wgolding.lordoftheflies-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃You　can't　e。〃
　Piggy's　glasses　were　misted　again…this　time　with　humiliation。
　〃You　told　'em。　After　what　I　said。〃　
　His　face　flushed；　his　mouth　trembled。　〃After　I　said　I　didn't　want…〃　
　〃What　on　earth　are　you　talking　about？〃　
　〃About　being　called　Piggy。　I　said　I　didn't　care　as　long　as　they　didn't　call　me　Piggy；　an'　I　said　not　to　tell　and　then　you　went　an'　said　straight　out…〃
　Stillness　descended　on　them。　Ralph；　looking　with　more　understanding　at　Piggy；　saw　that　he　was　hurt　and　crushed。　He　hovered　between　the　two　courses　of　apology　or　further　insult。
　〃Better　Piggy　than　Fatty；〃　he　said　at　last；　with　the　directness　of　genuine　leadership；　〃and　anyway；　I'm　sorry　if　you　feel　like　that。　Now　go　back；　Piggy；　and　take　names。　That's　your　job。　So　long。〃
　He　turned　and　raced　after　the　other　two。　Piggy　stood　and　the　rose　of　indignation　faded　slowly　from　his　cheeks。　He　went　back　to　the　platform。
　The　three　boys　walked　briskly　on　the　sand。　The　tide　was　low　and　there　was　a　strip　of　weed…strewn　beach　that　was　almost　as　firm　as　a　road。　A　land　of　glamour　was　spread　over　them　and　the　scene　and　they　were　conscious　of　the　glamour　and　made　happy　by　it。　They　turned　to　each　other；　laughing　excitedly；　talking；　not　listening。　The　air　was　bright　Ralph；　faced　by　the　task　of　translating　all　this　into　an　explanation；　stood　on　his　head　and　fell　over。　When　they　had　done　laughing；　Simon　stroked　Ralph's　arm　shyly；　and　they　had　to　laugh　again。
　〃e　on；〃　said　Jack　presently；　〃we're　explorers。〃
　〃We'll　go　to　the　end　of　the　island；〃　said　Ralph；　〃and　look　round　the　corner。〃
　〃If　it　is　an　island…〃
　Now；　toward　the　end　of　the　afternoon；　the　mirages　were　settling　a　little。　They　found　the　end　of　the　island；　quite　distinct；　and　not　magicked　out　of　shape　or　sense。　There　was　a　jumble　of　the　usual　squareness；　with　one　great　block　sitting　out　in　the　lagoon。　Sea　birds　were　nesting　there。
　〃Like　icing；〃　said　Ralph；　〃on　a　pink　cake。'
　〃We　shan't　see　round　this　corner；〃　said　Jack；　〃because　there　isn't　one。　Only　a　slow　curve…and　you　can　see；　the　rocks　get　worse…〃
　Ralph　shaded　his　eyes　and　followed　the　jagged　outline　of　the　crags　up　toward　the　mountain。　This　part　of　the　beach　was　nearer　the　mountain　than　any　other　that　they　had　seen。
　〃We'll　try　climbing　the　mountain　from　here；〃　he　said。　〃I　should　think　this　is　the　easiest　way。　There's　less　of　that　jungly　stuff；　and　more　pink　rock。　e　on。〃
　The　three　boys　began　to　scramble　up。　Some　unknown　force　had　wrenched　and　shattered　these　cubes　so　that　they　lay　askew；　often　piled　diminishingly　on　each　other。　The　most　usual　feature　of　the　rock　was　a　pink　cliff　surmounted　by　a　skewed　block；　and　that　again　surmounted；　and　that　again；　till　the　pinkness　became　a　stack　of　balanced　rock　projecting　through　the　looped　fantasy　of　the　forest　creepers。　Where　the　pink　cliffs　rose　out　of　the　ground　there　were　often　narrow　tracks　winding　upwards。　They　could　edge　along　them；　deep　in　the　plant　world；　their　faces　to　the　rock。
　〃What　made　this　track？〃
　Jack　paused；　wiping　the　sweat　from　his　face。　Ralph　stood　by　him；　breathless。
　〃Men？〃
　Jack　shook　his　head。
　　〃Animals。〃
　Ralph　peered　into　the　darkness　under　the　trees。　The　forest　minutely　vibrated。
　〃e　on。〃
　The　difficulty　was　not　the　steep　ascent　round　the　shoulders　of　rock；　but　the　occasional　plunges　through　the　undergrowth　to　get　to　the　next　path。　Here　the　roots　and　stems　of　creepers　were　in　such　tangles　that　the　boys　had　to　thread　through　them　like　pliant　needles。　Their　only　guide；　apart　from　the　brown　ground　and　occasional　flashes　of　fight　through　the　foliage；　was　the　tendency　of　slope：　whether　this　hole；　laced　as　it　was　with　the　cables　of　creeper；　stood　higher　than　that。
　Somehow；　they　moved　up。
　Immured　in　these　tangles；　at　perhaps　their　most　difficult　moment；　Ralph　turned　with　shining　eyes　to　the　others。
　〃Wacco。〃
　〃Wizard。〃
　〃Smashing。〃
　The　cause　of　their　pleasure　was　not　obvious。　All　three　were　hot；　dirty　and　exhausted。　Ralph　was　badly　scratched。　The　creepers　were　as　thick　as　their　thighs　and　left　little　but　tunnels　for　further　penetration。　Ralph　shouted　experimentally　and　they　listened　to　the　muted　echoes。
　〃This　is　real　exploring；〃　said　Jack。　〃I　bet　nobody's　been　here　before。〃
　〃We　ought　to　draw　a　map；〃　said　Ralph；　〃only　we　haven't　any　paper。〃
　〃We　could　make　scratches　on　bark；〃　said　Simon；　〃and　rub　black　stuff　in。〃
　Again　came　the　solemn　munion　of　shining　eyes　in　the　gloom。
　〃Wacco。〃
　〃Wizard。〃
　There　was　no　place　for　standing　on　one's　head。　This　time　Ralph　expressed　the　intensity　of　his　emotion　by　pretending　to　Knock　Simon　down；　and　soon　they　were　a　happy；　heaving　pile　in　the　under…dusk。
　　When　they　had　fallen　apart　Ralph　spoke　first。
　〃Got　to　get　on。〃
　The　pink　granite　of　the　next　cliff　was　further　back　from　the　creepers　and　trees　so　that　they　could　trot　up　the　path。　This　again　led　into　more　open　forest　so　that　they　had　a　glimpse　of　the　spread　sea。　With　openness　came　the　sun；　it　dried　the　sweat　that　had　soaked　their　clothes　in　the　dark；　damp　heat。　At　last　the　way　to　the　top　looked　like　a　scramble　over　pink　rock；　with　no　more　plunging　through　darkness。　The　boys　chose　their　way　through　defiles　and　over　heaps　of　sharp　stone。
　〃Look！　Look！〃
　High　over　this　end　of　the　island；　the　shattered　rocks　lifted　up　their　stacks　and　chimneys。　This　one；　against　which　Jack　leaned；　moved　with　a　grating　sound　when　they　pushed。
　〃e　on…〃
　But　not　〃e　on〃　to　the　top。　The　assault　on　the　summit　must　wait　while　the　three　boys　accepted　this　challenge。　The　rock　was　as　large　as　a　small　motor　car。
　〃Heave！〃
　Sway　back　and　forth；　catch　the　rhythm。
　〃Heave！〃
　Increase　the　swing　of　the　pendulum；　increase；　increase；　e　up　and　bear　against　that　point　of　furthest　balance…increase…increase…
　〃Heave！〃
　The　great　rock　loitered；　poised　on　one　toe；　decided　not　to　return；　moved　through　the　air；　fell；　struck；　turned　over；　leapt　droning　through　the　air　and　smashed　a　deep　hole　in　the　canopy　of　the　forest。　Echoes　and　birds　flew；　white　and　pink　dust　floated；　the　forest　further　down　shook　as　with　the　passage　of　an　enraged　monster：　and　then　the　island　was　still。
　〃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