wgolding.lordoftheflies-第36节

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　Sam　gulped　down　a　mouthful　and　protested。　
　〃But　we　bathe　every　day！〃
　Ralph　looked　at　the　filthy　objects　before　him　and　sighed。　
　〃We　ought　to　b　our　hair。　Only　it's　too　long。〃　
　〃I've　got　both　socks　left　in　the　shelter；〃　said　Eric；　
　〃so　we　could　pull　them　over　our　heads　tike　caps；　sort　of。〃
　〃We　could　find　some　stuff；〃　said　Piggy；　〃and　tie　your　hair　back。〃　
　〃Like　a　girl！〃　
　〃No。　'Course　not。〃
　〃Then　we　must　go　as　we　are；〃　said　Ralph；　〃and　they　won't　be　any　better。〃　
　Eric　made　a　detaining　gesture。　
　〃But　they'll　be　painted！　You　know　how　it　is。〃　
　The　others　nodded。　They　understood　only　too　well　the　liberation　into　savagery　that　the　concealing　paint　brought。　
　〃Well；　we　won't　be　painted；〃　said　Ralph；　〃because　we　aren't　savages。〃　
　Samneric　looked　at　each　other。　
　〃All　the　same…〃　Ralph　shouted。　
　〃No　paint！〃　
　He　tried　to　remember。　
　〃Smoke；〃　he　said；　〃we　want　smoke。〃　
　He　turned　on　the　twins　fiercely。　
　〃I　said　'smoke'！　We've　got　to　have　smoke。〃　
　There　was　silence；　except　for　the　multitudinous　murmur　of　the　bees。　At　last　Piggy　spoke；　kindly。
　〃Course　we　have。　'Cos　the　smoke's　a　signal　and　we　can't　be　rescued　if　we　don't　have　smoke。〃
　〃I　knew　that！〃　shouted　Ralph。　He　pulled　his　arm　away　from　Piggy。　〃Are　you　suggesting…？〃
　〃I'm　jus'　saying　what　you　always　say；〃　said　Piggy　hastily。　〃I'd　thought　for　a　moment…〃
　〃I　hadn't；〃　said　Ralph　loudly。　〃I　knew　it　all　the　time。　I　hadn't　forgotten。〃
　Piggy　nodded　propitiatingly。
　〃You're　chief；　Ralph。　You　remember　everything。〃
　〃I　hadn't　forgotten。〃
　〃'Course　not。〃
　The　twins　were　examining　Ralph　curiously；　as　though　they　were　seeing　him　for　the　first　time。
　
　They　set　off　along　the　beach　in　formation。　Ralph　went　first；　limping　a　little；　his　spear　carried　over　one　shoulder。　He　saw　things　partially；　through　the　tremble　of　the　heat　haze　over　the　flashing　sands；　and　his　own　long　hair　and　injuries。　Behind　him　came　the　twins；　worried　now　for　a　while　but　full　of　unquenchable　vitality。　They　said　little　but　trailed　the　butts　of　their　wooden　spears；　for　Piggy　had　found　that；　by　looking　down　and　shielding　his　tired　sight　from　the　sun；　he　could　just　see　these　moving　along　the　sand。　He　walked　between　the　trailing　butts；　therefore；　the　conch　held　carefully　between　his　two　hands。　The　boys　made　a　pact　little　group　that　moved　over　the　beach；　four　plate…like　shadows　dancing　and　mingling　beneath　them。　There　was　no　sign　left　of　the　storm；　and　the　beach　was　swept　clean　like　a　blade　that　has　been　scoured。　The　sky　and　the　mountain　were　at　an　immense　distance；　shimmering　in　the　heat；　and　the　reef　was　lifted　by　mirage；　floating　in　a　land　of　silver　pool　halfway　up　the　sky。
　They　passed　the　place　where　the　tribe　had　danced。　The　charred　sticks　still　lay　on　the　rocks　where　the　rain　had　quenched　them　but　the　sand　by　the　water　was　smooth　again。　They　passed　this　in　silence。　No　one　doubted　that　the　tribe　would　be　found　at　the　Castle　Rock　and　when　they　came　in　sight　of　it　they　stopped　with　one　accord。　The　densest　tangle　on　the　island；　a　mass　of　twisted　stems；　black　and　green　and　impenetrable；　lay　on　their　left　and　tall　grass　swayed　before　them。　Now　Ralph　went　forward。
　Here　was　the　crushed　grass　where　they　had　all　lain　when　he　had　gone　to　prospect。　There　was　the　neck　of　land；　the　ledge　skirting　the　rock；　up　there　were　the　red　pinnacles。
　Sam　touched　his　arm。
　〃Smoke。〃
　There　was　a　tiny　smudge　of　smoke　wavering　into　the　air　on　the　other　side　of　the　rock。
　〃Some　fire…I　don't　think。〃
　Ralph　turned。
　〃What　are　we　hiding　for？〃
　He　stepped　through　the　screen　of　grass　on　to　the　little　open　space　that　led　to　the　narrow　neck。
　〃You　two　follow　behind。　I'll　go　first；　then　Piggy　a　pace　behind　me。　Keep　your　spears　ready。〃
　Piggy　peered　anxiously　into　the　luminous　veil　that　hung　between　him　and　the　world。
　〃Is　it　safe？　Ain't　there　a　cliff？　I　can　hear　the　sea。〃
　〃You　keep　right　close　to　me。〃
　Ralph　moved　forward　on　to　the　neck。　He　kicked　a　stone　and　it　bounded　into　the　water。　Then　the　sea　sucked　down；　revealing　a　red；　weedy　square　forty　feet　beneath　Ralph's　left　arm。
　〃Am　I　safe？〃　quavered　Piggy。　〃I　feel　awful…〃
　High　above　them　from　the　pinnacles　came　a　sudden　shout　and　then　an　imitation　war…cry　that　was　answered　by　a　dozen　voices　from　behind　the　rock。
　〃Give　me　the　conch　and　stay　still。〃
　〃Halt！　Who　goes　there？〃
　Ralph　bent　back　his　head　and　glimpsed　Roger's　dark　face　at　the　top。
　〃You　can　see　who　I　am！〃　he　shouted。　〃Stop　being　silly！〃
　He　put　the　conch　to　his　lips　and　began　to　blow。　Savages　appeared；　painted　out　of　recognition；　edging　round　the　ledge　toward　the　neck。　They　carried　spears　and　disposed　themselves　to　defend　the　entrance。　Ralph　went　on　blowing　and　ignored　Piggy's　terrors。
　Roger　was　shouting。
　〃You　mind　out…see？〃
　At　length　Ralph　took　his　lips　away　and　paused　to　get　his　breath　back。　His　first　words　were　a　gasp；　but　audible。
　〃…calling　an　assembly。〃
　The　savages　guarding　the　neck　muttered　among　themselves　but　made　no　motion。　Ralph　walked　forwards　a　couple　of　steps。　A　voice　whispered　urgently　behind　him。
　〃Don't　leave　me；　Ralph。〃
　〃You　kneel　down；〃　said　Ralph　sideways；　〃and　wait　till　I　e　back。〃
　He　stood　halfway　along　the　neck　and　gazed　at　the　savages　intently。　Freed　by　the　paint；　they　had　tied　their　hair　back　and　were　more　fortable　than　he　was。　Ralph　made　a　resolution　to　tie　his　own　back　afterwards。　Indeed　he　felt　Eke　telling　them　to　wait　and　doing　it　there　and　then；　but　that　was　impossible。　The　savages　sniggered　a　bit　and　one　gestured　at　Ralph　with　his　spear。　High　above；　Roger　took　his　hands　off　the　lever　and　leaned　out　to　see　what　was　going　on。　The　boys　on　the　neck　stood　in　a　pool　of　their　own　shadow；　diminished　to　shaggy　heads。　Piggy　crouched；　his　back　shapeless　as　a　sack。
　〃I'm　calling　an　assembly。〃
　Silence。
　Roger　took　up　a　small　stone　and　flung　it　between　the　twins；　aiming　to　miss。　They　started　and　Sam　only　just　kept　his　footing。　Some　source　of　power　began　to　pulse　in　Roger's　body。
　Ralph　spoke　again；　loudly。
　〃I'm　calling　an　assembly。〃
　He　ran　his　eye　over　them。
　〃Where's　Jack？〃
　The　group　of　boys　stirred　and　consulted。　A　painted　face　spoke　with　the　voice　of　Robert。
　〃He's　hunting。　And　he　said　we　weren't　to　let　you　in。〃
　〃I've　e　to　see　about　the　fire；〃　said　Ralph；　〃and　about　Piggy's　specs。〃
　The　group　in　front　of　him　shifted　and　laughter　shivered　outwards　from　among　them；　light；　excited　laughter　that　went　echoing　among　the　tall　rocks。
　A　voice　spoke　from　behind　Ralph。
　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　The　twins　made　a　bolt　past　Ralph　and　got　between　him　and　the　entry。　He　turned　quickly。　Jack；　identifiable　by　personality　and　red　hair；　was　advancing　from　the　forest　A　hunter　crouched　on　either　side。　All　three　were　masked　in　black　and　green。　Behind　them　on　the　grass　the　headless　and　paunched　body　of　a　sow　lay　where　they　had　dropped　it。
　Piggy　wailed。
　〃Ralph！　Don't　leave　me！〃
　With　ludicrous　care　he　embraced　the　rock；　pressing　himself　to　it　above　the　sucking　sea。　The　sniggering　of　the　savages　became　a　loud　derisive　jeer。
　Jack　shouted　above　the　noise。
　〃You　go　away；　Ralph。　You　keep　to　your　end。　This　is　my　end　and　my　tribe。　You　leave　me　alone。〃
　The　jeering　died　away。
　〃You　pinched　Piggy‘s　specs；〃　said　Ralph；　breathlessly。　〃You've　got　to　give　them　back。〃
　〃Got　to？　Who　says？〃
　Ralph's　temper　blazed　out。
　〃I　say！　You　voted　for　me　for　chief。　Didn't　you　hear　the　conch？　You　played　a　dirty　trick…we'd　have　given　you　fire　if　you'd　asked　for　it…〃
　The　blood　was　flowing　in　his　cheeks　and　the　bunged…up　eye　throbbed。
　〃You　could　have　had　fire　whenever　you　wanted。　But　you　didn't。　You　came　sneaking　up　like　a　thief　and　stole　Piggy's　glasses！〃　
　〃Say　that　again！〃
　〃Thief！　Thief！〃
　Piggy　screamed。
　〃Ralph！　Mind　me！〃
　Jack　made　a　rush　and　stabbed　at　Ralph's　chest　with　his　spear。　Ralph　sensed　the　position　of　the　weapon　from　the　glimpse　he　caught　of　Jack's　arm　and　put　the　thrust　aside　with　his　own　butt。　Then　he　brought　the　end　round　and　caught　Jack　a　stinger　across　the　ear。　They　were　chest　to　chest；　breathing　fiercely；　pushing　and　glaring。
　〃Who's　a　thief？〃
　〃You　are！〃
　Jack　wrenched　free　and　swung　at　Ralph　with　his　spear。　By　mon　consent　they　were　using　the　spears　as　sabers　now；　no　longer　daring　the　lethal　points。　The　blow　struck　Ralph's　spear　and　slid　down；　to　fall　agonizingly　on　his　fingers。　Then　they　were　apart　once　more；　their　positions　reversed；　Jack　toward　the　Castle　Rock　and　Ralph　on　the　outside　toward　the　island。
　Both　boys　were　breathing　very　heavily。
　〃e　on　then…〃
　〃e　on…〃
　Truculently　they　squared　up　to　each　other　but　kept　just　out　of　fighting　distance。
　〃You　e　on　and　see　what　you　get！〃
　〃You　e　on…〃
　Piggy　clutching　the　ground　was　trying　to　attract　Ralph's　attention。　Ralph　moved；　bent　down；　kept　a　wary　eye　on　Jack。
　〃Ralph…remember　what　we　came　for。　The　fire。　My　specs。〃
　Ralph　nodded。　He　relaxed　his　fighting　muscles；　stood　easily　and　grounded　the　butt　of　his　spear　Jack　watched　him　inscrutably　through　his　paint。　Ralph　glanced　up　at　the　pinnacles；　then　toward　the　group　of　savages
　〃Listen。　We've　e　to　say　this。　First　you've　got　to　give　back　Piggy's　specs。　If　he　hasn't　got　them　he　can't　see　You　aren't　playing　the　game…〃
　The　tribe　of　painted　savag