Fire on the Mountain

           BythetimeRalphfinishedblowingtheconchtheplatformwascrowded.Thereweredifferencesbetweenthismeetingandtheoneheldinthemorning.Theafternoonsunslantedinfromtheothersideoftheplatformandmostofthechildren,feelingtoolatethesmartofsunburn,hadputtheirclotheson.Thechoir,lessofagroup,haddiscardedtheircloaks.

           Ralphsatonafallentrunk,hisleftsidetothesun.Onhisrightweremostofthechoir;onhisleftthelargerboyswhohadnotknowneachotherbeforetheevacuation;beforehimsmallchildrensquattedinthegrass.

           Silencenow.Ralphliftedthecreamandpinkshelltohiskneesandasuddenbreezescatteredlightovertheplatform.Hewasuncertainwhethertostanduporremainsitting.Helookedsidewaystohisleft,towardthebathingpool.Piggywassittingnearbutgivingnohelp.

           Ralphclearedhisthroat.

           "Wellthen."

           Allatoncehefoundhecouldtalkfluentlyandexplainwhathehadtosay.Hepassedahandthroughhisfairhairandspoke.

           "We’reonanisland.We’vebeenonthemountaintopandseenwaterallround.Wesawnohouses,nosmoke,nofootprints,noboats,nopeople.We’reonanuninhabitedislandwithnootherpeopleonit."

           Jackbrokein.

           "Allthesameyouneedanarmy—forhunting.Huntingpigs—"

           "Yes.Therearepigsontheisland."