wgolding.lordoftheflies-第16章

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　They　quieted；　slowly；　and　at　last　were　seated　again。　Ralph　dropped　down　and　spoke　in　his　ordinary　voice。
　〃So　remember。　The　rocks　for　a　lavatory。　Keep　the　fire　going　and　smoke　showing　as　a　signal。　Don't　take　fire　from　the　mountain。　Take　your　food　up　mere。〃
　Jack　stood　up；　scowling　in　the　gloom；　and　held　out　his　hands。
　〃I　haven't　finished　yet〃
　〃But　you've　talked　and　talked！〃
　〃I've　got　the　conch。〃
　Jack　sat　down；　grumbling。
　〃Then　the　last　mine。　This　is　what　people　can　talk　about。〃
　He　waited　till　the　platform　was　very　still。
　〃Things　are　breaking　up。　I　don't　understand　why。　We　began　well；　we　were　happy。　And　then…〃
　He　moved　the　conch　gently；　looking　beyond　them　at　nothing；　remembering　the　beastie；　the　snake；　the　fire；　the　talk　of　fear。
　〃Then　people　started　getting　frightened。〃
　A　murmur；　almost　a　moan；　rose　and　passed　away。　Jack　had　stopped　whittling。　Ralph　went　on；　abruptly。
　〃But　that's　littluns'　talk。　We'll　get　that　straight。　So　the　last　part；　the　bit　we　can　all　talk　about；　is　kind　of　deciding　on　the　fear。〃
　The　hair　was　creeping　into　his　eyes　again。
　〃We've　got　to　talk　about　this　fear　and　decide　there's　nothing　in　it。　I'm　frightened　myself；　sometimes；　only　that's　nonsense！　Like　bogies。　Then；　when　we've　decided；　we　can　start　again　and　be　careful　about　things　like　the　fire。〃　A　picture　of　three　boys　walking　along　the　bright　beach　flitted　through　his　mind。　〃And　be　happy。〃
　Ceremonially；　Ralph　laid　the　conch　on　the　trunk　beside　him　as　a　sign　that　the　speech　was　over。　What　sunlight　reached　them　was　level。
　Jack　stood　up　and　took　the　conch。　
　〃So　this　is　a　meeting　to　find　out　what's　what；　I‘ll　tell　you　what's　what。　You　littluns　started　all　this；　with　the　fear　talk。　Beasts！　Where　from？　Of　course　we're　frightened　sometimes　but　we　put　up　with　being　frightened。　Only　Ralph　says　you　scream　in　the　night。　What　does　that　mean　but　nightmares？　Anyway；　you　don't　hunt　or　build　or　help…you're　a　lot　of　cry…babies　and　sissies。　That's　what。　And　as　for　the　fear…　you'll　have　to　put　up　with　that　like　the　rest　of　us。〃
　Ralph　looked　at　Jack　open…mouthed；　but　Jack　took　no　notice。
　'The　thing　is…fear　can't　hurt　you　any　more　than　a　dream。　There　aren't　any　beasts　to　be　afraid　of　on　this　island。〃　He　looked　along　the　row　of　whispering　littluns。　〃Serve　you　right　if　something　did　get　you；　you　useless　lot　of　cry…babies！　But　there　is　no　animal…〃
　Ralph　interrupted　him　testily。
　〃What　is　all　this？　Who　said　anything　about　an　animal？〃
　〃You　did；　the　other　day。　You　said　they　dream　and　cry　out　Now　they　talk…not　only　the　littluns；　but　my　hunters　sometimes…talk　of　a　thing；　a　dark　thing；　a　beast；　some　sort　of　animal　I've　heard。　You　thought　not；　didn't　you？　Now　listen。　You　don't　get　big　animals　on　small　islands。　Only　pigs。　You　only　get　lions　and　tigers　in　big　countries　like　Africa　and　India…〃
　〃And　the　Zoo…〃
　〃I've　got　the　conch。　I'm　not　talking　about　the　fear。　I'm　talking　about　the　beast。　Be　frightened　if　you　like。　But　as　for　the　beast…〃
　Jack　paused；　cradling　the　conch；　and　turned　to　his　hunt〃　ers　with　their　dirty　black　caps。
　〃Am　I　a　hunter　or　am　I　not？〃
　They　nodded；　simply。　He　was　a　hunter　all　right。　No　one　doubted　that。
　〃Well　then…I've　been　all　over　this　island。　By　myself。　If　there　were　a　beast　I'd　have　seen　it　Be　frightened　because　you're　like　that…but　there　is　no　beast　in　the　forest〃
　Jack　handed　back　the　conch　and　sat　down。　The　whole　assembly　applauded　him　with　relief。　Then　Piggy　held　out　his　hand。
　〃I　don't　agree　with　all　Jack　said；　but　with　some。　‘Course　there　isn't　a　beast　in　the　forest　How　could　there　be？　What　would　a　beast　eat？〃
　〃Pig。〃
　〃We　eat　pig。〃
　〃Piggy！〃
　〃I　got　the　conch！〃　said　Piggy　indignantly。　〃Ralph…　they　ought　to　shut　up；　oughtn't　they？　You　shut　up；　you　littluns！　What　I　mean　is　that　I　don't　agree　about　this　here　fear。　Of　course　there　isn't　nothing　to　be　afraid　of　in　the　forest　Why…I　been　there　myself！　You'll　be　talking　about　ghosts　and　such　things　next　We　know　what　goes　on　and　if　there's　something　wrong；　there's　someone　to　put　it　right。〃　
　He　took　off　his　glasses　and　blinked　at　them。　The　sun　had　gone　as　if　the　light　had　been　turned　off。
　He　proceeded　to　explain。
　〃If　you　get　a　pain　in　your　stomach；　whether　it's　a　little　one　or　a　big　one…〃
　〃Yours　is　a　big　one。〃
　〃When　you　done　laughing　perhaps　we　can　get　on　with　the　meeting。　And　if　them　littluns　climb　back　on　the　twister　again　they'll　only　fall　off　in　a　sec。　So　they　might　as　well　sit　on　the　ground　and　listen。　No。　You　have　doctors　for　everything；　even　the　inside　of　your　mind。　You　don't　really　mean　that　we　got　to　be　frightened　all　the　time　of　nothing？　Life；〃　said　Piggy　expansively；　〃is　scientific；　that's　what　it　is。　In　a　year　or　two　when　the　war's　over　they'll　be　traveling　to　Mars　and　back。　I　know　there　isn't　no　beast…not　with　claws　and　all　that；　I　mean…but　I　know　there　isn't　no　fear；　either。〃
　Piggy　paused。
　〃Unless…〃
　Ralph　moved　restlessly。
　〃Unless　what？〃
　〃Unless　we　get　frightened　of　people。〃
　A　sound；　half…laugh；　half…jeer；　rose　among　the　seated　boys。　Piggy　ducked　his　head　and　went　on　hastily。
　〃So　lets　hear　from　that　littlun　who　talked　about　a　beast　and　perhaps　we　can　show　him　how　silly　he　is。〃
　The　littluns　began　to　jabber　among　themselves；　then　one　stood　forward。
　〃What's　your　name？〃
　〃Phil。〃
　For　a　littlun　he　was　self…confident；　holding　out　his　hands；　cradling　the　conch　as　Ralph　did；　looking　round　at　them　to　collect　their　attention　before　he　spoke。
　〃Last　night　I　had　a　dream；　a　horrid　dream；　fighting　with　things。　I　was　outside　the　shelter　by　myself；　fighting　with　things；　those　twisty　things　in　the　trees。〃
　He　paused；　and　the　other　littluns　laughed　in　horrified　sympathy。
　〃Then　I　was　frightened　and　I　woke　up。　And　I　was　outside　the　shelter　by　myself　in　the　dark　and　the　twisty　things　had　gone　away。〃
　The　vivid　horror　of　this；　so　possible　and　so　nakedly　terrifying；　held　them　all　silent。　The　child's　voice　went　piping　on　from　behind　the　white　conch。
　〃And　I　was　frightened　and　started　to　call　out　for　Ralph　and　then　I　saw　something　moving　among　the　trees；　something　big　and　horrid。〃
　He　paused；　half…frightened　by　the　recollection　yet　proud　of　the　sensation　he　was　creating。
　〃That　was　a　nightmare；〃　said　Ralph。　〃He　was　walking　in　his　sleep。〃
　The　assembly　murmured　in　subdued　agreement。
　The　littlun　shook　his　head　stubbornly。
　〃I　was　asleep　when　the　twisty　things　were　fighting　and　when　they　went　away　I　was　awake；　and　I　saw　something　big　and　horrid　moving　in　the　trees。〃
　Ralph　held　out　his　hands　for　the　conch　and　the　littlun　sat　down。
　〃You　were　alseep。　There　wasn't　anyone　there。　How　could　anyone　be　wandering　about　in　the　forest　at　night？　Was　anyone？　Did　anyone　go　out？〃
　There　was　a　long　pause　while　the　assembly　grinned　at
　the　thought　of　anyone　going　out　in　the　darkness。　Then　Simon　stood　up　and　Ralph　looked　at　him　in　astonishment
　〃You！　What　were　you　mucking　about　in　the　dark　for？〃
　Simon　grabbed　the　conch　convulsively。
　〃I　wanted…to　go　to　a　place…a　place　I　know。〃
　〃What　place？〃
　〃Just　a　place　I　know。　A　place　in　the　jungle。〃
　He　hesitated。
　Jack　settled　the　question　for　them　with　that　contempt　in　his　voice　that　could　sound　so　funny　and　so　final。
　〃He　was　taken　short〃
　With　a　feeling　of　humiliation　on　Simon's　behalf；　Ralph　took　back　the　conch；　looking　Simon　sternly　in　the　face　as　he　did　so。
　〃Well；　don't　do　it　again。　Understand？　Not　at　night　There's　enough　silly　talk　about　beasts；　without　the　litthlus　seeing　you　gliding　about　like　a…〃
　The　derisive　laughter　that　rose　had　fear　in　it　and　condemnation。　Simon　opened　his　mouth　to　speak　but　Ralph　had　the　conch；　so　he　backed　to　his　seat
　When　the　assembly　was　silent　Ralph　turned　to　Piggy。
　〃Well；　Piggy？〃
　〃There　was　another　one。　Him。〃
　The　littlums　pushed　Percival　forward；　then　left　him　by　himself。　He　stood　knee…deep　in　the　central　grass；　looking　at　his　hidden　feet；　trying　to　pretend　he　was　in　a　tent　Ralph　remembered　another　small　boy　who　had　stood　like　this　and　he　flinched　away　from　the　memory。　He　had　pushed　the　thought　down　and　out　of　sight；　where　only　some　positive　reminder　like　this　could　bring　it　to　the　surface。　There　had　been　no　further　numberings　of　the　littluns；　partly　because　there　was　no　means　of　insuring　that　all　of　them　were　accounted　for　and　partly　because　Ralph　knew　the　answer　to　at　least　one　question　Piggy　had　asked　on　the　mountain…top。　There　were　little　boys；　fair；　dark；　freckled；　and　all　dirty；　but　their　faces　were　all　dreadfully　free　of　major　blemishes。　No　one　had　seen　the　mulberry…colored　birthmark　again。　But　that　time　Piggy　had　coaxed　and　bullied。　Tacitly　admitting　that　he　remembered　the　unmentionable；　Ralph　nodded　to　Piggy。　
　〃Go　on。　Ask　him。〃　
　Piggy　knelt；　holding　the　conch。
　〃Now　then。　What's　your　name？〃
　The　small　boy　twisted　away　into　his　tent　Piggy　turned　helplessly　to　Ralph；　who　spoke　sharply。
　〃What's　your　name？〃
　Tormented　by　the　silence　and　the　refusal　the　assembly　broke　into　a　chant。
　〃What's　your　name？　What's　your　name？〃
　〃Quiet！〃
　Ralph　peered　at　the　child　in　the　twilight
　〃Now　tell　us。　What's　your　name？〃
　〃Percival　Wemys　Madison；　The　Vicarage；　Harcourt　St。　Anthony；　Hants；　telephone；　telephone；　tele…〃
　As　if　this　information　was　rooted　far　down　in　the　springs　of　sorrow；　the　littlun　wept。　His　face　puckered；　the　tears　leapt　from　his　eves；　his　mouth　opened　till　they　could　see　a　square　black　hole。　At　first　he　was　a　silent　effigy　of　sorrow；　but　then　the　lamentation　rose　out　of　him；　loud　and　sustained　as　the　conch。
　〃Shut　up；　you！　Shut　up！〃
　Percival　Wemys　Madison　would　not　shut　up。　A　spring　had　been　tapped；　far　beyond　the　reach　of　authority　or　even　physical　intimidation。　The　crying　went　on；　breath　after　breath；　and　seemed　to　sustain　him　upright　as　if　he　were　nailed　to　it。
　〃Shut　up！　Shut　up！〃
　For　now　the　littluns　were　no　longer　silent。　They　were　reminded　of　their　personal　sorrows；　and　perhaps　felt　themselves　to　share　in　a　sorrow　that　was　universal。　They　began　to　cry　in　sympathy；　two　of　them　almost　as　loud　as　Percival。
　Maurice　saved　them。　He　cried　out。
　〃Look　at　me！〃
　He　pretended　to　fall　over。　He　rubbed　his　rump　and　sat　on　the　twister　so　that　he　fell　in　the　grass。　He　clowned　badly；　but　Percival　and　the　others　noticed　and　sniffed　and　laughed。　Presently　they　were　all　laughing　so　absurdly　that　the　biguns　joined　in。
　Jack　was　the　first　to　make　himself　heard。　He　had　not　got　the　conch　and　thus　spoke　against　the　rules；　but　nobody　minded。
　〃And　what　about　the　beast？〃
　Something　strange　was　happening　to　Percival。　He　yawned　and　staggered；　so　that　Jack　seized　and　shook　him。
　〃Where　does　the　beast　live？〃
　Percival　sagged　in　Jack's　grip。
　〃That's　a　clever　beast；〃　said　Piggy；　jeering；　〃if　it　can　hide　on　this　island。〃
　〃Jack's　been　everywhere…〃
　〃Where　could　a　beast　live？〃
　〃Beast　my　foot！〃
　Percival　muttered　something　and　the　assembly　laughed　again。　Ralph　leaned　forward。
　〃What　does　he　say？〃
　Jack　listened　to　Percival's　answer　and　then　let　go　of　him。　Percival；　released；　surrounded　by　the　fortable　presence　of　humans；　fell　in　the　long　grass　and　went　to　sleep。
　Jack　cleared　his　throat　then　reported　casually。　
　〃He　says　the　beast　es　out　of　the　sea。〃
　The　last　laugh　died　away。　Ralph　turned　involuntarily；　a　black；　humped　figure　agains