wgolding.lordoftheflies-第23部分

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　For　a　while　they　sat　in　depressed　silence。　Then　Simon　stood　up　and　took　the　conch　from　Piggy；　who　was　so　astonished　that　he　zremained　on　his　feet。　Ralph　looked　up　at　Simon。
　〃Simon？　What　is　it　this　time？〃
　A　half…sound　of　jeering　ran　round　the　circle　and　Simon　shrank　from　it。
　　〃I　thought　there　might　be　something　to　do。　Something　we…〃
　Again　die　pressure　of　the　assembly　took　his　voice　away。　He　sought　for　help　and　sympathy　and　chose　Piggy。　He　turned　half　toward　him；　clutching　the　conch　to　his　brown　chest
　〃I　think　we　ought　to　climb　the　mountain。〃
　The　circle　shivered　with　dread。　Simon　broke　off　and　turned　to　Piggy　who　was　looking　at　him　with　an　expression　of　derisive　inprehension。
　〃What's　the　good　of　climbing　up　to　this　here　beast　when　Ralph　and　the　other　two　couldn't　do　nothing？〃
　Simon　whispered　his　answer。
　〃What　else　is　there　to　do？〃
　His　speech　made；　he　allowed　Piggy　to　lift　the　conch　out　of　his　hands。　Then　he　retired　and　sat　as　far　away　from　the　others　as　possible。
　Piggy　was　speaking　now　with　more　assurance　and　with　what；　if　the　circumstances　had…　not　been　so　serious；　the　others　would　have　recognized　as　pleasure。
　〃I　said　we　could　all　do　without　a　certain　person。　Now　I　say　we　got　to　decide　on　what　can　be　done。　And　I　think　I　could　tell　you　what　Ralph's　going　to　say　next。　The　most　important　thing　on　the　island　is　the　smoke　and　you　can't　have　no　smoke　without　a　fire。〃
　Ralph　made　a　restless　movement。
　〃No　go；　Piggy。　We've　got　no　fire。　That　thing　sits　up　there…we'll　have　to　stay　here。〃
　Piggy　lifted　the　conch　as　though　to　add　power　to　his　next　words。
　〃We　got　no　fire　on　the　mountain。　But　what's　wrong　with　a　fire　down　here？　A　fire　could　be　built　on　them　rocks。　On　the　sand；　even。　We'd　make　smoke　just　the　same。〃
　〃That's　right！〃
　〃Smoke！〃
　〃By　the　bathing　pool！〃
　The　boys　began　to　babble。　Only　Piggy　could　have　the　intellectual　daring　to　suggest　moving　the　fire　from　the　mountain。
　〃So　well　have　the　fire　down　here；〃　said　Ralph。　He　looked　about　him。　〃We　can　build　it　just　here　between　the　bathing　pool　and　the　platform。　Of　course…〃
　He　broke　off；　frowning；　thinking　the　thing　out；　unconsciously　tugging　at　the　stub　of　a　nail　with　his　teeth。
　〃Of　course　the　smoke　won't　show　so　much；　not　be　seen　so　far　away。　But　we　needn't　go　near；　near　the…〃
　The　others　nodded　in　perfect　prehension。　There　would　be　no　need　to　go　near。
　〃We'll　build　the　fire　now。〃
　The　greatest　ideas　are　the　simplest　Now　there　was　something　to　be　done　they　worked　with　passion。　Piggy　was　so　full　of　delight　and　expanding　liberty　in　Jack's　departure；　so　full　of　pride　in　his　contribution　to　the　good　of　society；　that　he　helped　to　fetch　wood。　The　wood　he　fetched　was　close　at　hand；　a　fallen　tree　on　the　platform　that　they　did　not　need　for　the　assembly；　yet　to　the　others　the　sanctity　of　the　platform　had　protected　even　what　was　useless　there。　Then　the　twins　realized　they　would　have　a　fire　near　them　as　a　fort　in　the　night　and　this　set　a　few　littluns　dancing　and　clapping　hands。
　The　wood　was　not　so　dry　as　the　fuel　they　had　used　on　the　mountain。　Much　of　it　was　damply　rotten　and　full　of　insects　that　scurried；　logs　had　to　be　lined　from　the　soil　with　care　or　they　crumbled　into　sodden　powder。　More　than　this；　in　order　to　avoid　going　deep　into　the　forest　the　boys　worked　near　at　hand　on　any　fallen　wood　no　matter　how　tangled　with　new　growth。　The　skirts　of　the　forest　and　the　scar　were　familiar；　near　the　conch　and　the　shelters　and　sufficiently　friendly　in　daylight。　What　they　might　bee　in　darkness　nobody　cared　to　think。　They　worked　therefore　with　great　energy　and　cheerfulness；　though　as　time　crept　by　there　was　a　suggestion　of　panic　in　the　energy　and　hysteria　in　the　cheerfulness。　They　built　a　pyramid　of　leaves　and　twigs；　branches　and　togs；　on　the　bare　sand　by　the　platform。　For　the　first　time　on　the　island；　Piggy　himself　removed　his　one　glass；　knelt　down　and　focused　the　sun　on　tinder。　Soon　there　was　a　ceiling　of　smoke　and　a　bush　of　yellow　flame。
　The　littluns　who　had　seen　few　fires　since　the　first　catastrophe　became　wildly　excited。　They　danced　and　sang　and　there　was　a　partyish　air　about　the　gathering。
　At　last　Ralph　stopped　work　and　stood　up；　smudging　the　sweat　from　his　face　with　a　dirty　forearm。
　〃We'll　have　to　have　a　small　fire。　This　one's　too　big　to　keep　up。〃
　Piggy　sat　down　carefully　on　the　sand　and　began　to　polish　his　glass。
　〃We　could　experiment。　We　could　find　out　how　to　make　a　small　hot　fire　and　then　put　green　branches　on　to　make　smoke。　Some　of　them　leaves　must　be　better　for　that　than　the　others。〃
　As　the　fire　died　down　so　did　the　excitement　The　littluns　stopped　singing　and　dancing　and　drifted　away　toward　the　sea　or　　the　fruit　trees　or　the　shelters。
　Ralph　flopped　down　in　the　sand。
　〃We'll　have　to　make　a　new　list　of　who's　to　took　after　the　fire。〃
　〃If　you　can　find　'em。〃
　He　looked　round。　Then　for　the　first　time　he　saw　how　few　biguns　there　were　and　understood　why　the　work　had　been　so　hard。
　〃Where's　Maurice？〃
　Piggy　wiped　his　glass　again。
　〃I　expect　。。。　no；　he　wouldn't　go　into　the　forest　by　himself；　would　he？〃
　Ralph　jumped　up；　ran　swiftly　round　the　fire…　and　stood　by　Piggy；　　holding　up　his　hair。
　〃But　we've　got　to　have　a　list！　There's　you　and　me　and　Samneric　and…〃
　He　would　not　look　at　Piggy　but　spoke　casually。
　〃Where's　Bill　and　Roger？〃
　Piggy　leaned　forward　and　put　a　fragment　of　wood　on　the　fire。
　〃I　expect　they've　gone。　I　expect　they　won't　play　either。〃
　Ralph　sat　down　and　began　to　poke　little　holes　in　the　sand。　He　was　surprised　to　see　that　one　had　a　drop　of　blood　by　it　He　examined　his　bitten　nail　closely　and　watched　the　little　globe　of　blood　that　gathered　where　the　quick　was　gnawed　away。
　Piggy　went　on　speaking。
　〃I　seen　them　stealing　off　when　we　was　gathering　wood。　They　went　that　way。　The　same　way　as　he　went　himself。〃
　Ralph　finished　his　inspection　and　looked　up　into　the　air。　The　sky；　as　if　in　sympathy　with　the　great　changes　among　them；　was　different　today　and　so　misty　that　in　some　places　the　hot　air　seemed　white。　The　disc　of　the　sun　was　dull　silver　as　though　it　were　nearer　and　not　so　hot；　yet　the　air　stifled。
　〃They　always　been　making　trouble；　haven't　they？〃
　The　voice　came　near　his　shoulder　and　sounded　anxious。
　〃We　can　do　without　'em。　We'll　be　happier　now；　won't　we？〃
　Ralph　sat。　The　twins　came；　dragging　a　great　log　and　grinning　in　their　triumph。　They　dumped　the　log　among　the　embers　so　that　sparks　flew。
　〃We　can　do　all　right　on　our　own；　can't　we？〃
　For　a　long　time　while　the　log　dried；　caught　fire　and　turned　red　hot；　Ralph　sat　in　the　sand　and　said　nothing。　He　did　not　see　Piggy　go　to　the　twins　and　whisper　with　them；　nor　how　the　three　boys　went　together　into　the　forest。
　〃Here　you　are。〃
　He　came　to　himself　with　a　jolt。　Piggy　and　the　other　two　were　by　him。　They　were　laden　with　fruit
　〃I　thought　perhaps；〃　said　Piggy；　〃we　ought　to　have　a　feast；　kind　of。〃
　The　three　boys　sat　down。　They　had　a　great　mass　of　the　fruit　with　them　and　all　of　it　properly　ripe。　They　grinned　at　Ralph　as　he　took　some　and　began　to　eat。
　'Thanks；〃　he　said。　Then　with　an　accent　of　pleased　surprise…〃Thanks！〃
　〃Do　all　right　on　our　own；〃　said　Piggy。　〃It's　them　that　haven't　no　mon　sense　that　make　trouble　on　this　island。　We'll　make　a　little　hot　fire…〃
　Ralph　remembered　what　had　been　worrying　him。
　〃Where's　Simon？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃You　don't　think　he's　climbing　the　mountain？〃
　Piggy　broke　into　noisy　laughter　and　took　more　fruit。
　〃He　might　be。〃　He　gulped　his　mouthful。　〃He's　cracked。〃
　Simon　had　passed　through　the　area　of　fruit　trees　but　today　the　littluns　had　been　too　busy　with　the　fire　on　the　beach　and　they　had　not　pursued　him　there。　He　went　on　among　the　creepers　until　he　reached　the　great　mat　that　was　woven　by　the　open　space　and　crawled　inside。　Beyond　the　screen　of　leaves　the　sunlight　pelted　down　and　the　butterflies　danced　in　the　middle　their　unending　dance。　He　knelt　down　and　the　arrow　of　the　sun　fell　on　him。　That　other　time　the　air　had　seemed　to　vibrate　with　heat；　but　now　it　threatened。　Soon　the　sweat　was　running　from　his　long　coarse　hair。　He　shifted　restlessly　but　there　was　no　avoiding　the　sun。　Presently　he　was　thirsty；　and　then　very　thirsty。
　He　continued　to　sit
　
　Far　off　alone　the　beach；　Jack　was　standing　before　a　small　group　of　boys。　He　was　looking　brilliantly　happy。
　〃Hunting；〃　he　said。　He　sized　them　up。　Each　of　them　wore　the　remains　of　a　black　cap　and　ages　ago　they　had　stood　in　two　demure　rows　and　their　voices　had　been　the　song　of　angels。
　〃We'll　hunt。　I'm　going　to　be　chief。〃
　They　nodded；　and　the　crisis　passed　easily。
　〃And　then…about　the　beast。〃
　They　moved；　looked　at　the　forest。
　〃I　say　this。　We　aren't　going　to　bother　about　the　beast。〃
　He　nodded　at　them。
　〃We're　going　to　forget　the　beast。〃
　〃That's　right！〃
　〃Yes！〃
　〃Forget　the　beast！〃
　If　Jack　was　astonished　by　their　fervor　he　did　not　show　it。
　〃And　another　thing。　We　shan't　dream　so　much　down　here。　This　is　near　the　end　of　the　island。〃
　They　agreed　passionately　out　of　the　depths　of　their　tormented　private　lives。
　〃Now　listen。　We　might　go　later　to　the　castle　rock。　But　now　I'm　going　to　get　more　of　the　biguns　away　from　the　conch　and　all　that　We'll　kill　a　pig　and　give　a　feast。〃　He　paused　and　went　on　more　slowly。　〃And　about　the　beast　When　we　kill　we'll　leave　some　of　the　kill　for　it。　Then　it　won't　bother　us；　maybe。〃
　He　stood　up　abruptly。
　〃We'll　go　into　the　forest　now　and　hunt。〃
　He　turned　and　trotted　away　and　after　a　moment　they　followed　him　obediently。
　They　spread　out；　nervously；　in　the　forest。　Almost　at　once　Jack　found　the　dung　and　scattered　roots　that　told　of　pig　and　soon　the　track　was　fresh。　Jack　signaled　the　rest　of　the　hunt　to　be　quiet　and　went　forward　by　himself。　He　was　happy　and　wore　the　damp　darkness　of　the　forest　like　his　old　clothes。　He　crept　down　a　slope　to　rocks　and　scattered　trees　by　the　sea。
　The　pigs　lay；　bloated　bags　of　fat；　sensuously　enjoying　the　shadows　under　the　trees。　There　was　no　wind　and　they　were　unsuspicious；　and　practice　had　made　Jack　silent　as　the　shadows。　He　stole　away　again　and　instructed　his　hidden　hunters。　Presently　they　all　began　to　inch　forward　sweating　in　the　silence　and　heat。　Under　the　trees　an　ear　flapped　idly。　A　little　apart　from　the　rest；　sunk　in　deep　maternal　bliss；　lay　the　largest　sow　of　the　lot。　She　was　black　and　pink；　and　the　great　bladder　of　her　belly　was　fringed　with　a　row　of　piglets　that　slept　or　burrowed　and　squeaked。
　Fifteen　yards　from　the　drove　Jack　stopped；　and　his　arm；　straightening；　pointed　at　the　sow。　he　looked　round　in　inquiry　to　make　sure　that　everyone　understood　and　the　other　boys　nodded　at　him。　The　row　of　right　arms　slid　back。
　〃Now！〃
　The　drove　of　pigs　started　up；　and　at　a　range　of　only　ten　yards　the　wooden　spears　with　fire…hardened　points　flew　toward　the　chosen　pig。　One　piglet；　with　a　demented　shriek；　rushed　into　the　sea　trailing　Roger's　spear　behind　it。　The　sow　gave　a　gasping　squeal　and　staggered　up；　with　two　spears　sticking　in　her　fat　flank。　The　boys　shouted　and　rushed　forward；　the　piglets　scattered　and　the　sow　burst　the　advancing　line　and　went　crashing　away　through　the　forest。
　〃After　her！〃
　They　raced　along　the　pig…track；　but　the　forest　was　too　dark　and　tangled　so　that　Jack；　cursing；　stopped　them　and　cast　among　the　trees。　Then