But for all the feet that had trodden it, it remained ordinary dust, which seemed to make everything much sadder. - William Golding

The world, that understandable and lawful world, was slipping away. Once there was this and that; and now — and the ship had gone.

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.
[...]
Ralph shouted. Hear him! He's got the conch!
What I mean is . . . maybe it's only us.
Nuts! That was from Piggy, shocked out of decorum.

They walked along, two continents of experience and feeling unable to communicate.