wgolding.lordoftheflies-第8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！


　only　long　enough　for　them　to　understand　what　an　enormity　the　downward　stroke　would　be。　Then　the　piglet　tore　loose　from　the　creepers　and　scurried　into　the　undergrowth。　They　were　left　looking　at　each　other　and　the　place　of　terror。　Jack's　face　was　white　under　the　freckles'。　He　noticed　that　he　still　held　the　knife　aloft　and　brought　his　arm　down　replacing　the　blade　in　the　sheath。　Then　they　all　three　laughed　ashamedly　and　began　to　climb　back　to　the　track。
　〃I　was　choosing　a　place；〃　said　Jack。　〃I　was　just　waiting　for　a　moment　to　decide　where　to　stab　him。〃
　〃You　should　stick　a　pig；〃　said　Ralph　fiercely。　〃They　always　talk　about　sticking　a　pig。〃
　〃You　cut　a　pig's　throat　to　let　the　blood　out；〃　said　Jack；　〃otherwise　you　can't　eat　the　meat〃　
　〃Why　didn't　you…？〃
　They　knew　very　well　why　he　hadn't：　because　of　the　enormity　of　the　knife　descending　and　cutting　into　living　flesh；　because　of　the　unbearable　blood。
　〃I　was　going　to；〃　said　Jack。　He　was　ahead　of　them　and　they　could　not　see　his　face。　〃I　was　choosing　a　place。　Next　time…！〃
　He　snatched　his　knife　out　of　the　sheath　and　slammed　it　into　a　tree　trunk。　Next　time　there　would　be　no　mercy。　He　looked　round　fiercely；　daring　them　to　contradict。　Then　they　broke　out　into　the　sunlight　and　for　a　while　they　were　busy　finding　and　devouring　rood　as　they　moved　down　the　scar　toward　the　platform　and　the　meeting。
　
　CHAPTER　TWO
　Fire　on　the　Mountain
　
　By　the　time　Ralph　finished　blowing　the　conch　the　platform　was　crowded。　There　were　differences　between　this　meeting　and　the　one　held　in　the　morning。　The　afternoon　sun　slanted　in　from　the　other　side　of　the　platform　and　most　of　the　children；　feeling　too　late　the　smart　of　sunburn；　had　put　their　clothes　on。　The　choir；　noticeably　less　of　a　group；　had　discarded　their　cloaks。
　Ralph　sat　on　a　fallen　trunk；　his　left　side　to　the　sun。　On　his　right　were　most　of　the　choir；　on　his　left　the　larger　boys　who　had　not　known　each　other　before　the　evacuation；　before　him　small　children　squatted　in　the　grass。
　Silence　now。　Ralph　lifted　the　cream　and　pink　shell　to　his　knees　and　a　sudden　breeze　scattered　light　over　the　platform。　He　was　uncertain　whether　to　stand　up　or　remain　sitting。　He　looked　sideways　to　his　left；　toward　the　bathing　pool。　Piggy　was　sitting　near　but　giving　no　help。
　Ralph　cleared　his　throat。
　〃Well　then。〃
　All　at　once　he　found　he　could　talk　fluently　and　explain　what　he　had　to　say。　He　passed　a　hand　through　his　fair　hair　and　spoke。
　〃We're　on　an　island。　We've　been　on　the　mountain　top　and　seen　water　all　round。　We　saw　no　houses；　no　smoke；　no　footprints；　no　boats；　no　people。　We're　on　an　uninhabited　island　with　no　other　people　on　it。〃
　Jack　broke　in。　
　〃All　the　same　you　need　an　army…for　hunting。　Hunting　pigs…〃
　〃Yes。　There　are　pigs　on　the　island。〃
　All　three　of　them　tried　to　convey　the　sense　of　the　pink　live　thing　struggling　in　the　creepers。
　〃We　saw…〃
　〃Squealing…〃
　〃It　broke　away…〃
　〃Before　I　could　kill　it…but…next　time！〃
　Jack　slammed　his　knife　into　a　trunk　and　looked　round　challengingly。
　The　meeting　settled　down　again。
　〃So　you　see；〃　said　Ralph；　〃we　need　hunters　to　get　us　meat。　And　another　thing。〃
　He　lifted　the　shell　on　his　knees　and　looked　round　the　sun…slashed　faces。
　〃There　aren't　any　grownups。　We　shall　have　to　look　after　ourselves。〃
　The　meeting　hummed　and　was　silent。
　〃And　another　thing。　We　can't　have　everybody　talking　at　once。　Well　have　to　have　'Hands　up'　like　at　school。〃
　He　held　the　conch　before　his　face　and　glanced　round　the　mouth。
　〃Then　I'll　give　him　the　conch。〃
　〃Conch？〃
　〃That's　what　this　shell's　called。　I‘11　give　the　conch　to　the　next　person　to　speak。　He　can　hold　it　when　he's　speaking。〃
　〃But…〃
　〃Look…〃
　〃And　he　won't　be　interrupted。　Except　by　me。〃
　Jack　was　on　his　feet。
　〃We'll　have　rules！〃　he　cried　excitedly。　〃Lots　of　rules！　Then　when　anyone　breaks　'em…〃
　〃Whee…oh！〃
　〃Wacco！〃
　〃Bong！〃
　〃Doink！〃
　Ralph　felt　the　conch　lifted　from　his　lap。　Then　Piggy　was　standing　cradling　the　great　cream　shell　and　the　shouting　died　down。　Jack；　left　on　his　feet；　looked　uncertainly　at　Ralph　who　smiled　and　patted　the　log。　Jack　sat　down。　Piggy　took　off　his　glasses　and　blinked　at　the　assembly　while　he　wiped　them　on　his　shirt。
　〃You're　hindering　Ralph。　You're　not　letting　him　get　to　the　most　important　thing。〃
　He　paused　effectively。
　〃Who　knows　we're　here？　Eh？〃
　〃They　knew　at　the　airport〃
　〃The　man　with　a　trumpet…thing…〃
　〃My　dad。〃
　Piggy　put　on　his　glasses。
　〃Nobody　knows　where　we　are；〃　said　Piggy。　He　was　paler　than　before　and　breathless。　〃Perhaps　they　knew　where　we　was　going　to；　and　perhaps　not。　But　they　don't　know　where　we　are　'cos　we　never　got　there。〃　He　gaped　at　them　for　a　moment；　then　swayed　and　sat　down。　Ralph　took　the　conch　from　his　hands。
　〃That's　what　I　was　going　to　say；〃　he　went　on；　〃when　you　all；　all。　。　。　。〃　He　gazed　at　their　intent　faces。　〃The　plane　was　shot　down　in　flames。　Nobody　knows　where　we　are。　We　may　be　here　a　long　time。〃
　The　silence　was　so　plete　that　they　could　hear　the　unevenness　of　Piggy's　breathing。　The　sun　slanted　in　and　lay　golden　over　half　the　platform。　The　breezes　that　on　the　lagoon　had　chased　their　tails　like　kittens　were　finding　then…way　across　the　platform　and　into　the　forest。　Ralph　pushed　back　the　tangle　of　fair　hair　that　hung　on　his　forehead。
　〃So　we　may　be　here　a　long　time。〃
　Nobody　said　anything。　He　grinned　suddenly。
　〃But　this　is　a　good　island。　We…Jack；　Simon　and　me…　we　climbed　the　mountain。　It's　wizard。　There's　food　and　drink；　and…〃
　〃Rocks…〃
　〃Blue　flowers…〃
　Piggy；　partly　recovered；　pointed　to　the　conch　in　Ralph's　hands；　and　Jack　and　Simon　fell　silent。　Ralph　went　on。
　〃While　we're　waiting　we　can　have　a　good　time　on　this　island。〃
　He　gesticulated　widely。
　〃It's　like　in　a　book。〃
　At　once　there　was　a　clamor。
　〃Treasure　Island…〃
　〃Swallows　and　Amazons…〃
　〃Coral　Island…〃
　Ralph　waved　the　conch。
　〃This　is　our　island。　It's　a　good　island。　Until　the　grownups　e　to　fetch　us　we'll　have　fun。〃
　Jack　held　out　his　hand　for　the　conch。
　There's　pigs；〃　he　said。　〃There's　food；　and　bathing　water　in　that　little　stream　along　there…and　everything。　Didn't　anyone　find　anything　else？〃
　He　handed　the　conch　back　to　Ralph　and　sat　down。　Apparently　no　one　had　found　anything。
　The　older　boys　first　noticed　the　child　when　he　resisted。　There　was　a　group　of　little　boys　urging　him　forward　and　he　did　not　want　to　go。　He　was　a　shrimp　of　a　boy；　about　six　years　old；　and　one　side　of　his　face　was　blotted　out　by　a　mulberry…colored　birthmark。　He　stood　now；　warped　out　of　the　perpendicular　by　the　fierce　light　of　publicity；　and　he　bored　into　the　coarse　grass　with　one　toe。　He　was　muttering　and　about　to　cry。
　The　other　little　boys；　whispering　but　serious；　pushed　him　toward　Ralph。
　〃All　right；〃　said　Ralph；　〃e　on　then。〃
　The　small　boy　looked　round　in　panic。
　〃Speak　up！〃
　The　small　boy　held　out　his　hands　for　the　conch　and　the　assembly　shouted　with　laughter；　at　once　'he　snatched　back　his　hands　and　started　to　cry。
　〃Let　him　have　the　conch！〃　shouted　Piggy。　〃Let　him　have　it！〃
　At　last　Ralph　induced　him　to　hold　the　shell　but　by　then　the　blow　of　laughter　had　taken　away　the　child's　voice。　Piggy　knelt　by　him；　one　hand　on　the　great　shell；　listening　and　interpreting　to　the　assembly。
　〃He　wants　to　know　what　you're　going　to　do　about　the　snake…thing。〃
　Ralph　laughed；　and　the　other　boys　laughed　with　him。　The　small　boy　twisted　further　into　himself。
　〃Tell　us　about　the　snake…thing。〃
　〃Now　he　says　it　was　a　beastie。〃
　〃Beastie？〃
　〃A　snake…thing。　Ever　so　big。　He　saw　it〃
　〃Where？〃
　〃In　the　woods。〃
　Either　the　wandering　breezes　or　perhaps　the　decline　of　the　sun　allowed　a　little　coolness　to　lie　under　the　trees。　The　boys　felt　it　and　stirred　restlessly。
　〃You　couldn't　have　a　beastie；　a　snake…thing；　on　an　island　this　size；〃　Ralph　explained　kindly。　〃You　only　get　them　in　big　countries；　like　Africa；　or　India。〃
　Murmur；　and　the　grave　nodding　of　heads。
　〃He　says　the　beastie　came　in　the　dark。〃
　〃Then　he　couldn't　see　it！〃
　Laughter　and　cheers。
　〃Did　you　hear　that？　Says　he　saw　the　thing　in　the　dark…〃
　〃He　still　says　he　saw　the　beastie。　It　came　and　went　away　again　an'　came　back　and　wanted　to　eat　him…〃
　〃He　was　dreaming。〃
　Laughing；　Ralph　looked　for　confirmation　round　the　ring　of　faces。　The　older　boys　agreed；　but　here　and　there　among　the　little　ones　was　the　doubt　that　required　more　than　rational　assurance。
　〃He　must　have　had　a　nightmare。　Stumbling　about　among　all　those　creepers。〃
　More　grave　nodding；　they　knew　about　nightmares。
　〃He　says　he　saw　the　beastie；　the　snake…thing；　and　will　it　e　back　tonight？〃
　〃But　there　isn't　a　beastie！〃
　〃He　says　in　the　morning　it　turned　into　them　things　like　ropes　in　the　trees　and　hung　in　the　branches。　He　says　will　it　e　back　tonight？〃
　〃But　there　isn't　a　beastie！〃
　There　was　no　laughter　at　all　now　and　more　grave　watching。　Ralph　pushed　both　hands　through　his　hair　and　looked　at　the　little　boy　in　mixed　amusement　and　exasperation。
　Jack　seized　the　conch。
　〃Ralph's　right　of　course。　There　isn't　a　snake…thing。　But　if　there　was　a　snake　we'd　hunt　it　and　kill　it。　We're　going　to　hunt　pigs　to　get　meat　for　everybody。　And　we'll　look　for　the　snake　too…〃
　〃But　there　isn't　a　snake！〃
　〃We'll　make　sure　when　we　go　hunting。〃
　Ralph　was　annoyed　and；　for　the　moment；　defeated。　He　felt　himself　facing　something　ungraspable。　The　eyes　that　looked　so　intently　at　him　were　without　humor。
　〃But　there　isn't　a　beast！〃
　Something　he　had　not　known　was　there　rose　in　him　and　pelled　him　to　make　the　point；　loudly　and　again。
　〃But　I　tell　you　there　isn't　a　beast！〃
　The　assembly　was　silent。
　Ralph　lifted　the　conch　again　and　his　good　humor　came　back　as　he　thought　of　what　he　had　to　say　next。
　〃Now　we　e　to　the　most　important　thing。　I've　been　thinking。　I　was　thinking　while　we　were　climbing　the　mountain。〃　He　flashed　a　conspiratorial　grin　at　the　other　two。　〃And　on　the　beach　just　now。　This　is　what　I　thought。　We　want　to　have　fun。　And　we　want　to　be　rescued。〃
　The　passionate　noise　of　agreement　from　the　assembly　hit　him　like　a　wave　and　he　lost　his　thread。　He　thought　again。　
　〃We　want　to　be　rescued；　and　of　course　we　shall　be　rescued。〃
　Voices　babbled。　The　simple　statement；　unbacked　by　any　proof　but　the　weight　of　Ralph's　new　authority；　brought　light　and　happiness。　He　had　to　wave　the　conch　before　he　could　make　them　hear　him。
　〃My　father's　in　the　Navy。　He　said　there　aren't　any　unknown　islands　left。　He　says　the　Queen　has　a　big　room　full　of　maps　and　all　the　islands　in　the　world　are　drawn　there。　So　the　Queen's　got　a　picture　of　this　island。〃　
　Again　came　the　sounds　of　cheerfulness　and　better　heart。　
　〃And　sooner　or　later　a　ship　will　put　in　here。　It　might　even　be　Daddy's　ship。　So　you　see；　sooner　or　later；　we　shall　be　rescued。〃
　He　paused；　with　the　point　made。　The　assembly　was　lifted　toward　safety　by　his　words。　They　liked　and　now　respected　him。　Spontaneously　they　began　to　clap　and　presently　the　platform　was　loud　with　applause。　Ralph　flushed；　looking　sideways　at　Piggy's　open　admiration；　and　then　the　other　way　at　Jack　who　was　smirking　and　showing　that　he　too　knew　how　to　clap。　
　Ralph　waved　the　conch。　
　〃Shut　up！　Wait！　Listen！〃　
　He　went　on　in　the　silence；　borne　on　his　triumph。　
　〃There's　another　thing。　We　can　help　them　to　find　u