Ralph's Journal

Lord of the Flies
Chapter 6 - Beast From Air
"Beastie Hunting"
Perspective: Ralph

Journal,

Something came out of the sky last night. There was a dogfight and a something came flailing out of the sky onto the mountain. We were sleeping and none of us saw it though. We might have had more hope if we did. Sam n' eric saw the beastie on the mountain and it was moving on the mountain. They were watching the fire so it didn't go out and I didn't get waxy again. They said that it chased them down the mountain but how can something with c laws and something that can leave no trace of itself on the forest floor not catch up to sam n' eric? The debate about the beastie seems interminable. But when they made it down the mountain and told us about the beastie it was still dark and that made everything seem worse, like it was stalking you right there on the platform. We decided, well Jack decided and everyone else agreed, to go out and hunt the thing because sam n' eric saw it and now everyone knows it exists.

Actually I am still not in full belief of it but everyone else seems to be. Except Simon, he doesn't believe in the beastie either as he diffidently told me. We have no proof of it and no one is sure that sam n' eric really saw the beastie, although how else could one of them got a giant scratch on his check. But all of the older boys came with me to hunt the beastie except for Piggy and then seemed nervous and excited.

Everyone was relying on me to lead but when I do they become mutinous and rebel against me. It's not always great to be the leader. All the boys seem to like Jack because he doesn't have to be mean when something doesn't get done. In that way he is more popular. But he has almost no responsibility. I have to make sure everyone is surviving and everyone is safe from the beastie and I have to build all the shelters and everything. I can't have fun and then when I get bored I leave, I have to follow through on all of my proposals. But I have to lead because it will go into chaos and we will never be rescued if I don't.

-Ralph