wgolding.lordoftheflies-第24部分

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among　the　trees。　Then　he　said　nothing　for　a　time　but　breathed　fiercely　so　that　they　were　awed　by　him　and　looked　at　each　other　in　uneasy　admiration。　Presently　he　stabbed　down　at　the　ground　with　his　finger。
　〃There…〃
　Before　the　others　could　examine　the　drop　of　blood；　Jack　had　swerved　off；　judging　a　trace；　。touching　a　bough　that　gave。　So　he　followed；　mysteriously　right　and　assured；　and　the　hunters　trod　behind　him。　
　He　stopped　before　a　covert。　
　〃In　there。〃
　They　surrounded　the　covert　but　the　sow　got　away　with　the　sting　of　another　spear　in　her　flank。　The　trailing　butts　hindered　her　and　the　sharp；　cross…cut　points　were　a　torment　She　blundered　into　a　tree；　forcing　a　spear　still　deeper；　and　after　that　any　of　the　hunters　could　follow　her　easily　by　the　drops　of　vivid　blood。　The　afternoon　wore　on；　hazy　and　dreadful　with　damp　heat；　the　sow　staggered　her　way　ahead　of　them；　bleeding　and　mad；　and　the　hunters　followed；　wedded　to　her　in　lust；　excited　by　the　long　chase　and　the　dropped　blood。　They　could　see　her　now；　nearly　got　up　with　her；　out　she　spurted　with　her　last　strength　and　held　ahead　of　them　again。　They　were　just　behind　her　when　she　staggered　into　an　open　space　where　bright　flowers　grew　and　butterflies　danced　round　each　other　and　the　air　was　hot　and　still。
　Here；　struck　down　by　the　heat；　the　sow　fell　and　the　hunters　hurled　themselves　at　her。　This　dreadful　eruption　from　an　unknown　world　made　her　frantic；　she　squealed　and　bucked　and　the　air　was　full　of　sweat　and　noise　and　blood　and　terror。　Roger　ran　round　the　heap；　prodding　with　his　spear　whenever　pigflesh　appeared。　Jack　was　on　top　of　the　sow；　stabbing　downward　with　his　knife。　Roger　found　a　lodgment　for　his　point　and　began　to　push　till　he　was　leaning　with　his　whole　weight　The　spear　moved　forward　inch　by　inch　and　die　terrified　squealing　became　a　high…pitched　scream。　Then　Jack　found　the　throat　and　the　hot　blood　spouted　over　his　hands。　The　sow　collapsed　under　them　and　they　were　heavy　and　fulfilled　upon　her。　The　butterflies　still　danced；　preoccupied　in　the　center　of　die　clearing。
　At　last　the　immediacy　of　the　kill　subsided。　The　boys　drew　back；　and　Jack　stood　up；　holding　out　his　hands。
　〃Look。〃
　He　giggled　and　flicked　them　while　the　boys　laughed　at　his　reeking　palms。　Then　Jack　grabbed　Maurice　and　rubbed　the　stuff　over　his　cheeks。　Roger　began　to　withdraw　his　spear　and　the　boys　noticed　it　for　the　first　time。　Robert　stabilized　the　thing　in　a　phrase　which　was　received　uproariously。
　〃Right　up　her　ass！〃
　〃Did　you　hear？〃
　〃Did　you　hear　what　he　said？〃
　〃Right　up　her　ass！〃
　This　time　Robert　and　Maurice　acted　the　two　parts；　and　Maurice's　acting　of　the　pig's　efforts　to　avoid　the　advancing　spear　was　so　funny　that　the　boys　cried　with　laughter。
　At　length　even　this　palled。　Jack　began　to　clean　his　bloody　hands　on　the　rock。　Then　he　started　work　on　the　sow　and　paunched　her；　lugging　out　the　hot　bags　of　colored　guts；　pushing　them　into　a　pile　on　the　rock　while　the　others　watched　him。　He　talked　as　he　worked。
　〃We'll　take　the　meat　along　the　beach。　I'll　go　back　to　the　platform　and　invite　them　to　a　feast　That　should　give　us　time。〃
　Roger　spoke。
　〃Chief…〃
　〃Uh…？〃
　〃How　can　we　make　a　fire？〃
　Jack　squatted　back　and　frowned　at　the　pig。
　〃We'll　raid　them　and　take　fire。　There　must　be　four　of　you；　Henry　and　you；　Bill　and　Maurice。　We'll　put　on　paint　and　sneak　up；　Roger　can　snatch　a　branch　while　I　say　what　I　want。　The　rest　of　you　can　get　this　back　to　where　we　were。　We'll　build　the　fire　there。　And　after　that…〃
　He　paused　and　stood　up；　looking　at　the　shadows　under　the　trees。　His　voice　was　lower　when　he　spoke　again。
　〃But　we'll　leave　part　of　the　kill　for　。。。〃
　He　knelt　down　again　and　was　busy　with　his　knife。　The　boys　crowded　round　him。　He　spoke　over　his　shoulder　to　Roger。
　〃Sharpen　a　stick　at　both　ends。〃
　Presently　he　stood　up；　holding　the　dripping　sow's　head　in　his　hands。
　〃Where's　that　stick？〃
　〃Here。〃
　〃Ram　one　end　in　the　earth。　Oh…it's　rock。　Jam　it　in　that　crack。　There。〃
　Jack　held　up　the　head　and　jammed　the　soft　throat　down　on　the　pointed　end　of　the　stick　which　pierced　through　into　the　mouth。　He　stood　back　and　the　head　hung　there；　a　little　blood　dribbling　down　the　stick。
　Instinctively　the　boys　drew　back　too；　and　the　forest　was　very　still。　They　listened；　and　the　loudest　noise　was　the　buzzing　of　flies　over　the　spilled　guts。
　Jack　spoke　in　a　whisper。
　''Pick　up　the　pig。〃
　Maurice　and　Robert　skewered　the　carcass；　lifted　the　dead　weight；　and　stood　ready。　In　the　silence；　and　standing　over　the　dry　blood；　they　looked　suddenly　furtive。
　Jack　spoke　loudly。
　〃This　head　is　for　the　beast。　It's　a　gift。〃
　The　silence　accepted　the　gift　and　awed　them。　The　head　remained　there；　dim…eyed；　grinning　faintly；　blood　blackening　between　the　teeth。　All　at　once　they　were　running　away；　as　fast　as　they　could；　through　the　forest　toward　the　open　beach。
　
　Simon　stayed　where　he　was；　a　small　brown　image；　concealed　by　the　leaves。　Even　if　he　shut　his　eyes　the　sow's　head　still　remained　like　an　after…image。　The　half…shut　eyes　were　dim　with　the　infinite　cynicism　of　adult　life。　They　assured　Simon　that　everything　was　a　bad　business。
　〃I　know　that。〃
　Simon　discovered　that　he　had　spoken　aloud。　He　opened　his　eyes　quickly　and　there　was　the　head　grinning　amusedly　in　the　strange　daylight；　ignoring　the　flies；　the　spilled　guts；　even　ignoring　the　indignity　of　being　spiked　on　a　stick。
　He　looked　away；　licking　his　dry　lips。
　A　gift　for　the　beast。　Might　not　the　beast　e　for　it？　The　head；　he　thought；　appeared　to　agree　with　him。　Run　away；　said　the　head　silently；　go　back　to　the　others。　It　was　a　joke　really…why　should　you　bother？　You　were　just　wrong；　that's　all。　A　little　headache；　something　you　ate；　perhaps。　Go　back；　child；　said　the　head　silently。
　Simon　looked　up；　feeling　the　weight　of　his　wet　hair；　and　gazed　at　the　sky。　Up　there；　for　once；　were　clouds；　great　bulging　towers　that　sprouted　away　over　the　island；　grey　and　cream　and　copper…colored。　The　clouds　were　sitting　on　the　land；　they　squeezed；　produced　moment　by　moment　this　close；　tormenting　heat。　Even　the　butterflies　deserted　the　open　space　where　the　obscene　thing　grinned　and　dripped。　Simon　lowered　his　head；　carefully　keeping　his　eyes　shut；　then　sheltered　them　with　his　hand。　There　were　no　shadows　under　the　trees　but　everywhere　a　pearly　stillness；　so　that　what　was　real　seemed　illusive　and　without　definition。　The　pile　of　guts　was　a　black　blob　of　flies　that　buzzed　like　a　saw。　After　a　while　these　flies　found　Simon。　Gorged；　they　alighted　by　his　runnels　of　sweat　and　drank。　They　tickled　under　his　nostrils　and　played　leap…frog　on　his　thighs。　They　were　black　and　iridescent　green　and　without　number；　and　in　front　of　Simon；　the　Lord　of　the　Flies　hung　on　his　stick　and　grinned。　At　last　Simon　gave　up　and　looked　back；　saw　the　white　teeth　and　dim　eyes；　the　blood…and　his　gaze　was　held　by　that　ancient；　inescapable　recognition。　In　Simon's　right　temple；　a　pulse　began　to　beat　on　the　brain。
　
　Ralph　and　Piggy　lay　in　the　sand；　gazing　at　the　fire　and　idly　flicking　pebbles　into　its　smokeless　heart。　
　〃That　branch　is　gone。〃
　〃Where's　Samneric？〃
　〃We　ought　to　get　some　more　wood。　We're　out　of　green　branches。〃
　Ralph　sighed　and　stood　up。　There　were　no　shadows　under　the　palms　on　the　platform；　only　this　strange　light　that　seemed　to　e　from　everywhere　at　once。　High　up　among　the　bulging　clouds　thunder　went　off　like　a　gun。
　〃We're　going　to　get　buckets　of　rain。〃
　〃What　about　the　fire？〃
　Ralph　trotted　into　the　forest　and　returned　with　a　wide　spray　of　green　which　he　dumped　on　the　fire。　The　branch　crackled；　the　leaves　curled　and　the　yellow　smoke　expanded。
　Piggy　made　an　aimless　little　pattern　in　the　sand　with　his　fingers。
　〃Trouble　is；　we　haven't　got　enough　people　for　a　fire。　You　got　to　treat　Samneric　as　one　turn。　They　do　everything　together…〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃Well；　that　isn't　fair。　Don't　you　see？　They　ought　to　do　two　turns。〃
　Ralph　considered　this　and　understood。　He　was　vexed　to　find　how　little　he　thought　like　a　grownup　and　sighed　again。　The　island　was　getting　worse　and　worse。
　Piggy　looked　at　the　fire。
　〃You'll　want　another　green　branch　soon。〃
　Ralph　rolled　over。
　〃Piggy。　What　are　we　going　to　do？〃
　〃Just　have　to　get　on　without　'em。〃
　〃But…the　fire。〃
　He　frowned　at　the　black　and　white　mess　in　which　lay　the　unburnt　ends　of　branches。　He　tried　to　formulate。
　〃I'm　scared。〃
　He　saw　Piggy　look　up；　and　blundered　on。
　〃Not　of　the　beast。　I　mean　I'm　scared　of　that　too。　But　nobody　else　understands　about　the　fire。　If　someone　threw　you　a　rope　when　you　were　drowning。　If　a　doctor　said　take　this　because　if　you　don't　take　it　you'll　die…you　would；　wouldn't　you？　I　mean？〃
　〃　'Course　I　would。〃
　〃Can't　they　see？　Can't　they　understand？　Without　the　smoke　signal　we'll　die　here？　Look　at　that！〃
　A　wave　of　heated　air　trembled　above　the　ashes　but　without　a　trace　of　smoke。
　〃We　can't　keep　one　fire　going。　And　they　don't　care。　And　what's　more…〃　He　looked　intensely　into　Piggy's　streaming　face。
　〃What's　more；　I　don't　sometimes。　Supposing　I　got　like　the　others…not　caring。　What　'ud　bee　of　us？〃
　Piggy　took　off　his　glasses；　deeply　troubled。
　〃I　dunno；　Ralph。　We　just　got　to　go　on；　that's　all。　That's　what　grownups　would　do。〃
　Ralph；　having　begun　the　business　of　unburdening　himself；　continued。
　〃Piggy；　what's　wrong？〃
　Piggy　looked　at　him　in　astonishment。
　〃Do　you　mean　the…？〃
　〃No；　not　it　。。。　I　mean　。　。　。　what　makes　things　break　up　like　they　do？〃
　Piggy　rubbed　his　glasses　slowly　and　thought。　When　he　understood　how　far　Ralph　had　gone　toward　accepting　him　he　flushed　pinkly　with　pride。
　〃I　dunno；　Ralph。　I　expect　it's　him。〃
　〃Jack？〃
　〃Jack。〃　A　taboo　was　evolving　round　that　word　too。
　Ralph　nodded　solemnly。　
　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　suppose　it　must　be。〃　
　The　forest　near　them　burst　into　uproar。　Demoniac　figures　with　faces　of　white　and　red　and　green　rushed　out　howling；　so　that　the　littluns　fled　screaming。　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Ralph　saw　Piggy　running。　Two　figures　rushed　at　the　fire　and　he　prepared　to　defend　himself　but　they　grabbed　half…burnt　branches　and　raced　away　along　the　beach。　The　three　others　stood　still；　watching　Ralph；　and　he　saw　that　the　tallest　of　them；　stark　naked　save　for　paint　and　a　belt；　was　Jack。
　Ralph　had　his　breath　back　and　spoke。
　〃Well？〃
　Jack　ignored　him；　lifted　his　spear　and　began　to　shout。　
　〃Listen　all　of　you。　Me　and　my　hunters；　we're　living　along　the　beach　by　a　flat　rock。　We　hunt　and　feast　and　have　fun。　If　you　want　to　join　my　tribe　e　and　see　us。　Perhaps　I'll　let　you　join。　Perhaps　not。〃
　He　paused　and　looked　round。　He　was　safe　from　shame　or　self…consciousness　behind　the　mask　of　his　paint　and　could　look　at　each　of　them　in　turn。　Ralph　was　kneeling　by　the　remains　of　the　fire　like　a　sprinter　at　his　mark　and　his　face　was　half…hidden　by　hair　and　smut。　Samneric　peered　together　round　a　palm　tree　at　the　edge　of　the　forest　A　littlun　howled；　creased　and　crimson；　by　the　bathing　pool　and　Piggy　stood　on　the　platform；　the　white　conch　gripped　in　his　hands。
　'〃Tonight　we're　having　a　feast　We've　killed　a　pig　and　we've　got　meat。　You　can　e　and　eat　with　us　if　you　like。〃
　Up　in　the　cloud　canyons　the　thunder　boomed　again。　Jack　and　the　two　anonymous　savages　with　him　swayed；　looking　up；　and　then　recovered。　The　littlun　went　on　howling。　Jack