wgolding.lordoftheflies-第17部分

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　The　last　laugh　died　away。　Ralph　turned　involuntarily；　a　black；　humped　figure　against　the　lagoon。　The　assembly　looked　with　him；　considered　the　vast　stretches　of　water；　the　high　sea　beyond；　unknown　indigo　of　infinite　possibility；　heard　silently　the　sough　and　whisper　from　the　reef。
　Maurice　spoke；　so　loudly　that　they　jumped。
　〃Daddy　said　they　haven't　found　all　the　animals　in　the　sea　yet〃
　Argument　started　again。　Ralph　held　out　the　glimmering　conch　and　Maurice　took　it　obediently。　The　meeting　subsided。
　〃I　mean　when　Jack　says　you　can　be　frightened　because　people　are　frightened　anyway　that's　all　right。　But　when　he　says　there's　only　pigs　on　this　island　I　expect　he's　right　but　he　doesn't　know；　not　really；　not　certainly　I　mean…'　Maurice　took　a　breath。　〃My　daddy　says　there's　things；　what　d‘you　call'em　that　make　ink…squids…that　are　hundreds　or　yards　long　and　eat　whales　whole。〃　He　paused　again　ana　laughed　gaily。　〃I　don't　believe　in　the　beast　of　course。　As　Piggy　says；　life's　scientific；　but　we　don't　know；　do　we？　Not　certainly；　I　mean…〃　
　Someone　shouted。
　〃A　squid　couldn't　e　up　out　of　the　water！〃　
　〃Could！〃　
　〃Couldn't！〃
　In　a　moment　the　platform　was　full　of　arguing；　gesticulating　shadows。　To　Ralph；　seated；　this　seemed　the　breaking　up　of　sanity。　Fear；　beasts；　no　general　agreement　that　the　fire　was　all…important：　and　when　one　tried　to　get　the　thing　straight　the　argument　sheered　off；　bringing　up　fresh；　unpleasant　matter。
　He　could　see　a　whiteness　in　the　gloom　near　him　so　he　grabbed　it　from　Maurice　and　blew　as　loudly　as　he　could。　The　assembly　was　shocked　into　silence。　Simon　was　close　to　him；　laying　hands　on　the　conch。　Simon　felt　a　perilous　necessity　to　speak；　but　to　speak　in　assembly　was　a　terrible　thing　to　him。
　〃Maybe；〃　he　said　hesitantly；　〃maybe　there　is　a　beast。〃
　The　assembly　cried　out　savagely　and　Ralph　stood　up　in　amazement。
　〃You；　Simon？　You　believe　in　this？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Simon。　His　heartbeats　were　choking　him。　〃But　。。。〃
　The　storm　broke。
　〃Sit　down！〃
　〃Shut　up！〃
　〃Take　the　conch！〃
　〃Sod　you！〃
　〃Shut　up！〃
　Ralph　shouted。
　〃Hear　him！　He's　got　the　conch！〃
　〃What　I　mean　is　。　。　。　maybe　it's　only　us。〃
　〃Nuts！〃
　That　was　from　Piggy；　shocked　out　of　decorum。　Simon　want　on。
　〃We　could　be　sort　of。　。　。　。〃
　Simon　became　inarticulate　in　his　effort　to　express　mankind's　essential　illness。　Inspiration　came　to　him。
　〃What's　the　dirtiest　thing　there　is？〃
　As　an　answer　Jack　dropped　into　the　unprehending　silence　that　followed　it　the　one　crude　expressive　syllable。　Release　was　immense。　Those　littluns　who　had　climbed　back　on　the　twister　fell　off　again　and　did　not　mind。　The　hunters　were　screaming　with　delight
　Simon's　effort　fell　about　him　in　ruins；　the　laughter　beat　him　cruelly　and　he　shrank　away　defenseless　to　his　seat。
　At　last　the　assembly　was　silent　again。　Someone　spoke　out　of　turn。
　〃Maybe　he　means　it's　some　sort　of　ghost〃
　Ralph　Lifted　the　conch　and　peered　into　the　gloom。　The　lightest　thing　was　the　pale　beach。　Surely　the　littluns　were　nearer？　Yes…there　was　no　doubt　about　it；　they　were　huddled　into　a　tight　knot　of　bodies　in　the　central　grass。　A　flurry　of　wind　made　the　palms　talk　and　the　noise　seemed　very　loud　now　that　darkness　and　silence　made　it　so　noticeable。　Two　grey　trunks　rubbed　each　other　with　an　evil　squeaking　that　no　one　had　noticed　by　day。
　Piggy　took　the　conch　out　of　his　hands。　His　voice　was　indignant。
　〃I　don't　believe　in　no　ghosts…ever！〃
　Jack　was　up　too；　unaccountably　angry。
　〃Who　cares　what　you　believeFatty！〃
　〃I　got　the　conch！〃
　There　was　the　sound　of　a　brief　tussle　and　the　conch　moved　to　and　fro。
　〃You　gimme　the　conch　back！〃
　Ralph　pushed　between　them　and　got　a　thump　on　the　chest。　He　wrested　the　conch　from　someone　and　sat　down　breathlessly。
　〃There's　too　much　talk　about　ghosts。　We　ought　to　have　left　all　this　for　daylight。〃
　A　hushed　and　anonymous　voice　broke　in。
　〃Perhaps　that's　what　the　beast　is…a　ghost。〃
　The　assembly　was　shaken　as　by　a　wind。
　〃There's　too　much　talking　out　of　turn；〃　Ralph　said；　〃because　we　can't　have　proper　assemblies　if　you　don't　stick　to　the　rules。〃
　He　stopped　again。　The　careful　plan　of　this　assembly　had　broken　down。
　〃What　d'you　want　me　to　say　then？　I　was　wrong　to　call　this　assembly　so　late。　Well　have　a　vote　on　them；　on　ghosts　I　mean；　and　then　go　to　the　shelters　because　we're　all　tired。　No…Jack　is　it？…wait　a　minute。　I'll　say　here　and　now　that　I　don　t　believe　in　ghosts。　Or　I　don't　think　I　do。　But　I　don't　like　the　thought　of　them。　Not　now　that　is；　in　the　dark。　But　we　were　going　to　decide　what's　what。〃
　He　raised　the　conch　for　a　moment　
　〃Very　well　then。　I　suppose　what's　what　is　whether　there　are　ghosts　or　not…〃
　He　thought　for　a　moment；　formulating　the　question。　
　〃Who　thinks　there　may　be　ghosts？〃　
　For　a　long　time　there　was　silence　and　no　apparent　movement。　Then　Ralph　peered　into　the　gloom　and　made　out　the　hands。　He　spoke　flatly。　
　〃I　see。〃
　The　world；　that　understandable　and　lawful　world；　was　slipping　away。　Once　there　was　this　and　that；　and　now…and　the　ship　had　gone。
　The　conch　was　snatched　from　his　hands　and　Piggy's　voice　shrilled。
　〃I　didn't　vote　for　no　ghosts！〃
　He　whirled　round　on　the　assembly。
　〃Remember　that；　all　of　you！〃
　They　heard　him　stamp。
　〃What　are　we？　Humans？　Or　animals？　Or　savages？　What's　grownups　going　to　think？　Going　off…hunting　pigs…letting　fires　out…and　now！〃
　A　shadow　fronted　him　tempestuously。
　〃You　shut　up；　you　fat　slug！'
　There　was　a　moment's　struggle　and　the　glimmering　conch　jigged　up　and　down。　Ralph　leapt　to　his　feet。
　〃Jack！　Jack！　You　haven't　got　the　conch！　Let　him　speak。〃
　Jack's　face　swam　near　him。
　〃And　you　shut　up！　Who　are　you；　anyway？　Sitting　there　telling　people　what　to　do。　　You　cant　hunt；　you　can't　sing…〃
　〃I'm　chief。　I　was　chosen。〃
　〃Why　should　choosing　make　any　difference？　Just　giving　orders　that　don't　make　any　sense…〃
　〃Piggy's　got　the　conch。〃
　That's　right…favor　Piggy　as　you　always　do…〃
　〃Jack！〃
　〃Jack's　voice　sounded　in　bitter　mimicry。
　〃Jack！　Jack！〃
　〃The　rules！〃　shouted　Ralph。　〃You're　breaking　the　rules！〃
　〃Who　cares？〃
　Ralph　summoned　his　wits。
　〃Because　the　rules　are　the　only　thing　we've　got！〃
　But　Jack　was　shouting　against　him。
　〃Bollocks　to　the　rules！　We're　strong…we　hunt！　If　there's　a　beast；　we'll　hunt　it　down！　Well　close　in　and　beat　and　beat　and　beat…！〃
　He　gave　a　wild　whoop　and　leapt　down　to　the　pale　sand。　At　once　the　platform　was　full　of　noise　and　excitement；　scramblings；　screams　and　laughter。　The　assembly　shredded　away　and　became　a　discursive　and　random　scatter　from　the　palms　to　the　water　and　away　along　the　beach；　beyond　night…sight。　Ralph　found　his　cheek　touching　the　conch　and　took　it　from　Piggy。
　〃What's　grownups　going　to　say？〃　cried　Piggy　again。　〃Look　at　'em！〃
　The　sound　of　mock　hunting；　hysterical　laughter　and　real　terror　came　from　the　beach。　
　〃Blow　the　conch；　Ralph。〃
　Piggy　was　so　close　that　Ralph　could　see　the　glint　of　his　one　glass。
　〃There's　the　fire。　Can't　they　see？〃
　〃You　got　to　be　tough　now。　Make　'em　do　what　you　want。〃　
　Ralph　answered　in　the　cautious　voice　of　one　who　rehearses　a　theorem。
　〃If　I　blow　the　conch　and　they　don't　e　back；　then　we've　had　it。　We　shan't　keep　the　fire　going。　We'll　be　like　animals。　We'll　never　be　rescued。〃
　〃If　you　don't　blow；　we'll　soon　be　animals　anyway。　I　can't　see　what　they're　doing　but　I　can　hear。〃
　The　dispersed　figures　had　e　together　on　the　sand　and　were　a　dense　black　mass　that　revolved。　They　were　chanting　something　and　littluns　that　had　had　enough　were　staggering　away；　howling。　Ralph　raised　the　conch　to　his　lips　and　then　lowered　it。
　〃The　trouble　is：　Are　there　ghosts；　Piggy？　Or　beasts？〃　
　〃Course　there　aren't。〃　
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃'Cos　things　wouldn't　make　sense。　Houses　an‘　streets；　an'…TV…they　wouldn't　work。〃
　The　　dancing；　　chanting　　boys　　had　　worked　　themselves　away　till　their　sound　was　nothing　but　a　wordless　rhythm。　
　〃But　s'pose　they　don't　make　sense？　Not　here；　on　this　island？　Supposing　things　are　watching　us　and　waiting？〃
　Ralph　shuddered　violently　and　moved　closer　to　Piggy；　so　that　they　bumped　frighteningly。
　〃You　stop　talking　like　that！　We　got　enough　trouble；　Ralph；　an'　I've　had　as　much　as　I　can　stand。　If　there　is　ghosts…〃
　〃I　ought　to　give　up　being　chief。　Hear　'em。〃　
　〃Oh　lord！　Oh　no！〃　
　Piggy　gripped　Ralph's　arm。
　〃If　Jack　was　chief　he'd　have　all　hunting　and　no　fire。　We'd　be　here　till　we　died。〃
　His　voice　ran　up　to　a　squeak。
　〃Who's　that　sitting　there？〃
　〃Me。　Simon。〃
　〃Fat　lot　of　good　we　are；〃　said　Ralph。　〃Three　blind　mice；　I‘ll　give　up。〃
　〃If　you　give　up；〃　said　Piggy；　in　an　appalled　whisper；　〃what　‘ud　happen　to　me？〃
　〃Nothing。〃
　〃He　hates　me。　I　dunno　why。　If　he　could　do　what　he　wanted…you're　all　right；　he　respects　you。　Besides…　you'd　hit　him。〃
　〃You　were　having　a　nice　fight　with　him　just　now。〃
　〃I　had　the　conch；〃　said　Piggy　simply。　〃I　had　a　right　to　speak。〃
　Simon　stirred　in　the　dark。
　〃Go　on　being　chief。〃
　〃You　shut　up；　young　Simon！　Why　couldn't　you　say　there　wasn't　a　beast？〃
　〃I'm　scared　of　him；〃　said　Piggy；　〃and　that's　why　I　know　him。　If　you're　scared　of　someone　you　hate　him　but　you　can't　stop　thinking　about　him。　You　Kid　yourself　he's　all　right　really；　an'　then　when　you　see　him　again；　it's　like　asthma　an‘　you　can't　breathe。　I　tell　you　what。　He　hates　you　too；　Ralph…〃
　〃Me？　Why　me？〃
　〃I　dunno。　You　got　him　over　the　fire；　an‘　you're　chief　an‘　he　isn't。〃
　〃But　he's；　he's；　Jack　Merridew！〃
　〃I　been　in　bed　so　much　I　done　some　thinking。　I　know　about　people。　I　know　about　me。　And　him。　He　can't　hurt　you：　but　if　you　stand　out　of　the　way　he'd　hurt　the　next　thing。　And　that's　me。〃
　〃Piggy's　right；　Ralph。　There's　you　and　Jack。　Go　on　being　chief。〃
　〃We're　all　drifting　and　things　are　going　rotten。　At　home　there　was　always　a　grownup。　Please；　sir；　please；　miss；　and　then　you　got　an　answer。　How　I　wish！〃
　〃I　wish　my　auntie　was　here。〃
　〃I　wish　my　father　。　。　。　Oh；　what's　the　use？〃
　〃Keep　the　fire　going。〃
　The　dance　was　over　and　the　hunters　were　going　back　to　the　shelters。
　〃Grownups　know　things；〃　said　Piggy。　〃They　ain't　afraid　of　the　dark。　They'd　meet　and　have　tea　and　discuss。　Then　things　'ud　be　all　right…〃
　〃They　wouldn't　set　fire　to　the　island。　Or　lose…〃
　〃They'd　build　a　ship…〃
　The　three　boys　stood　in　the　darkness；　striving　unsuccessfully　to　convey　the　majesty　of　adult　life。
　〃They　wouldn't　quarrel…〃
　〃Or　break　my　specs…〃
　〃Or　talk　about　a　beast…〃
　〃If　only　they　could　get　a　message　to　us；〃　cried　Ralph　desperately。　〃If　only　they　could　send　us　something　grown…up　。　。　。　a　sign　or　something。〃
　A　thin　wail　out　of　the　darkness　chilled　them　and　set　them　grabbing　for　each　other。　Then　the　wail　rose；　remote　and　unearthly；　and　turned　to　an　inarticulate　gibbering。　Percival　Wemys　Madison；　of　the　Vicarage；　Harcourt　St。　Anthony；　lying　in　the　long　grass；　was　living　through　circumstances　in　which　the　incantation　of　his　address　was　powerless　to　help　him。
　
　
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　SIX
　Beast　from　Air
　
　There　was　no　light　left　save　that　of　the　stars。　When　they　had　understood　what　made　this　ghostly　noise　and　Percival　was　quiet　again；　Ralph　and　Simon　picked　him　up　unhandily　and　carried　him　to　a　shelter。　Piggy　hung　about　near　for　all　his　brave　words；　and　the　three　bigger　boys　went　together　to