wgolding.lordoftheflies-第30节

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　Piggy　looked　at　the　fire。
　〃You'll　want　another　green　branch　soon。〃
　Ralph　rolled　over。
　〃Piggy。　What　are　we　going　to　do？〃
　〃Just　have　to　get　on　without　'em。〃
　〃But…the　fire。〃
　He　frowned　at　the　black　and　white　mess　in　which　lay　the　unburnt　ends　of　branches。　He　tried　to　formulate。
　〃I'm　scared。〃
　He　saw　Piggy　look　up；　and　blundered　on。
　〃Not　of　the　beast。　I　mean　I'm　scared　of　that　too。　But　nobody　else　understands　about　the　fire。　If　someone　threw　you　a　rope　when　you　were　drowning。　If　a　doctor　said　take　this　because　if　you　don't　take　it　you'll　die…you　would；　wouldn't　you？　I　mean？〃
　〃　'Course　I　would。〃
　〃Can't　they　see？　Can't　they　understand？　Without　the　smoke　signal　we'll　die　here？　Look　at　that！〃
　A　wave　of　heated　air　trembled　above　the　ashes　but　without　a　trace　of　smoke。
　〃We　can't　keep　one　fire　going。　And　they　don't　care。　And　what's　more…〃　He　looked　intensely　into　Piggy's　streaming　face。
　〃What's　more；　I　don't　sometimes。　Supposing　I　got　like　the　others…not　caring。　What　'ud　bee　of　us？〃
　Piggy　took　off　his　glasses；　deeply　troubled。
　〃I　dunno；　Ralph。　We　just　got　to　go　on；　that's　all。　That's　what　grownups　would　do。〃
　Ralph；　having　begun　the　business　of　unburdening　himself；　continued。
　〃Piggy；　what's　wrong？〃
　Piggy　looked　at　him　in　astonishment。
　〃Do　you　mean　the…？〃
　〃No；　not　it　。。。　I　mean　。　。　。　what　makes　things　break　up　like　they　do？〃
　Piggy　rubbed　his　glasses　slowly　and　thought。　When　he　understood　how　far　Ralph　had　gone　toward　accepting　him　he　flushed　pinkly　with　pride。
　〃I　dunno；　Ralph。　I　expect　it's　him。〃
　〃Jack？〃
　〃Jack。〃　A　taboo　was　evolving　round　that　word　too。
　Ralph　nodded　solemnly。　
　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　suppose　it　must　be。〃　
　The　forest　near　them　burst　into　uproar。　Demoniac　figures　with　faces　of　white　and　red　and　green　rushed　out　howling；　so　that　the　littluns　fled　screaming。　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Ralph　saw　Piggy　running。　Two　figures　rushed　at　the　fire　and　he　prepared　to　defend　himself　but　they　grabbed　half…burnt　branches　and　raced　away　along　the　beach。　The　three　others　stood　still；　watching　Ralph；　and　he　saw　that　the　tallest　of　them；　stark　naked　save　for　paint　and　a　belt；　was　Jack。
　Ralph　had　his　breath　back　and　spoke。
　〃Well？〃
　Jack　ignored　him；　lifted　his　spear　and　began　to　shout。　
　〃Listen　all　of　you。　Me　and　my　hunters；　we're　living　along　the　beach　by　a　flat　rock。　We　hunt　and　feast　and　have　fun。　If　you　want　to　join　my　tribe　e　and　see　us。　Perhaps　I'll　let　you　join。　Perhaps　not。〃
　He　paused　and　looked　round。　He　was　safe　from　shame　or　self…consciousness　behind　the　mask　of　his　paint　and　could　look　at　each　of　them　in　turn。　Ralph　was　kneeling　by　the　remains　of　the　fire　like　a　sprinter　at　his　mark　and　his　face　was　half…hidden　by　hair　and　smut。　Samneric　peered　together　round　a　palm　tree　at　the　edge　of　the　forest　A　littlun　howled；　creased　and　crimson；　by　the　bathing　pool　and　Piggy　stood　on　the　platform；　the　white　conch　gripped　in　his　hands。
　'〃Tonight　we're　having　a　feast　We've　killed　a　pig　and　we've　got　meat。　You　can　e　and　eat　with　us　if　you　like。〃
　Up　in　the　cloud　canyons　the　thunder　boomed　again。　Jack　and　the　two　anonymous　savages　with　him　swayed；　looking　up；　and　then　recovered。　The　littlun　went　on　howling。　Jack　was　waiting　for　something。　He　whispered　urgently　to　the　others。
　〃Go　on…now！〃
　The　two　savages　murmured。　Jack　spoke　sharply。
　〃Go　on！〃　The　two　savages　looked　at　each　other；　raised　their　spears　together　and　spoke　in　time。
　〃The　Chief　has　spoken。〃
　Then　the　three　of　them　turned　and　trotted　away。
　Presently　Ralph　rose　to　his　feet；　looking　at　the　place　where　the　savages　had　vanished。　Samneric　came；　talking　in　an　awed　whisper。
　〃I　thought　it　was…〃
　〃…and　I　was…〃
　〃…scared。〃
　Piggy　stood　above　them　on　the　platform；　still　holding　the　conch。
　〃That　was　Jack　and　Maurice　and　Robert；〃　said　Ralph。　〃Aren't　they　having　fun？〃
　〃I　thought　I　was　going　to　have　asthma。〃
　〃Sucks　to　your　ass…mar。〃
　〃When　I　saw　Jack　I　was　sure　he'd　go　for　the　conch。　Can't　think　why。〃
　The　group　of　boys　looked　at　the　white　shell　with　affectionate　respect。　Piggy　placed　it　in　Ralph's　hands　and　the　littluns；　seeing　the　familiar　symbol；　started　to　e　back。
　〃Not　here。〃
　He　turned　toward　the　platform；　feeling　the　need　for　ritual。　First　went　Ralph；　the　white　conch　cradled；　then　Piggy　very　grave；　then　the　twins；　then　the　littluns　and　the　others。
　〃Sit　down　all　of　you。　They　raided　us　for　fire。　They're　having　fun。　But　the…〃
　Ralph　was　puzzled　by　the　shutter　that　flickered　in　his　brain。　There　was　something　he　wanted　to　say；　then　the　shutter　had　e　down。
　〃But　the…〃
　They　were　regarding　him　gravely；　not　yet　troubled　by　any　doubts　about　his　sufficiency。　Ralph　pushed　the　idiot　hair　out　of　his　eyes　and　looked　at　Piggy。
　〃But　the　。。。　oh　。。。　the　fire！　　Of　course；　　the　　fire！〃
　He　started　to　laugh；　then　stopped　and　became　fluent　instead。
　〃The　fire's　the　most　important　thing。　Without　the　fire　we　can't　be　rescued。　I'd　like　to　put　on　war…paint　and　be　a　savage。　But　we　must　keep　the　fire　burning。　The　fire's　the　most　important　thing　on　the　island；　because；　because…〃
　He　paused　again　and　the　silence　became　full　of　doubt　and　wonder。
　Piggy　whispered　urgently。　〃Rescue。〃
　〃Oh　yes。　Without　the　fire　we　can't　be　rescued。　So　we　must　stay　by　the　fire　and　make　smoke。〃
　When　he　stopped　no　one　said　anything。　After　the　many　brilliant　　　speeches　　　that　　　had　　　been　　　made　　　on　　　this　　　very　spot　Ralph　s　remarks　seemed　lame；　even　to　the　littluns。　At　last　Bill　held　out　his　hands　for　the　conch。　〃Now　we　can't　have　the　fire　up　there…because　we　can't　have　the　fire　up　there…we　need　more　people　to　keep　it　going。　Let's　go　to　this　feast　and　tell　them　the　fire's　hard　on　the　rest　of　us。　And　the　hunting　and　all　that；　being　savages　I　mean…it　must　be　jolly　good　fun。〃
　Samneric　took　the　conch。
　〃That　must　be　fun　like　Bill　says…and　as　he's　invited　us…〃
　〃…to　a　feast…〃
　〃…meat…〃　
　〃…crackling…〃
　〃…I　could　do　with　some　meat…〃
　Ralph　held　up　his　hand。
　〃Why　shouldn't　we　get　our　own　meat？〃
　The　twins　looked　at　each　other。　Bill　answered。
　〃We　don't　want　to　go　in　the　jungle。〃
　Ralph　grimaced。
　〃He…you　know…goes。〃
　〃He's　a　hunter。　They're　all　hunters。　That's　different。〃
　No　one　spoke　for　a　moment；　then　Piggy　muttered　to　the　sand。
　〃Meat…〃
　The　littluns　sat；　solemnly　thinking　of　meat；　and　dribbling。　Overhead　the　cannon　boomed　again　and　the　dry　palm　fronds　clattered　in　a　sudden　gust　of　hot　wind。
　
　〃You　are　a　silly　little　boy；〃　said　the　Lord　of　the　Flies；　〃just　an　ignorant；　silly　little　boy。〃
　Simon　moved　his　swollen　tongue　but　said　nothing。
　〃Don't　you　agree？〃　said　the　Lord　of　the　Flies。　〃Aren't　you　just　a　silly　little　boy？〃
　Simon　answered　him　in　the　same　silent　voice。
　〃Well　then；〃　said　the　Lord　of　the　Flies；　〃you'd　better　run　off　and　play　with　the　others。　They　think　you're　batty。　You　don't　want　Ralph　to　think　you're　batty；　do　you？　You　like　Ralph　a　lot；　don't　you？　And　Piggy；　and　Jack？〃
　Simon's　head　was　tilted　slightly　up。　His　eyes　could　not　break　away　and　the　Lord　of　the　Flies　hung　in　space　before　him。
　〃What　are　you　doing　out　here　all　alone？　Aren't　you　afraid　of　me？〃
　Simon　shook。
　〃There　isn't　anyone　to　help　you。　Only　me。　And　I'm　the　Beast。〃
　Simon's　mouth　labored；　brought　forth　audible　words。
　〃Pig's　head　on　a　stick。〃
　〃Fancy　thinking　the　Beast　was　something　you　could　hunt　and　kill！〃　said　the　head。　For　a　moment　or　two　the　forest　and　all　the　other　dimly　appreciated　places　echoed　with　the　parody　of　laughter。　〃You　knew；　didn't　you？　I'm　part　of　you？　Close；　close；　close！　I'm　the　reason　why　it's　no　go？　Why　things　are　what　they　are？〃
　The　laughter　shivered　again。
　〃e　now；〃　said　the　Lord　of　the　Flies。　〃Get　back　to　the　others　and　we'll　forget　the　whole　thing。〃
　Simon's　head　wobbled。　His　eyes　were　half　closed　as　though　he　were　imitating　the　obscene　thing　on　the　stick。　He　knew　that　one　of　his　times　was　ing　on。　The　Lord　of　the　Flies　was　expanding　like　a　balloon。
　〃This　is　ridiculous。　You　know　perfectly　well　you'll　only　meet　me　down　there…so　don't　try　to　escape！〃
　Simon's　body　was　arched　and　stiff。　The　Lord　of　the　Flies　spoke　in　the　voice　of　a　schoolmaster。
　〃This　has　gone　quite　far　enough。　My　poor；　misguided　child；　do　you　think　you　know　better　than　I　do？〃
　There　was　a　pause。
　〃I'm　warning　you。　I'm　going　to　get　angry。　D'you　see？　You're　not　wanted。　Understand？　We　are　going　to　have　fun　on　this　island。　Understand？　We　are　going　to　have　fun　on　this　island！　So　don't　try　it　on；　my　poor　misguided　boy；　or　else…〃
　Simon　found　he　was　looking　into　a　vast　mouth。　There　was　blackness　within；　a　blackness　that　spread。
　〃…Or　else；〃　said　the　Lord　of　the　Flies；　〃we　shall　do　you。　See？　Jack　and　Roger　and　Maurice　and　Robert　and　Bill　and　Piggy　and　Ralph。　Do　you。　See？〃
　Simon　was　inside　the　mouth。　He　fell　down　and　lost　consciousness。
　
　
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　NINE
　A　View　to　a　Death
　
　Over　the　island　the　build…up　of　clouds　continued。　A　steady　current　of　heated　air　rose　all　day　from　the　mountain　and　was　thrust　to　ten　thousand　feet；　revolving　masses　of　gas　piled　up　the　static　until　the　air　was　ready　to　explode。　By　early　evening　the　sun　had　gone　and　a　brassy　glare　had　taken　the　place　of　clear　daylight。　Even　the　air　that　pushed　in　from　the　s