wgolding.lordoftheflies-第25节

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l　at　the　bottom　of　the　garden；　and　it　had　snowed。　Just　behind　the　cottage　there　was　a　sort　of　shed　and　you　could　lie　up　there；　watching　the　flakes　swirl　past　You　could　see　the　damp　spot　where　each　flake　died；　then　you　could　mark　the　first　flake　that　lay　down　without　melting　and　watch　the　whole　ground　turn　white。　You　could　go　indoors　when　you　were　cold　and　look　out　of　the　window；　past　that　bright　copper　kettle　and　the　plate　with　the　little　blue　men。
　When　you　went　to　bed　there　was　a　bowl　of　cornflakes　with　sugar　and　cream。　And　the　books…they　stood　on　the　shelf　by　the　bed；　leaning　together　with　always　two　or　three　laid　flat　on　top　because　he　had　not　bothered　to　put　them　back　properly。　They　were　dog…eared　and　scratched。　There　was　the　bright；　shining　one　about　Topsy　and　Mopsy　that　he　never　read　because　it　was　about　two　girls；　there　was　the　one　about　the　magician　which　you　read　with　a　kind　of　tied…down　terror；　skipping　page　twenty…seven　with　the　awful　picture　of　the　spider；　there　was　a　book　about　people　who　had　dug　things　up；　Egyptian　things；　there　was　The　Boy's　Book　of　Trains；　The　Boy's　Book　of　Ships。　Vividly　they　came　before　him；　he　could　have　reached　up　and　touched　them；　could　feel　the　weight　and　slow　slide　with　which　The　Mammoth　Book　for　Boys　would　e　out　and　slither　down。　。　。　。　Everything　was　all　right；　everything　was　good…humored　and　friendly。
　The　bushes　crashed　ahead　of　them。　Boys　flung　themselves　wildly　from　the　pig　track　and　scrabbled　in　the　creepers；　screaming。　Ralph　saw　Jack　nudged　aside　and　fall。　Then　there　was　a　creature　bounding　along　the　pig　track　toward　him；　with　tusks　gleaming　and　an　intimidating　grunt。　Ralph　found　he　was　able　to　measure　the　distance　coldly　and　take　aim。　With　the　boar　only　five　yards　away；　he　flung　the　foolish　wooden　stick　that　he　carried；　saw　it　hit　the　great　snout　and　hang　there　for　a　moment。　The　boar's　note　changed　to　a　squeal　and　it　swerved　aside　into　the　covert。　The　pig…run　filled　with　shouting　boys　again；　Jack　came　running　back；　and　poked　about　in　the　undergrowth。
　Through　here…〃
　〃But　he'd　do　us！〃
　〃Through　here；　I　said…〃
　The　boar　was　floundering　away　from　them。　They　found　another　pig…run　parallel　to　the　first　and　Jack　raced　away。　Ralph　was　lull　of　night　and　apprehension　and　pride。
　〃I　hit　him！　The　spear　stuck　in…〃
　Now　they　came；　unexpectedly；　to　an　open　space　by　the　sea。　Jack　cast　about　on　the　bare　rock　and　looked　anxious。
　〃He's　gone。〃
　〃I　hit　him；〃　said　Ralph　again；　〃and　the　spear　stuck　in　a　bit。〃
　He　felt　the　need　of　witnesses。
　〃Didn't　you　see　me？〃
　Maurice　nodded。
　〃I　saw　you。　Right　bang　on　his　snout…　Wheee！〃
　Ralph　talked　on；　excitedly。
　〃I　hit　him　all　right　The　spear　stuck　in。　I　wounded　him！〃
　He　sunned　himself　in　their　new　respect　and　felt　that　hunting　was　good　after　all。
　〃I　walloped　him　properly。　That　was　the　beast；　I　think！〃　Jack　came　back。
　〃That　wasn't　the　beast　That　was　a　boar。〃
　〃I　bit　him。〃
　〃Why　didn't　you　grab　him？　I　tried…〃
　Ralph's　voice　ran　up。
　〃But　a　boar！〃
　Jack　flushed　suddenly。
　〃You　said　he'd　do　us。　What　did　you　want　to　throw　for？　Why　didn't　you　wait？〃
　He　held　out　his　arm。
　〃Look。〃
　He　turned　his　left　forearm　for　them　all　to　see。　On　the　outside　was　a　rip；　not　much；　but　bloody。　。　　〃He　did　mat　with　his　tusks。　I　couldn't　get　my　spear　down　in　time。〃
　Attention　focused　on　Jack。
　〃That's　a　wound；〃　said　Simon；　〃and　you　ought　to　suck　it　Like　Berengaria。〃
　Jack　sucked。
　〃I　hit　him；〃　said　Ralph　indignantly。　〃I　bit　him　with　my　spear；　I　wounded　him。〃
　He　tried　for　their　attention。
　〃He　was　ing　along　the　path。　I　threw；　like　this…〃
　Robert　snarled　at　him。　Ralph　entered　into　the　play　and　everybody　laughed。　Presently　they　were　all　jabbing　at　Robert　who　made　mock　rushes。
　Jack　shouted。　
　〃Make　a　ring！〃
　The　circle　moved　in　and　round。　Robert　squealed　in　mock　terror；　then　in　real　pain。
　〃Ow！　Stop　it！　You're　hurting！〃
　The　butt　end　of　a　spear　fell　on　his　back　as　he　blundered　among　them。
　〃Hold　him！〃
　They　got　his　arms　and　legs。　Ralph；　carried　away　by　a　sudden　thick　excitement；　grabbed　Eric's　spear　and　jabbed　at　Robert　with　it。
　〃Kill　him！　Kill　him！〃
　All　at　once；　Robert　was　screaming　and　struggling　with　the　strength　of　frenzy。　Jack　had　him　by　the　hair　and　was　brandishing　his　knife。　Behind　him　was　Roger；　fighting　to　get　close。　The　chant　rose　ritually；　as　at　the　last　moment　of　a　dance　or　a　hunt。
　〃Kill　the　pig！　Cut　his　throat！　Kill　the　pig！　Bash　him　in！〃
　Ralph　too　was　fighting　to　get　near；　to　get　a　handful　of　that　brown；　vulnerable　flesh。　The　desire　to　squeeze　and　hurt　was　over…mastering。
　Jack's　arm　came　down；　the　heaving　circle　cheered　and　made　pig…dying　noises。　Then　they　lay　quiet；　panting；　listening　to　Robert's　frightened　snivels。　He　wiped　his　face　with　a　dirty　arm；　and　made　an　effort　to　retrieve　his　status。
　〃Oh；　my　bum！〃
　He　rubbed　his　rump　ruefully。　Jack　rolled　over。
　〃That　was　a　good　game。〃
　〃Just　a　game；〃　said　Ralph　uneasily。　〃I　got　jolly　badly　hurt　at　rugger　once。〃
　〃We　ought　to　have　a　drum；〃　said　Maurice；　〃then　we　could　do　it　properly。〃
　Ralph　looked　at　him。
　〃How　properly？〃
　〃I　dunno。　You　want　a　fire；　I　think；　and　a　drum；　and　you　keep　time　to　the　drum。〃
　〃You　want　a　pig；〃　said　Roger；　〃Like　in　a　real　hunt。〃
　〃Or　someone　to　pretend；〃　said　Jack。　　〃You　could　get　someone　to　dress　up　as　a　pig　and　then　he　could　act…you　know；　pretend　to　knock　me　over　and　all　that。〃
　〃You　want　a　real　pig；〃　said　Robert；　still　caressing　his　rump；　〃because　you've　got　to　kill　him。〃
　〃Use　a　littlun；〃　said　Jack；　and　everybody　laughed。
　
　Ralph　sat　up。
　〃Well。　We　shan't　find　what　we're　looking　for　at　this　rate。〃
　One　by　one　they　stood　up；　twitching　rags　into　place。
　Ralph　looked　at　Jack。
　〃Now　for　　the　mountain。〃
　〃Shouldn't　we　go　back　to　Piggy；〃　said　Maurice；　〃before　dark？〃
　The　twins　nodded　like　one　boy。
　〃Yes；　that's　right。　Let's　go　up　there　in　the　morning。〃
　Ralph　looked　out　and　saw　the　sea。
　〃We've　got　to　start　the　fire　again。〃
　〃You　haven't　got　Piggy's　specs；〃　said　Jack；　〃so　you　can't。〃
　〃Then　we'll　find　out　if　the　mountain's　clear。〃
　Maurice　spoke；　hesitating；　not　wanting　to　seem　a　funk。
　〃Supposing　the　beast's　up　there？〃
　Jack　brandished　his　spear。
　〃We‘1l　kill　it。〃
　The　sun　seemed　a　little　cooler。　He　slashed　with　the　spear。
　〃What　are　we　waiting　for？〃
　〃I　suppose；〃　said　Ralph；　〃if　we　keep　on　by　the　sea　this　way；　well　e　out　below　the　burnt　bit　and　then　we　can　climb　the　mountain。〃
　Once　more　Jack　led　them　along　by　the　suck　and　heave　of　the　blinding　sea。
　Once　more　Ralph　dreamed；　letting　his　skillful　feet　deal　with　the　difficulties　of　the　path。　Yet　here　his　feet　seemed　less　skillful　than　before。　For　most　of　the　way　they　were　forced　right　down　to　the　bare　rock　by　the　water　and　had　to　edge　along　between　that　and　the　dark　luxuriance　of　the　forest　There　were　little　cliffs　to　be　scaled；　some　to　be　used　as　paths；　lengthy　traverses　where　one　used　hands　as　well　as　feet。　Here　and　there　they　could　clamber　over　wave…wet　rock；　leaping　across　clear　pools　that　the　tide　had　left。　They　came　to　a　gully　that　split　the　narrow　foreshore　like　a　defense。　This　seemed　to　have　no　bottom　and　they　peered　awe…stricken　into　the　gloomy　crack　where　water　gurgled。　Then　the　wave　came　back；　the　gully　boiled　before　them　and　spray　dashed　up　to　the　very　creeper　so　that　the　boys　were　wet　and　shrieking。　They　tried　the　forest　but　ft　was　thick　and　woven　like　a　bird's　nest　In　the　end　they　had　to　jump　one　by　one；　waiting　till　the　water　sank；　and　even　so；　some　of　them　got　a　second　drenching。　After　that　the　rocks　seemed　to　be　growing　impassable　so　they　sat　for　a　time；　letting　their　rags　dry　and　watching　the　clipped　outlines　of　the　rollers　that　moved　so　slowly　past　the　island。　They　found　fruit　in　a　haunt　of　bright　little　birds　that　hovered　like　insects。　Then　Ralph　said　they　were　going　too　slowly。　He　himself　climbed　a　tree　and　parted　the　canopy；　and　saw　the　square　head　of　the　mountain　seeming　still　a　great　way　off。　Then　they　tried　to　hurry　along　the　rocks　and　Robert　cut　his　knee　quite　badly　and　they　had　to　recognize　that　this　path　must　be　taken　slowly　if　they　were　to　be　safe。　So　they　proceeded　after　that　as　if　they　were　climbing　a　dangerous　mountain；　until　the　rocks　became　an　unpromising　cliff；　overhung　with　impossible　jungle　and　falling　sheer　into　the　sea。
　Ralph　looked　at　the　sun　critically。
　〃Early　evening。　After　tea…time；　at　any　rate。〃
　〃I　don't　remember　this　cliff；〃　said　Jack；　crestfallen；　〃so　this　must　be　the　bit　of　the　coast　I　missed。〃
　Ralph　nodded。
　〃Let　me　think。〃
　By　now；　Ralph　had　no　self…consciousness　in　public　thinking　but　would　treat　the　day's　decisions　as　though　he　were　playing　chess。　The　only　trouble　was　that　he　would　never　be　a　very　good　chess　player。　He　thought　of　the　littluns　and　Piggy。　Vividly　he　imagined　Piggy　by　himself；　huddled　in　a　shelter　that　was　silent　except　for　the　sounds　of　nightmare。
　〃We　can't　leave　the　littluns　alone　with　Piggy。　Not　all　night。〃
　The　other　boys　said　nothing　but　stood　round；　watching　him。
　〃If　we　went　back　we　should　take　hours。〃
　Jack　cleared　his　throat　and　spoke　in　a　queer；　tight　voice。
　〃We　mustn't　let　anything　happen　to　Piggy；　must　we？〃
　Ralph　tapped　his　teeth　with　the　dirty　point　of　Eric's　spear。
　〃If　we　go　across…〃