wgolding.lordoftheflies-第25部分

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　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　was　waiting　for　something。　He　whispered　urgently　to　the　others。
　〃Go　on…now！〃
　The　two　savages　murmured。　Jack　spoke　sharply。
　〃Go　on！〃　The　two　savages　looked　at　each　other；　raised　their　spears　together　and　spoke　in　time。
　〃The　Chief　has　spoken。〃
　Then　the　three　of　them　turned　and　trotted　away。
　Presently　Ralph　rose　to　his　feet；　looking　at　the　place　where　the　savages　had　vanished。　Samneric　came；　talking　in　an　awed　whisper。
　〃I　thought　it　was…〃
　〃…and　I　was…〃
　〃…scared。〃
　Piggy　stood　above　them　on　the　platform；　still　holding　the　conch。
　〃That　was　Jack　and　Maurice　and　Robert；〃　said　Ralph。　〃Aren't　they　having　fun？〃
　〃I　thought　I　was　going　to　have　asthma。〃
　〃Sucks　to　your　ass…mar。〃
　〃When　I　saw　Jack　I　was　sure　he'd　go　for　the　conch。　Can't　think　why。〃
　The　group　of　boys　looked　at　the　white　shell　with　affectionate　respect。　Piggy　placed　it　in　Ralph's　hands　and　the　littluns；　seeing　the　familiar　symbol；　started　to　e　back。
　〃Not　here。〃
　He　turned　toward　the　platform；　feeling　the　need　for　ritual。　First　went　Ralph；　the　white　conch　cradled；　then　Piggy　very　grave；　then　the　twins；　then　the　littluns　and　the　others。
　〃Sit　down　all　of　you。　They　raided　us　for　fire。　They're　having　fun。　But　the…〃
　Ralph　was　puzzled　by　the　shutter　that　flickered　in　his　brain。　There　was　something　he　wanted　to　say；　then　the　shutter　had　e　down。
　〃But　the…〃
　They　were　regarding　him　gravely；　not　yet　troubled　by　any　doubts　about　his　sufficiency。　Ralph　pushed　the　idiot　hair　out　of　his　eyes　and　looked　at　Piggy。
　〃But　the　。。。　oh　。。。　the　fire！　　Of　course；　　the　　fire！〃
　He　started　to　laugh；　then　stopped　and　became　fluent　instead。
　〃The　fire's　the　most　important　thing。　Without　the　fire　we　can't　be　rescued。　I'd　like　to　put　on　war…paint　and　be　a　savage。　But　we　must　keep　the　fire　burning。　The　fire's　the　most　important　thing　on　the　island；　because；　because…〃
　He　paused　again　and　the　silence　became　full　of　doubt　and　wonder。
　Piggy　whispered　urgently。　〃Rescue。〃
　〃Oh　yes。　Without　the　fire　we　can't　be　rescued。　So　we　must　stay　by　the　fire　and　make　smoke。〃
　When　he　stopped　no　one　said　anything。　After　the　many　brilliant　　　speeches　　　that　　　had　　　been　　　made　　　on　　　this　　　very　spot　Ralph　s　remarks　seemed　lame；　even　to　the　littluns。　At　last　Bill　held　out　his　hands　for　the　conch。　〃Now　we　can't　have　the　fire　up　there…because　we　can't　have　the　fire　up　there…we　need　more　people　to　keep　it　going。　Let's　go　to　this　feast　and　tell　them　the　fire's　hard　on　the　rest　of　us。　And　the　hunting　and　all　that；　being　savages　I　mean…it　must　be　jolly　good　fun。〃
　Samneric　took　the　conch。
　〃That　must　be　fun　like　Bill　says…and　as　he's　invited　us…〃
　〃…to　a　feast…〃
　〃…meat…〃　
　〃…crackling…〃
　〃…I　could　do　with　some　meat…〃
　Ralph　held　up　his　hand。
　〃Why　shouldn't　we　get　our　own　meat？〃
　The　twins　looked　at　each　other。　Bill　answered。
　〃We　don't　want　to　go　in　the　jungle。〃
　Ralph　grimaced。
　〃He…you　know…goes。〃
　〃He's　a　hunter。　They're　all　hunters。　That's　different。〃
　No　one　spoke　for　a　moment；　then　Piggy　muttered　to　the　sand。
　〃Meat…〃
　The　littluns　sat；　solemnly　thinking　of　meat；　and　dribbling。　Overhead　the　cannon　boomed　again　and　the　dry　palm　fronds　clattered　in　a　sudden　gust　of　hot　wind。
　
　〃You　are　a　silly　little　boy；〃　said　the　Lord　of　the　Flies；　〃just　an　ignorant；　silly　little　boy。〃
　Simon　moved　his　swollen　tongue　but　said　nothing。
　〃Don't　you　agree？〃　said　the　Lord　of　the　Flies。　〃Aren't　you　just　a　silly　little　boy？〃
　Simon　answered　him　in　the　same　silent　voice。
　〃Well　then；〃　said　the　Lord　of　the　Flies；　〃you'd　better　run　off　and　play　with　the　others。　They　think　you're　batty。　You　don't　want　Ralph　to　think　you're　batty；　do　you？　You　like　Ralph　a　lot；　don't　you？　And　Piggy；　and　Jack？〃
　Simon's　head　was　tilted　slightly　up。　His　eyes　could　not　break　away　and　the　Lord　of　the　Flies　hung　in　space　before　him。
　〃What　are　you　doing　out　here　all　alone？　Aren't　you　afraid　of　me？〃
　Simon　shook。
　〃There　isn't　anyone　to　help　you。　Only　me。　And　I'm　the　Beast。〃
　Simon's　mouth　labored；　brought　forth　audible　words。
　〃Pig's　head　on　a　stick。〃
　〃Fancy　thinking　the　Beast　was　something　you　could　hunt　and　kill！〃　said　the　head。　For　a　moment　or　two　the　forest　and　all　the　other　dimly　appreciated　places　echoed　with　the　parody　of　laughter。　〃You　knew；　didn't　you？　I'm　part　of　you？　Close；　close；　close！　I'm　the　reason　why　it's　no　go？　Why　things　are　what　they　are？〃
　The　laughter　shivered　again。
　〃e　now；〃　said　the　Lord　of　the　Flies。　〃Get　back　to　the　others　and　we'll　forget　the　whole　thing。〃
　Simon's　head　wobbled。　His　eyes　were　half　closed　as　though　he　were　imitating　the　obscene　thing　on　the　stick。　He　knew　that　one　of　his　times　was　ing　on。　The　Lord　of　the　Flies　was　expanding　like　a　balloon。
　〃This　is　ridiculous。　You　know　perfectly　well　you'll　only　meet　me　down　there…so　don't　try　to　escape！〃
　Simon's　body　was　arched　and　stiff。　The　Lord　of　the　Flies　spoke　in　the　voice　of　a　schoolmaster。
　〃This　has　gone　quite　far　enough。　My　poor；　misguided　child；　do　you　think　you　know　better　than　I　do？〃
　There　was　a　pause。
　〃I'm　warning　you。　I'm　going　to　get　angry。　D'you　see？　You're　not　wanted。　Understand？　We　are　going　to　have　fun　on　this　island。　Understand？　We　are　going　to　have　fun　on　this　island！　So　don't　try　it　on；　my　poor　misguided　boy；　or　else…〃
　Simon　found　he　was　looking　into　a　vast　mouth。　There　was　blackness　within；　a　blackness　that　spread。
　〃…Or　else；〃　said　the　Lord　of　the　Flies；　〃we　shall　do　you。　See？　Jack　and　Roger　and　Maurice　and　Robert　and　Bill　and　Piggy　and　Ralph。　Do　you。　See？〃
　Simon　was　inside　the　mouth。　He　fell　down　and　lost　consciousness。
　
　
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　NINE
　A　View　to　a　Death
　
　Over　the　island　the　build…up　of　clouds　continued。　A　steady　current　of　heated　air　rose　all　day　from　the　mountain　and　was　thrust　to　ten　thousand　feet；　revolving　masses　of　gas　piled　up　the　static　until　the　air　was　ready　to　explode。　By　early　evening　the　sun　had　gone　and　a　brassy　glare　had　taken　the　place　of　clear　daylight。　Even　the　air　that　pushed　in　from　the　sea　was　hot　ana　held　no　refreshment。　Colors　drained　from　water　and　trees　and　pink　surfaces　of　rock；　and　the　white　and　brown　clouds　brooded；　Nothing　prospered　but　the　flies　who　blackened　their　lord　and　made　the　spilt　guts　look　like　a　heap　of　glistening　coal　Even　when　the　vessel　broke　in　Simon's　nose　and　the　blood　gushed　out　they　left　him　alone；　preferring　the　pig's　high　flavor。
　With　the　running　of　the　blood　Simon's　fit　passed　into　the　weariness　of　sleep。　He　lay　in　the　mat　of　creepers　while　the　evening　advanced　and　the　cannon　continued　to　play。　At　last　he　woke　and　saw　dimly　the　dark　earth　close　by　his　cheek。　Still　he　did　not　move　but　lay　there；　his　face　side…ways　on　the　earth；　his　eyes　looking　dully　before　him。　Then　he　turned　over；　drew　his　feet　under　him　and　laid　hold　of　the　creepers　to　pull　himself　up。　When　the　creepers　shook　the　flies　exploded　from　the　guts　with　a　vicious　note　and　clamped　back　on　again。　Simon　got　to　his　feet。　The　light　was　unearthly。　The　Lord　of　the　Flies　hung　on　his　stick　like　a　black　ball。
　Simon　spoke　aloud　to　the　clearing。
　〃What　else　is　there　to　do？〃
　Nothing　replied。　Simon　turned　away　from　the　open　space　and　crawled　through　the　creepers　till　he　was　in　the　dusk　of　the　forest。　He　walked　drearily　between　the　trunks；　his　face　empty　of　expression；　and　the　blood　was　dry　round　his　mouth　and　chin。　Only　sometimes　as　he　lifted　the　ropes　of　creeper　aside　and　chose　his　direction　from　the　trend　of　the　land；　he　mouthed　words　that　did　not　reach　the　air。
　Presently　the　creepers　festooned　the　trees　less　frequently　and　there　was　a　scatter　of　pearly　light　from　the　sky　down　through　the　trees。　This　was　the　backbone　of　the　island；　the　slightly　higher　land　that　lay　beneath　the　mountain　where　the　forest　was　no　longer　deep　Jungle。　Here　there　were　wide　spaces　interspersed　with　thickets　and　huge　trees　and　the　trend　of　the　ground　led　him　up　as　the　forest　opened。　He　pushed　on；　staggering　sometimes　with　his　weariness　but　never　stopping。　The　usual　brightness　was　gone　from　his　eyes　and　he　walked　with　a　sort　of　glum　determination　like　an　old　man。
　A　buffet　of　wind　made　him　stagger　and　he　saw　that　he　was　out　in　the　open；　on　rock；　under　a　brassy　sky。　He　found　his　legs　were　weak　and　his　tongue　gave　him　pain　all　the　time。　When　the　wind　reached　the　mountain…top　he　could　see　something　happen；　a　flicker　of　blue　stuff　against　brown　clouds。　He　pushed　himself　forward　and　the　wind　came　again；　stronger　now；　cuffing　the　forest　heads　till　they　ducked　and　roared。　Simon　saw　a　humped　thing　suddenly　sit　up　on　the　top　and　look　down　at　him。　He　hid　his　face；　and　toiled　on。
　The　flies　had　found　the　figure　too。　The　life…like　movement　would　scare　them　off　for　a　moment　so　that　they　made　a　dark　cloud　round　the　head。　Then　as　the　blue　material　of　the　parachute　collapsed　the　corpulent　figure　would　bow　forward；　sighing；　and　the　flies　settle　once　more。
　Simon　felt　his　knees　smack　the　rock。　He　crawled　forward　and　soon　he　understood。　The　tangle　of　lines　showed　him　the　mechanics　of　this　parody；　he　examined　the　white　nasal　bones；　the　teeth；　the　colors　of　corruption。　He　saw　how　pitilessly　the　layers　of　rubber　and　canvas　held　together　the　poor　body　that　should　be　rotting　away。　Then　the　wind　blew　again　and　the　figure　lifted；　bowed；　and　breathed　foully　at　him。　Simon　knelt　on　all　fours　and　was　sick　till　his　stomach　was　empty。　Then　he　took　the　lines　in　his　hands；　he　freed　them　from　the　rocks　and　the　figure　from　the　wind's　indignity。
　At　last　he　turned　away　and　looked　down　at　the　beaches。　The　fire　by　the　platform　appeared　to　be　out；　or　at　least　making　no　smoke。　Further　along　the　beach；　beyond　the　little　river　and　near　a　great　slab　of　rock；　a　thin　trickle　of　smoke　was　climbing　into　the　sky。　Simon；　forgetful　of　the　lies；　shaded　his　eyes　with　both　hands　and　peered　at　the　smoke。　Even　at　that　distance　it　was　possible　to　see　most　of　the　boys…perhaps　all　the　boys…were　there。　So　they　had　shifted　camp　then；　away　from　the　beast。　As　Simon　thought　this；　he　turned　to　the　poor　broken　thing　that　sat　stinking　by　his　side。　The　beast　was　harmless　and　horrible；　and　the　news　must　reach　the　others　as　soon　as　possible。　He　started　down　the　mountain　and　his　legs　gave　beneath　him。　Even　with　great　care　the　best　he　could　do　was　a　stagger。
　
　〃Bathing；〃　said　Ralph；　〃that's　the　only　thing　to　do。〃
　Piggy　was　inspecting　the　looming　sky　through　his　glass。
　〃I　don't　like　them　clouds。　Remember　how　it　rained　just　after　we　landed？〃
　〃Going　to　rain　again。〃
　Ralph　dived　into　the　pool。　A　couple　of　littluns　were　playing　at　the　edge；　trying　to　extract　fort　from　a　wetness　warmer　than　blood。　Piggy　took　off　his　glasses；　stepped　primly　into　the　water　and　then　put　them　on　again。　Ralph　came　to　the　surface　and　squirted　a　jet　of　water　at　him。
　〃Mind　my　specs；〃　said　Piggy。　〃If　I　get　water　on　the　glass　I　got　to　get　out　and　clean　'em。〃
　Ralph　squirted　again　and　missed。　He　laughed　at　Piggys　expecting　him　to　retire　meekly　as　usual　and　in　pained　silence。　Instead；　Piggy　beat　the　water　with　his　hands。
　〃Stop　it！〃　he　shouted。　〃D‘you　hear？〃
　Furiously　he　drove　the　water　into　Ralph's　face。
　〃All　right；　a