I picked my way through the jungle, gingerly carrying the conch up the mountain. The emerald green trees, and bushes, formed a thick wall of foliage, which had been torn through by the crowd of boys. The littleuns had charged, in Jack's footsteps after he had rushed off to the top of the mountain to build the signal fire. Ralph, had let the conch fall from his hands, and after a scornful look my way he had rushed off after the other boys. As I approached the steep slope of the mountain, I heard excited voices and lots of thumps, I supposed this was wood on the fire but I could not be sure.
It had been a rather hurried decision to start a fire, I expected this Jack and the others it would probably take their brains a long time to finally come to the conclusion that they hadn’t any means of starting a fire in the first place. This I would have expected of Jack, he seemed to be the impulsive kind of person to build a great big pile of wood, yet with nothing to start a fire with. Ralph however had surprised me, I had thought of him as a thoughtful person, but it seemed he had rushed off after Jack, in their attempt to flag down ships with a giant pile of wood.
I had reached the edge of the jungle, and extricated myself from the weave of vines the seemed endless throughout the jungle. My breath coming in ragged gasps, as I struggled for a breath, auntie wouldn’t have approved of such an excursion, I supposed she wouldn’t have approved of being shot down in an airplane, and crashing onto an island, with 50 or 60 maniacal boys I though woefully. The conch nearly slipped from my fingers, as a rock came loose under my foot. I slipped a few feet back down the slope, sending a shower of rock down behind me. I managed to grab onto a sturdy looking rock with me free hand, and I slowly started up the hill again. This time I reached the crest of the hill, I found a comfortable place and observed the tumult on the hilltop platform. Jack was standing there not doing much of anything barking orders at the littleuns who nimbly wove between the trees grabbing stray branches and small logs and dragging them back up the hill. They probably found the idea of a fire irresistible, who could blame them? A fire promised warmth, and a small hope that someone would see the smoke a rescue them. And while we were still here, the fire could potentially protect them from the snake beast they keep babbling about. They were just little children, and Jack was taking advantage of their fears, by using them against Ralph, nobody seemed to notice except Ralph and myself.
I decided it was a good time to intervene and announce that they had nothing with which to make a fire, so they might as well stop. They proceedings on the hill had stopped and Jack was muttering some about "rubbing sticks together” he was really denser then I had thought.
"You can't make a fire you know, there is nothing you can use." I broke into the mutterings officiously. A few moments silence ensued as I let this sink in, but right as I was about to continue a great cry erupted.
"Specs! Specs! Take his specs!" Someone cried, and soon they all took up the chant "Specs Specs." I backed hurriedly up and stumbled down.
"No! Please, Ralph!" I called out to him he seemed not to hear me, meanwhile Jack rushed out of the crowd and snatched the specs off my face. "Please, I cant see at all." I felt as if I just plunged underwater. The world looked blurry, and images swam before my eyes. A yellow light started to glow, and I head my specs being hurled to the ground. I crawled along the ground, toward where I had heard the noise. I felt something smooth under my fingers and, quickly put my specs back on. They had coaxed a small tongue of flame from the logs, which emitted popping noises and quickly erupted into flame. The leaves curled and warped under the heat, and soon the fire was blazing. Sparks flashed merrily up from the pile of wood, but they were carried on the breeze towards the jungle surrounding us. Ralph, Jack and the others started as they looked down the slope and saw tree catching on fire below. There were ominous popping noises as other trees caught fire. Soon the forest was ablaze. There seemed to be green water rushing out from the jungle floor, but on of the younger boys cried
"Snakes run!" It was true green snakes were slithering as an alarming speed up the mountain away from the fire.
"Everybody down the hill!" Ralph cried, he glanced around trying to take a headcount in the chaos. "Piggy!" He cried " how many of us were there?"
" I don’t know!"
"You were supposed to take names!" He said now sounding angry.
'Ralph I was all by myself!"
"Hold on" Jack broke in "Where is the boy with the birthmark?" And with that everybody streamed down the hill, as the fire was getting closer, Jack and Ralph were running down the hill in search of the lost boy.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Blog 1: The Island
We were flying over open ocean, a deep blue dotted with white lines as the wind blew the crests off swells. I followed a swell, tracing my hand along the windows it followed a straight course across open ocean until it crashed against the white beach and was sucked back into the ocean. The plane's silver wing clashed with the ocean, the plane was filled with the usual clamor. Rumors, conversations, secrets, everybody talking fast. So naturally one would be worried when the plane went dead silent, everybody's eyes were fixed to the window. That was before panic took hold, and it did very loudly.
The wing's sleek silver surface was scarred with flames ripping across its surface. They devoured the wind and the plane seemed to slow in the air and tip slightly. The bags flew out from over head, people were getting out of their seats, and tripping over the suitcases careening down the aisles. Up ahead in the cabin the pilot's face, had gone pale with a deathly pallor, his hand slacked from the controls and fell to his side quivering.
We continued in our downward descent toward the small island, it looked empty with jagged rocks, and massive green jungles. As the water and rock closed in people started wrenching open doors, no one jumped though. The metal body of the plane seemed to stand a better chance against the little island then we did by ourselves.
I got up and made my way over to a different window dodging boxes and suitcases. The plane reached the island and crumpled. We slid along the ground ripped open a scar in the jungle, making a grating sound as we went. Windows were smashed, and we ground to a stop.
I slowly clambered out of my seat, and around the mess, and out one of the numerous gashes in the side of the plane. The wing still smoking slightly, was dotted with small holes. They were bullet holes, they dotted the wing and sides of the plane. That must have been the cause of the fire. I looked around, surveying the scenery. Boys from the plane were running around in every direction, eventually they were swallowed by the jungle and I was left alone standing there amid the wreckage of the plane.
I wandered through the jungle, aimlessly looking for a sign of human life, someone that could explain what was happening, or tell me that this was just a dream. That I would wake up soon, and I would be back in my bed. I came across a tree with vibrant green fruit, I had not eaten since the plane and I was hungry so I decided to taste one. Cautiously I picked a fruit from the tree , and bit into it. It was sweet, but the skin on the fruit was tough, and I had to use a piece of wood from the floor to scrape a hole in it. I found a few more around the tree and devored them all.
The birds were making a strident noise, as they flew unseen from branch to branch. I caught a glimpse of one, as it made it's way through the trees. Suddenly all the birds scattered as a loud niose sounded through the forest. It sounded a bit like a trumpet, but a very out of tune one. Who ever, or what ever it was kept making the noise.
I followed the sound through the trees, and came out on a small beach bordered by a blue lagoon. Down the beach, there was what looked like a small group of people. The noise seemed to be coming from that way as well. I walked through the sand, towards the platform, they were having some sort of meeting. I slipped onto the platform and sat down. A boy with a very round face and glasses peered down at me.
"Whats your name?'
"Bob"
"Bob" he murmured, he seemed to be taking note of that in his head. Everyone was talking at once, and then a boy who was hold a giant shell pointed farther down the beach. More boys were coming up the beach, in two decorous lines. They all had cloaks, and black hats, the leader approached the platform,
"Where are all the adults?"
"There aren't any" the boy with the shell answered.
"Then who was making that awful noise?" The boy said vainly.
"We did, we're having a meeting, about what to do on this island." The rounder boy with glasses seemed a little frightened of the boy.
"We should have a cheif!" Said a pair of twins in unison.
"I'll be chief, my name is Jack and I can sing a C sharp."
"We could elect a leader" interposed a boy from the back.
The tall boy called Jack, looked at him speculating , " Alright who votes for me?" He said with indignation. Everyone who had come with Jack raised their hands, obdiently.
"Ok who votes for Ralph?" said the round boy pointing to the boy with the conch. Everyonejumbled onto the platform raised their hands, after a moment I slowly raised my hand. I prefered Ralph to Jack who to me sounds very bossy.
I voted for Ralph, Jack seemed to be very vain, and bossy. I hadnt really heard Ralf say much, but I didnt want Jack as leader.
The wing's sleek silver surface was scarred with flames ripping across its surface. They devoured the wind and the plane seemed to slow in the air and tip slightly. The bags flew out from over head, people were getting out of their seats, and tripping over the suitcases careening down the aisles. Up ahead in the cabin the pilot's face, had gone pale with a deathly pallor, his hand slacked from the controls and fell to his side quivering.
We continued in our downward descent toward the small island, it looked empty with jagged rocks, and massive green jungles. As the water and rock closed in people started wrenching open doors, no one jumped though. The metal body of the plane seemed to stand a better chance against the little island then we did by ourselves.
I got up and made my way over to a different window dodging boxes and suitcases. The plane reached the island and crumpled. We slid along the ground ripped open a scar in the jungle, making a grating sound as we went. Windows were smashed, and we ground to a stop.
I slowly clambered out of my seat, and around the mess, and out one of the numerous gashes in the side of the plane. The wing still smoking slightly, was dotted with small holes. They were bullet holes, they dotted the wing and sides of the plane. That must have been the cause of the fire. I looked around, surveying the scenery. Boys from the plane were running around in every direction, eventually they were swallowed by the jungle and I was left alone standing there amid the wreckage of the plane.
I wandered through the jungle, aimlessly looking for a sign of human life, someone that could explain what was happening, or tell me that this was just a dream. That I would wake up soon, and I would be back in my bed. I came across a tree with vibrant green fruit, I had not eaten since the plane and I was hungry so I decided to taste one. Cautiously I picked a fruit from the tree , and bit into it. It was sweet, but the skin on the fruit was tough, and I had to use a piece of wood from the floor to scrape a hole in it. I found a few more around the tree and devored them all.
The birds were making a strident noise, as they flew unseen from branch to branch. I caught a glimpse of one, as it made it's way through the trees. Suddenly all the birds scattered as a loud niose sounded through the forest. It sounded a bit like a trumpet, but a very out of tune one. Who ever, or what ever it was kept making the noise.
I followed the sound through the trees, and came out on a small beach bordered by a blue lagoon. Down the beach, there was what looked like a small group of people. The noise seemed to be coming from that way as well. I walked through the sand, towards the platform, they were having some sort of meeting. I slipped onto the platform and sat down. A boy with a very round face and glasses peered down at me.
"Whats your name?'
"Bob"
"Bob" he murmured, he seemed to be taking note of that in his head. Everyone was talking at once, and then a boy who was hold a giant shell pointed farther down the beach. More boys were coming up the beach, in two decorous lines. They all had cloaks, and black hats, the leader approached the platform,
"Where are all the adults?"
"There aren't any" the boy with the shell answered.
"Then who was making that awful noise?" The boy said vainly.
"We did, we're having a meeting, about what to do on this island." The rounder boy with glasses seemed a little frightened of the boy.
"We should have a cheif!" Said a pair of twins in unison.
"I'll be chief, my name is Jack and I can sing a C sharp."
"We could elect a leader" interposed a boy from the back.
The tall boy called Jack, looked at him speculating , " Alright who votes for me?" He said with indignation. Everyone who had come with Jack raised their hands, obdiently.
"Ok who votes for Ralph?" said the round boy pointing to the boy with the conch. Everyonejumbled onto the platform raised their hands, after a moment I slowly raised my hand. I prefered Ralph to Jack who to me sounds very bossy.
I voted for Ralph, Jack seemed to be very vain, and bossy. I hadnt really heard Ralf say much, but I didnt want Jack as leader.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)