Thomas Ritman

"The Pack" tells a story of five boys entering adolescence near the end of World War II. All face wrenching problems at home or from the war but find laughter and temporary salvation in their love for one another. Yet sexuality and the gradual death of the pack bring a time of exaltation, fear, and irretrievable loss. The story opens at night in a snowstorm as the five discover intruders in their much-prized hut. Inside are a man, who arouses their anger, and a girl, who astounds them with her ardour and beauty. The boys can't forget the pair and thus begin a rambling investigation that starts as fun but then turns dangerous when the girl is murdered. They seek outside help but are quickly isolated by adult mistakes and their own mistrust of authority. Yet the investigation continues, waxing and waning and finally building to a terrifying climax. Along the way, it pushes the boys toward the good by forcing a confrontation with evil.