CHAPTER 6The OthersBefore I begin, I need to say that "The Other 48 Days" blew a gaping hole in my theory on the others, particularly my theories concerning the whispers. Given that, this chapter will be short because I am still trying to figure out what I think (IMO, this section is where the biggest holes in my theories are).I have two basic theories about the others that I cannot decide on, right now:1. There is one group of others but they act differently around the fusies.2. There is more than one group of others.My first theory is actually based on a theory my wife has. She believes that there is only one group of others/whisperers and that they behave differently around the two groups because of who is in each group. Not that the tailies are bad, but that they do not attack the fusies because of one (or more) people in their group is "special". She seems to think that they do not attack our group because of either Locke, Aaron, or both (Is that why they wanted Claire - to get rid of Aaron?). Building on this, I posited that maybe it is because of where our losties are camped. Could the others consider this area to be "holy ground" because of Adam and Eve's burial location? Could the monster be keeping them away (see The Monster chapter)?One possible theory for more than one group of others is that two basic groups of others exist- good ones and bad ones. I think that the bad ones could be the scientist/researchers and/or test subjects gone bad (the shoeless others stalking the tailies). The good ones could be the DeGroots and/or good test subjects. This is where the whispers come in. Given that the others can be found only when they so desire (they also walked very silently and lightly - CREEPY!), coupled with my assumption that certain experiments have been conducted on human test subjects, could they also talk backwards in whispers? If so, this, in conjunction with the whisper text below, would imply that every time one of our losties hears whispers, there are others very close by but not "visible" to our losties (also, don't forget that Ethan was able to whirl his sling without being seen!). But if the others are all bad, then shouldn't they kill our losties when close? According to what has happened, as well as the actual text of the whispers, it seems as though they want to help.Sayid in the JungleFrom "Solitary"Man's voice (M): Just let him get out of here; (M): He's seen too much already; (M): What if he tellsWoman's voice (W): Could just speak to him; (M): NoSawyer in the jungleFrom "Outlaws"(W): Maybe we should just talk to him; (M): No if he see us it will ruin everything; (M): What did he see; (W): They could help us; (M): Can't trust; (M): Come back around(Sawyer pauses, crickets and cicada are heard)(M): What did he see; (M):Nothing he was following it; (W): Speak; (M): Nothing; (Frank Duckett's voice): It'll come back aroundHere are some of my random thoughts concerning the others:They are selective in who they abduct. They have an agenda and even make lists to describe the ones they want. If the others did indeed take Cindy, and the Tailies are certainly afraid of them, this means that they don't ONLY want children.We also know that the "others" referred to by Mr. Echo are capable of very bad. However, we have not seen this...yet.If the others are "animals", could they view the scientists as their creators? Could they be the scientists "hunting dogs"?They are not wild, crazy animals, but intelligent, reasoning people. Goodwin was able to infiltrate the tail section group immediately and pass as one of them long enough to do damage to their numbers.I am not sure whether or not the others knew about the second hatch - it could just be that Goodwin was surprised that the tailies found the hatch, not that the hatch existed.According to Locke, Ethan is a much better tracker/hunter than he is and the jungle is Ethan's "backyard". (AL stated that this is their jungle...) When asked (by Boone, I believe) if Locke thought that Ethan was near the camp, Locke said "I hope not". Ethan was able to hit Jin with a sling from close range without being seen (impressive!). Ethan was willing to kill every castaway to get to Claire. Did anyone else think it was weird that, given this info, Ethan walked into such a flimsy attempt at a trap? If he had the abilities he demonstrated earlier in the series, wouldn't he have been able to find the four fusies hiding (in almost plain sight) before going after Claire? IMO, he/they must REALLY want Claire if he would so recklessly run into a trap to get her. So what is it about the others that they have such a great desire for children (assuming that Ethan was after Claire for her unborn child)? And if they do have such a great desire for children, why haven't any of the other others come after Claire and her baby? This could be explained by the monster.Ethan took Claire but Claire returned with her pregnancy intact. Plus, in Claire's flashback, she remembered some type of struggle between herself, Danielle, and Ethan. IMO, Danielle rescued Claire form Ethan.I believe that the others could possibly travel through the trees. Could that be why Eko and the tailenders always look up when they suspect others to be around? This could also explain why the monster uproots tress - it is going after the others.Could it be that each group has effectively "staked" out there territory (as they are "animals")? Will the tailies lead their others (the bad ones, imo) to our group of losties? Will this start the "rumble in the jungle"?I think that the Others have learnt to treat humanity as a threat, because of what has been done to them by the Hanso Foundation.When Sayid (and other Losties, as well) hear the voices in the forest, it sounds to me like the "forest" is making very similar noises to when Mr. Echo and Jin "hear" the others coming in the forest. Does this imply a link?Could the backwards whispers be untrained or uncontrollable telepathic communication? The whispers might not be audible. It could all be telepathy.We are given a very brief summary of the tailies experiences to date. IMO, it is likely that they had more interactions with the others and the island that we have not seen...yet.