wgolding.lordoftheflies-第9节

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　〃Wacco！〃
　〃Like　a　bomb！〃
　〃Whee…aa…oo！〃
　Not　for　five　minutes　could　they　drag　themselves　away　from　this　triumph。　But　they　left　at　last。
　The　way　to　the　top　was　easy　after　that　As　they　reached　the　last　stretch　Ralph　stopped。
　〃Golly！〃
　They　were　on　the　lip　of　a　circular　hollow　In　the　side　or　the　mountain。　This　was　filled　with　a　blue　flower；　a　rock　plant　of　some　sort；　and　the　overflow　hung　down　the　vent　and　spilled　lavishly　among　the　canopy　of　the　forest。　The　air　was　thick　with　butterflies；　lifting；　fluttering；　settling。
　Beyond　the　hollow　was　the　square　top　of　the　mountain　and　soon　they　were　standing　on　it。
　They　had　guessed　before　that　this　was　an　island：　clambering　among　the　pink　rocks；　with　the　sea　on　either　side；　and　the　crystal　heights　of　air；　they　had　known　by　some　instinct　that　the　sea　lay　on　every　side。　But　there　seemed　something　more　fitting　in　leaving　the　last　word　till　they　stood　on　the　top；　and　could　see　a　circular　horizon　of　water。
　Ralph　turned　to　the　others。
　〃This　belongs　to　us。〃
　It　was　roughly　boat…shaped：　humped　near　this　end　with　behind　them　the　jumbled　descent　to　the　shore。　On　either　side　rocks；　cliffs；　treetops　and　a　steep　slope：　forward　there；　the　length　of　the　boat；　a　tamer　descent；　tree…clad；　with　hints　of　pink：　and　then　the　jungly　flat　of　the　island；　dense　green；　but　drawn　at　the　end　to　a　pink　tail　There；　where　the　island　petered　out　in　water；　was　another　island；　a　rock；　almost　detached；　standing　like　a　fort；　facing　them　across　the　green　with　one　bold；　pink　bastion。
　The　boys　surveyed　all　this；　then　looked　out　to　sea。　They　were　high　up　and　the　afternoon　had　advanced；　the　view　was　not　robbed　of　sharpness　by　mirage。
　〃That's　a　reef。　A　coral　reel。　I've　seen　pictures　like　that。〃
　The　reef　enclosed　more　than　one　side　of　the　island；　tying　perhaps　a　mile　out　and　parallel　to　what　they　now　thought　of　as　their　beach。　The　coral　was　scribbled　in　the　sea　as　though　a　giant　had　bent　down　to　reproduce　the　shape　of　the　island　in　a　flowing　chalk　line　but　tired　before　he　had　finished。　Inside　was　peacock　water；　rocks　and　weed　showing　as　in　an　aquarium；　outside　was　the　dark　blue　of　the　sea。　The　tide　was　running　so　that　long　streaks　of　foam　tailed　away　from　the　reef　and　for　a　moment　they　felt　that　the　boat　was　moving　steadily　astern。
　Jack　pointed　down。
　〃That　s　where　we　landed。〃
　Beyond　falls　and　cliffs　there　was　a　gash　visible　in　the　trees；　there　were　the　splintered　trunks　and　then　the　drag；　leaving　only　a　fringe　of　palm　between　the　scar　and　the　sea。　There；　too；　jutting　into　the　lagoon；　was　the　platform；　with　insect…like　figures　moving　near　it。
　Ralph　sketched　a　twining　line　from　the　bald　spot　on　which　they　stood　down　a　slope；　a　gully；　through　flowers；　round　and　down　to　the　rock　where　the　scar　started。
　〃That's　the　quickest　way　back。〃
　Eyes　shining；　mouths　open；　triumphant；　they　savored　the　right　of　domination。　They　were　lifted　up：　were　friends。
　〃There's　no　village　smoke；　and　no　boats；〃　said　Ralph　wisely。　〃We'll　make　sure　later；　but　I　think　it's　uninhabited。〃
　〃We'll　get　food；〃　cried　Jack。　〃Hunt。　Catch　things　。　。　。　until　they　fetch　us。〃
　Simon　looked　at　them　both；　saying　nothing　but　nodding　till　his　black　hair　flopped　backwards　and　forwards：　his　face　was　glowing。
　Ralph　looked　down　the　other　way　where　there　was　no　reef。
　〃Steeper；〃　said　Jack。
　Ralph　made　a　cupping　gesture。
　〃That　bit　of　forest　down　there　。。。　the　mountain　holds　it　up。〃
　Every　point　of　the　mountain　held　up　trees…flowers　and　trees。　Now　the　forest　stirred；　roared；　flailed。　The　nearer　acres　of　rock　flowers　fluttered　and　for　half　a　minute　the　breeze　blew　cool　on　their　faces。
　Ralph　spread　his　arms。
　〃All　ours。〃
　They　laughed　and　tumbled　and　shouted　on　the　mountain。
　〃I'm　hungry。〃
　When　Simon　mentioned　his　hunger　the　others　became　aware　of　theirs。
　〃e　on；〃　said　Ralph。　〃We've　found　out　what　we　wanted　to　know。〃
　They　scrambled　down　a　rock　slope；　dropped　among　flowers　and　made　their　way　under　the　trees。　Here　they　paused　and　examined　the　bushes　round　them　curiously。
　Simon　spoke　first。
　〃Like　candles。　Candle　bushes。　Candle　buds。〃
　The　bushes　were　dark　evergreen　and　aromatic　and　the　many　buds　were　waxen　green　and　folded　up　against　the　light。　Jack　slashed　at　one　with　his　knife　and　the　scent　spilled　over　them。
　〃Candle　buds。〃
　〃You　couldn't　light　them；〃　said　Ralph。　〃They　just　look　like　candles。〃
　〃Green　candles；〃　said　Jack　contemptuously。　〃We　can't　eat　them。　e　on。〃
　They　were　in　the　beginnings　of　the　thick　forest；　plonking　with　weary　feet　on　a　track；　when　they　heard　the　noises　…squeakings…and　the　hard　strike　of　hoofs　on　a　path。　As　they　pushed　forward　the　squeaking　increased　till　it　became　a　frenzy。　They　found　a　piglet　caught　in　a　curtain　of　creepers；　throwing　itself　at　the　elastic　traces　in　all　the　madness　of　extreme　terror。　Its　voice　was　thin；　needle…sharp　and　insistent。　The　three　boys　rushed　forward　and　Jack　drew　his　knife　again　with　a　flourish。　He　raised　his　arm　in　the　air。　There　came　a　pause；　a　hiatus；　the　pig　continued　to　scream　and　the　creepers　to　jerk；　and　the　blade　continued　to　flash　at　the　end　of　a　bony　arm。　The　pause　was　only　long　enough　for　them　to　understand　what　an　enormity　the　downward　stroke　would　be。　Then　the　piglet　tore　loose　from　the　creepers　and　scurried　into　the　undergrowth。　They　were　left　looking　at　each　other　and　the　place　of　terror。　Jack's　face　was　white　under　the　freckles'。　He　noticed　that　he　still　held　the　knife　aloft　and　brought　his　arm　down　replacing　the　blade　in　the　sheath。　Then　they　all　three　laughed　ashamedly　and　began　to　climb　back　to　the　track。
　〃I　was　choosing　a　place；〃　said　Jack。　〃I　was　just　waiting　for　a　moment　to　decide　where　to　stab　him。〃
　〃You　should　stick　a　pig；〃　said　Ralph　fiercely。　〃They　always　talk　about　sticking　a　pig。〃
　〃You　cut　a　pig's　throat　to　let　the　blood　out；〃　said　Jack；　〃otherwise　you　can't　eat　the　meat〃　
　〃Why　didn't　you…？〃
　They　knew　very　well　why　he　hadn't：　because　of　the　enormity　of　the　knife　descending　and　cutting　into　living　flesh；　because　of　the　unbearable　blood。
　〃I　was　going　to；〃　said　Jack。　He　was　ahead　of　them　and　they　could　not　see　his　face。　〃I　was　choosing　a　place。　Next　time…！〃
　He　snatched　his　knife　out　of　the　sheath　and　slammed　it　into　a　tree　trunk。　Next　time　there　would　be　no　mercy。　He　looked　round　fiercely；　daring　them　to　contradict。　Then　they　broke　out　into　the　sunlight　and　for　a　while　they　were　busy　finding　and　devouring　rood　as　they　moved　down　the　scar　toward　the　platform　and　the　meeting。
　
　CHAPTER　TWO
　Fire　on　the　Mountain
　
　By　the　time　Ralph　finished　blowing　the　conch　the　platform　was　crowded。　There　were　differences　between　this　meeting　and　the　one　held　in　the　morning。　The　afternoon　sun　slanted　in　from　the　other　side　of　the　platform　and　most　of　the　children；　feeling　too　late　the　smart　of　sunburn；　had　put　their　clothes　on。　The　choir；　noticeably　less　of　a　group；　had　discarded　their　cloaks。
　Ralph　sat　on　a　fallen　trunk；　his　left　side　to　the　sun。　On　his　right　were　most　of　the　choir；　on　his　left　the　larger　boys　who　had　not　known　each　other　before　the　evacuation；　before　him　small　children　squatted　in　the　grass。
　Silence　now。　Ralph　lifted　the　cream　and　pink　shell　to　his　knees　and　a　sudden　breeze　scattered　light　over　the　platform。　He　was　uncertain　whether　to　stand　up　or　remain　sitting。　He　looked　sideways　to　his　left；　toward　the　bathing　pool。　Piggy　was　sitting　near　but　giving　no　help。
　Ralph　cleared　his　throat。
　〃Well　then。〃
　All　at　once　he　found　he　could　talk　fluently　and　explain　what　he　had　to　say。　He　passed　a　hand　through　his　fair　hair　and　spoke。
　〃We're　on　an　island。　We've　been　on　the　mountain　top　and　seen　water　all　round。　We　saw　no　houses；　no　smoke；　no　footprints；　no　boats；　no　people。　We're　on　an　uninhabited　island　with　no　other　people　on　it。〃
　Jack　broke　in。　
　〃All　the　same　you　need　an　army…for　hunting。　Hunting　pigs…〃
　〃Yes。　There　are　pigs　on　the　island。〃
　All　three　of　them　tried　to　convey　the　sense　of　the　pink　live　thing　struggling　in　the　creepers。
　〃We　saw…〃
　〃Squealing…〃
　〃It　broke　away…〃
　〃Before　I　could　kill　it…but…next　time！〃
　Jack　slammed　his　knife　into　a　trunk　and　looked　round　challengingly。
　The　meeting　settled　down　again。
　〃So　you　see；〃　said　Ralph；　〃we　need　hunters　to　get　us　meat。　And　another　thing。〃
　He　lifted　the　shell　on　his　knees　and　looked　round　the　sun…slashed　faces。
　〃There　aren't　any　grownups。　We　shall　have　to　look　after　ourselves。〃
　The　meeting　hummed　and　was　silent。
　〃And　another　thing。　We　can't　have　everybody　talking　at　once。　Well　have　to　have　'Hands　up'　like　at　school。〃
　He　held　the　conch　before　his　face　and　glanced　round　the　mouth。
　〃Then　I'll　give　him　the　conch。〃
　〃Conch？〃
　〃That's　what　this　shell's　called。　I‘11　give　the　conch　to　the　next　person　to　speak。　He　can　hold　it　when　he's　speaking。〃
　〃But…〃
　〃Look…〃
　〃And　he　won't　be　interrupted。　Except　by　me。〃
　Jack　was　on　his　feet。
　〃We'll　have　rules！〃　he　cried　excitedly。　〃Lots　of　rules！　Then　when　anyone　breaks　'em…〃
　〃Whee…oh！〃
　〃Wacco！〃
　〃Bong！〃
　〃Doink！〃
　Ralph　felt　the　conch　lifted　from　his　lap。　Then　Piggy　was　standing　cradling　the　great　cream　shell　and　the　shouting　died　down。　Jack；　left　on　his　feet；　looked　uncertainly　at　Ralph　who　smiled　and　patted　the　log。　Jack