by Poss, Bryant
“Have you finished the book?” she asked, keeping her concentration on the lettering with the sharpie.
“No.” said Alice flatly, almost spitefully as she went to her pallet and sat down.
“I haven’t finished,” Devon said, repeating his friend’s actions.
“Let’s do that then,” Lotus said, picking up her own copy of Lord of the Flies. “Together, let’s finish it up and see what we make of it. I can’t think of anything better to do.”
The morning passed into mid morning and finally to noon with nothing to speak of except Lo checking the walkie from time to time, getting a terse response and nothing else. With heavy eyelids, they all continued to stare at the words of the books in front of them with the soft turning of pages the only sound to remind them they were in the presence of one another, but they made no excuses. As Lo skimmed through the chapters more or less, the others read dutifully, gasping at least two times, letting Lo know where they were in the plot, and it was not until mid afternoon that they all looked at each other, red-eyed and groggy, that they began to discuss what they’d discovered. It was Devon who spoke first, his face the most confused as they looked at each other.
“So they killed Simon and Piggy?” he looked from one to the other, looking for some answer to his question that he already knew but more so looking for some logic, some reasoning. Lo held back the urge to explain her take on the whole thing.
“Piggy was monologuing,” Alice said, stretching both arms and arching her back.
“Fatal flaw,” Lo replied.
“What’s monologuing?” Devon asked.
“When someone talks more than they act, basically,” Lo giggled.
“So they killed poor Piggy?” Devon was genuinely confused.
“They did,” it was Alice who answered him. “And why do you think they did that?”
“They were weak?” He looked questioningly. Lo opened her mouth to respond but she waited. “They were the weakest ones in the group, so they were killed.”
“That’s right, Devon,” Alice spoke up, and Lotus could be still no more.
“Wait a minute,” Lo said, looking from one to the other. “What about the littluns? How many of them were on the island? No one even knows because they didn’t bother to count. The only one who suggested counting was Piggy, and they killed him. Was it because he was weak or was it because he wanted to hold on to the old world? To be responsible? Roger had the opportunity to kill one of the littluns at the beach, but he didn’t. Too much of the old world was with him, but he realized then that there were no repercussions on the island. He could have killed that boy then, but he didn’t. It was Piggy, preaching and scolding the others at Castle Rock that finally drove Roger to kill. He would have dropped that rock on him even if he’d been the strongest person on the island, and I’ll argue that Piggy was, aside maybe from Simon.”
“But look how they acted,” Alice said, holding Lo’s gaze. “Neither Ralph nor Piggy could get the others behind them in the end. The others went where there was meat.”
“And as a result they probably missed the opportunity to signal a boat,” Lo broke in. “This isn’t an argument as to who was right or wrong. Who do you think was the most dangerous person on the island?”
“Jack,” Devon answered loudly.
“Is there no one else?” Lo asked.
“Roger,” Alice said finally.
“Both good answers,” Lotus said patiently. “I contend that Ralph was the most dangerous person on the island.”
“Ralph?” Devon dropped his book and looked at her. “How could Ralph be the most dangerous person on the island? He was the best person there.”
“Far from it,” Lotus replied calmly. “As far as being inherently good, Simon was unmatched on the island. Piggy too was a good person, but he was flawed in too many ways. Ralph had something neither of them had, and that was authority. He was voted leader in the beginning. All the other kids looked up to him, even Jack to an extent, but he lacked the conviction to use it, to use that authority. What was the result? He was running down the beach with the world on fire, everyone trying to kill him. Had it not been for the soldier at the end—”
“And what had that soldier been doing?” Alice cut her off, raising her voice. “Here come the adults to save the day, and what were they doing? They were soldiers fighting a war. Here’s a handful of boys at each others’ throats while the rest of the world, the world of the all-knowing adults, is doing what? They’re at each other's’ throats doing the same thing. Worse. They’re dropping nuclear bombs, killing thousands of people, millions. They come in and judge the others. ‘I should have thought a pack of British boys could’ve put up a better show than that’ the soldier says then turns his back in shame. Ha! Talk about a hypocrite. The most dangerous people set foot on the island on the last page.”
Lotus started to speak but only flopped her mouth closed, her eyes moist and unblinking as she looked at the girl. No one spoke. Several minutes went by without a word. A gust of wind whistled into the outside corner of the building, a common sound to them all, but it broke up the silence here.
“You’re right,” Lotus said, absently thumbing through her own copy of the book. “Ralph wasn’t the most dangerous character after all. It was man. People as a whole are flawed beyond repair perhaps. As long as there are people, there will be war. I can’t argue with that, Alice.”
“If I had read this book before, when the world was what it was, I would have thought it wrong,” Alice was young, but the look in her eyes showed an understanding that eluded innocence. “Everybody on the island should have known how to act. It’s not difficult. To do what’s right. But it’s right. It is, the book I mean. Most of the children, especially the littluns, just wanted to live, just wanted to not be hungry. It was Jack and Roger who took advantage of the situation. And there are Jacks in the world. There are Rogers. I have seen them. This may be too simple, but I think the book is saying that in the absence of what keeps the world together people will be real. Without authority, without the police, without religion, people will become what they really are. They will do what they want to do. They will all do what they want to do.” This last part she said particularly hard while looking Lotus square in the eye, and the accusation was undeniable.
Lotus looked at the girl for several minutes and really took note of her entirely for the first time. She looked at the beautiful blonde hair that was still vibrant despite needing proper washing. Near lime green eyes, the pale skin, Alice was a remarkable human to look at. She had been snatched from a world that protected her, both her and this boy, and dumped into the hands of a scoundrel, a pedophile with every barrier of the old world gone to forbid him. This last thought hit her, and a surge of anger rose up in her throat. She knew what Alice was saying. She heard the tone. Cillian was this girl’s focus now, and Lotus was a threat to her. Surely Cillian had told her. Lo clenched her teeth then waited until she could calm down.
“That’s actually a better analysis than I could’ve gotten from SparkNotes, Alice.”
“Wouldn’t you agree?” Alice asked, refusing to let it go there. “People do what they want to satisfy themselves. Does that make it right even if there are no repercussions?”
“I think perhaps there’s a gray area there when more than one person wants it.” Lo hissed, but she quickly regretted it. Here she was, a grown woman, trying to argue morality with this girl. No, that’s not the case anymore. There are no children in the world. Not anymore.
Lotus stood up despite the obvious soreness in her joints and defensive anger in her head. She made her way to Alice and placed her hand on her head. “You’ve got a very firm grasp on some difficult literature, you know. I was skeptical at first, but maybe we can jump right into Heart of Darkness next.”
Alice pulled away and nodded her head. It seemed she was willing to let the subject go for now.
The day wore on, and with it the cooking of food on the burners. There were
powdered eggs, grits, some sealed pudding. They did everything they could to ensure Lo ate well. Her skin was looking better, her face gaining some needed life, and as a whole they tried to pass the time, each acting like they weren’t thinking of those who’d left, of Ben and Cillian trying to rescue more to join the family.
It was with the last scraping of the plastic spork across the lunchroom tray that the first knock was heard. Lotus looked at the two of them to see if she’d imagined the noise, but they both looked at her with the same concern. Devon opened his mouth to ask what was going on, and Lo held up a hand. They waited, shifting their eyes back and forth seeing if another clue would come. It didn’t take long before another knock was heard. It was the unmistakable sound of metal on glass. Lotus looked at Alice and gave her the subtlest of smiles.
“Ben,” she risked the radio traffic and waited. “Cillian, are you guys there?”
It’s us Ben’s voiced came through after a few minutes. That’s us tapping on the windows. Sorry, we were just checking something. We’re about to come in if you want to unlock the door.
They passed the two trays full of the eggs, grits, and other food they’d fixed for them. They’d kept it as warm as possible by setting the trays next to the heater pots of Cillian’s design from earlier in the season. There were no complaints. They all sat half smiling as the two of them scarfed down the food. Once finished, Devon brought out the coffee they’d made.
“What’s the story?” Lo asked.
“First, you tell us,” Ben began between what seemed to be sips of the best coffee he’d had in his life. “How do you feel? You know, physically. What are you capable of?”
“Like I said before, I’m not great, but I can get around. What did you find?”
“We found something close enough to the compound that will work,” Ben continued to sip at his coffee, exchanging glances with Cillian who was still sipping at his own. “The question is, who is going to use it?”
“I can do it,” Cillian said forcefully, a clump of his long hair falling over his eye. He tried tucking it behind his ear, but it just wasn’t quite there. Alice smiled at him. “You don’t exactly need a license anymore.”
“I’m going to need you with me,” Ben said not unkindly. “We’ve been through this. I need you to help me get the others and the supplies.”
“What do you need me to do?” Lo asked, pursing her lips at Cillian, trying to make him feel better.
“Need you to drive some heavy machinery,” Ben said with a wink.
“She can’t do it,” Alice chimed in, and everyone turned to meet her gaze. “I’m sorry, but we’ve been in front of each other all morning, and she has dozed off half a dozen times. I can tell she doesn’t feel very well, or at least she’s very tired.”
There was a silence now, a discomfort that began to devour the air around them. Ben looked at Lo and she at him. A moment’s hesitation where she meant to argue, but his eyes said all that needed to be said on the issue.
“Do you think she can do it?” Ben asked, looking at Cillian.
“Who, Alice?” Cillian asked, and Ben only nodded his head. The younger looked at the blonde-headed girl, her fierce eyes cutting right through him. “Do I think she can? Yes. Do I want her to? No.” He met her gaze and held it as best she could. Only a few seconds went by, but it felt like an eternity.
“That’s it then,” Ben said, looking across all of them with finality. “That’s how it’s to be done. We’ve eaten. We’ve discussed it. There's nothing to be done until sundown. I suggest we all rest until then.”
“Wait!” Cillian sat bolt upright. “Aren’t we even going to ask—”
“I’ll do it.” Alice said in an even tone. A moment held the last syllable before them all, and then it was done.
The afternoon passed, and the sleepiness of the room was intoxicating. The wind blew periodically, singing into the side of the building, sunlight fading through the windows. They all lay sleeping, Lo and Ben with Devon having crept beside them for comfort, Cillian away from them on his pallet. Alice had eased over to him, her hand on his chest, and the faint kiss on his cheek woke him. By the time he’d opened his eyes, her hand was up his shirt. She put her lips up to his ear and said something.
When he stood up his foot hit luck, and the ball started to move noisily. Dropping quickly at the knee, he caught it, stopping the noise. His heart was beating so hard, he actually thought she could hear it. His head was swimming with so many thoughts, mostly about himself, so many insecurities, so much excitement. Face flushed with heat, heart thumping in his ears, thoughts swirling like marbles in a funnel, he held onto Luck, now feeling as if he’d crouched too long at this point. He made as if to put it in his pocket then he set it down on his pallet. She reached down and grabbed his hand, leading him to the doorway of the teacher’s office then eased the door closed. The wind howled in the corner again, and the even breathing of the room’s occupants filled the air, bringing the sleepiness back.
Ben got up on his elbow and looked around. He started to get up, only to be pulled back down by a hand on his shoulder.
“Where’d they go?” He whispered into her face, and she smiled.
A realization came to her of the precision of their situation, the perfection of it. Lo was now glad the conversation with Alice had gone the way it had. Let it continue. Let everything continue. This world was their own, and they would make it as they wished.
“Go back to sleep, Ben. It doesn’t matter where they went.”
19
Cillian rummaged through the pallet and came up with Luck much to Lo’s delight. She refused to let them leave until it was found. He tucked it into his pack and secured it on his back. Ben was doing the same, checking the beam of his flashlight against his hand then the ammunition in the Glock. Cillian looked over at Alice who was lacing up her shoes. Lo was looking at her too.
“I still think I should go,” Lo said, not taking her eyes off the girl. “This is far too dangerous for her to do without any help.”
“I can do this, Lo,” Alice said, looking up at her and smiling, a radiant sparkle now in her eyes even in the dim light. “Even if everything goes off without a hitch, there’s going to be running involved, not to mention we’re miles from where we’re going. If you managed to get there, would you have anything left?”
Lo looked at her wounded shoulder and hissed a curse.
“Hey, babe, this has got to be done,” Ben holstered the Glock then slid the six-inch blade of a knife into a sheath on his belt. He walked over to her and squatted, putting her hair behind her ear with his finger. “I’m with you. I don’t want her doing this, but it’s got to be done. And she’s right, anyway. You’re just not well enough for something like this. The way we’re going to do it, she won’t get into any danger.”
“The first step you take outside this building is nothing but danger,” Lo whispered and ran her forearm across her eyes. After a few sniffles, she composed herself. “So Devon’s going to be my protector again?” She said, trying to lighten the mood.
“I am,” Devon said, getting up and moving to her side. They all looked at him with the best smiles they had, but the weight of the world was in the room.
They walked shoulder to shoulder as much as they could with grass swishing at the pants, but it was Ben who stayed out front more often than not. The night was quiet and cold, but there was a good moon for them to see by. Seldom did they have to rely on their flashlights, which Cillian knew helped a great deal. Out here lights attracted the darkness rather than repelled it. Cillian looked over at Alice regularly, making sure she was doing alright. The last time she’d been out in the dark had been to escape the very place they were going. He couldn’t imagine how she felt about that now.
Once at the opening of the gravel yard where Cillian had managed to kill a spazzo with a slingshot—something he still couldn’t fully believe he’d pulled off—they went around to the single-wide trailer that served as an office. Footp
rints littered the area where Ben and Cillian had spent the earlier part of the day getting everything required to ensure the backhoe they all looked at now would run. Ben jumped up on it while they watched. There were empty diesel containers by the side of the machine, an old battery between them. Cillian went over and gave it a kick.
“This is what we were doing all morning,” Cillian whispered to Alice. “We had to replace the battery and get diesel fuel to run it. The only thing we haven’t figured out is what to do about the noise.”
“I’ve been thinking about that since we’ve been walking,” Ben said, switching the key off and looking down at them. “We need a diversion for the diversion.”
“What did you have in mind?” Alice finally spoke, which helped Cillian relax a little.
“Well, we’ve got a good five gallons of diesel sitting over there.”
“You want to set something on fire?” Cillian asked.
“It will get a lot of people running toward it. Nothing draws people’s attention like a fire.”
“Well, it’s either that or blow the conch,” Alice said shyly.
“Huh?” Ben asked.
“Nothing,” she whispered.
“Well, get up here, Alice, and let me show you how to drive this thing.”
“I know how to drive a car,” she said, stepping on the side step and onto the machine. “My dad used to let me drive around parking lots.”
“Well then, you’ve got it eighty percent licked,” he said, giving her a big smile. “It’s not like you need to be too precise. You’re basically gonna point this thing toward the building and jump off before anyone knows what’s going on.”
