wgolding.lordoftheflies-第11章

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　Simon　poked　his　head　out　carefully。
　〃You're　chief。　You　tell　'em　off。〃
　Ralph　lay　flat　and　looked　up　at　the　palm　trees　and　the　sky。
　〃Meetings。　Don't　we　love　meetings？　Every　day。　Twice　a　day。　We　talk。〃　He　got　on　one　elbow。　〃I　bet　if　I　blew　the　conch　this　minute；　they'd　e　running。　Then　we'd　be；　you　know；　very　solemn；　and　someone　would　say　we　ought　to　build　a　jet；　or　a　submarine；　or　a　TV　set。　When　the　meeting　was　over　they'd　work　for　five　minutes；　then　wander　off　or　go　hunting。〃　
　Jack　flushed。
　〃We　want　meat。〃
　〃Well；　we　haven't　got　any　yet。　And　we　want　shelters。　Besides；　the　rest　of　your　hunters　came　back　hours　ago。　They've　been　swimming。〃
　〃I　went　on；〃　said　Jack。　〃I　let　them　go。　I　had　to　go　on。　I…〃
　He　tried　to　convey　the　pulsion　to　track　down　and　kill　that　was　swallowing　him　up。
　〃I　went　on。　I　thought；　by　myself…〃
　The　madness　came　into　his　eyes　again。
　〃I　thought　I　might　loll。〃
　〃But　you　didn't。〃
　〃I　thought　I　might。〃
　Some　hidden　passion　vibrated　in　Ralph's　voice。
　〃But　you　haven't　yet。〃
　His　invitation　might　have　passed　as　casual；　were　it　not　for　the　undertone。
　〃You　wouldn't　care　to　help　with　the　shelters；　I　suppose？〃
　〃We　want　meat…〃
　〃And　we　don't　get　it。〃
　Now　the　antagonism　was　audible。
　〃But　I　shall！　Next　time！　I've　got　to　get　a　barb　on　this　spear！　We　wounded　a　pig　and　the　spear　fell　out。　If　we　could　only　make　barbs…〃
　〃We　need　shelters。〃
　Suddenly　Jack　shouted　in　rage。
　〃Are　you　accusing…？〃
　〃All　I'm　saying　is　we've　worked　dashed　hard。　That's　all。〃
　They　were　both　red　in　the　face　and　found　looking　at　each　other　difficult。　Ralph　rolled　on　his　stomach　and　began　to　play　with　the　grass。
　〃If　it　rains　like　when　we　dropped　in　well　need　shelters　all　right。　And　then　another　thing。　We　need　shelters　because　of　the…〃
　He　paused　for　a　moment　and　they　both　pushed　their　anger　away。　Then　he　went　on　with　the　safe；　changed　subject。
　〃You've　noticed；　haven't　you？〃
　Jack　put　down　his　spear　and　squatted。
　'Noticed　what？〃
　〃Well。　They're　frightened。〃
　He　rolled　over　and　peered　into　Jack's　fierce；　dirty　face。
　〃I　mean　the　way　things　are。　They　dream。　You　can　hear　'em。　Have　you　been　awake　at　night？〃
　Jack　shook　his　head。
　〃They　talk　and　scream。　The　littluns。　Even　some　of　the　others。　As　if…〃
　〃As　if　it　wasn't　a　good　island。〃　。
　Astonished　at　the　interruption；　they　looked　up　at　Simon's　serious　face。
　〃As　if；〃　said　Simon；　〃the　beastie；　the　beastie　or　the　snake…thing；　was　real。　Remember？〃
　The　two　older　boys　flinched　when　they　heard　the　shameful　syllable。　Snakes　were　not　mentioned　now；　were　not　mentionable。
　〃As　if　this　wasn't　a　good　island；〃　said　Ralph　slowly。　〃Yes；　that's　right。〃
　Jack　sat　up　and　stretched　out　his　legs。
　〃Crackers。　Remember　when　we　went　exploring？〃
　They　grinned　at　each　other；　remembering　the　glamour　of　the　first　day。　Ralph　went　on。
　〃So　we　need　shelters　as　a　sort　of…〃
　〃Home。〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　Jack　drew　up　his　legs；　clasped　his　knees；　and　frowned　in　an　effort　to　attain　clarity。
　〃All　the　same…in　the　forest。　I　mean　when　you're　hunting；　not　when　you're　getting　fruit；　of　course；　but　when　you're　on　your　own…〃
　He　paused　for　a　moment；　not　sure　if　Ralph　would　take　him　seriously。　
　〃Go　on。〃
　〃If　you're　hunting　sometimes　you　catch　yourself　feeling　as　if…〃　He　flushed　suddenly。　〃There's　nothing　in　it　of　course。　Just　a　feeling。　But　you　can　feel　as　if　you're　not　hunting；　but…being　hunted；　as　if　something's　behind　you　all　the　time　in　the　jungle。〃
　They　were　silent　again：　Simon　intent；　Ralph　incredulous　and　faintly　indignant。　He　sat　up；　rubbing　one　shoulder　with　a　dirty　hand。
　〃Well；　I　don't　know。〃
　Jack　leapt　to　his　feet　and　spoke　very　quickly。
　〃That's　how　you　can　feel　in　the　forest。　Of　course　there's　nothing　in　it。　Only…only…〃
　He　took　a　few　rapid　steps　toward　the　beach；　then　came　back。
　〃Only　I　know　how　they　feel。　See？　That's　all。〃
　〃The　best　thing　we　can　do　is　get　ourselves　rescued。〃
　Jack　had　to　think　for　a　moment　before　he　could　remember　what　rescue　was。
　〃Rescue？　Yes；　of　course！　All　the　same；　I'd　like　to　catch　a　pig　first…〃　He　snatched　up　his　spear　and　dashed　it　into　the：　ground。　The　opaque；　mad　look　came　into　his　eyes　again。　Ralph　looked　at　him　critically　through　his　tangle　of　fair　hair。
　〃So　long　as　your　hunters　remember　the　fire…〃　
　〃You　and　your　fire…〃
　The　two　boys　trotted　down　the　beach；　and；　turning　at　the　water's　edge；　looked　back　at　the　pink　mountain。　The　trickle　of　smoke　sketched　a　chalky　line　up　the　solid　blue　of　the　sky；　wavered　high　up　and　faded。　Ralph　frowned。　
　〃I　wonder　how　far　off　you　could　see　that〃
　〃Miles。〃
　〃We　don't　make　enough　smoke。〃
　The　bottom　part　of　the　trickle；　as　though　conscious　of　their　gaze；　thickened　to　a　creamy　blur　which　crept　up　the　feeble　column。
　〃They've　put　on　green　branches；〃　muttered　Ralph。　〃I　wonder！〃　He　screwed　up　his　eyes　and　swung　round　to　search　the　horizon。〃
　〃Got　it！〃
　Jack　shouted　so　loudly　that　Ralph　jumped。　
　〃What？　Where？　Is　it　a　ship？〃
　But　Jack　was　pointing　to　the　high　declivities　that　led　down　from　the　mountain　to　the　flatter　part　of　the　island。
　〃Of　course！　They'll　Be　up　there…they　must；　when　the　sun's　too　hot…〃
　Ralph　gazed　bewildered　at　his　rapt　face。　
　〃…they　get　up　high。　High　up　and　in　the　shade；　resting　during　the　heat；　like　cows　at　home…〃　
　〃I　thought　you　saw　a　ship！〃
　〃We　could　steal　up　on　one…paint　our　faces　so　they　wouldn't　see…perhaps　surround　them　and　then…〃　
　Indignation　took　away　Ralph's　control。
　〃I　was　talking　about　smoke！　Don't　you　want　to　be　rescued？　All　you　can　talk　about　is　pig；　pig；　pig！〃
　〃But　we　want　meat！〃
　〃And　I　work　all　day　with　nothing　but　Simon　and　you　e　back　and　don't　even　notice　the　huts！〃
　〃I　was　working　too…〃
　〃But　you　like　it！〃　shouted　Ralph。　〃You　want　to　hunt！　While　I…〃
　They　faced　each　other　on　the　bright　beach；　astonished　at　the　rub　of　feeling。　Ralph　looked　away　first；　pretending　interest　in　a　group　of　littluns　on　the　sand。　From　beyond　the　platform　came　the　shouting　of　the　hunters　in　the　swimming　pool。　On　the　end　of　the　platform　Piggy　was　lying　flat；　looking　down　into　the　brilliant　water。
　〃People　don't　help　much。〃
　He　wanted　to　explain　how　people　were　never　quite　what　you　thought　they　were。
　〃Simon。　He　helps。〃　He　pointed　at　the　shelters。
　〃All　the　rest　rushed　off。　He's　done　as　much　as　I　have。　Only…〃
　〃Simon's　always　about。〃
　Ralph　started　back　to　the　shelters　with　Jack　by　his　side。
　〃Do　a　bit　for　you；〃　muttered　Jack；　〃before　I　have　a　bathe。〃
　〃Don't　bother。〃
　But　when　they　reached　the　shelters　Simon　was　not　to　be　seen。　Ralph　put　his　head　in　the　hole；　withdrew　it；　and　turned　to　Jack。
　〃He's　buzzed　off。〃
　〃Got　fed　up；〃　said　Jack；　〃and　gone　for　a　bathe。〃
　Ralph　frowned。
　〃He's　queer。　He's　funny。〃
　Jack　nodded；　as　much　for　the　sake　of　agreeing　as　anything；　and　by　tacit　consent　they　left　the　shelter　and　went　toward　the　bathing　pool。
　〃And　then；〃　said　Jack；　〃when　I've　had　a　bathe　and　something　to　eat；　I'll　just　trek　over　to　the　other　side　of　the　mountain　and　see　if　I　can　see　any　traces。　ing？〃
　〃But　the　sun's　nearly　set！〃
　〃I　might　have　time…〃
　They　walked　along；　two　continents　of　experience　and　feeling；　unable　to　municate。
　〃If　I　could　only　get　a　pig！〃
　〃I'll　e　back　and　go　on　with　the　shelter。〃
　They　looked　at　each　other；　baffled；　in　love　and　hate。　All　the　warm　salt　water　of　the　bathing　pool　and　the　shouting　and　splashing　and　laughing　were　only　just　sufficient　to　bring　them　together　again。
　
　Simon　was　not　in　the　bathing　pool　as　they　had　expected。
　When　the　other　two　had　trotted　down　the　beach　to　look　back　at　the　mountain　he　had　followed　them　for　a　few　yards　and　then　stopped。　He　had　stood　frowning　down　at　a　pile　of　sand　on　the　beach　where　somebody　had　been　trying　to　build　a　little　house　or　hut　Then　he　turned　his　back　on　this　and　walked　into　the　forest　with　an　air　of　purpose。　He　was　a　small；　skinny　boy；　his　chin　pointed；　and　his　eyes　so　bright　they　had　deceived　Ralph　into　thinking　him　delightfully　gay　and　wicked。　The　coarse　mop　of　black　hair　was　long　and　swung　down；　almost　concealing　a　low；　broad　forehead。　He　wore　the　remains　of　shorts　and　his　feet　were　bare　like　Jack's。　Always　darkish　in　color；　Simon　was　burned　by　the　sun　to　a　deep　tan　that　glistened　with　sweat。
　He　picked　his　way　up　the　scar；　passed　the　great　rock　where　Ralph　had　climbed　on　the　first　morning；　then　turned　off　to　his　right　among　the　trees。　He　walked　with　an　accustomed　tread　through　the　acres　of　fruit　trees；　where　the　least　energetic　could　find　an　easy　if　unsatisfying　meal。　Flower　and　fruit　grew　together　on　the　same　tree　and　everywhere　was　the　scent　of　ripeness　and　the　booming　of　a　million　bees　at　pasture。　Here　the　littlums　who　had　run　after　him　caught　up　with　him。　They　talked；　cried　out　unintelligibly；　lugged　him　toward　the　trees。　Then；　amid　the　roar　of　bees　in　the　afternoon　sunlight；　Simon　found　for　them　the　fruit　they　could　not　reach；　pulled　off　the　choicest　from　up　in　the　foliage；　passed　them　back　down　to　the　endless；　outstretched　hands。　When　he　had　satisfied　them　he　paused　and　looked　round。　The　littluns　watched　him　inscrutably　over　double　handfuls　of　ripe　fruit。
　Simon　turned　away　from　them　and　went　where　the　just　perceptible　path　led　him。　Soon　high　jungle　closed　in。　Tall　trunks　bore　unexpected　pale　flowers　all　the　way　up　to　the　dark　canopy　where　life　went　on　clamorously。　The　air　here　was　dark　too；　and　the　creepers　dropped　their　ropes　like　the　rigging　of　foundered　ships。　His　feet　left　prints　in　the　soft　soil　and　the　creepers　shivered　throughout　their　lengths　when　he　bumped　them。
　He　came　at　last　to　a　place　where　more　sunshine　fell。　Since　they　had　not　so　far　to　go　for　light　the　creepers　had　woven　a　great　mat　that　hung　at　the　side　of　an　open　space　in　the　jungle；　for　here　a　patch　of　rock　came　close　to　the　surface　and　would　not　allow　more　than　little　plants　and　ferns　to　grow。　The　whole　space　was　walled　with　dark　aromatic　bushes；　and　was　a　bowl　of　heat　and　light。　A　great　tree；　fallen　across　one　er；　leaned　against　the　trees　that　still　stood　arid　a　rapid　climber　flaunted　red　and　yellow　sprays　right　to　the　top。
　Simon　paused。　He　looked　over　his　shoulder　as　Jack　had　done　at　the　close　ways　behind　him　and　glanced　swiftly　round　to　confirm　that　he　was　utterly　alone。　For　a　moment　his　movements　were　almost　furtive。　Then　he　bent　down　and　wormed　his　way　into　the　center　of　the　mat。　The　creepers　and　the　bushes　were　so　close　that　he　left　his　sweat　on　them　and　they　pulled　together　behind　him。　When　he　was　secure　in　the　middle　he　was　in　a　little　cabin　screened　off　from　the　open　space　by　a　few　leaves。　He　squatted　down；　parted　the　leaves　arid　looked　out　into　the　clearing。　Nothing　moved　but　a　pair　of　gaudy　butterflies　that　danced　round　each　other　in　the　hot　air。　Holding　his　breath　he　cocked　a　critical　ear　at　the　sounds　of　the　island。　Evening　was　advancing　toward　the　island；　the　sounds　of　the　bright　fantastic　birds；　the　bee…sounds；　even　the　crying　of　the　gulls　that　were　returning　to　their　roosts　among　the　square　rocks；　were　fainter。　The　deep　sea　breaking　miles　away　on　the　reef　made　an　undertone　less　perceptible　than　the　susurration　of　the　blood。
　Simon　dropped　the　screen　of　leaves　back　into　place。　The　slope　of　the　bars　of　honey…colored　sunlight　decreased；　they　slid　up　the　bushes；　passed　over