wgolding.lordoftheflies-第21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！


　They　got　his　arms　and　legs。　Ralph；　carried　away　by　a　sudden　thick　excitement；　grabbed　Eric's　spear　and　jabbed　at　Robert　with　it。
　〃Kill　him！　Kill　him！〃
　All　at　once；　Robert　was　screaming　and　struggling　with　the　strength　of　frenzy。　Jack　had　him　by　the　hair　and　was　brandishing　his　knife。　Behind　him　was　Roger；　fighting　to　get　close。　The　chant　rose　ritually；　as　at　the　last　moment　of　a　dance　or　a　hunt。
　〃Kill　the　pig！　Cut　his　throat！　Kill　the　pig！　Bash　him　in！〃
　Ralph　too　was　fighting　to　get　near；　to　get　a　handful　of　that　brown；　vulnerable　flesh。　The　desire　to　squeeze　and　hurt　was　over…mastering。
　Jack's　arm　came　down；　the　heaving　circle　cheered　and　made　pig…dying　noises。　Then　they　lay　quiet；　panting；　listening　to　Robert's　frightened　snivels。　He　wiped　his　face　with　a　dirty　arm；　and　made　an　effort　to　retrieve　his　status。
　〃Oh；　my　bum！〃
　He　rubbed　his　rump　ruefully。　Jack　rolled　over。
　〃That　was　a　good　game。〃
　〃Just　a　game；〃　said　Ralph　uneasily。　〃I　got　jolly　badly　hurt　at　rugger　once。〃
　〃We　ought　to　have　a　drum；〃　said　Maurice；　〃then　we　could　do　it　properly。〃
　Ralph　looked　at　him。
　〃How　properly？〃
　〃I　dunno。　You　want　a　fire；　I　think；　and　a　drum；　and　you　keep　time　to　the　drum。〃
　〃You　want　a　pig；〃　said　Roger；　〃Like　in　a　real　hunt。〃
　〃Or　someone　to　pretend；〃　said　Jack。　　〃You　could　get　someone　to　dress　up　as　a　pig　and　then　he　could　act…you　know；　pretend　to　knock　me　over　and　all　that。〃
　〃You　want　a　real　pig；〃　said　Robert；　still　caressing　his　rump；　〃because　you've　got　to　kill　him。〃
　〃Use　a　littlun；〃　said　Jack；　and　everybody　laughed。
　
　Ralph　sat　up。
　〃Well。　We　shan't　find　what　we're　looking　for　at　this　rate。〃
　One　by　one　they　stood　up；　twitching　rags　into　place。
　Ralph　looked　at　Jack。
　〃Now　for　　the　mountain。〃
　〃Shouldn't　we　go　back　to　Piggy；〃　said　Maurice；　〃before　dark？〃
　The　twins　nodded　like　one　boy。
　〃Yes；　that's　right。　Let's　go　up　there　in　the　morning。〃
　Ralph　looked　out　and　saw　the　sea。
　〃We've　got　to　start　the　fire　again。〃
　〃You　haven't　got　Piggy's　specs；〃　said　Jack；　〃so　you　can't。〃
　〃Then　we'll　find　out　if　the　mountain's　clear。〃
　Maurice　spoke；　hesitating；　not　wanting　to　seem　a　funk。
　〃Supposing　the　beast's　up　there？〃
　Jack　brandished　his　spear。
　〃We‘1l　kill　it。〃
　The　sun　seemed　a　little　cooler。　He　slashed　with　the　spear。
　〃What　are　we　waiting　for？〃
　〃I　suppose；〃　said　Ralph；　〃if　we　keep　on　by　the　sea　this　way；　well　e　out　below　the　burnt　bit　and　then　we　can　climb　the　mountain。〃
　Once　more　Jack　led　them　along　by　the　suck　and　heave　of　the　blinding　sea。
　Once　more　Ralph　dreamed；　letting　his　skillful　feet　deal　with　the　difficulties　of　the　path。　Yet　here　his　feet　seemed　less　skillful　than　before。　For　most　of　the　way　they　were　forced　right　down　to　the　bare　rock　by　the　water　and　had　to　edge　along　between　that　and　the　dark　luxuriance　of　the　forest　There　were　little　cliffs　to　be　scaled；　some　to　be　used　as　paths；　lengthy　traverses　where　one　used　hands　as　well　as　feet。　Here　and　there　they　could　clamber　over　wave…wet　rock；　leaping　across　clear　pools　that　the　tide　had　left。　They　came　to　a　gully　that　split　the　narrow　foreshore　like　a　defense。　This　seemed　to　have　no　bottom　and　they　peered　awe…stricken　into　the　gloomy　crack　where　water　gurgled。　Then　the　wave　came　back；　the　gully　boiled　before　them　and　spray　dashed　up　to　the　very　creeper　so　that　the　boys　were　wet　and　shrieking。　They　tried　the　forest　but　ft　was　thick　and　woven　like　a　bird's　nest　In　the　end　they　had　to　jump　one　by　one；　waiting　till　the　water　sank；　and　even　so；　some　of　them　got　a　second　drenching。　After　that　the　rocks　seemed　to　be　growing　impassable　so　they　sat　for　a　time；　letting　their　rags　dry　and　watching　the　clipped　outlines　of　the　rollers　that　moved　so　slowly　past　the　island。　They　found　fruit　in　a　haunt　of　bright　little　birds　that　hovered　like　insects。　Then　Ralph　said　they　were　going　too　slowly。　He　himself　climbed　a　tree　and　parted　the　canopy；　and　saw　the　square　head　of　the　mountain　seeming　still　a　great　way　off。　Then　they　tried　to　hurry　along　the　rocks　and　Robert　cut　his　knee　quite　badly　and　they　had　to　recognize　that　this　path　must　be　taken　slowly　if　they　were　to　be　safe。　So　they　proceeded　after　that　as　if　they　were　climbing　a　dangerous　mountain；　until　the　rocks　became　an　unpromising　cliff；　overhung　with　impossible　jungle　and　falling　sheer　into　the　sea。
　Ralph　looked　at　the　sun　critically。
　〃Early　evening。　After　tea…time；　at　any　rate。〃
　〃I　don't　remember　this　cliff；〃　said　Jack；　crestfallen；　〃so　this　must　be　the　bit　of　the　coast　I　missed。〃
　Ralph　nodded。
　〃Let　me　think。〃
　By　now；　Ralph　had　no　self…consciousness　in　public　thinking　but　would　treat　the　day's　decisions　as　though　he　were　playing　chess。　The　only　trouble　was　that　he　would　never　be　a　very　good　chess　player。　He　thought　of　the　littluns　and　Piggy。　Vividly　he　imagined　Piggy　by　himself；　huddled　in　a　shelter　that　was　silent　except　for　the　sounds　of　nightmare。
　〃We　can't　leave　the　littluns　alone　with　Piggy。　Not　all　night。〃
　The　other　boys　said　nothing　but　stood　round；　watching　him。
　〃If　we　went　back　we　should　take　hours。〃
　Jack　cleared　his　throat　and　spoke　in　a　queer；　tight　voice。
　〃We　mustn't　let　anything　happen　to　Piggy；　must　we？〃
　Ralph　tapped　his　teeth　with　the　dirty　point　of　Eric's　spear。
　〃If　we　go　across…〃
　He　glanced　round　him。
　〃Someone's　got　to　go　across　the　island　and　tell　Piggy　we'll　be　back　after　dark。〃
　Bill　spoke；　unbelieving。
　〃Through　the　forest　by　himself？　Now？〃
　〃We　can't　spare　more　than　one。〃
　Simon　pushed　his　way　to　Ralph's　elbow。
　〃I'll　go　if　you　like。　I　don't　mind；　honestly。〃
　Before　Ralph　had　time　to　reply；　he　smiled　quickly；　turned　and　climbed　into　the　forest
　Ralph　looked　back　at　Jack；　seeing　him；　infuriatingly；　for　the　first　time。
　〃Jack…that　time　you　went　the　whole　way　to　the　castle　rock。〃
　Jack　glowered。
　〃Yes？〃
　〃You　came　alone　part　of　this　shore…below　the　mountain；　beyond　there。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃And　then？〃
　〃I　found　a　pig…run。　It　went　for　miles。〃
　〃So　the　pig…run　must　be　somewhere　in　there。〃
　Ralph　nodded。　He　pointed　at　the　forest
　Everybody　agreed；　sagely。
　〃All　right　then。　We'll　smash　a　way　through　till　we　find　the　pig…run。〃
　He　took　a　step　and　halted。
　〃Wait　a　minute　though！　Where　does　the　pig…run　go　to？〃
　〃The　mountain；〃　said　Jack；　〃I　told　you。　He　sneered。　〃Don't　you　want　to　go　to　the　mountain？〃
　Ralph　sighed；　sensing　the　rising　antagonism；　understanding　that　this　was　how　Jack　felt　as　soon　as　he　ceased　to　lead。
　〃I　was　thinking　of　the　light。　We'll　be　stumbling　about。〃
　〃We　were　going　to　look　for　the　beast。〃
　〃There　won't　be　enough　light。〃
　〃I　don't　mind　going；　said　Jack　hotly。　〃Ill　go　when　we　get　there。　Won't　you？　Would　you　rather　go　back　to　the　shelters　and　tell　Piggy？〃
　Now　it　was　Ralph's　turn　to　flush　but　he　spoke　despairingly；　out　of　the　new　understanding　that　Piggy　had　given　him。
　〃Why　do　you　hate　me？〃
　The　boys　stirred　uneasily；　as　though　something　indecent　had　been　said。　The　silence　lengthened。
　Ralph；　still　hot　and　hurt；　turned　away　first。
　〃e　on。〃
　He　led　the　way　and　set　himself　as　by　right　to　hack　at　the　tangles。　Jack　brought　up　the　rear；　displaced　and　brooding。
　The　pig…track　was　a　dark　tunnel；　for　the　sun　was　sliding　quickly　toward　the　edge　of　the　world　and　in　the　forest　shadows　were　never…far　to　seek。　The　track　was　broad　and　beaten　and　they　ran　along　at　a　swift　trot；　Then　the　roof　of　leaves　broke　up　and　they　halted；　breathing　quickly；　looking　at　the　few　stars　that　pricked　round　the　head　of　the　mountain。
　〃There　you　are。〃
　The　boys　peered　at　each　other　doubtfully。　Ralph　made　a　decision。
　〃We'll　go　straight　across　to　the　platform　and　climb　tomorrow。〃
　They　murmured　agreement；　but　Jack　was　standing　by　his　shoulder。
　〃If　you're　frightened　of　course…〃
　Ralph　turned　on　him。
　〃Who　went　first　on　the　castle　rock？〃
　〃I　went　too。　And　that　was　daylight。〃
　〃All　right。　Who　wants　to　climb　the　mountain　now？〃
　Silence　was　the　only　answer。
　〃Samneric？　What　about　you？〃
　〃We　ought　to　go　an'　tell　Piggy…〃
　〃…yes；　tell　Piggy　that…〃
　〃But　Simon　went！〃
　〃We　ought　to　tell　Piggy…in　case…〃
　〃Robert？　Bill？〃
　They　were　going　straight　back　to　the　platform　now。　Not；　of　course；　that　they　were　afraid…but　tired。
　Ralph　turned　back　to　Jack。
　〃You　see？〃
　〃I'm　going　up　the　mountain。〃　The　words　came　from　Jack　viciously；　as　though　they　were　a　curse。　He　looked　at　Ralph；　his　thin　body　tensed；　his　spear　held　as　if　he　threatened　him。
　〃I'm　going　up　the　mountain　to　look　for　the　beast…now。〃　Then　the　supreme　sting；　the　casual；　bitter；　word。　〃ing？〃
　At　that　word　the　other　boys　forgot　their　urge　to　be　gone　and　turned　back　to　sample　this　fresh　rub　of　two　spirits　in　the　dark。　The　word　was　too　good；　too　bitter；　too　successfully　daunting　to　be　repeated。　It　took　Ralph　at　low　water　when　his　nerve　was　relaxed　for　the　return　to　the　shelter　and　the　still；　friendly　waters　of　the　lagoon。
　〃I　don't　mind。〃
　Astonished；　he　heard　his　voice　e　out；　cool　and　casual；　so　that　the　bitterness　of　Jack's　taunt　fell　powerless。
　〃If　you　don't　mind；　of　course。〃
　〃Oh；　not　at　all。〃
　Jack　took　a　step。
　〃Well　then…〃
　Side　by　side；　watched　by　silent　boys；　the　two　started　up　the　mountain。
　Ralph　stopped。
　〃We're　silly。　Why　should　only　two　go？　If　we　find　anything；　two　won't　be　enough。〃
　There　came　the　sound　of　boys　scuttling　away。　Astonishingly；　a　dark　figure　moved　against　the　tide。
　〃Roger？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃That's　three；　then。〃
　Once　more　they　set　out　to　climb　the　slope　of　the　mountain。　The　darkness　seemed　to　flow　round　them　like　a　tide。　Jack；　who　had　said　nothing；　began　to　choke　and　cough；　and　a　gust　of　wind　set　all　three　spluttering。　Ralph's　eyes　were　blinded　with　tears。
　〃Ashes。　We're　on　the　edge　of　the　burnt　patch。〃
　Their　footsteps　and　the　occasional　breeze　were　stirring　up　small　devils　of　dust。　Now　that　they　stopped　again；　Ralph　had　time　while　he　coughed　to　remember　how　silly　they　were。　If　there　was　no　beast…and　almost　certainly　there　was　no　beast…in　tiiat　case；　well　and　good；　but　if　there　was　something　waiting　on　top　of　the　mountain…what　was　the　use　of　three　of　them；　handicapped　by　the　darkness　and　carrying　only　sticks？
　〃We're　being　fools。〃
　Out　of　the　darkness　came　the　answer。
　〃Windy？〃
　Irritably　Ralph　shook　himself。　This　was　all　Jack's　fault
　〃　'Course　I　am。　But　we're　still　being　fools。〃
　〃If　you　don't　want　to　go　on；〃　said　the　voice　sarcastically；
　Ralph　heard　the　mockery　and　hated　Jack。　The　sting　of　ashes　in　his　eyes；　tiredness；　fear；　enraged　him。　〃Go　on　then！　We'll　wait　here。〃　There　was　silence。
　〃Why　don't　you　go？　Are　you　frightened？〃　
　A　stain　in　the　darkness；　a　stain　that　was　Jack；　detached　itself　and　began　to　draw　away。　〃All　right。　So　long。〃
　The　stain　vanished。　Another　took　its　place。　
　Ralph　felt　his　knee　against　something　hard　and　rocked　a　charred　trunk　that　was　edgy　to　the　touch。　He　felt　the　sharp　cinders　that　had　been　bark　push　against　the　back　of　his　knee　and　knew　that　Roger　had　sat　down。　He　felt　with　his　hands　and　lowered　himself　beside　Roger；　while　the　trunk　rocked　among　invisible　ashes。　Roger；　unmunicative　by　nature；　said　nothing。　He　offered　no　opinion　on　the　beast　nor　told　Ralph　why　he　had　chosen　to　e　on　this　mad　expedition。　He　simply　sat　and　rocked　the　trunk　gently。　Ralph　noticed　a　rapid　and　infuri