wgolding.lordoftheflies-第10部分

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　〃You　got　your　small　fire　all　right。〃
　Smoke　was　rising　here　and　there　among　the　creepers　that　festooned　the　dead　or　dying　trees。　As　they　watched；　a　flash　of　fire　appeared　at　the　root　of　one　wisp；　and　then　the　smoke　thickened。　Small　flames　stirred　at　the　trunk　of　a　tree　and　crawled　away　through　leaves　and　brushwood；　dividing　and　increasing。　One　paten　touched　a　tree　trunk　and　scrambled　up　like　a　bright　squirrel。　The　smoke　increased；　sifted；　rolled　outwards。　The　squirrel　leapt　on　the　wings　of　the　wind　and　clung　to　another　standing　tree；　eating　downwards。　Beneath　the　dark　canopy　of　leaves　and　smoke　the　fire　laid　hold　on　the　forest　and　began　to　gnaw。　Acres　of　black　and　yellow　smoke　rolled　steadily　toward　the　sea。　At　the　sight　of　the　flames　and　the　irresistible　course　of　the　fire；　the　boys　broke　into　shrill；　excited　cheering。　The　flames；　as　though　they　were　a　kind　of　wild　life；　crept　as　a　jaguar　creeps　on　its　belly　toward　a　line　of　birch…like　saplings　that　fledged　an　outcrop　of　the　pink　rock。　They　flapped　at　the　first　of　the　trees；　and　the　branches　grew　a　brief　foliage　of　fire。　The　heart　of　flame　leapt　nimbly　across　the　gap　between　the　trees　and　then　went　swinging　and　flaring　along　the　whole　row　of　them。　Beneath　the　capering　boys　a　quarter　of　a　mile　square　of　forest　was　savage　with　smoke　and　flame。　The　separate　noises　of　the　fire　merged　into　a　drum…roll　that　seemed　to　shake　the　mountain。
　〃You　got　your　small　fire　all　right〃
　Startled；　Ralph　realized　that　the　boys　were　falling　still　and　silent；　feeling　the　beginnings　of　awe　at　the　power　set　free　below　them。　The　knowledge　and　the　awe　made　him　savage。　
　〃Oh；　shut　up！〃
　〃I　got　the　conch；〃　said　Piggy；　in　a　hurt　voice。　〃I　got　a　right　to　speak。〃
　They　looked　at　him　with　eyes　that　lacked　interest　in　what　they　saw；　and　cocked　ears　at　the　drum…roll　of　the　fire。　Piggy　glanced　nervously　into　hell　and　cradled　the　conch。
　〃We　got　to　let　that　burn　out　now。　And　that　was　our　firewood。〃
　He　licked　his　lips。
　There　ain't　nothing　we　can　do。　We　ought　to　be　more　careful。　I'm　scared…〃
　Jack　dragged　his　eyes　away　from　the　fire。　You're　always　scared。　Yah…Fatty！〃
　〃I　got　the　conch；〃　said　Piggy　bleakly。　He　turned　to　Ralph。　〃I　got　the　conch；　ain't　I　Ralph？〃
　Unwillingly　Ralph　turned　away　from　the　splendid；　awful　sight
　〃What's　that？〃
　〃The　conch。　I　got　a　right　to　speak。〃
　The　twins　giggled　together。
　〃We　wanted　smoke…〃
　〃Now　look…！〃
　A　pall　stretched　for　miles　away　from　the　island。　All　the　boys　except　Piggy　started　to　giggle；　presently　they　were　shrieking　with　laughter。
　Piggy　lost　his　temper。
　〃I　got　the　conch！　Just　you　listen！　The　first　thing　we　ought　to　have　made　was　shelters　down　there　by　the　beach。　It　wasn't　half　cold　down　there　in　the　night。　But　the　first　time　Ralph　says　'fire'　you　goes　howling　and　screaming　up　this　here　mountain。　Like　a　pack　of　kids！〃
　By　now　they　were　listening　to　the　tirade。
　〃How　can　you　expect　to　be　rescued　if　you　don't　put　first　things　first　and　act　proper？〃
　He　took　off　his　glasses　and　made　as　if　to　put　down　the　conch；　but　the　sudden　motion　toward　it　of　most　of　the　older　boys　changed　his　mind。　He　tucked　the　shell　under　his　arm；　and　crouched　back　on　a　rock。
　〃Then　when　you　get　here　you　build　a　bonfire　that　isn't　no　use。　Now　you　been　and　set　the　whole　island　on　fire。　Won't　we　look　funny　if　the　whole　island　burns　up？　Cooked　fruit；　that's　what　we'll　have　to　eat；　and　roast　pork。　And　that's　nothing　to　laugh　at！　You　said　Ralph　was　chief　and　you　don't　give　him　time　to　think。　Then　when　he　says　something　you　rush　off；　like；　like…〃
　He　paused　for　breath；　and　the　fire　growled　at　them。
　〃And　that's　not　all。　Them　kids。　The　little　'uns。　Who　took　any　notice　of　'em？　Who　knows　how　many　we　got？〃
　Ralph　took　a　sudden　step　forward。
　〃I　told　you　to。　I　told　you　to　get　a　list　of　names！〃
　〃How　could　I；〃　cried　Piggy　indignantly；　〃all　by　myself？　They　waited　for　two　minutes；　then　they　fell　in　the　sea；　they　went　into　the　forest；　they　just　scattered　everywhere。　How　was　I　to　know　which　was　which？〃
　Ralph　licked　pale　lips。
　Then　you　don't　know　how　many　of　us　there　ought　to　be？〃
　〃How　could　I　with　them　little　'uns　running　round　like　insects？　Then　when　you　three　came　back；　as　soon　as　you　said　make　a　fire；　they　all　ran　away；　and　I　never　had　a　chance…〃
　〃That's　enough！〃　said　Ralph　sharply；　and　snatched　back　the　conch。　〃If　you　didn't　you　didn't。〃
　〃…then　you　e　up　here　an'　pinch　my　specs…〃
　Jack　turned　on　him。　
　〃You　shut　up！〃
　〃…and　them　little　'uns　was　wandering　about　down　there　where　the　fire　is。　How　d'you　know　they　aren't　still　there？〃
　Piggy　stood　up　and　pointed　to　the　smoke　and　flames。　A　murmur　rose　among　the　boys　and　died　away。　Something　strange　was　happening　to　Piggy；　for　he　was　gasping　for　breath。
　That　little　'un…〃　gasped　Piggy…〃him　with　the　mark　on　his　face；　I　don't　see　him。　Where　is　he　now？〃
　The　crowd　was　as　silent　as　death。
　〃Him　that　talked　about　the　snakes。　He　was　down　there…〃
　A　tree　exploded　in　the　fire　like　a　bomb。　Tall　swathes　of　creepers　rose　for　a　moment　into　view；　agonized；　and　went　down　again。　The　little　boys　screamed　at　them。
　〃Snakes！　Snakes！　Look　at　the　snakes！〃
　In　the　west；　and　unheeded；　the　sun　lay　only　an　inch　or　two　above　the　sea。　Their　faces　were　lit　redly　from　beneath。　Piggy　fell　against　a　rock　and　clutched　it　with　both　hands。
　〃That　little　'un　that　had　a　mark　on　his　face…where　is　…he　now？　I　tell　you　I　don't　see　him。〃
　The　boys　looked　at　each　other　fearfully；　unbelieving。
　〃…where　is　he　now？〃
　Ralph　muttered　the　reply　as　if　in　shame。
　〃Perhaps　he　went　back　to　the；　the…〃
　Beneath　them；　on　the　unfriendly　side　of　the　mountain；　the　drum…roll　continued。
　
　
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　THREE
　Huts　on　the　Beach
　
　Jack　was　bent　double。　He　was　down　like　a　sprinter；　　his　nose　only　a　few　inches　from　the　humid　earth。　　The　tree　trunks　and　the　creepers　that　festooned　them　lost　themselves　in　a　green　dusk　thirty　feet　above　him；　and　all　about　was　the　undergrowth。　There　was　only　the　faintest　indication　of　a　trail　here；　a　cracked　twig　and　what　might　be　the　impression　of　one　side　of　a　hoof。　He　lowered　his　chin　and　stared　at　the　traces　as　though　he　would　force　them　to　speak　to　him。　Then　dog…like；　unfortably　on　all　fours　yet　unheeding　his　disfort；　he　stole　forward　five　yards　and　stopped。　Here　was　loop　of　creeper　with　a　tendril　pendant　from　a　node。　The　tendril　was　polished　on　the　underside；　pigs；　passing　through　the　loop；　brushed　it　with　their　bristly　hide。
　Jack　crouched　with　his　face　a　few　inches　away　from　this　clue；　then　stared　forward　into　the　semi…darkness　of　the　undergrowth。　His　sandy　hair；　considerably　longer　than　it　had　been　when　they　dropped　in；　was　lighter　now；　and　his　bare　back　was　a　mass　of　dark　freckles　and　peeling　sunburn。　A　sharpened　stick　about　five　feet　long　trailed　from　his　right　hand；　and　except　for　a　pair　of　tattered　shorts　held　up　by　his　knife…belt　he　was　naked。　He　closed　his　eyes；　raised　his　head　and　breathed　in　gently　with　flared　nostrils；　assessing　the　current　of　warm　air　for　information。　The　forest　and　he　were　very　still。
　At　length　he　let　out　his　breath　in　a　long　sigh　and　opened　his　eyes。　They　were　bright　blue；　eyes　that　in　this　frustration　seemed　bolting　and　nearly　mad。　He　passed　his　tongue　across　dry　lips　and　scanned　the　unmunicative　forest　Then　again　he　stole　forward　and　cast　this　way　and　that　over　the　ground。
　The　silence　of　the　forest　was　more　oppressive　than　the　heat；　and　at　this　hour　of　the　day　there　was　not　even　the　whine　of　insects。　Only　when　Jack　himself　roused　a　gaudy　bird　from　a　primitive　nest　of　sticks　was　the　silence　shattered　and　echoes　set　ringing　by　a　harsh　cry　that　seemed　to　e　out　of　the　abyss　of　ages。　Jack　himself　shrank　at　this　cry　with　a　hiss　of　indrawn　breath；　and　for　a　minute　became　less　a　hunter　than　a　furtive　thing；　ape…like　among　the　tangle　of　trees。　Then　the　trail；　the　frustration；　claimed'　him　again　and　he　searched　the　ground　avidly。　By　the　trunk　of　a　vast　tree　that　grew　pale　flowers　on　its　grey　bark　he　checked；　closed　his　eyes；　and　once　more　drew　in　the　warm　air；　and　this　time　his　breath　came　short；　there　was　even　a　passing　pallor　in　his　face；　and　then　the　surge　of　blood　again。　He　passed　like　a　shadow　under　the　darkness　of　the　tree　and　crouched；　looking　down　at　the　trodden　ground　at　his　feet。
　The　droppings　were　warm。　They　lay　piled　among　turned　earth。　They　were　olive　green；　smooth；　and　they　steamed　a　little。　Jack　lifted　his　head　and　stared　at　the　inscrutable　masses　of　creeper　that　lay　across　the　trail。　Then　he　raised　his　spear　and　sneaked　forward。　Beyond　the　creeper；　the　trail　joined　a　pig…run　that　was　wide　enough　and　trodden　enough　to　be　a　path。　The　ground　was　hardened　by　an　accustomed　tread　and　as　Jack　rose　to　his　full　height　he　heard　something　moving　on　it。　He　swung　back　his　right　arm　and　hurled　the　spear　with　all　his　strength。　From　the　pig…run　came　the　quick；　hard　patter　of　hoofs；　a　castanet　sound；　seductive；　maddening…the　promise　of　meat。　He　rushed　out　of　the　undergrowth　and　snatched　up　his　spear。　The　pattering　of　pig's　trotters　died　away　in　the　distance。
　Jack　stood　there；　streaming　with　sweat；　streaked　with　brown　earth；　stained　by　all　the　vicissitudes　of　a　day's　hunting。　Swearing；　he　turned　off　the　trail　and　pushed　his　way　through　until　the　forest　opened　a　little　and　instead　of　bald　trunks　supporting　a　dark　roof　there　were　light　grey　trunks　and　crowns　of　feathery　palm。　Beyond　these　was　the　glitter　of　the　sea　and　he　could　hear　voices。　Ralph　was　standing　by　a　contraption　of　palm　trunks　and　leaves；　a　rude　shelter　that　faced　the　lagoon　and　seemed　very　near　to　falling　down。　He　did　not　notice　when　Jack　spoke。
　〃Got　any　water？〃
　Ralph　looked　up；　frowning；　from　the　plication　of　leaves。　He　did　not　notice　Jack　even　when　he　saw　him。
　〃I　said　have　you　got　any　water？　I'm　thirsty。〃
　Ralph　withdrew　his　attention　from　the　shelter　and　realized　Jack　with　a　start。
　〃Oh；　hullo。　Water？　There　by　the　tree。　Ought　to　be　some　left。〃
　Jack　took　up　a　coconut　shell　that　brimmed　with　fresh　water　from　among　a　group　that　was　arranged　in　the　shade；　and　drank。　The　water　splashed　over　his　chin　and　neck　and　chest。　He　breathed　noisily　when　he　had　finished。
　〃Needed　that。〃
　Simon　spoke　from　inside　the　shelter。
　〃Up　a　bit。〃
　Ralph　turned　to　the　shelter　and　lifted　a　branch　with　a　whole　tiling　of　leaves。
　The　leaves　came　apart　and　fluttered　down。　Simon's　contrite　face　appeared　in　the　hole。
　〃Sorry。〃
　Ralph　surveyed　the　wreck　with　distaste。
　〃Never　get　it　done。〃
　He　flung　himself　down　at　Jack's　feet　Simon　remained；　looking　out　of　the　hole　in　the　shelter。　Once　down；　Ralph　explained。
　〃Been　working　for　days　now。　And　look！〃
　Two　shelters　were　in　position；　but　shaky。　This　one　was　a　ruin。
　〃And　they　keep　running　off。　You　remember　the　meeting？　How　everyone　was　going　to　work　hard　until　the　shelters　were　finished？〃
　〃Except　me　and　my　hunters…〃
　〃Except　the　hunters。　Well；　the　littluns　are…〃
　He　gesticulated；　sought　for　a　word。
　〃They're　hopeless。　The　older　ones　aren't　much　better。　D'you　see？　All　day　I've　been　working　with　Simon。　No　one　else。　They're　off　bathing；　or　eating；　or　playing。〃
　Simon　poked　his　head　out　carefully。
　〃You're　chief。　You　tell　'em　off。〃
　Ralph　lay　flat　and　looked　up　at　the　palm　trees　and　the　sky。
　〃Meetings。　Don't　we　love　meetin