wgolding.lordoftheflies-第13节

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f　a　day's　hunting。　Swearing；　he　turned　off　the　trail　and　pushed　his　way　through　until　the　forest　opened　a　little　and　instead　of　bald　trunks　supporting　a　dark　roof　there　were　light　grey　trunks　and　crowns　of　feathery　palm。　Beyond　these　was　the　glitter　of　the　sea　and　he　could　hear　voices。　Ralph　was　standing　by　a　contraption　of　palm　trunks　and　leaves；　a　rude　shelter　that　faced　the　lagoon　and　seemed　very　near　to　falling　down。　He　did　not　notice　when　Jack　spoke。
　〃Got　any　water？〃
　Ralph　looked　up；　frowning；　from　the　plication　of　leaves。　He　did　not　notice　Jack　even　when　he　saw　him。
　〃I　said　have　you　got　any　water？　I'm　thirsty。〃
　Ralph　withdrew　his　attention　from　the　shelter　and　realized　Jack　with　a　start。
　〃Oh；　hullo。　Water？　There　by　the　tree。　Ought　to　be　some　left。〃
　Jack　took　up　a　coconut　shell　that　brimmed　with　fresh　water　from　among　a　group　that　was　arranged　in　the　shade；　and　drank。　The　water　splashed　over　his　chin　and　neck　and　chest。　He　breathed　noisily　when　he　had　finished。
　〃Needed　that。〃
　Simon　spoke　from　inside　the　shelter。
　〃Up　a　bit。〃
　Ralph　turned　to　the　shelter　and　lifted　a　branch　with　a　whole　tiling　of　leaves。
　The　leaves　came　apart　and　fluttered　down。　Simon's　contrite　face　appeared　in　the　hole。
　〃Sorry。〃
　Ralph　surveyed　the　wreck　with　distaste。
　〃Never　get　it　done。〃
　He　flung　himself　down　at　Jack's　feet　Simon　remained；　looking　out　of　the　hole　in　the　shelter。　Once　down；　Ralph　explained。
　〃Been　working　for　days　now。　And　look！〃
　Two　shelters　were　in　position；　but　shaky。　This　one　was　a　ruin。
　〃And　they　keep　running　off。　You　remember　the　meeting？　How　everyone　was　going　to　work　hard　until　the　shelters　were　finished？〃
　〃Except　me　and　my　hunters…〃
　〃Except　the　hunters。　Well；　the　littluns　are…〃
　He　gesticulated；　sought　for　a　word。
　〃They're　hopeless。　The　older　ones　aren't　much　better。　D'you　see？　All　day　I've　been　working　with　Simon。　No　one　else。　They're　off　bathing；　or　eating；　or　playing。〃
　Simon　poked　his　head　out　carefully。
　〃You're　chief。　You　tell　'em　off。〃
　Ralph　lay　flat　and　looked　up　at　the　palm　trees　and　the　sky。
　〃Meetings。　Don't　we　love　meetings？　Every　day。　Twice　a　day。　We　talk。〃　He　got　on　one　elbow。　〃I　bet　if　I　blew　the　conch　this　minute；　they'd　e　running。　Then　we'd　be；　you　know；　very　solemn；　and　someone　would　say　we　ought　to　build　a　jet；　or　a　submarine；　or　a　TV　set。　When　the　meeting　was　over　they'd　work　for　five　minutes；　then　wander　off　or　go　hunting。〃　
　Jack　flushed。
　〃We　want　meat。〃
　〃Well；　we　haven't　got　any　yet。　And　we　want　shelters。　Besides；　the　rest　of　your　hunters　came　back　hours　ago。　They've　been　swimming。〃
　〃I　went　on；〃　said　Jack。　〃I　let　them　go。　I　had　to　go　on。　I…〃
　He　tried　to　convey　the　pulsion　to　track　down　and　kill　that　was　swallowing　him　up。
　〃I　went　on。　I　thought；　by　myself…〃
　The　madness　came　into　his　eyes　again。
　〃I　thought　I　might　loll。〃
　〃But　you　didn't。〃
　〃I　thought　I　might。〃
　Some　hidden　passion　vibrated　in　Ralph's　voice。
　〃But　you　haven't　yet。〃
　His　invitation　might　have　passed　as　casual；　were　it　not　for　the　undertone。
　〃You　wouldn't　care　to　help　with　the　shelters；　I　suppose？〃
　〃We　want　meat…〃
　〃And　we　don't　get　it。〃
　Now　the　antagonism　was　audible。
　〃But　I　shall！　Next　time！　I've　got　to　get　a　barb　on　this　spear！　We　wounded　a　pig　and　the　spear　fell　out。　If　we　could　only　make　barbs…〃
　〃We　need　shelters。〃
　Suddenly　Jack　shouted　in　rage。
　〃Are　you　accusing…？〃
　〃All　I'm　saying　is　we've　worked　dashed　hard。　That's　all。〃
　They　were　both　red　in　the　face　and　found　looking　at　each　other　difficult。　Ralph　rolled　on　his　stomach　and　began　to　play　with　the　grass。
　〃If　it　rains　like　when　we　dropped　in　well　need　shelters　all　right。　And　then　another　thing。　We　need　shelters　because　of　the…〃
　He　paused　for　a　moment　and　they　both　pushed　their　anger　away。　Then　he　went　on　with　the　safe；　changed　subject。
　〃You've　noticed；　haven't　you？〃
　Jack　put　down　his　spear　and　squatted。
　'Noticed　what？〃
　〃Well。　They're　frightened。〃
　He　rolled　over　and　peered　into　Jack's　fierce；　dirty　face。
　〃I　mean　the　way　things　are。　They　dream。　You　can　hear　'em。　Have　you　been　awake　at　night？〃
　Jack　shook　his　head。
　〃They　talk　and　scream。　The　littluns。　Even　some　of　the　others。　As　if…〃
　〃As　if　it　wasn't　a　good　island。〃　。
　Astonished　at　the　interruption；　they　looked　up　at　Simon's　serious　face。
　〃As　if；〃　said　Simon；　〃the　beastie；　the　beastie　or　the　snake…thing；　was　real。　Remember？〃
　The　two　older　boys　flinched　when　they　heard　the　shameful　syllable。　Snakes　were　not　mentioned　now；　were　not　mentionable。
　〃As　if　this　wasn't　a　good　island；〃　said　Ralph　slowly。　〃Yes；　that's　right。〃
　Jack　sat　up　and　stretched　out　his　legs。
　〃Crackers。　Remember　when　we　went　exploring？〃
　They　grinned　at　each　other；　remembering　the　glamour　of　the　first　day。　Ralph　went　on。
　〃So　we　need　shelters　as　a　sort　of…〃
　〃Home。〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　Jack　drew　up　his　legs；　clasped　his　knees；　and　frowned　in　an　effort　to　attain　clarity。
　〃All　the　same…in　the　forest。　I　mean　when　you're　hunting；　not　when　you're　getting　fruit；　of　course；　but　when　you're　on　your　own…〃
　He　paused　for　a　moment；　not　sure　if　Ralph　would　take　him　seriously。　
　〃Go　on。〃
　〃If　you're　hunting　sometimes　you　catch　yourself　feeling　as　if…〃　He　flushed　suddenly。　〃There's　nothing　in　it　of　course。　Just　a　feeling。　But　you　can　feel　as　if　you're　not　hunting；　but…being　hunted；　as　if　something's　behind　you　all　the　time　in　the　jungle。〃
　They　were　silent　again：　Simon　intent；　Ralph　incredulous　and　faintly　indignant。　He　sat　up；　rubbing　one　shoulder　with　a　dirty　hand。
　〃Well；　I　don't　know。〃
　Jack　leapt　to　his　feet　and　spoke　very　quickly。
　〃That's　how　you　can　feel　in　the　forest。　Of　course　there's　nothing　in　it。　Only…only…〃
　He　took　a　few　rapid　steps　toward　the　beach；　then　came　back。
　〃Only　I　know　how　they　feel。　See？　That's　all。〃
　〃The　best　thing　we　can　do　is　get　ourselves　rescued。〃
　Jack　had　to　think　for　a　moment　before　he　could　remember　what　rescue　was。
　〃Rescue？　Yes；　of　course！　All　the　same；　I'd　like　to　catch　a　pig　first…〃　He　snatched　up　his　spear　and　dashed　it　into　the：　ground。　The　opaque；　mad　look　came　into　his　eyes　again。　Ralph　looked　at　him　critically　through　his　tangle　of　fair　hair。
　〃So　long　as　your　hunters　remember　the　fire…〃　
　〃You　and　your　fire…〃
　The　two　boys　trotted　down　the　beach；　and；　turning　at　the　water's　edge；　looked　back　at　the　pink　mountain。　The　trickle　of　smoke　sketched　a　chalky　line　up　the　solid　blue　of　the　sky；　wavered　high　up　and　faded。　Ralph　frowned。　
　〃I　wonder　how　far　off　you　could　see　that〃
　〃Miles。〃
　〃We　don't　make　enough　smoke。〃
　The　bottom　part　of　the　trickle；　as　though　conscious　of　their　gaze；　thickened　to　a　creamy　blur　which　crept　up　the　feeble　column。
　〃They've　put　on　green　branches；〃　muttered　Ralph。　〃I　wonder！〃　He　screwed　up　his　eyes　and　swung　round　to　search　the　horizon。〃
　〃Got　it！〃
　Jack　shouted　so　loudly　that　Ralph　jumped。　
　〃What？　Where？　Is　it　a　ship？〃
　But　Jack　was　pointing　to　the　high　declivities　that　led　down　from　the　mountain　to　the　flatter　part　of　the　island。
　〃Of　course！　They'll　Be　up　there…they　must；　when　the　sun's　too　hot…〃
　Ralph　gazed　bewildered　at　his　rapt　face。　
　〃…they　get　up　high。　High　up　and　in　the　shade；　resting　during　the　heat；　like　cows　at　home…〃　
　〃I　thought　you　saw　a　ship！〃
　〃We　could　steal　up　on　one…paint　our　faces　so　they　wouldn't　see…perhaps　surround　them　and　then…〃　
　Indignation　took　away　Ralph's　control。
　〃I　was　talking　about　smoke！　Don't　you　want　to　be　rescued？　All　you　can　talk　about　is　pig；　pig；　pig！〃
　〃But　we　want　meat！〃
　〃And　I　work　all　day　with　nothing　but　Simon　and　you　e　back　and　don't　even　notice　the　huts！〃
　〃I　was　working　too…〃
　〃But　you　like　it！〃　shouted　Ralph。　〃You　want　to　hunt！　While　I…〃
　They　faced　each　other　on　the　bright　beach；　astonished　at　the　rub　of　feeling。　Ralph　looked　away　first；　pretending　interest　in　a　group　of　littluns　on　the　sand。　From　beyond　the　platform　came　the　shouting　of　the　hunters　in　the　swimming　pool。　On　the　end　of　the　platform　Piggy　was　lying　flat；　looking　down　into　the　brilliant　water。
　〃People　don't　help　much。〃
　He　wanted　to　explain　how　people　were　never　quite　what　you　thought　they　were。
　〃Simon。　He　helps。〃　He　pointed　at　the　shelters。
　〃All　the　rest　rushed　off。　He's　done　as　much　as　I　have。　Only…〃
　〃Simon's　always　about。〃
　Ralph　started　back　to　the　shelters　with　Jack　by　his　side。
　〃Do　a　bit　for　you；〃　muttered　Jack；　〃before　I　have　a　bathe。〃
　〃Don't　bother。〃
　But　when　they　reached　the　shelters　Simon　was　not　to　be　seen。　Ralph　put　his　head　in　the　hole；　withdrew　it；　and　turned　to　Jack。
　〃He's　buzzed　off。〃
　〃Got　fed　up；〃　said　Jack；　〃and　gone　for　a　bathe。〃
　Ralph　frowned。
　〃He's　queer。　He's　funny。〃
　Jack　nodded；　as　much　for　the　sake　of　agreeing　as　anything；　and　by　tacit　consent　they　left　the　shelter　and　went　toward　the　bathing　pool。
　〃And　then；〃　said　Jack；　〃when　I've　had　a　bathe　and　something　to　eat；　I'll　just　trek　over　to　the　other　side　of　the　mountain　and　see　if　I　can　see　any　traces。　ing？〃
　〃But　the　sun's　nearly　set！〃
　〃I　might　have　time…〃
　They　walked　along；　two　continents　of　experience　and　feeling；　unable　to　municate。
　〃If　I　could　only　get　a　pig！〃
　〃I'll　e　back　and　go　on　with　the　shelter。〃
　They　looked　at　each