Why must the young die and the old wrecks go on living?

"This old wreck isn't going to hold together much longer!"

It seems to be in the expected range of an old wreck.

The children watched the old wreck for a little time longer and then went all round the island again.

"I still don't understand why anyone would want to attack an empty old wreck like me."

"Perhaps they're going to put more stuff into the old wreck for the Sticks to find," he thought.

"That being decided, the next question is how to fix this poor old wreck."

I had to sell my old wreck to get me out here.

"About what you can expect from a really old wreck."

"Because I want something bigger and better than that old wreck of my brother's," she says.