wgolding.lordoftheflies-第31节

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　pushed　in　from　the　sea　was　hot　ana　held　no　refreshment。　Colors　drained　from　water　and　trees　and　pink　surfaces　of　rock；　and　the　white　and　brown　clouds　brooded；　Nothing　prospered　but　the　flies　who　blackened　their　lord　and　made　the　spilt　guts　look　like　a　heap　of　glistening　coal　Even　when　the　vessel　broke　in　Simon's　nose　and　the　blood　gushed　out　they　left　him　alone；　preferring　the　pig's　high　flavor。
　With　the　running　of　the　blood　Simon's　fit　passed　into　the　weariness　of　sleep。　He　lay　in　the　mat　of　creepers　while　the　evening　advanced　and　the　cannon　continued　to　play。　At　last　he　woke　and　saw　dimly　the　dark　earth　close　by　his　cheek。　Still　he　did　not　move　but　lay　there；　his　face　side…ways　on　the　earth；　his　eyes　looking　dully　before　him。　Then　he　turned　over；　drew　his　feet　under　him　and　laid　hold　of　the　creepers　to　pull　himself　up。　When　the　creepers　shook　the　flies　exploded　from　the　guts　with　a　vicious　note　and　clamped　back　on　again。　Simon　got　to　his　feet。　The　light　was　unearthly。　The　Lord　of　the　Flies　hung　on　his　stick　like　a　black　ball。
　Simon　spoke　aloud　to　the　clearing。
　〃What　else　is　there　to　do？〃
　Nothing　replied。　Simon　turned　away　from　the　open　space　and　crawled　through　the　creepers　till　he　was　in　the　dusk　of　the　forest。　He　walked　drearily　between　the　trunks；　his　face　empty　of　expression；　and　the　blood　was　dry　round　his　mouth　and　chin。　Only　sometimes　as　he　lifted　the　ropes　of　creeper　aside　and　chose　his　direction　from　the　trend　of　the　land；　he　mouthed　words　that　did　not　reach　the　air。
　Presently　the　creepers　festooned　the　trees　less　frequently　and　there　was　a　scatter　of　pearly　light　from　the　sky　down　through　the　trees。　This　was　the　backbone　of　the　island；　the　slightly　higher　land　that　lay　beneath　the　mountain　where　the　forest　was　no　longer　deep　Jungle。　Here　there　were　wide　spaces　interspersed　with　thickets　and　huge　trees　and　the　trend　of　the　ground　led　him　up　as　the　forest　opened。　He　pushed　on；　staggering　sometimes　with　his　weariness　but　never　stopping。　The　usual　brightness　was　gone　from　his　eyes　and　he　walked　with　a　sort　of　glum　determination　like　an　old　man。
　A　buffet　of　wind　made　him　stagger　and　he　saw　that　he　was　out　in　the　open；　on　rock；　under　a　brassy　sky。　He　found　his　legs　were　weak　and　his　tongue　gave　him　pain　all　the　time。　When　the　wind　reached　the　mountain…top　he　could　see　something　happen；　a　flicker　of　blue　stuff　against　brown　clouds。　He　pushed　himself　forward　and　the　wind　came　again；　stronger　now；　cuffing　the　forest　heads　till　they　ducked　and　roared。　Simon　saw　a　humped　thing　suddenly　sit　up　on　the　top　and　look　down　at　him。　He　hid　his　face；　and　toiled　on。
　The　flies　had　found　the　figure　too。　The　life…like　movement　would　scare　them　off　for　a　moment　so　that　they　made　a　dark　cloud　round　the　head。　Then　as　the　blue　material　of　the　parachute　collapsed　the　corpulent　figure　would　bow　forward；　sighing；　and　the　flies　settle　once　more。
　Simon　felt　his　knees　smack　the　rock。　He　crawled　forward　and　soon　he　understood。　The　tangle　of　lines　showed　him　the　mechanics　of　this　parody；　he　examined　the　white　nasal　bones；　the　teeth；　the　colors　of　corruption。　He　saw　how　pitilessly　the　layers　of　rubber　and　canvas　held　together　the　poor　body　that　should　be　rotting　away。　Then　the　wind　blew　again　and　the　figure　lifted；　bowed；　and　breathed　foully　at　him。　Simon　knelt　on　all　fours　and　was　sick　till　his　stomach　was　empty。　Then　he　took　the　lines　in　his　hands；　he　freed　them　from　the　rocks　and　the　figure　from　the　wind's　indignity。
　At　last　he　turned　away　and　looked　down　at　the　beaches。　The　fire　by　the　platform　appeared　to　be　out；　or　at　least　making　no　smoke。　Further　along　the　beach；　beyond　the　little　river　and　near　a　great　slab　of　rock；　a　thin　trickle　of　smoke　was　climbing　into　the　sky。　Simon；　forgetful　of　the　lies；　shaded　his　eyes　with　both　hands　and　peered　at　the　smoke。　Even　at　that　distance　it　was　possible　to　see　most　of　the　boys…perhaps　all　the　boys…were　there。　So　they　had　shifted　camp　then；　away　from　the　beast。　As　Simon　thought　this；　he　turned　to　the　poor　broken　thing　that　sat　stinking　by　his　side。　The　beast　was　harmless　and　horrible；　and　the　news　must　reach　the　others　as　soon　as　possible。　He　started　down　the　mountain　and　his　legs　gave　beneath　him。　Even　with　great　care　the　best　he　could　do　was　a　stagger。
　
　〃Bathing；〃　said　Ralph；　〃that's　the　only　thing　to　do。〃
　Piggy　was　inspecting　the　looming　sky　through　his　glass。
　〃I　don't　like　them　clouds。　Remember　how　it　rained　just　after　we　landed？〃
　〃Going　to　rain　again。〃
　Ralph　dived　into　the　pool。　A　couple　of　littluns　were　playing　at　the　edge；　trying　to　extract　fort　from　a　wetness　warmer　than　blood。　Piggy　took　off　his　glasses；　stepped　primly　into　the　water　and　then　put　them　on　again。　Ralph　came　to　the　surface　and　squirted　a　jet　of　water　at　him。
　〃Mind　my　specs；〃　said　Piggy。　〃If　I　get　water　on　the　glass　I　got　to　get　out　and　clean　'em。〃
　Ralph　squirted　again　and　missed。　He　laughed　at　Piggys　expecting　him　to　retire　meekly　as　usual　and　in　pained　silence。　Instead；　Piggy　beat　the　water　with　his　hands。
　〃Stop　it！〃　he　shouted。　〃D‘you　hear？〃
　Furiously　he　drove　the　water　into　Ralph's　face。
　〃All　right；　all　right；〃　said　Ralph。　〃Keep　your　hair　on。〃
　Piggy　stopped　beating　the　water。
　〃I　got　a　pain　in　my　head。　I　wish　the　air　was　cooler。〃
　〃I　wish　the　rain　would　e。〃
　〃I　wish　we　could　go　home。〃
　Piggy　lay　back　against　the　sloping　sand　side　of　the　pool。　His　stomach　protruded　and　the　water　dried　on　it　Ralph　squirted　up　at　the　sky。　One　could　guess　at　the　movement　of　the　sun　by　the　progress　of　a　light　patch　among　the　clouds。　He　knelt　in　the　water　and　looked　round。
　〃Where's　everybody？〃
　Piggy　sat　up。
　〃P‘raps　they're　lying　in　the　shelter。〃
　〃Where's　Samneric？〃
　〃And　Bill？〃
　Piggy　pointed　beyond　the　platform。　
　〃That's　where　they've　gone。　Jack's　parry。〃　
　〃Let　them　go；〃　said　Ralph；　uneasily；　〃I　don't　care。〃　
　〃Just　for　some　meat…〃
　〃And　for　hunting；〃　said　Ralph；　wisely；　〃and　for　pretending　to　be　a　tribe；　and　putting　on　war…paint。〃
　Piggy　stirred　the　sand　under　water　and　did　not　look　at　Ralph。
　〃P'raps　we　ought　to　go　too。〃　Ralph　looked　at　him　quickly　and　Piggy　blushed；　〃I　mean…to　make　sure　nothing　happens。〃　Ralph　squirted　water　again。
　
　Long　before　Ralph　and　Piggy　came　up　with　Jack's　lot；　they　could　hear　the　party。　There　was　a　stretch　of　grass　in　a　place　where　the　palms　left　a　wide　band　of　turf　between　the　forest　and　the　snore。　Just　one　step　down　from　the　edge　of　the　turf　was　the　white；　blown　sand　of　above　high　water；　warm；　dry；　trodden。　Below　that　again　was　a　rock　that　stretched　away　toward　the　lagoon。　Beyond　was　a　short　stretch　of　sand　and　then　the　edge　of　the　water。　A　fire　burned　on　the　rock　and　fat　dripped　from　the　roasting　pig…meat　into　the　invisible　flames。　All　the　boys　of　the　island；　except　Piggy；　Ralph；　Simon；　and　the　two　tending　the　pig；　were　grouped　on　the　turf。　They　were　laughing；　singing；　lying；　squatting；　or　standing　on　the　grass；　holding　food　in　their　hands。　But　to　judge　by　the　greasy　faces；　the　meat　eating　was　almost　done；　and　some　held　coconut　shells　in　their　hands　and　were　drinking　from　them。　Before　the　party　had　started　a　great　log　had　been　dragged　into　the　center　of　the　lawn　and　Jack；　painted　and　garlanded；　sat　there　like　an　idol。　There　were　piles　of　meat　on　green　leaves　near　him；　and　fruit；　and　coconut　shells　full　of　drink。
　Piggy　and　Ralph　came　to　the　edge　of　the　grassy　platform；　and　the　boys；　as　they　noticed　them；　fell　silent　one　by　one　till　only　the　boy　next　to　Jack　was　talking。　Then　the　silence　intruded　even　there　and　Jack　turned　where　he　sat　For　a　time　he　looked　at　them　and　the　crackle　of　the　fire　was　the　loudest　noise　over　the　droning　of　the　reef；　Ralph　looked　away；　and　Sam；　thinking　that　Ralph　had　turned　to　him　accusingly；　put　down　his　gnawed　bone　with　a　nervous　giggle。　Ralph　took　an　uncertain　step；　pointed　to　a　palm　tree；　and　whispered　something　inaudible　to　Piggy；　and　they　both　giggled　like　Sam。　Lifting　his　feet　high　out　of　the　sand；　Ralph　started　to　stroll　past。　Piggy　tried　to　whistle。
　At　this　moment　the　boys　who　were　cooking　at　the　fire　suddenly　hauled　off　a　great　chunk　of　meat　and　ran　with　it　toward　the　grass。　They　bumped　Piggy；　who　was　burnt；　and　yelled　and　danced。　Immediately；　Ralph　and　the　crowd　of　boys　were　united　and　relieved　by　a　storm　of　laughter。　Piggy　once　more　was　the　center　of　social　derision　so　that　everyone　felt　cheerful　and　normal。
　Jack　stood　up　and　waved　his　spear。
　〃Take　them　some　meat。〃
　The　boys　with　the　spit　gave　Ralph　and　Piggy　each　a　succulent　chunk。　They　took　the　gift；　dribbling。　So　they　stood　and　ate　beneath　a　sky　of　thunderous　brass　that　rang　with　the　storm…ing。
　Jack　waved　his　spear　again。　
　〃Has　everybody　eaten　as　much　as　they　want？〃
　There　was　still　food　left；　sizzling　on　the　wooden　spits；　heaped　on　the　green　platters。　Betrayed　by　his　stomach；　Piggy　threw　a　picked　bone　down　on　the　beach　and　stooped　for　more。
　Jack　spoke　again；　impatiently。　
　〃Has　everybody　eaten　as　much　as　they　want？〃
　His　tone　conveyed　a　warning；　given　out　of　the　pride　of　ownership；　and　the　boys　ate　faster　while　there　was　still　time。　Seeing　there　was　no　immediate　likelihood　of　a　pause。　Jack　rose　from　the　log　that　was　his　throne　and　sauntered　to　the　edge　of　the　grass。　He　looked　down　from　behind　his　paint　at　Ralph