THEY'RE COMING AGAIN!

As Jacob was being killed in the Tawaret foot, he told Ben and Flocke that "They're Coming!" The reaction by Flocke was one of uncomfortable worry.

Much speculation about who are THEY.

One answer could be Ilana's soldiers carrying the body of John Locke to the statue to show the Others "who they are dealing with." The Others need physical proof that their new "leader" is not a man (Locke) but a demon in MIB. We have been shown that Jacob went to off-island Ilana, who was severely injured in a hospital bed, asking her for her help. Ilana's group could have been reinforcements, but Flocke easily took them out with ease.

Another answer could be that Jacob's "touched" 815ers are "back" from 1977 and coming to save his bacon. The theory that Jacob's demise is like the story of Osiris, where he had put the parts of his soul into six different character bodies during off-island contacts, only to bring them back to the island to be reincarnated when they all met back at the Temple. This is still a plausible theory, but Flocke had been dealing with the knowledge of the other 815 passengers when he assumed Locke's body and memories.

Another answer could be one of those gnawing questions from early in the show: the Other Others. The children who Ana Lucia and the Tailies were terrified of so as to hide in the jungle each time they passed by their camp. When the ghost young boy appears, first with bloody arms (new ghost Jacob?) or without bloody arms (later after being chased by Flocke), I get the sense that the Island has a group of frightening children from Flocke's initial reaction. He was scared at first, then realizing that there was only one, chases after him. But the confrontation is short, and the child's command was clear: "you cannot kill him." We assume "him" is candidate Ford, whom Flocke is leading to an alleged ocean side condo formerly occupied by Jacob. The concept of a band of Island Children with power spells or magic would be a counter balance to the adult spirits or smoke monsters like MIB and/or Jacob.

However, I do not believe that the ocean cave is Jacob's liar. Jacob made lists on paper. The list in the cave was scratched on cave walls. It is stated that MIB is "trapped" on the Island and wants to go "home." A castaway on an island is trapped by the vast ocean around him. Maybe MIB is afraid of the water - - - it is poison to him. (However, there is contrary evidence of Flocke eating a ripe mango on the beach so maybe it is something else that binds him to the island.) Or, MIB cannot leave the island in the Flocke form without the "free will" of another person (he first asked Richard, who declined, then he asked Sawyer, who accepted.).

Now, MIB told Jacob that it was Jacob that brought the humans to the island. The cave walls lists of more than 313 people is a census of people on the island, and MIB crossing off the names of those he has eliminated from the game. Jacob did not assign the names numbers, MIB did. He was the one who had to figure out who Jacob was bringing to the island in order to find a loophole to kill him.

Finally, They could mean some other group that we have not yet seen. Or comprehend, like the spirits that live inside the banyan trees which served to protect Juliet and Kate from Smokey.

BANYAN TREES

During the course of the show, Smokey has been seen chasing people through the jungle. One of the safe places which apparently stops or repels Smokey is the banyan tree. Why?

A banyan tree has aerial roots which attach to a host tree which grows a cage like structure around the host, eventually killing it. This leaves a hollow area inside the banyan. The Angi Purana believe that the banyan tree symbolizes fertility and women who want children worship those trees. In Indian cultures the tree is considered an "immortality tree." Ghosts and spirits are thought to live within those trees. In Thailand, people believe the trees are home to spirits and genii who have magical powers. In Hindu areas, the tree can provide fulfillment of wishes and material gains through enlightenment. In other Asian cultures, the banyan is thought to be a shelter given by god to his devotees; a sanctuary.

The use of the banyan tree as a shelter against an attack by Smokey gives us a clue into what Smokey may be: manifestation of an evil spirit. The trees contain good spirits which repel the advances of Smokey. Or, if Smokey goes inside the outer root cage, it could be magically trapped like a genii in a bottle.

Other evidence that Smokey is repelled by god like spirits could be rain. We do not see Smokey outside in the rain. The rain is often considered a blessing from god, especially in areas of drought.