While Jack holds court with Roger and the others and
frightens them with the threat of the beast returning, Ralph and Piggy are down on the
beach lighting a fire with Piggy's glasses. Ralph wants them to gather firewood so they
will have a comforting "hearth" through the night. However, the task is too difficult
as Piggy will have an asthma attack if he "pulls logs." Same and Eric grow weary, so
Ralph abandons the idea. As they gather in the shaky shelter, Ralph feels "defenseless
with the darkness pressing in." Settling down, Ralph begins his nightly "game of
supposing" that they could be flown home by a jet and land in Wiltshire where they would
go by car, then train all the way to Devon. Ralph ponders a safe town that is "tamed"
where no savagery exists. "What could be safer than the bus center with its lamps and
wheels?"
Suddenly, he awakens as Sam and Eric are fighting
each other in their fear. Piggy remarks, "If we don't get home soon we'll be barmy."
Ralph agrees, saying "Round the bend," which means crazy. Clearly, Ralph and Piggy both
want a return to their old life, lit by electric builbs like the bus center, and fires;
a life that is safe and warm, a life that is civilized.
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