"Commander," I reported, "We are approaching an unknown island. There appears to be smoke coming from the trees. Would you like us to scout the island?"
"Of course, Reilly," he replied impatiently. "We are here to find those lost boys. We must check everywhere. You know that!"
I saluted, and strode out of the cabin. Captain Waddell always made me out to be the dolt of any situation. I was just following orders. Fueled by my anger, I almost ran to the deck. "Lower the lifeboats, Jones, we're going ashore." It felt good to be in control somewhere.
Within ten minutes we were rowing ashore. When we neared the beach, several of us jumped out of our boats and dragged them onto the beach. As soon as I set foot on the island, I had a strong urge to strip off my shoes and shirt, to beat my chest and holler, to be a boy again. Feeling rather confused, I shoved a few strands of blonde hair off my forehead and walked towards the forest.
I hadn't taken more than three strides before a small, tan boy half stumbled, half rolled out of the woods and landed at my feet. He knelt and stared at my feet, then gave me a look, eye fore eye.
He was the most perfect boy I had ever seen. His long, white-blond, unkempt hair hung in front of his eyes like a tattered curtain. His wide, ice blue eyes had the startled look of a hunted deer in them. Well-trained muscles rippled beneath his tan flesh. I had to smile.
"Fun and games," I said. Suddenly a whole tribe of boys, painted and ferocious, armed with wooden spears, appeared at the edge of the forest. I was shocked, the boy before me was clearly different from the others. "We saw your smoke," I continued, "what have you been doing? Having a war or something?"
The boy nodded. On second glance, he was shabby, unkempt and homely.
"Nobody killed, I hope. Any dead bodies?" A reasonable question, I thought. I was humoring his game.
"Only two. And they've gone"
Two! I hadn't really expected any! Regaining my train of thought, I pushed on, "Who's the boss here?"
"I am!" the boy said defiantly. One of the painted boys stepped forward. He hesitated, and stayed where he was. He looked worse for wear then the blond boy in front of me.
I glanced up at the forest. It was totally red with flame. All the ferocious looking boys ran out of the woods, screaming like the children they were. The boy in front of me burst to tears. Embarrassed, I looked away as the forest gave way to a charred ruin.