wgolding.lordoftheflies-第18章

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ys　went　together　to　the　next　shelter。　They　lay　restlessly　and　noisily　among　the　dry　leaves；　watching　the　patch　of　stars　that　was　the　opening　toward　the　lagoon。　Sometimes　a　littlun　cried　out　from　the　other　shelters　and　once　a　bigun　spoke　in　the　dark。　Then　they　too　fell　asleep。　
　A　sliver　of　moon　rose　over　the　horizon；　hardly　large　enough　to　make　a　path　of　light　even　when　it　sat　right　down　on　the　water；　but　there　were　other　lights　in　the　sky；　that　moved　fast；　winked；　or　went　out；　though　not　even　a　faint　popping　came　down　from　the　battle　fought　at　ten　miles'　neight。　But　a　sign　came　down　from　the　world　of　grownups；　though　at　the　time　there　was　no　child　awake　to　read　it。　There　was　a　sudden　bright　explosion　and　a　corkscrew　trail　across　the　sky；　then　darkness　again　and　stars。　There　was　a　speck　above　the　island；　a　figure　dropping　swiftly　beneath　a　parachute；　a　figure　that　hung　with　dangling　limbs。　The　changing　winds　of　various　altitudes　took　the　figure　where　they　would。　Then；　three　miles　up；　the　wind　steadied　and　bore　it　in　a　descending　curve　round　the　sky　and　swept　it　in　a　great　slant　across　the　reef　and　the　lagoon　toward　the　mountain。　The　figure　fell　and　crumpled　among　the　blue　flowers　of　the　mountain…side；　but　now　there　was　a　gentle　breeze　at　this　height　too　and　the　parachute　flopped　and　banged　and　pulled。　So　the　figure；　with　feet　that　dragged　behind　it；　slid　up　the　mountain。　Yard　by　yard；　puff　by　puff；　the　breeze　hauled　the　figure　through　the　blue　flowers；　over　the　boulders　and　red　stones；　till　it　lay　huddled　among　the　shattered　rocks　of　the　mountain…top。　Here　the　breeze　was　fitful　and　allowed　the　strings　of　the　parachute　to　tangle　and　festoon；　and　the　figure　sat；　its　helmeted　head　between　its　knees；　held　by　a　plication　of　lines。　When　the　breeze　blew；　the　lines　would　strain　taut　and　some　accident　of　this　pull　kited　the　bead　and　chest　upright　so　that　the　figure　seemed　to　peer　across　the　brow　of　the　mountain。　Then；　each　time　me　wind　dropped；　the　lines　would　slacken　and　the　figure　bow　forward　again；　sinking　its　head　between　its　knees。　So　as　the　stars　moved　across　the　sky；　the　figure　sat　on　the　mountain…top　and　bowed　and　sank　and　bowed　again。
　In　the　darkness　of　early　morning　there　were　noises　by　a　rock　a　little　way　down　the　side　of　the　mountain。　Two　boys　rolled　out　of　a　pile　of　brushwood　and　dead　leaves；　two　dim　shadows　talking　sleepily　to　each　other。　They　were　the　twins；　on　duty　at　the　fire。　In　theory　one　should　have　been　asleep　and　one　on　watch。　But　they　could　never　manage　to　do　things　sensibly　if　that　meant　acting　independently；　and　since　staying　awake　all　night　was　impossible；　they　had　both　gone　to　sleep。　Now　they　approached　the　darker　smudge　that　had　been　the　signal　fire；　yawning；　rubbing　their　eyes；　treading　with　practiced　feet　When　they　readied　it　they　stopped　yawning；　and　one　ran　quickly　back　for　brushwood　and　leaves。
　The　other　knelt　down。
　〃I　believe　it's　out。〃
　He　fiddled　with　the　sticks　that　were　pushed　into　his　hands。
　〃No。〃
　He　lay　down　and　put　his　lips　close　to　the　smudge　and　blew　softly。　His　face　appeared；　lit　redly。　He'stopped　blowing　for　a　moment。
　〃Sam…give　us…〃
　〃…tinder　wood。〃
　Eric　bent　down　and　blew　softly　again　till　the　patch　was　bright　Sam　poked　the　piece　of　tinder　wood　into　the　hot　spot；　then　a　branch。　The　glow　increased　and　the　branch　took　fire。　Sam　piled　on　more　branches。
　〃Don't　burn　the　lot；〃　said　Eric；　〃you're　putting　on　too　much。〃
　〃Let's　warm　up。〃
　〃We'll　only　have　to　fetch　more　wood。〃
　〃I'm　cold。〃
　〃So'm　I。〃
　〃Besides；　it's…〃
　〃…dark。　All　right；　then。〃
　Eric　squatted　back　and　watched　Sam　make　up　the　fire。　He　built　a　little　tent　of　dead　wood　and　the　fire　was　safety　alight。
　〃That　was　near。〃
　〃He'd　have　been…〃
　〃Waxy。〃
　〃Huh。〃
　For　a　few　moments　the　twins　watched　the　fire　in　silence。　Then　Eric　sniggered。
　〃Wasn't　he　waxy？〃
　〃About　the…〃
　〃Fire　and　the　pig。〃
　〃Lucky　he　went　for　Jack；　'stead　of　us。〃
　〃Huh。　Remember　old　Waxy　at　school？〃
　〃　'Boy…you…are…driving…me…slowly…insane！'〃
　The　twins　shared　their　identical　laughter；　then　remembered　the　darkness　and　other　things　and　glanced　round　uneasily。　The　flames；　busy　about　the　tent；　drew　their　eyes　back　again。　Eric　watched　the　scurrying　woodlice　that　were　so　frantically　unable　to　avoid　the　flames；　and　thought　of　the　first　fire…just　down　there；　on　the　steeper　side　of　the　mountain；　where　now　was　plete　darkness。　He　did　not　tike　to　remember　it；　and　looked　away　at　the　mountain…top。
　Warmth　radiated　now；　and　beat　pleasantly　on　them。　Sam　amused　himself　by　fitting　branches　into　the　fire　as　closely　as　possible。　Eric　spread　out　his　hands；　searching　for　the　distance　at　which　the　heat　was　just　bearable。　Idly　looking　beyond　the　fire；　he　resettled　the　scattered　rocks　from　their　fiat　shadows　into　daylight　contours。　Just　there　was　the　big　rock；　and　the　three　stones　there；　that　split　rock；　and　there　beyond　was　a　gap…just　there…　
　〃Sam。〃
　〃Huh？〃
　〃Nothing。〃
　The　flames　were　mastering　the　branches；　the　bark　was　curling　and　falling　away；　the　wood　exploding。　The　tent　fell　inwards　and　flung　a　wide　circle　of　light　over　the　mountain…top。
　〃Sam…〃
　〃Huh？〃
　〃Sam！　Sam！〃
　Sam　looked　at　Eric　irritably。　The　intensity　of　Eric's　gaze　made　the　direction　in　which　he　looked　terrible；　for　Sam　had　his　back　to　it。　He　scrambled　round　the　fire；　squatted　by　Eric；　and　looked　to　see。　They　became　motionless；　gripped　in　each　other's　arms；　four　unwinking　eyes　aimed　ana　two　mouths　open。
　Far　beneath　them；　the　trees　of　the　forest　sighed；　then　roared。　The　hair　on　their　foreheads　fluttered　and　flames　blew　out　sideways　from　the　fire。　Fifteen　yards　away　from　them　came　the　plopping　noise　of　fabric　blown　open。
　Neither　of　the　boys　screamed　but　the　grip　of　their　arms　tightened　and　their　mouths　grew　peaked。　For　perhaps　ten　seconds　they　crouched　tike　that　while　the　flailing　fire　sent　smoke　and　sparks　and　waves　of　inconstant　tight　over　the　top　of　the　mountain。
　Then　as　though　they　had　but　one　terrified　mind　between　them　they　scrambled　away　over　the　rocks　and　fled。
　
　Ralph　was　dreaming。　He　had　fallen　asleep　after　what　seemed　hours　of　tossing　and　turning　noisily　among　the　dry　leaves。　Even　the　sounds　of　nightmare　from　the　other　shelters　no　longer　reached　him；　for　he　was　back　to　where　he　came　from；　feeding　the　ponies　with　sugar　over　the　garden　wall。　Then　someone　was　shaking　his　arm；　telling　him　that　it　was　time　for　tea。
　〃Ralph！　Wake　up！〃
　The　leaves　were　roaring　tike　the　sea。
　〃Ralph；　wake　up！〃
　〃What's　the　matter？〃
　〃We　saw…〃
　〃…the　beast…〃
　〃…plain！〃
　〃Who　are　you？　The　twins？〃
　〃We　saw　the　beast…〃
　〃Quiet。　Piggy！〃
　The　leaves　were　roaring　still。　Piggy　bumped　into　him　and　a　twin　grabbed　him　as　he　made　tor　the　oblong　of　paling　stars。
　〃You　can't　go　out…it's　horrible！〃
　〃Piggy…where　are　the　spears？〃
　〃I　can　hear　the…〃
　〃Quiet　then。　Lie　still。〃
　They　lay　there　listening；　at　first　with　doubt　but　then　with　tenor　to　the　description　the　twins　breathed　at　them　between　bouts　of　extreme　silence。　Soon　the　darkness　was　full　of　daws；　full　of　the　awful　unknown　and　menace。　An　interminable　dawn　faded　the　stars　out；　and　at　last　light；　sad　and　grey；　filtered　into　the　shelter。　They　began　to　stir　though　still　tile　world　outside　the　shelter　was　impossibly　dangerous。　The　maze　of　the　darkness　sorted　into　near　and　far；　and　at　the　high　point　of　the　sky　the　cloudlets　were　warmed　with　color。　A　single　sea　bird　flapped　upwards　with　a　hoarse　cry　that　was　echoed　presently；　and　something　squawked　in　the　forest　Now　streaks　of　cloud　near　the　horizon　began　to　glow　rosily；　and　the　feathery　tops　of　the　palms　were　green。
　Ralph　knelt　in　the　entrance　to　the　shelter　and　peered　cautiously　round　him。
　〃Sam　‘n　Eric。　Call　them　to　an　assembly。　Quietly。　Go　on。〃
　The　twins；　holding　tremulously　to　each　other；　dared　the　few　yards　to　the　next　shelter　and　spread　the　dreadful　news。　Ralph　stood　up　and　walked　for　the　sake　of　dignity；　though　with　his　back　pricking；　to　the　platform。　Piggy　and　Simon　followed　him　and　the　other　boys　came　sneaking　after。
　Ralph　took　the　conch　from　where　it　lay　on　the　polished　seat　and　held　it　to　his　lips；　but　then　he　hesitated　and　did　not　blow。　He　held　the　shell　up　instead　and　showed　it　to　them　and　they　understood。
　The　rays　of　the　sun　that　were　fanning　upwards　from　below　the　horizon　swung　downwards　to　eye…level　Ralph　looked　for　a　moment　at　the　growing　slice　of　gold　that　lit　them　from　the　right　hand　and　seemed　to　make　speech　possible。　The　circle　of　boys　before　him　bristled　with　hunting　spears。
　He　handed　the　conch　to　Eric；　the　nearest　of　the　twins。
　〃We've　seen　the　beast　with　our　own　eyes。　No…we　weren't　asleep…〃
　Sam　took　up　the　story。　By　custom　now　one　conch　did　for　both　twins；　for　their　substantial　unity　was　recognized。
　〃It　was　furry。　There　was　something　moving　behind　its　head…wings。　The　beast　moved　too…〃
　〃That　was　awful。　It　kind　of　sat　up…〃
　〃The　fire　was　bright…〃
　〃We'd　just　made　it　up…〃
　〃…more　sticks　on…〃
　〃There　were　eyes…〃
　〃Teeth…〃
　〃Claws…〃
　〃We　ran　as　fast　as　we　could…〃
　〃Bashed　into　things…〃
　The　beast　followed　us…〃
　〃I　saw　it　slinking　behind　the　trees…〃
　〃Nearly　touched　me…〃
　Ralph　pointed　fearfully　at　Eric's　face；　which　was　striped　with　scars　where　the　bushes　had　torn　him。
　〃How　did　you　do　that？〃
　Eric　felt　his　face。
　〃I'm　all　rough。　Am　I　bleeding？〃
　The　circle　of　boys　shrank　away　in　horror。　Johnny；　yawning　still；　burst　into　noisy　tears　and　was　slapped　by　Bill　till　he　choked　on　them。　The　bright　morning　was　full　of　threats　and　the　circle　began　to　change。　It　faced　out；　rather　than　in；　and　the　spears　of　sharpened　wood　were　like　a　fence。　Jack　called　them　back　to　the　center。
　〃This'll　be　a　real　hunt！　Who'll　e？〃
　Ralph　moved　impatiently。
　〃These　spears　are　made　of　wood。　Don't　be　silly。〃
　Jack　sneered　at　him。
　〃Frightened？〃
　〃　'Course　I'm　frightened。　Who　wouldn't　be？〃
　He　turned　to　the　twins；　yearning　but　hopeless。
　〃I　suppose　you　aren't　pulling　our　legs？〃
　The　reply　was　too　emphatic　for　anyone　to　doubt　them。
　Piggy　took　the　conch。
　〃Couldn't　we…kind　of…stay　here？　Maybe　the　beast　won't　e　near　us。〃
　But　for　the　sense　of　something　watching　them；　Ralph　would　have　shouted　at　him。
　〃Stay　here？　And　be　cramped　into　this　bit　of　the　island；　always　on　the　lookout？　How　should　we　get　our　food？　And　what　about　the　fire？〃
　〃Let's　be　moving；〃　said　Jack　restlessly；　〃we're　wasting　time。〃
　〃No　we're　not。　What　about　the　littluns？〃　〃Sucks　to　the　littluns！''　
　〃Someone's　got　to　look　after　them。〃
　〃Nobody　has　so　far。〃
　〃There　was　no　need！　Now　there　is。　Piggy‘ll　look　after　them。〃
　〃That's　right。　Keep　Piggy　out　of　danger。〃
　〃Have　some　sense。　What　can　Piggy　do　with　only　one　eye？〃
　The　rest　of　the　boys　were　looking　from　Jack　to　Ralph；　curiously。
　〃And　another　thing。　You　can't　have　an　ordinary　hunt　because　the　beast　doesn't　leave　tracks。　If　it　did　you'd　have　seen　them。　For　all　we　know；　the　beast　may　swing　through　the　trees　like　what's　its　name。〃
　They　nodded。
　〃So　we've　got　to　think。〃
　Piggy　took　off　his　damaged　glasses　and　cleaned　the　remaining　lens。
　〃How　about　us；　Ralph？〃
　〃You　haven't　got　the　conch。　Here。〃
　〃I　mean…how　about　us？　Suppose　the　beast　es　when　you're　all　away。　I　can't　see　proper；　and　if　I　get　scared…〃
　Jack　broke　in；　contemptuously。　
　〃You'