wgolding.lordoftheflies-第35节

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　Then　there　was　a　vicious　snarling　in　the　mouth　of　the　shelter　and　the　plunge　and　thump　of　living　things。　Someone　tripped　over　Ralph　and　Piggy's　corner　became　a　plication　of　snarls　and　crashes　and　flying　limbs。　Ralph　hit　out；　then　he　and　what　seemed　like　a　dozen　others　were　rolling　over　and　over；　hitting；　biting；　scratching。　He　was　torn　and　jolted；　found　fingers　in　his　mouth　ana　bit　them。　A　fist　withdrew　and　came　back　like　a　piston；　so　that　the　whole　shelter　exploded　into　light　Ralph　twisted　sideways　on　top　of　a　writhing　body　and　felt　hot　breath　on　his　cheek　He　began　to　pound　the　mouth　below　him；　using　his　clenched　fist　as　a　hammer；　he　hit　with　more　and　more　passionate　hysteria　as　the　face　became　slippery。　A　knee　jerked　up　between　his　legs　and　he　fell　sideways；　busying　himself　with　his　pain；　and　the　fight　rolled　over　him。　Then　the　shelter　collapsed　with　smothering　finality；　and　the　anonymous　shapes　fought　their　way　out　and　through。　Dark　figures　drew　themselves　out　of　the　wreckage　and　flitted　away；　till　the　screams　of　the　littluns　and　Piggy's　gasps　were　once　more　audible。
　Ralph　called　out　in　a　quavering　voice。
　〃All　you　littluns；　go　to　sleep。　We've　bad　a　fight　with　the　others。　Now　go　to　sleep。〃
　Samneric　came　close　and　peered　at　Ralph。
　〃Are　you　two　all　right？〃
　〃I　think　so…〃
　〃…I　got　busted。〃
　〃So　did　I。　How's　Piggy？〃
　They　hauled　Piggy　clear　of　the　wreckage　and　leaned　him　against　a　tree。　The　night　was　cool　and　purged　of　immediate　terror。　Piggy's　breathing　was　a　little　easier。
　〃Did　you　get　hurt；　Piggy？〃
　〃Not　much。〃
　〃That　was　Jack　and　his　hunters；〃　said　Ralph　bitterly。　〃Why　can't　they　leave　us　alone？〃
　〃We　gave　them　something　to　think　about；〃　said　Sam。　Honestly　pelled　him　to　go　on。　〃At　least　you　did。　I　got　mixed　up　with　myself　in　a　corner。〃
　〃I　gave　one　of　'em　what　for；〃　said　Ralph；　1　smashed　him　up　all　right。　He　won't　want　to　e　and　fight　us　again　in　a　hurry。〃
　〃So　did　I；〃　said　Eric。　〃When　I　woke　up　one　was　kicking　me　in　the　face。。。　I　got　an　awful　bloody　face；　I　think；　Ralph。　But　I　did　him　in　the　end。〃
　〃What　did　you　do？〃
　〃I　got　my　knee　up；〃　said　Eric　with　simple　pride；　〃and　I　hit　him　with　it　in　the　pills。　You　should　have　heard　him　holler！　He　won't　e　back　in　a　hurry　either。　So　we　didn't　do　too　badly。〃
　Ralph　moved　suddenly　in　the　dark；　but　then　he　heard　Eric　working　at　his　mouth。
　〃What's　the　matter？〃
　〃Jus'　a　tooth　loose。〃
　Piggy　drew　up　his　legs。
　〃You　all　right；　Piggy？〃
　〃I　thought　they　wanted　the　conch。〃
　Ralph　trotted　down　the　pale　beach　and　jumped　on　to　the　platform。　The　conch　still　glimmered　by　the　chiefs　seat　He　gazed　for　a　moment　or　two；　then　went　back　to　Piggy。
　〃They　didn't　take　the　conch。〃
　〃I　know。　They　didn't　e　for　the　conch。　They　came　for　something　else。　Ralph…what　am　I　going　to　do？〃
　Far　off　along　the　bowstave　of　beach；　three　figures　trotted　toward　the　Castle　Rock。　They　kept　away　from　the　forest　and　down　by　the　water。　Occasionally　they　sang　softly；　occasionally　they　turned　cartwheels　down　by　the　moving　streak　of　phosphorescence。　The　chief　led　them；　trotting　steadily；　exulting　in　his　achievement　He　was　a　chief　now　in　truth；　and　he　made　stabbing　motions　with　his　spear。　From　his　left　hand　dangled　Piggy's　broken　glasses。
　
　
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　ELEVEN
　Castle　Rock
　
　In　the　short　chill　of　dawn　the　four　boys　gathered　round　the　black　smudge　where　the　fire　had　been；　while　Ralph　knelt　and　blew。　Grey；　feathery　ashes　scurried　hither　and　thither　at　his　breath　but　no　spark　shone　among　them　The　twins　watched　anxiously　and　Piggy　sat　expressionless　behind　the　luminous　wall　of　his　myopia。　Ralph　continued　to　blow　till　his　ears　were　singing　with　the　effort；　but　then　the　first　breeze　of　dawn　took　the　job　off　his　hands　and　blinded　him　with　ashes。　He　squatted　back；　swore；　and　rubbed　water　out　of　his　eyes。
　〃No　use。〃
　Eric　looked　down　at　him　through　a　mask　of　dried　blood。　Piggy　peered　in　the　general　direction　of　Ralph。
　〃　'Course　it's　no　use；　Ralph。　Now　we　got　no　fire。〃
　Ralph　　brought　his　　face　　within　a　couple　of　feet　of　Piggy‘s。
　〃Can　you　see　me？〃
　〃A　bit。〃
　Ralph　allowed　the　swollen　flap　of　his　cheek　to　close　his　eye　again。
　〃They've　got　our　fire。〃
　Rage　shrilled　his　voice。
　〃They　stole　it！〃
　〃That's　them；〃　said　Piggy。　They　blinded　me。　See？　That's　Jack　Merridew。　You　call　an　assembly；　Ralph；　we　got　to　decide　what　to　do。〃
　〃An　assembly　for　only　us？〃
　〃It's　all　we　got。　Sam…let　me　hold　on　to　you。〃
　They　went　toward　the　platform。
　〃Blow　the　conch；〃　said　Piggy。　〃Blow　as　loud　as　you　can。〃　
　The　forest　re…echoed；　and　birds　lifted；　crying　out　of　the　treetops；　as　on　that　first　morning　ages　ago。　Both　ways　the　beach　was　deserted。　Some　littluns　came　from　the　shelters。　Ralph　sat　down　on　the　polished　trunk　and　the　three　others　stood　before　him。　He　nodded；　and　Samneric　sat　down　on　the　right。　Ralph　pushed　the　conch　into　Piggy's　hands。　He　held　the　shining　tiling　carefully　and　blinked　at　Ralph。
　〃Go　on；　then。〃
　〃I　just　take　the　conch　to　say　this。　I　can't　see　no　more　and　I　got　to　get　my　glasses　back。　Awful　things　has　been　done　on　this　island。　I　voted　for　you　for　chief。　He's　the　only　one　who　ever　got　anything　done。　So　now　you　speak；　Ralph；　and　tell　us　what。　Or　else…〃
　Piggy　broke　off；　sniveling。　Ralph　took　back　the　conch　as　he　sat　down。
　〃Just　an　ordinary　fire。　You'd　think　we　could　do　that；　wouldn't　you？　Just　a　smoke　signal　so　we　can　be　rescued。　Are　we　savages　or　what？　Only　now　there's　no　signal　going　up。　Ships　may　be　passing。　Do　you　remember　how　he　went　hunting　and　the　fire　went　out　and　a　ship　passed　by？　And　they　all　think　he's　best　as　chief。　Then　there　was；　there　was　。　。　。　that's　his　fault；　too。　If　it　hadn't　been　for　him　it　would　never　have　happened。　Now　Piggy　can't　see；　and　they　came；　stealing…〃　Ralph's　voice　ran　up　〃…at　night；　in　darkness；　and　stole　our　fire。　They　stole　it。　We'd　have　given　them　fire　if　they'd　asked。　But　they　stole　it　and　the　signal's　out　and　we　can't　ever　be　rescued。　Don't　you　see　what　I　mean？　We'd　have　given　them　fire　for　themselves　only　they　stole　it。　I…〃
　He　paused　lamely　as　the　curtain　flickered　in　his　brain。　Piggy　held　out　his　hands　for　the　conch。
　〃What　you　goin'　to　do；　Ralph？　This　is　jus'　talk　without　deciding。　I　want　my　glasses。〃
　〃I'm　trying　to　think　Supposing　we　go；　looking　like　we　used　to；　washed　and　hair　brushed…after　all　we　aren't　savages　really　and　being　rescued　isn't　a　game…〃
　He　opened　the　flap　of　his　cheek　and　looked　at　the　twins。
　〃We　could　smarten　up　a　bit　and　then　go…〃
　〃We　ought　to　take　spears；〃　said　Sam。　〃Even　Piggy。〃
　〃…because　we　may　need　them。〃
　〃You　haven't　got　the　conch！〃
　Piggy　held　up　the　shell。
　〃You　can　take　spears　if　you　want　but　I　shan't。　What's　the　good？　I'll　have　to　be　led　like　a　dog；　anyhow。　Yes；　laugh。　Co　on；　laugh。　There's　them　on　this　island　as　would　laugh　at　anything。　And　what　happened？　What's　grown…ups　goin'　to　think？　Young　Simon　was　murdered。　And　there　was　that　other　kid　what　had　a　mark　on　his　face。　Who's　seen　him　since　we　first　e　here？〃　
　〃Piggy！　Stop　a　minute！〃
　〃I　got　the　conch。　I'm　going　to　that　Jack　Merridew　an‘　tell　him；　I　am。〃　
　〃You'll　get　hurt。〃
　〃What　can　he　do　more　than　he　has？　I'll　tell　him　what's　what。　You　let　me　carry　the　conch；　Ralph。　I'll　show　him　the　one　thing　he　hasn't　got。〃
　Piggy　paused　for　a　moment　and　peered　round　at　the　dim　figures。　The　shape　of　the　old　assembly；　trodden　in　the　grass；　listened　to　him。
　〃I'm　going　to　him　with　this　conch　in　my　hands。　I'm　going　to　hold　it　out。　Look；　I'm　goin'　to　say；　you're　stronger　than　I　am　and　you　haven't　got　asthma。　You　can　see；　I'm　goin'　to　say；　and　with　both　eyes。　But　I　don't　ask　for　my　glasses　back；　not　as　a　favor。　I　don't　ask　you　to　be　a　sport；　I'll　say；　not　because　you're　strong；　but　because　what's　right's　right。　Give　me　my　glasses；　I'm　going　to　say…you　got　to！〃
　Piggy　ended；　flushed　and　trembling。　He　pushed　the　conch　quickly　into　Ralph's　hands　as　though　in　a　hurry　to　be　rid　of　it　and　wiped　the　tears　from　his　eyes。　The　green　light　was　gentle　about　them　and　the　conch　lay　at　Ralph's　feet；　fragile　and　white。　A　single　drop　of　water　that　had　escaped　Piggy's　fingers　now　flashed　on　the　delicate　curve　like　a　star。
　At　last　Ralph　sat　up　straight　and　drew　back　his　hair。
　〃All　right。　I　mean…you　can　try　if　you　like。　Well　go　with　you。〃
　〃He'll　be　painted；〃　said　Sam；　timidly。　〃You　know　how　he‘ll　be…〃
　〃…he　won't　think　much　of　us…〃
　〃…if　he　gets　waxy　we've　had　it…〃
　Ralph　scowled　at　Sam。　Dimly　he　remembered　something　that　Simon　had　said　to　him　once；　by　the　rocks。
　〃Don't　be　silly；〃　he　said。　And　then　he　added　quickly；　〃Let's　go。〃
　He　held　out　the　conch　to　Piggy　who　flushed；　this　time　with　pride。
　〃You　must　carry　it。〃　
　〃When　we're　ready　I'll　carry　it…〃　
　Piggy　sought　in　his　mind　for　words　to　convey　his　passionate　willingness　to　carry　the　conch　against　all　odds。　
　〃I　don't　mind。　I'll　be　glad；　Ralph；　only　I'll　have　to　be　led。〃
　Ralph　put　the　conch　back　on　the　shining　log。　〃We　better　eat　and　then　get　ready。〃　They　made　their　way　to　the　devastated　fruit　trees。　Piggy　was　helped　to　his　food　and　found　some　by　touch。　While　they　ate；　Ralph　thought　of　the　afternoon。　
　〃We'll　be　like　we　were。　We'll　wash…〃　
　Sam　gulped　down　a　mouthful　and　protested。　
　〃But　we　bathe　every　day！〃
　Ralph　looked