wgolding.lordoftheflies-第39节
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〃Who？ Jack？〃
〃Oh no…〃
They bent to him and lowered their voices。
〃Push off； Ralph…'
〃…it's a tribe…〃
〃…they made us…〃
〃…we couldn't help it…〃
When Ralph spoke again his voice was low； and seemed breathless。
〃What have I done？ I liked him…and I wanted us to be rescued…〃
Again the stars spilled about the sky。 Eric shook his head； earnestly。
〃Listen； Ralph。 Never mind what's sense。 That's gone…〃
〃Never mind about the chief…〃
〃…you got to go for your own good。〃
〃The chief and Roger…〃
〃…yes； Roger…〃
〃They hate you； Ralph。 They're going to do you。〃
〃They're going to hunt you tomorrow。〃
〃But why？〃
〃I dunno。 And Ralph； Jack； the chief； says it'll be dangerous…〃
〃…and we've got to be careful and throw our spears like at a pig。〃
〃We're going to spread out in a line across the island…〃
〃…we're going forward from this end…〃
〃…until we find you。〃
〃We've got to give signals like this。〃
Eric raised his head and achieved a faint ululation by beating on his open mouth。 Then he glanced behind him nervously。
〃Like that…〃
〃…only louder； of course。〃
〃But I've done nothing；〃 whispered Ralph； urgently。 I only wanted to keep up a fire！〃
He paused for a moment； thinking miserably of the morrow。 A matter of overwhelming importance occurred to him。
〃What are you…？〃
He could not bring himself to be specific at first； but then fear and loneliness goaded him。
〃When they find me； what are they going to do？〃 The twins were silent。 Beneath him； the death rock flowered again。
〃What are they…oh God！ I'm hungry…〃
The towering rock seemed to sway under him。
〃Well…what…？〃
The twins answered his question indirectly。
〃You got to go now； Ralph。〃
〃For your own good。〃
〃Keep away。 As far as you can。〃
〃Won't you e with me？ Three of us…we'd stand a chance。〃。
After a moment's silence； Sam spoke in a strangled voice。
〃You don't know Roger。 He's a terror。〃
〃And the chief…they're both…〃
〃…terrors…〃
〃…only Roger…〃
Both boys froze。 Someone was climbing toward them from the tribe。
〃He's ing to see if we're keeping watch。 Quick； Ralph！〃
As he prepared to let himself down the cliff； Ralph snatched at the last possible advantage to be wrung out of this meeting。
〃I'll lie up close； in that thicket down there；〃 he whispered； 〃so keep them away from it。 They'll never think to took so close…〃
The footsteps were still some distance away。
〃Sam…I'm going to be all right； aren't I？〃
The twins were silent again。
〃Here！〃 said Sam suddenly。 〃Take this…〃
Ralph felt a chunk of meat pushed against him and grabbed it。
〃But what are you going to do when you catch me？〃
Silence above。 He sounded silly to himself。 He lowered himself down the rock。
〃What are you going to do…？〃
From the top of the towering rock came the inprehensible reply。
〃Roger sharpened a stick at both ends。〃
Roger sharpened a stick at both ends。 Ralph tried to attach a meaning to this but could not。 He used all the bad words he could think of in a fit of temper that passed into yawning。 How long could you go without sleep？ He yearned for a bed and sheets…but the only whiteness here was the slow spilt milk； luminous round the rock forty feet below； where Piggy had fallen。 Piggy was everywhere； was on this neck； was bee terrible in darkness and death。 If Piggy were to e back now out of the water； with his empty head…Ralph whimpered and yawned like a littlun。 The stick in his hand became a crutch on which he reeled。
Then he tensed again。 There were voices raised on the top of the Castle Rock。 Samneric were arguing with someone。 But the ferns and the grass were near。 That was the place to be in； hidden； and next to the thicket that would serve for tomorrow's hide…out。 Here…and his hands touched grass…was a place to be in for the night； not far from the tribe； so that if the horrors of the supernatural emerged one could at least mix with humans for the time being； even if it meant 。 。 。
What did it mean？ A stick sharpened at both ends。 What was there in that？ They had thrown spears and missed； all but one。 Perhaps they would miss next time； too。
He squatted down in the tall grass； remembered the meat that Sam had given him； and began to tear at it ravenously。 While he was eating； he heard fresh noises…cries of pain from Samneric； cries of panic； angry voices。 What did it mean？ Someone besides himself was in trouble； for at least one of the twins was catching it。 Then the voices passed away down the rock and he ceased to think of them。 He felt with his hands and found cool； delicate fronds backed against the thicket。 Here then was the night's lair。 At first light he would creep into the thicket； squeeze between the twisted stems； ensconce himself so deep that only a crawler like himself could e through； and that crawler would be jabbed。 There he would sit； and the search would pass him by； and the cordon waver on； ululating along the island； and he would be free。
He pulled himself between the ferns； tunneling in。 He laid the stick beside him； and huddled himself down in the blackness。 One must remember to wake at first light； in order to diddle the savages…and he did not know how quickly sleep came and hurled him down a dark interior slope。
He was awake before his eyes were open； listening to a noise that was near。 He opened an eye； found the mold an inch or so from his face and his fingers gripped into it； light filtering between the fronds of fern。 He had just time to realize that the age…long nightmares of falling and death were past and that the morning was e； when he heard the sound again。' It was an ululation over by the seashore …and now the next savage answered and the next。 The cry swept by him across the narrow end of the island from sea to lagoon； like the cry of a flying bird。 He took no time to consider but grabbed his sharp stick and wriggled back among the ferns。 Within seconds he was worming his way into the thicket； but not before he had glimpsed the legs of a savage ing toward him。 The ferns were thumped and beaten and he heard legs moving in the long grass。 The savage； whoever he was； ululated twice； and the cry was repeated in both directions； then died away。 Ralph crouched still； tangled in the ferns； and for a time he heard nothing。
At last he examined the thicket itself。 Certainly no one could attack him here…and moreover he had a stroke of luck。 The great rock that had killed Piggy had bounded into this thicket and bounced there； right in the center； making a smashed space a few feet in extent each way。 When Ralph had wriggled into this he felt secure； and clever。 He sat down carefully among the smashed stems and waited for the hunt to pass。 Looking up between the leaves he caught a glimpse of something red。 That must be the top of the Castle Rock； distant and unmenacing。 He posed himself triumphantly； to hear the sounds of the hunt dying away。
Yet no one made a sound； and as the minutes passed； in the green shade； his feeling of triumph faded。
At last he heard a voice…Jack's voice； but hushed。
〃Are you certain？〃
The savage addressed said nothing。 Perhaps he made a gesture。
Roger spoke。
〃If you're fooling us…〃
Immediately after this； there came a gasp； and a squeal of pain。 Ralph crouched instinctively。 One of the twins was there； outside the thicket； with Jack and Roger。
〃You're sure he meant in there？〃
The twin moaned faintly and then squealed again。
〃He meant he'd hide in there？〃
〃Yes…yes…oh…！〃
Silvery laughter scattered among the trees。
So they knew。
Ralph picked up his stick and prepared for battle。 But what could they do？ It would take them a week to break a path through the thicket； and anyone who wormed his way in would be helpless。 He felt the point of his spear with his thumb and grinned without amusement Whoever tried that would be stuck； squealing like a pig。
They were going away； back to the tower rock。 He could hear feet moving and then someone sniggered。 There came again that high； bird…like cry that swept along the line； So some were still watching for him； but some…？
There was a long； breathless silence。 Ralph found that he had bark in his mouth from the gnawed spear。 He stood and peered upwards to the Castle Rock。
As he did so； he heard Jack's voice from the top。
〃Heave！ Heave！ Heave！〃
The red rock that he could see at the top of the cliff vanished like a curtain； and he could see figures and blue sky。 A moment later the earth jolted； there was a rushing sound in the air； and the top of the thicket was cuffed as with a gigantic hand。 The rock bounded on； thumping and smashing toward the beach； while a shower of broken twigs and leaves fell on him。 Beyond the thicket； the tribe was cheering。
Silence again。
Ralph put his fingers in his mouth and bit them。 There was only one other rock up there that they might conceivably move； but that was half as big as a cottage； big as a car； a tank。 He visualized its probable progress with agonizing clearness…that one would start slowly； drop from ledge to ledge； trundle across the neck like an outsize steam roller。
〃Heave！ Heave！ Heave！〃
Ralph put down his spear； then picked it up again。 He pushed his hair
