wgolding.lordoftheflies-第32章

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　〃…we　didn't　know　what　it　was…〃
　〃…we　thought…〃
　Memory　of　their　new　and　shameful　loyalty　came　to　them。　Eric　was　silent　but　Sam　tried　to　do　his　duty。
　〃You　got　to　go；　Ralph。　You　go　away　now…〃　
　He　wagged　his　spear　and　essayed　fierceness。　
　〃You　shove　off。　See？〃
　Eric　nodded　agreement　and　jabbed　his　spear　in　the　air。　Ralph　leaned　on　his　arms　and　did　not　go。
　〃I　came　to　see　you　two。〃
　His　voice　was　thick。　His　throat　was　hurting　him　now　though　it　had　received　no　wound。
　〃I　came　to　see　you　two…〃
　Words　could　not　express　the　dull　pain　of　these　things。　He　fell　silent；　while　the　vivid　stars　were　spilt　and　danced　all　ways。
　Sam　shifted　uneasily。
　〃Honest；　Ralph；　you'd　better　go。〃
　Ralph　looked　up　again。
　〃You　two　aren't　painted。　How　can　you…？　If　it　were　light…〃
　If　it　were　light　shame　would　burn　them　at　admitting　these　things。　But　the　night　was　dark。　Eric　took　up；　and　then　the　twins　started　their　antiphonal　speech。
　〃You　got　to　go　because　it's　not　safe…〃
　〃…they　made　us。　They　hurt　us…〃
　〃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　back　irritably；　took　two　hasty　steps　across　the　little　space　and　then　came　back。　He　stood　looking　at　the　broken　ends　of　branches。
　Still　silence。
　He　caught　sight　of　the　rise　and　fall　of　his　diaphragm　and　was　surprised　to　see　how　quickly　he　was　breathing。　Just　left　of　center　his　heart…beats　were　visible。　He　put　the　spear　down　again。
　〃Heave！　Heave！　Heave！〃
　A　shrill；　prolonged　cheer。
　Something　boomed　up　on　the　red　rock；　then　the　earth　jumped　and　began　to　shake　steadily；　while　the　noise　as　steadily　increased。　Ralph　was　shot　into　the　air；　thrown　down；　dashed　against　branches。　At　his　right　hand；　and　only　a　few　feet　away；　the　whole　thicket　bent　and　the　roots　screamed　as　they　came　out　of　the　earth　together。　He　saw　something　red　that　turned　over　slowly　as　a　mill　wheel。　Then　the　red　thing　was　past　and　the　elephantine　progress　diminished　toward　the　sea。
　Ralph　knelt　on　the　plowed…up　soil；　and　waited　for　the　earth　to　e　back。　Presently　the　white；　broken　stumps；　the　split　sticks　and　the　tangle　of　the