He asks Piggy whether there are ghosts or beasts on the island, but Piggy reassures him. Ralph says that if he blows the conch to summon them back and they refuse, then they will become like animals and will never be rescued. The assembly breaks up as Jack leads them on a hunt. Jack says that he and his hunters will kill the beast. When Jack asks, 'who cares?' Ralph says that the rules are the only thing that they have. Jack threatens Piggy again, and Ralph intercedes once more, complaining that they are breaking the rules.

Piggy begins yelling, asking whether the boys are humans, animals, or savages. Piggy claims he does not believe in ghosts, but Jack attempts to start a fight again by taunting Piggy and calling him 'Fatty.' Ralph stops the fight and asks the boys how many of them believe in ghosts. Simon says that maybe there is a beast, and the boys speak about ghosts. Percival claims that the beast comes out of the sea, and he tells them about frightening squids. This reminder of home, however, causes him to break out into tears. Percival speaks next, and as he gives his name he recites his address and telephone number. Simon admits that he was walking in the jungle at night. A littlun, Phil, tells that he had a nightmare and, when he awoke, saw something big and horrid moving among the trees. Piggy does agree with Jack on that point, telling the kids that there are no beasts and there is no real reason for fear-unless it is of other people. Jack tells them that there is no beast on the island. With his customary abruptness, Jack stands up, takes the conch from Ralph, and begins to yell at the littluns for screaming like babies and not hunting or building or helping. Ralph again assures the group that there are no monsters on the island. He admits that he is frightened himself, but their fear is unfounded. Addressing the spreading fear among the littluns, Ralph then attempts to demystify the question of the 'beastie' or monster. He repeats the rule that the only place where they will have a fire is on the mountain. He directs this at the hunters in particular. He claims that they ought to die before they let the fire out. He also reminds them that the fire is the most important thing on the island, for it is their means of escape. He admonishes them for not using the appropriate areas for the lavatory. He reminds them that everyone built the first shelter, which is the most sturdy, while the third one, built only by Simon and Ralph, is unstable. He begins the assembly seriously, telling them that they are there not for making jokes or for cleverness.

That afternoon, Ralph blows the conch shell and the assembly gathers.

Ralph decides to call a meeting near the bathing pool, realizing that he must think and must make a decision but that he lacks Piggy's natural intellectual ability. He understands the weariness of life, where everything requires improvisation. In particular, his hair has grown uncomfortably long. He is saddened by his own physical appearance, which has grown shabby with neglect. Ralph goes to the beach because he needs a place to think and feels overcome with frustration and impotence.

Lord of chaos chapter 26