The officer grinned cheerfully at Ralph.
'We saw your smoke. What have you been doing? Having a war or something?'
Ralph nodded.
The officer inspected the little scarecrow in front of him. The kid needed a bath, a haircut, a nose-wipe and a good deal of ointment.
'Nobody killed, I hope? Any dead bodies?'
'Only two. And they've gone.'
The officer leaned down and looked closely at Ralph.
'Two? Killed?'
Ralph nodded again. Behind him, the whole island was shuddering with flame. The officer knew, as a rule, when people were telling the truth. He whistled softly.

Roger stooped, picked up a stone, aimed and threw it at Henry-threw it to miss. The stone, that token of preposterous time, bounced five yards to Henry's right and fell in the water. Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law. Roger was conditioned by a civilization that knew nothing of him and was in ruins.

Ralph ga pogleda bez riječi. Načas mu izađe pred oči slika ovdašnjih žalova neobično ljepote. Ali otok je izgorio kao suha drva - Simon je poginuo - a Jack je... Poteku mu suze i strese se od jecaja. Prvi put je dao na volju suzama otkako je na ovom otoku; sav se tresao od snažnih, drhtavih, bolnih grčeva. Glas mu je zaorio pod crnim dimom, pred tim spaljenim, uništenim otokom. Pod utjecajem njegovih osjećaja, i ostali dječaci počnu se tresti i jecati. Usred njih, onako prljav, raščupan i balav, Ralph je plakao za krajem nevinosti, plakao je zbog tame u ljudskom srcu, plakao je za mudrim, pravim prijateljem Pajcekom koji je odletio u zrak.