Ralph's heartbeat thumped. His brain sent him short, logical
messages that echoed his pulse. Run. Run. Run.
He could hear the boys behind him. Gaining on him. Savages. Ralph
remembered when they had first been on the island. Piggy taking
names, and Simon fainting. And Jack. He had wanted to be leader too.
But they had all been friends. Civilized.
And now. He could hear the battle cries. These were not the boys he
knew. Fear and hate had consumed them. He could feel the heat of
their malice.
He allowed himself one quick glance behind him. The boys were ten
feet behind him, and they were closing in. Forming a circle. It seemed
now as if the fire burned with hate and fear instead of hope.
Ralph turned abruptly. He started to run towards the ocean. When he
got to the shore, he stopped. He jumped into the cool waters. The
cold, brisk waves were the opposite of the flaming fire of hate started
by Jack. Ralph swam as fast as he could. But not towards the deep
waters. Towards the right.
He swam under the waves. None of the savages followed. They
couldn't see him.
He reached the rock. Not castle rock, but the rock that he, Piggy and
Samneric found.
Ralph found the raft that they made. It had taken a long time, but
they had finished it. He had to get off of the island. He wished deeply
that Samneric could come too, but maybe if he reached another,
friendlier shore, he could bring back a boat to rescue them.
He set out into the ocean, the tide carrying him away. If he reached
a shore at all.