Lord of the Flies

by William Golding

He took off his glasses and blinked at them. The sun had gone as if the light had been turned off. He proceed to explain. [...]

You don't really mean that we got to be frightened all the time of nothing? Life, said Piggy expansively, is scientific, that's what it is. In a year or two when the war's over they'll be travelling to Mars and back. I know there isn't a beast – not with claws and all that, I mean – but I know there isn't no fear, either.

I'm frightened. Of us

Piggy paused.

Unless –

Ralph moved restlessly.

Unless what?

Unless we get frightened of people. [...]

Simon felt a perilous necessity to speak; but to speak in assembly was a terrible thing to him.

Maybe, he said hesitantly, maybe there is a beast.

The assembly cried out savagely and Ralph stood up in amazement.

You, Simon? You believe in this?

I don't know, said Simon. His heartbeats were choking him. But...

The storm broke.

Sit down!

Shut up!

Take the conch!

Sod you!

Shut up!

Ralp shouted.

Hear him! He's got the conch!

What I mean is... maybe it's only us.

Simon went on.

We could be sort of...

Simon became inarticulate in his effort to express mankind's essential illness.