, "Tie them up,"
Boys swarmed the rock from above, grabbing whoever they could. The girls scattered wildly, some escaping into the trees. In minutes it was over, and Mary, Jenny, Genevieve, Margaret, and a number of other girls had been tied at the wrist. They were chained together by the ropes and led like dogs up to the encampment. The boys stood on either side of the procession, headed by Jack and Roger, and as the girls passed, they jeered, threw rocks and spat, laughing.
Clara stood awkwardly, watching her friends being led upwards. As Mary passed her, her face contorted in hatred, and she mouthed, "traitor,"
Clara lowered her head and did nothing to prevent their passage. Mary was no longer her mistress.
The girls were pushed roughly into seated positions, and although none spoke, Jack produced his knife and cut gags from what had once been a choir member's cape. He tied them tightly, leaving only Mary un-gagged. He stood in front of her, looking at her curiously. He let the ribbon of black tumble gently to the ground. When Mary opened her mouth to speak, he said,
"If I hear you, I'll cut off your tongue," there was no violence in his voice. He spoke flatly, almost sadly.
She watched him go, almost wishing he had gagged her. The wickedly knowing looks the boys shot in her direction made her all the more ashamed of the hot tears that fell silently onto her lap.
Mary sat for what felt like years, but in reality was no more than five minutes, before she lifted her head. Roger was the reason.
"Hey boss," he called, "I found these two in the bushes. What d'you want me to do with 'em?" he produced to small, crying girls, shoving them forward with such force that one fell to the ground.
Mary's eyes widened in fear, "Tie them with the others," Jack said emotionlessly.
"Hey chiefy," Roger said, "I got the conch,"
Jack watched him warily, "The conch doesn't count here,"
"I know. Hey, catch!" he threw it at him.
"It doesn't count," he said again, tossing it back listlessly.
Roger chuckled, "I know chiefy. Hey, look!" he said, taking the conch against a rock. He hit it a few times before it shattered, and he laughed.
No one said anything, and Roger scowled. He moved back to where the two girls were seated on the ground, crying into each-other's shoulders. He hoisted them up easily, one of their arms in each hand, and dragged them over to the other girls. Mary was the first in the line of girls, and he tied them at the opposite end, letting his gaze linger a moment on Mary. He smirked, but she said nothing, lowering her gaze.
She felt her stomach knotting; Catherine and Anne had been caught. She sat silently, trying to think. She didn't want the girls hurt, and in desperation realized she would have to save them.
She opened her mouth to speak, but the words died in her throat. She tried again, but the words were so heavy they fell to the ground, unheard. "Third time's the charm," she thought sourly, and tried again.
"Jack?"
He turned, and she half expected him to take out his knife, but he didn't.
"I..." she was terrified of continuing, but looked at the girls bound beside her, and mustering all the strength she could, said, "I want to speak to you,"
She was ashamed of how weak her words sounded.
Jack approached. The other boys made to follow, but he motioned for them to go back to what they were doing.
He stood above her for a moment, looking down. She met his gaze, but could not hold it, and looked down shamefully.
He bent over and in a quick, fluid movement, cut her bonds. He took her arm firmly and led her away, his back to the curious stares the boys gave him.
He led her to his shelter, and seated her on the floor. He handed her a coconut shell filled with water. She held it in her hands and stared blankly at it. She was thirsty, but could not bring herself to drink.
Jack sighed, "What do you want?"
Mary was shaking. She didn't realize it until a bit of water spilled onto her leg, "Please, Jack," she said, disgusted by how whiny she sounded, she tried to control her voice, "Please, let them go. They didn't do anything. Please,"
He regarded her coolly, "And if I let them go, what do I get in return?"
She sat very still, bit her lip and said quietly, "Me,"
Did you like it? I damn well hope so. =D Review, s'il vous plait!