Since Locke was not with the group, he was asking in order to get an idea to compare Michael's current path with what the tailies had done.
I understood. That's what Jen said in the "eta" part of her post. I just thought it was a dumbly worded question.
At first I thought he was referring to Ethan, but after Zeke said "light 'em up" I decided that he was referring to Jack's remark about how there are a lot more Losties than there are Othersies.
Any reason it can't be both?
Right. I can't remember Jack's exact wording, but it was all sort of intertwined. Jack was contending they didn't have too many people, because they had to rely on spies, such as Ethan. I took Zeke's comment and then the visual answer that he was hardly part of a tiny group, as both calling into question whether or not Ethan was with him, and saying, "Nyah nyah nyah--there are lots of other creepy people here, beside me."
t handwaves
t lifts off ground
t handwaves less virgorously
The torch thing has bothered me from early on. You can't just light a handy stick and have that kind of light. Also, the Others have hung onto matches or lighters for this long?
And if they didn't use matches or lighters, or possibly their brains, anything they would have had already lit in order to light the torches would have given away their positions as easily as the torches themselves. Little lights are visible from very far away in the dark.
SNERK! at Debet's flying session.
The only other alternatives I can think of to carrying fire would be carrying coals in metal boxes or being the world champion synchronized flint-and-steel spark team.
Okay, those jungle whispers are seriously freaking my shit out, and call into question every single theory I have about what's going on.
Speaking of flying, the plane in the jungle was a Model 18 Twin Beech ( [link] ), which were manufactured from before WWII until 1969. It's range is 850 miles.
Actually if i remember correctly, you can keep a properly made torch damped with a cover. It has a limited life, but I recall it from Boy scouts.
Basically all it does through the cover is smoke and smolder. When the cover is removed, the large amount of combustable gasses built up under the cover suddenly getting oxygen would make it flare to life.
the trick, I imagine, would be to keep enough air going in that it keeps going, without drying out the cover.
I may have to do some research. Hmmm.
ETA: I vaguely recall that you could keep the torch end "hot" under a tin can, and then lift off the can and blow or squirt a bit of fuel on it, but I doubt they have that many squirt bottles of lighter fluid, either.
Of course, they could have some high-proof alcohol they've distilled and take a swig, the spit it on a hot torch, too. (heh) Extra flamey for the slow spitter.
The Others could have access to a third Dharma station with a shitload of supplies.
