"Watch it!"
"Shhhh-"
"-hhhhhhh."
"Shutup and keep looking."
"We can't-"
"-see anything."
"Then used your hands!" An irritated crease mark appeared on Ralph's forehead, so pale then that not even in the sun they would have been able to see it. But it would be sure to appear darker in his later years.
It was later. After Ralph had scaled the ship to look for the perfect place, he and Samneric wandering around until it was dark and everybody had gone to bed. Now it was time. He stooped down, fumbling over all sorts of damp woolen things that stank with the aroma of sweat and were most likely infested with at least a few creatures per item. His hand swept the dust off the damp floor and onto the clothes until he came upon the surprisingly cold, smooth object, and held it up with his thumb and index. To be sure, he rubbed his hand over the smooth part of the object. It was cracked, and at one point his skin latched on to the sharp ends of it, until he was able to rip it away.
"Found it."
Samneric stopped and looked up at Ralph, with two eyes of moon from their spot near the wall of the room. "Time?"
"Yet?"
"Yes."
Ralph moved on and was trailed by the twins, still confused and feeling left out. But since no one knew more than the other, it caused no need for a sudden burst of question. They waited until they were outside, once again in the cast of the moonlight, before turning to Ralph again.
"Eh, Ralph? You-"
"-still haven't told us why-"
"-we're out here."
"For the death of Simon and Piggy. For everything that that evil boy has done and for the evil we all were forced into."
"A-"
"-burial?"
"Splendid."
Ralph gave a half-effort smile. "Tom gave me the idea."
"Tom?" one of them said. For the time being, it was not important that they hadn't chorused the word.
"The officer who rescued us."
"Oh!"
"I like him."
"Me too."
The twins looked at each other for a moment, then turned back to Ralph. They had walked barefooted and were surprised that all were still standing. Eric took this time to push his twin, and in a fit of giggles the two came crashing down.
"Right on your-"
"Bum!"
"Will you two be quiet?!" Ralph snapped. He kneeled down, immediately sorry for the outburst, not for saying it, but for the way it was said. "No one may hear us. The others 'll just laugh." His hands began to work with the same intimate focus Jack used to have when he worked with the pig, flying all at the same moment. He had held up the two sticks that had been blown onto the ship for reminiscence, planning to save it for some craft project his mother loved coming up with. Maybe he would see her again. Maybe he would think of it himself. But for now, he was putting it to a better, more creative use than he could have thought of.
Jack angrily came by the door, peering out the clouded window but not daring to open it. In a last attempt to hear the conversation he went around and out another door, and by the time he came out they were already about to begin. He crept forward and stood under the shadows.
Ralph was now standing over a cross made of sticks, an aurora of lightnight bugs crawling over a few points at the top. They froze when a sudden jolt shook the boat, and stayed for a while in that frozen position.
Ralph wish he'd saved a flower as well, but he had no press and it would have looked awfully girlish. He also wish the conch had not been destroyed, but then with another thought would have rather it flung over the edge to shatter in a million pieces rather than Piggy when he'd hit the rocks. So with what he had, his tribute in front, his procession behind, he cleared his throat and began.
"This wasn't s'posed to happed. We were s'posed to live on that island as happily as we could, like the first day. But things change. And two were killed because of it. Piggy... Simon... we truly miss you and we never wanted things to go this far. If only I could've stopped them... if only there was something I could've done... but it was all too late... and I-" his voice cracked. "And I'm sorry."
A while ago, had he thought to have a proper burial when the two died, he would have cried. But that was the main reason he postponed even thinking to deeply about the death of the two. And that part of his life was over now. He had cried already, and left the deepest depth of his sorrows behind on the island, where fear had ruled them all.
He stepped back, and in unison, Samneric stepped forward.
"We'll really miss you guys-"
"-because it was fun. We're sorry, Simon."
"Cos we called you batty. And you-"
"Piggy, cos we laughed at you. You both were..."
"Fun to be around."
"Yes. Lots of fun. And we're sorry-"
"-to see you go."
"Sorry."
"Yes."
Both the twins lowered their head at the same time, and a spray of water flushed their faces, helping them to breathe in deeply and calm down again. They realized now that Ralph was hovering over them and had his hand over each of their shoulders. The cross, now devoid of lightning bugs, stood still, wet, and looking like a simple pair of sticks. The glasses, dripping with beads of cloudy water, glimmered as it caught the cast of the moon.
Jack continued to glare at them from the shadows and waited until they had solemnly walked back inside before descending out into the open light. They had left the project standing against a few wooden steps. It swayed in the churning of the boat, but did not move from it's spot.
The dark shadow hovered overhead, superior to the small bundle of sticks and metal frame, but feeling rejected, for now he was not even respected as much as the stupid thing.
"I want to tell you-" Jack coughed, ashamedly lowering his head, his cheeks burning and an eternal black flame kindling in his eyes. "This 'en't my fault, you hear me? You- Simon- YOU came out of the forest at night when we- they were all scared. And YOU Piggy you fat jerk you should've shut up! If you just woulda stayed behind Ralph, Roger wouldn't 'a thrown that rock on you! So... yes. That's what you get. You both deserved it for being stupid. This wasn't my fault! Ralph," he said with a sneer, "Ralph shouldn't 've said that it was my fault because it wasn't! None of this was my fault! If it was anyone's at all it would've been Ralph's 'cos he should've protected you both, that's what a leader does! He should've stopped us when we were dancing- he should've stood in the way or pushed you out of it!" Jack was now rubicund of face and panting like he had been claustrophobic with too much of the facade of truth. This would be much easier with his paint. He wished he could have it now, but that would be impossible. Plus, carrying leaves filled with paint onto the ship might look desperate to the others, and he- he was once their leader. He was powerful, idolized, and even though things had changed, he was not going to lose his chance of still looking like the strong, capable ruler that he once was.
He shivered, the ocean waters flinging themselves at his body as though it were bad for him to be there at the time. The lightning bugs were completely out of sight now, making their journey across the sea, back to their own warm land. Jack scowled at the pathetic little project of sticks and glass, but stayed where he was, until a creepy feeling of being watched overcame him. He spun around, and the eminence of the moon seemed to create a thin film of illustrious gleam over h is eyes. For a moment he felt as if he were back, and crouched low, feeling the warm heat curl up into the atmosphere like puffs of smoke, and breathing in the humid air. The leaves pricked his face, a few small bugs crawled up his leg, and his nose itched, but he stayed frozen, his arm to the sky, feeling the weight of the lagging wooden stick in the upper part of his arm. He stood that way until a sudden thrash jerked his arm, and adrenaline pulsated thought his blood as he thrust forward, pumping his legs and attacking the being that moved through the forest ground. He blinked as the scene slowly melted away, and everything in exact contrast appeared before him. There was no sun, or warmth, or forest. He was out in the middle of nowhere, under the close eye of the moon and the frozen wind chill blowing over him. He blinked again and stood up, looking around to make sure no one had been there to see his ridiculous act. For another moment he felt something watching him, and, after glancing back over his shoulder, shouting, "It wasn't my fault!" at the sticks and glasses that seemed to only shake left to right and chuckle at his foolishness, he ran back into the shadows and the door he had come from, leaving the outside void of his presence.
Part III is on it's way ^.^!
"Shhhh-"
"-hhhhhhh."
"Shutup and keep looking."
"We can't-"
"-see anything."
"Then used your hands!" An irritated crease mark appeared on Ralph's forehead, so pale then that not even in the sun they would have been able to see it. But it would be sure to appear darker in his later years.
It was later. After Ralph had scaled the ship to look for the perfect place, he and Samneric wandering around until it was dark and everybody had gone to bed. Now it was time. He stooped down, fumbling over all sorts of damp woolen things that stank with the aroma of sweat and were most likely infested with at least a few creatures per item. His hand swept the dust off the damp floor and onto the clothes until he came upon the surprisingly cold, smooth object, and held it up with his thumb and index. To be sure, he rubbed his hand over the smooth part of the object. It was cracked, and at one point his skin latched on to the sharp ends of it, until he was able to rip it away.
"Found it."
Samneric stopped and looked up at Ralph, with two eyes of moon from their spot near the wall of the room. "Time?"
"Yet?"
"Yes."
Ralph moved on and was trailed by the twins, still confused and feeling left out. But since no one knew more than the other, it caused no need for a sudden burst of question. They waited until they were outside, once again in the cast of the moonlight, before turning to Ralph again.
"Eh, Ralph? You-"
"-still haven't told us why-"
"-we're out here."
"For the death of Simon and Piggy. For everything that that evil boy has done and for the evil we all were forced into."
"A-"
"-burial?"
"Splendid."
Ralph gave a half-effort smile. "Tom gave me the idea."
"Tom?" one of them said. For the time being, it was not important that they hadn't chorused the word.
"The officer who rescued us."
"Oh!"
"I like him."
"Me too."
The twins looked at each other for a moment, then turned back to Ralph. They had walked barefooted and were surprised that all were still standing. Eric took this time to push his twin, and in a fit of giggles the two came crashing down.
"Right on your-"
"Bum!"
"Will you two be quiet?!" Ralph snapped. He kneeled down, immediately sorry for the outburst, not for saying it, but for the way it was said. "No one may hear us. The others 'll just laugh." His hands began to work with the same intimate focus Jack used to have when he worked with the pig, flying all at the same moment. He had held up the two sticks that had been blown onto the ship for reminiscence, planning to save it for some craft project his mother loved coming up with. Maybe he would see her again. Maybe he would think of it himself. But for now, he was putting it to a better, more creative use than he could have thought of.
Jack angrily came by the door, peering out the clouded window but not daring to open it. In a last attempt to hear the conversation he went around and out another door, and by the time he came out they were already about to begin. He crept forward and stood under the shadows.
Ralph was now standing over a cross made of sticks, an aurora of lightnight bugs crawling over a few points at the top. They froze when a sudden jolt shook the boat, and stayed for a while in that frozen position.
Ralph wish he'd saved a flower as well, but he had no press and it would have looked awfully girlish. He also wish the conch had not been destroyed, but then with another thought would have rather it flung over the edge to shatter in a million pieces rather than Piggy when he'd hit the rocks. So with what he had, his tribute in front, his procession behind, he cleared his throat and began.
"This wasn't s'posed to happed. We were s'posed to live on that island as happily as we could, like the first day. But things change. And two were killed because of it. Piggy... Simon... we truly miss you and we never wanted things to go this far. If only I could've stopped them... if only there was something I could've done... but it was all too late... and I-" his voice cracked. "And I'm sorry."
A while ago, had he thought to have a proper burial when the two died, he would have cried. But that was the main reason he postponed even thinking to deeply about the death of the two. And that part of his life was over now. He had cried already, and left the deepest depth of his sorrows behind on the island, where fear had ruled them all.
He stepped back, and in unison, Samneric stepped forward.
"We'll really miss you guys-"
"-because it was fun. We're sorry, Simon."
"Cos we called you batty. And you-"
"Piggy, cos we laughed at you. You both were..."
"Fun to be around."
"Yes. Lots of fun. And we're sorry-"
"-to see you go."
"Sorry."
"Yes."
Both the twins lowered their head at the same time, and a spray of water flushed their faces, helping them to breathe in deeply and calm down again. They realized now that Ralph was hovering over them and had his hand over each of their shoulders. The cross, now devoid of lightning bugs, stood still, wet, and looking like a simple pair of sticks. The glasses, dripping with beads of cloudy water, glimmered as it caught the cast of the moon.
Jack continued to glare at them from the shadows and waited until they had solemnly walked back inside before descending out into the open light. They had left the project standing against a few wooden steps. It swayed in the churning of the boat, but did not move from it's spot.
The dark shadow hovered overhead, superior to the small bundle of sticks and metal frame, but feeling rejected, for now he was not even respected as much as the stupid thing.
"I want to tell you-" Jack coughed, ashamedly lowering his head, his cheeks burning and an eternal black flame kindling in his eyes. "This 'en't my fault, you hear me? You- Simon- YOU came out of the forest at night when we- they were all scared. And YOU Piggy you fat jerk you should've shut up! If you just woulda stayed behind Ralph, Roger wouldn't 'a thrown that rock on you! So... yes. That's what you get. You both deserved it for being stupid. This wasn't my fault! Ralph," he said with a sneer, "Ralph shouldn't 've said that it was my fault because it wasn't! None of this was my fault! If it was anyone's at all it would've been Ralph's 'cos he should've protected you both, that's what a leader does! He should've stopped us when we were dancing- he should've stood in the way or pushed you out of it!" Jack was now rubicund of face and panting like he had been claustrophobic with too much of the facade of truth. This would be much easier with his paint. He wished he could have it now, but that would be impossible. Plus, carrying leaves filled with paint onto the ship might look desperate to the others, and he- he was once their leader. He was powerful, idolized, and even though things had changed, he was not going to lose his chance of still looking like the strong, capable ruler that he once was.
He shivered, the ocean waters flinging themselves at his body as though it were bad for him to be there at the time. The lightning bugs were completely out of sight now, making their journey across the sea, back to their own warm land. Jack scowled at the pathetic little project of sticks and glass, but stayed where he was, until a creepy feeling of being watched overcame him. He spun around, and the eminence of the moon seemed to create a thin film of illustrious gleam over h is eyes. For a moment he felt as if he were back, and crouched low, feeling the warm heat curl up into the atmosphere like puffs of smoke, and breathing in the humid air. The leaves pricked his face, a few small bugs crawled up his leg, and his nose itched, but he stayed frozen, his arm to the sky, feeling the weight of the lagging wooden stick in the upper part of his arm. He stood that way until a sudden thrash jerked his arm, and adrenaline pulsated thought his blood as he thrust forward, pumping his legs and attacking the being that moved through the forest ground. He blinked as the scene slowly melted away, and everything in exact contrast appeared before him. There was no sun, or warmth, or forest. He was out in the middle of nowhere, under the close eye of the moon and the frozen wind chill blowing over him. He blinked again and stood up, looking around to make sure no one had been there to see his ridiculous act. For another moment he felt something watching him, and, after glancing back over his shoulder, shouting, "It wasn't my fault!" at the sticks and glasses that seemed to only shake left to right and chuckle at his foolishness, he ran back into the shadows and the door he had come from, leaving the outside void of his presence.
Part III is on it's way ^.^!