wgolding.lordoftheflies-第15部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　〃With　the　conch。　I'm　calling　a　meeting　even　if　we　have　to　go　on　into　the　dark。　Down　on　the　platform。　When　I　blow　it。　Now。〃
　He　turned　away　and　walked　off；　down　the　mountain。
　
　
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　FIVE
　Beast　from　Water
　
　The　tide　was　ing　in　and　there　was　only　a　narrow　strip　of　firm　beach　between　the　water　and　the　white；　stumbling　stuff　near　the　palm　terrace。　Ralph　chose　the　firm　strip　as　a　path　because　he　needed　to　think；　and　only　here　could　he　allow　his　feet　to　move　without　having　to　watch　them。　Suddenly；　pacing　by　the　water；　he　was　overe　with　astonishment。　He　found　himself　understanding　the　wearisomeness　of　this　life；　where　every　path　was　an　improvisation　and　a　considerable　part　of　one's　waking　life　was　spent　watching　one's　feet。　He　stopped；　facing　the　strip；　and　remembering　that　first　enthusiastic　exploration　as　though　it　were　part　of　a　brighter　childhood；　he　smiled　jeeringly。　He　turned　then　and　walked　back　toward　the　platform　with　the　sun　in　his　face。　The　time　had　e　for　the　assembly　and　as　he　walked　into　the　concealing　splendors　of　the　sunlight　he　went　carefully　over　the　points　of　his　speech。　There　must　be　no　mistake　about　this　assembly；　no　chasing　imaginary。　。　。　。
　He　lost　himself　in　a　maze　of　thoughts　that　were　rendered　vague　by　his　lack　of　words　to　express　them。　Frowning；　he　tried　again。
　This　meeting　must　not　be　fun；　but　business。
　At　that　he　walked　faster；　aware　all　at　once　of　urgency　and　the　declining　sun　and　a　little　wind　created　by　his　speed　that　breathed　about　his　face。　This　wind　pressed　his　grey　shirt　against　his　chest　so　that　he　noticed…in　this　new　mood　of　prehension…how　the　folds　were　stiff　like　cardboard；　and　unpleasant；　noticed　too　how　the　frayed　edges　of　his　shorts　were　making　an　unfortable；　pink　area　on　the　front　of　his　thighs。　With　a　convulsion　of　the　mind；　Ralph　discovered　dirt　and　decay；　understood　how　much　he　disliked　perpetually　flicking　the　tangled　hair　out　of　his　eyes；　and　at　last；　when　the　sun　was　gone；　rolling　noisily　to　rest　among　dry　leaves。　At　that　he　began　to　trot。
　The　beach　near　the　bathing　pool　was　dotted　with　groups　of　boys　waiting　for　the　assembly。　They　made　way　for　him　silently；　conscious　of　his　grim　mood　and　the　fault　at　the　fire。
　The　place　of　assembly　in　which　he　stood　was　roughly　a　triangle；　but　irregular　and　sketchy；　like　everything　they　made。　First　there　was　the　log　on　which　he　himself　sat；　a　dead　tree　that　must　have　been　quite　exceptionally　big　for　the　platform。　Perhaps　one　of　those　legendary　storms　of　the　Pacific　had　shifted　it　here。　This　palm　trunk　lay　parallel　to　the　beach；　so　that　when　Ralph　sat　he　faced　the　island　but　to　the　boys　was　a　darkish　figure　against　the　shimmer　of　the　lagoon。　The　two　sides　of　the　triangle　of　which　the　log　was　base　were　less　evenly　defined。　On　the　right　was　a　log　polished　by　restless　seats　along　the　top；　but　not　so　large　as　the　chiefs　and　not　so　fortable。　On　the　left　were　four　small　logs；　one　of　them…the　farthest…lamentably　springy。　Assembly　after　assembly　had　broken　up　in　laughter　when　someone　had　leaned　too　far　back　and　the　log　had　whipped　and　thrown　half　a　dozen　boys　backwards　into　the　grass。　Yet　now；　he　saw；　no　one　had　had　the　wit…not　himself　nor　Jack；　nor　Piggy…to　bring　a　stone　and　wedge　the　thing。　So　they　would　continue　enduring　the　ill…balanced　twister；　because；　because。　。　。　。　Again　he　lost　himself　in　deep　waters。
　Crass　was　worn　away　in　front　of　each　trunk　but　grew　tall　and　untrodden　in　tile　center　of　the　triangle。　Then；　at　the　apex；　the　grass　was　thick　again　because　no　one　sat　there。　All　round　the　place　of　assembly　the　grey　trunks　rose；　straight　or　leaning；　and　supported　the　low　roof　of　leaves。　On　two　sides　was　the　beach；　behind；　the　lagoon；　in　front；　the　darkness　of　the　island。
　Ralph　turned　to　the　chief's　seat。　They　had　never　had　an　assembly　as　late　before。　That　was　why　the　place　looked　so　different。　Normally　the　underside　of　the　green　roof　was　lit　by　a　tangle　of　golden　reflections；　and　their　faces　were　lit　upside　down…like；　thought　Ralph；　when　you　hold　an　electric　torch　in　your　hands。　But　now　the　sun　was　slanting　in　at　one　side；　so　that　the　shadows　were　where　they　ought　to　be。
　Again　he　fell　into　that　strange　mood　of　speculation　that　was　so　foreign　to　him。　If　faces　were　different　when　lit　from　above　or　below…what　was　a　face？　What　was　anything？
　Ralph　moved　impatiently。　The　trouble　was；　if　you　were　a　chief　you　had　to　think；　you　had　to　be　wise。　And　then　the　occasion　slipped　by　so　that　you　had　to　grab　at　a　decision。　This　made　you　think；　because　thought　was　a　valuable　thing；　that　got　results。　。　。　。
　Only；　decided　Ralph　as　he　faced　the　chiefs　seat；　I　can't　think。　Not　like　Piggy。
　Once　more　that　evening　Ralph　had　to　adjust　his　values。　Piggy　could　think。　He　could　go　step　by　step　inside　that　fat　head　of　his；　only　Piggy　was　no　chief。　But　Piggy；　for　all　his　ludicrous　body；　had　brains。　Ralph　was　a　specialist　in　thought　now；　and　could　recognize　thought　in　another。
　The　sun　in　his　eyes　reminded　him　how　time　was　passing；　so　he　took　the　conch　down　from　the　tree　and　examined　the　surface。　Exposure　to　the　air　had　bleached　the　yellow　and　pink　to　near…white；　and　transparency。　Ralph　felt　a　land　of　affectionate　reverence　for　the　conch；　even　though　he　had　fished　the　thing　out　of　the　lagoon　himself。　He　faced　the　place　of　assembly　and　put　the　conch　to　his　lips。
　The　others　were　waiting　for　this　and　came　straight　away。　Those　who　were　aware　that　a　ship　had　passed　the　island　while　the　fire　was　out　were　subdued　by　the　thought　of　Ralph's　anger；　while　those；　including　the　littluns　who　did　not　know；　were　impressed　by　the　general　air　of　solemnity。　The　place　of　assembly　filled　quickly；　Jack；　Simon；　Maurice；　most　of　the　hunters；　on　Ralph's　right；　the　rest　on　the　left；　under　the　sun。　Piggy　came　and　stood　outside　the　triangle。　This　indicated　that　he　wished　to　listen；　but　would　not　speak；　and　Piggy　intended　it　as　a　gesture　of　disapproval
　〃The　thing　is：　we　need　an　assembly。〃
　No　one　said　anything　but　the　faces　turned　to　Ralph　were　intent。　He　flourished　the　conch。　He　had　learnt　as　a　practical　business　that　fundamental　statements　like　this　had　to　be　said　at　least　twice；　before　everyone　understood　them。　One　had　to　sit；　attracting　all　eyes　to　the　conch；　and　drop　words　like　heavy　round　stones　among　the　little　groups　that　crouched　or　squatted。　He　was　searching　his　mind　for　simple　words　so　that　even　the　littluns　would　understand　what　the　assembly　was　about。　Later　perhaps；　practiced　debaters…Jack；　Maurice；　Piggy…would　use　their　whole　art　to　twist　the　meeting：　but　now　at　the　beginning　the　subject　of　the　debate　must　be　laid　out　clearly。
　〃We　need　an　assembly。　Not　for　fun。　Not　for　laughing　and　falling　off　the　log〃…the　group　of　littluns　on　the　twister　giggled　and　looked　at　each　other…〃not　for　making　jokes；　or　for〃…he　lifted　the　conch　in　an　effort　to　find　the　pelling　word…〃for　cleverness。　Not　for　these　things。　But　to　put　things　straight。''
　He　paused　for　a　moment。
　〃I've　been　alone。　By　myself　I　went；　thinking　what's　what　I　know　what　we　need。　An　assembly　to　put　things　straight　And　first　of　all；　I'm　speaking。〃
　He　paused　for　a　moment　and　automatically　pushed　back　his　hair。　Piggy　tiptoed　to　the　triangle；　his　ineffectual　protest　made；　and　joined　the　others。
　Ralph　went　on。
　〃We　have　lots　of　assemblies。　Everybody　enjoys　speaking　and　being　together。　We　decide　things。　But　they　don't　get　done。　We　were　going　to　have　water　brought　from　the　stream　and　left　in　those　coconut　shells　under　fresh　leaves。　So　it　was；　for　a　few　days。　Now　there's　no　water。　The　shells　are　dry。　People　drink　from　the　river。〃
　There　was　a　murmur　of　assent。
　〃Not　that　there's　anything　wrong　with　drinking　from　the　river。　I　mean　I'd　sooner　have　water　from　that　place…　you　know；　the　pool　where　the　waterfall　is…than　out　of　an　old　coconut　shell。　Only　we　said　we'd　have　the　water　brought　And　now　not　There　were　only　two　full　shells　there　this　afternoon。〃
　He　licked　his　lips。
　〃Then　there's　huts。　Shelters。〃
　The　murmur　swelled　again　and　died　away。
　〃You　mostly　sleep　in　shelters。　Tonight；　except　for　Sam…neric　up　by　the　fire；　you'll　all　sleep　there。　Who　built　the　shelters？〃
　Clamor　rose　at　once。　Everyone　had　built　the　shelters。　Ralph　had　to　wave　the　conch　once　more。
　〃Wait　a　minute！　I　mean；　who　built　all　three？　We　all　built　the　first　one；　four　of　us　the　second　one；　and　me　'n　Simon　built　the　last　one　over　there。　That's　why　it's　so　tottery。　No。　Don't　laugh。　That　shelter　might　fall　down　if　the　rain　es　back。　We'll　need　those　shelters　then。〃
　He　paused　and　cleared　his　throat。
　〃There's　another　thing。　We　chose　those　rocks　right　along　beyond　the　bathing　pool　as　a　lavatory。　That　was　sensible　too。　The　tide　cleans　the　place　up。　You　littluns　know　about　that。〃
　There　were　sniggers　here　and　there　and　swift　glances。
　〃Now　people　seem　to　use　anywhere。　Even　near　the　shelters　and　the　platform。　You　littluns；　when　you're　getting　fruit；　if　you're　taken　short…〃
　The　assembly　roared。
　〃I　said　if　you're　taken　short　you　keep　away　from　the　fruit。　That's　dirty。〃
　Laughter　rose　again。
　〃I　said　that's　dirty！〃
　He　plucked　at　his　stiff；　grey　shirt。
　〃That's　realty　dirty。　If　you're　taken　short　you　go　right　along　the　beach　to　the　rocks。　See？〃
　Piggy　held　out　his　hands　for　the　conch　but　Ralph　shook　his　head。　This　speech　was　planned；　point　by　point。
　〃We've　all　got　to　use　the　rocks　again。　This　place　is　getting　dirty。〃　He　paused。　The　assembly；　sensing　a　crisis；　was　tensely　expectant。　〃And　then：　about　the　fire。〃
　Ralph　let　out　his　spare　breath　with　a　little　gasp　that　was　echoed　by　his　audience。　Jack　started　to　chip　a　piece　of　wood　with　his　knife　and　whispered　something　to　Robert；　who　looked　away。
　〃The　fire　is　the　most　important　thing　on　the　island。　How　can　we　ever　be　rescued　except　by　luck；　if　we　don't　keep　a　fire　going？　Is　a　fire　too　much　for　us　to　make？〃
　He　flung　out　an　arm。
　〃Look　at　us！　How　many　are　we？　And　yet　we　can't　keep　a　fire　going　to　make　smoke。　Don't　you　understand？　Can't　you　see　we　ought　to…ought　to　die　before　we　let　the　fire　out？〃
　There　was　a　self…conscious　giggling　among　the　hunters。　Ralph　turned　on　them　passionately。
　〃You　hunters！　You　can　laugh！　But　I　tell　you　the　smoke　is　more　important　than　the　pig；　however　often　you　kill　one。　Do　all　of　you　see？〃　He　spread　his　arms　wide　and　turned　to　the　whole　triangle。
　〃We've　got　to　make　smoke　up　there…or　die。〃
　He　paused；　feeling　for　his　next　point
　〃And　another　thing。〃
　Someone　called　out。
　〃Too　many　things。〃
　There　came　mutters　of　agreement。　Ralph　overrode　them。
　〃And　another　thing。　We　nearly　set　the　whole　island　on　fire。　And　we　waste　time；　rolling　rocks；　and　making　little　cooking　fires。　Now　I　say　this　and　make　it　a　rule；　because　I'm　chief。　We　won't　have　a　fire　anywhere　but　on　the　mountain。　Ever。〃
　There　was　a　row　immediately。　Boys　stood　up　and　shouted　and　Ralph　shouted　back。
　〃Because　if　you　want　a　fire　to　cook　fish　or　crab；　you　can　jolly　well　go　up　the　mountain。　That　way　we'll　be　certain。〃
　Hands　were　reaching　for　the　conch　in　the　light　of　the　setting　sun。　He　held　on　and　leapt　on　the　trunk。
　〃All　this　I　meant　to　say。　Now　I've　said　it。　You　voted　me　for　chief。　Now　you　do　what　I　say。〃
　They　quieted；　slowly；　and　at　last　were　seated　again。　Ralph　dropped　down　and　spoke　in　his　ordinary　voice。
　〃So　remember