what all was in it? and why crackers?

There was that mirror with the plus sign for aiming it that Ben used.

I wondered who he was signaling. but now know it was hostiles. They are like orcs. And they will save the day (island).

So bizarre. And he used the mirror to communicate with Jacob? Does that mean that Jacob is actually in the Orchid, and not the cabin? The 15 years line made me think of 16 years ago... Danielle/Alex. I wonder if the last time Ben was at that box was to move the island..... interesting....

Heres a pic of one of those signal mirrors
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1186/1001779914_13f50a7749.jpg?v=0

LOSTLAURA - i'm with you on maybe jacob not being in the cabin at all. I think knowing it's actually Horace's cabin was a huge reveal. Ben lied about Jacob the whole time. He's not who we think he is, not some supreme being running the island.

I figured he signaled Richard...

Yeah, he signaled Richard he was going to the Orchid. That's why the Others left the Temple. No Jacob involved at all.

Cardie

So bizarre. And he used the mirror to communicate with Jacob? Does that mean that Jacob is actually in the Orchid, and not the cabin? The 15 years line made me think of 16 years ago... Danielle/Alex. I wonder if the last time Ben was at that box was to move the island..... interesting....

I think its also interesting that the 15 year reference was 3 years before the purge. No doubt Ben was actively working with the Hostiles from the time he had his mother vision to the time of the purge. The mirror signal may have allowed him access to Hostile Country any number of times.

Seeing the whole episode it really seems to point at Richard being on the other end of that mirror, but did anyone else think Ben might have been signalling Dr. Candle?

Maybe he's still in the Orchid...

what all was in it? and why crackers?

I often wondered how Ben managed to get all over the Island sometimes alone with nothing on him. Now we know he has boxes stashed around the island with various things like signaling mirrors and stale saltines

There was that mirror with the plus sign for aiming it that Ben used.

I wondered who he was signaling. but now know it was hostiles. They are like orcs. And they will save the day (island).

LOL! 'Orcs'! Love it.
And I agree, they will save the day.

No matter what, Ben and someone on that mountain had that planned. So Ben really does plan ahead.

Maybe Ben is in more control than we thought. Letting Locke go into the cabin was just a ruse and Locke is being played again.

Ben was an infiltrator working in secret for the Hostiles within the Dharma Initiative. He probably had stashes all over the island for when he was having secret rendezvous. After the Purge, which was 12 years ago according to Ghost!Horace, he wouldn't have needed them any more.

Cardie

Reminds me of Easter Eggs on a Boyscout outing.

No matter what, Ben and someone on that mountain had that planned. So Ben really does plan ahead.

Maybe Ben is in more control than we thought. Letting Locke go into the cabin was just a ruse and Locke is being played again.

OMG! I bet you are right.

I, too, believe he was signaling Richard (whom I think looked gooooood tonight, anyways back on track) with the mirror.

But even so, Locke has to be of some importance to Ben in some way for him to dupe him all the time. Maybe Ben knows what Locke is capable of and is using him for his workings.

:biggrin:

It seemed to me that he was signaling Richard that there were hostiles on their way and they should leave the Temple and head to the Orchid. There was probably a rear guard of Others that saw that Kate and Sayid were on their way and that's how they doubled back on them. Now, I figure, Richard is leading the Others and their 2 captives to the Orchid to back up Ben.

For some weird reason, the rummaging through the box reminded me of last week's scene when Richard pulled the ol' Dalai Lama test on a young Locke. Only this time, we find out that the crackers belonged to Hurley. :D

Jacob? He gave up on Jacob last episode, of course it was Richy and the other others

LOSTLAURA - i'm with you on maybe jacob not being in the cabin at all. I think knowing it's actually Horace's cabin was a huge reveal. Ben lied about Jacob the whole time. He's not who we think he is, not some supreme being running the island.

Yeah it was a big reveal; it wasn't Jacob's cabin at all. Did you see the dog picture or the bottles in the window? The rocking chair? That was a Horace's cabin. Jacob is in his cabin somewhere else wondering where the hell his chosen one is and wishing he had never given Ben that tumor! This was faux Christian's cabin -a Christian plucked out of Clare's or Sawyer's memory and not the Christian with his trademark white shoes we are used to. He told Locke what he wanted to hear and sent the totally clueless Locke to the Orchid with a grieving totally useless Ben. Except that Ben always has a plan. Notice that Locke did not tell Ben he didn't talk to Jacob. He just led Ben to believe it was Jacob. Why? Seems pretty significant to me. Did Locke suspect something deep down but didn't want to doubt the man who confirmed he was chosen like Ben would make him do? Bet anyone can see Horace's cabin.

Jacob asked Locke for help and then goes MIA and what does his chosen one do? Look for him? No, he takes up with the first old guy he finds in a rickety cabin! Plus faux Christian has managed to separate Clarie and Aaron. Further proof he is not one of the good guys.

While I agree that Ben was signalling Richard, at first I had the crazy idea that Ben was signalling himself (from going back in time or something). A way to tell himself that it was ok to come up the mountain.

No matter what, Ben and someone on that mountain had that planned. So Ben really does plan ahead.

Maybe Ben is in more control than we thought. Letting Locke go into the cabin was just a ruse and Locke is being played again.

i do not think ben has ever lost control-
he may be in situations where his control is more or less limited, but he always seems to be in control- even while having his butt kicked-
i mean he shot locke in the belly, and locke continues to help him

I'm probably way off base, but the stuff int he box reminded of things a kid would have.
Ben was a kid when he came to the island. What sort of things would kids on an island with no shopping malls and stuff do for fun?

Well maybe they would pack up a box along with crackers incase they got hungry and track and signal each other all over the island.
I'm thinking he reconized the place from playing there and remembered the box.

Other wise I can't figure out why it iwas important for us to know the crackers are 15 years old.

I was browsing some screencaps of the mirror Ben used and saw writing on the back of the mirror. I can't make it out... wonder what it says.

screencap here http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg162/getlostpodcast/4x12/pict2008-05-1510-19-1410.jpg

Seeing the whole episode it really seems to point at Richard being on the other end of that mirror, but did anyone else think Ben might have been signalling Dr. Candle?

Maybe he's still in the Orchid...

I'm wondering if Candle/Wickmund/Halliwax (or his body) will play a role as well, considering that Ben was wearing Halliwax's parka in the desert flash-forward.
100%
what all was in it? and why crackers?

Eat saltines after time traveling, ala eating saltines when you're sick?

Ben signaled with Mikhail