wgolding.lordoftheflies-第26部分

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　〃Stop　it！〃　he　shouted。　〃D‘you　hear？〃
　Furiously　he　drove　the　water　into　Ralph's　face。
　〃All　right；　all　right；〃　said　Ralph。　〃Keep　your　hair　on。〃
　Piggy　stopped　beating　the　water。
　〃I　got　a　pain　in　my　head。　I　wish　the　air　was　cooler。〃
　〃I　wish　the　rain　would　e。〃
　〃I　wish　we　could　go　home。〃
　Piggy　lay　back　against　the　sloping　sand　side　of　the　pool。　His　stomach　protruded　and　the　water　dried　on　it　Ralph　squirted　up　at　the　sky。　One　could　guess　at　the　movement　of　the　sun　by　the　progress　of　a　light　patch　among　the　clouds。　He　knelt　in　the　water　and　looked　round。
　〃Where's　everybody？〃
　Piggy　sat　up。
　〃P‘raps　they're　lying　in　the　shelter。〃
　〃Where's　Samneric？〃
　〃And　Bill？〃
　Piggy　pointed　beyond　the　platform。　
　〃That's　where　they've　gone。　Jack's　parry。〃　
　〃Let　them　go；〃　said　Ralph；　uneasily；　〃I　don't　care。〃　
　〃Just　for　some　meat…〃
　〃And　for　hunting；〃　said　Ralph；　wisely；　〃and　for　pretending　to　be　a　tribe；　and　putting　on　war…paint。〃
　Piggy　stirred　the　sand　under　water　and　did　not　look　at　Ralph。
　〃P'raps　we　ought　to　go　too。〃　Ralph　looked　at　him　quickly　and　Piggy　blushed；　〃I　mean…to　make　sure　nothing　happens。〃　Ralph　squirted　water　again。
　
　Long　before　Ralph　and　Piggy　came　up　with　Jack's　lot；　they　could　hear　the　party。　There　was　a　stretch　of　grass　in　a　place　where　the　palms　left　a　wide　band　of　turf　between　the　forest　and　the　snore。　Just　one　step　down　from　the　edge　of　the　turf　was　the　white；　blown　sand　of　above　high　water；　warm；　dry；　trodden。　Below　that　again　was　a　rock　that　stretched　away　toward　the　lagoon。　Beyond　was　a　short　stretch　of　sand　and　then　the　edge　of　the　water。　A　fire　burned　on　the　rock　and　fat　dripped　from　the　roasting　pig…meat　into　the　invisible　flames。　All　the　boys　of　the　island；　except　Piggy；　Ralph；　Simon；　and　the　two　tending　the　pig；　were　grouped　on　the　turf。　They　were　laughing；　singing；　lying；　squatting；　or　standing　on　the　grass；　holding　food　in　their　hands。　But　to　judge　by　the　greasy　faces；　the　meat　eating　was　almost　done；　and　some　held　coconut　shells　in　their　hands　and　were　drinking　from　them。　Before　the　party　had　started　a　great　log　had　been　dragged　into　the　center　of　the　lawn　and　Jack；　painted　and　garlanded；　sat　there　like　an　idol。　There　were　piles　of　meat　on　green　leaves　near　him；　and　fruit；　and　coconut　shells　full　of　drink。
　Piggy　and　Ralph　came　to　the　edge　of　the　grassy　platform；　and　the　boys；　as　they　noticed　them；　fell　silent　one　by　one　till　only　the　boy　next　to　Jack　was　talking。　Then　the　silence　intruded　even　there　and　Jack　turned　where　he　sat　For　a　time　he　looked　at　them　and　the　crackle　of　the　fire　was　the　loudest　noise　over　the　droning　of　the　reef；　Ralph　looked　away；　and　Sam；　thinking　that　Ralph　had　turned　to　him　accusingly；　put　down　his　gnawed　bone　with　a　nervous　giggle。　Ralph　took　an　uncertain　step；　pointed　to　a　palm　tree；　and　whispered　something　inaudible　to　Piggy；　and　they　both　giggled　like　Sam。　Lifting　his　feet　high　out　of　the　sand；　Ralph　started　to　stroll　past。　Piggy　tried　to　whistle。
　At　this　moment　the　boys　who　were　cooking　at　the　fire　suddenly　hauled　off　a　great　chunk　of　meat　and　ran　with　it　toward　the　grass。　They　bumped　Piggy；　who　was　burnt；　and　yelled　and　danced。　Immediately；　Ralph　and　the　crowd　of　boys　were　united　and　relieved　by　a　storm　of　laughter。　Piggy　once　more　was　the　center　of　social　derision　so　that　everyone　felt　cheerful　and　normal。
　Jack　stood　up　and　waved　his　spear。
　〃Take　them　some　meat。〃
　The　boys　with　the　spit　gave　Ralph　and　Piggy　each　a　succulent　chunk。　They　took　the　gift；　dribbling。　So　they　stood　and　ate　beneath　a　sky　of　thunderous　brass　that　rang　with　the　storm…ing。
　Jack　waved　his　spear　again。　
　〃Has　everybody　eaten　as　much　as　they　want？〃
　There　was　still　food　left；　sizzling　on　the　wooden　spits；　heaped　on　the　green　platters。　Betrayed　by　his　stomach；　Piggy　threw　a　picked　bone　down　on　the　beach　and　stooped　for　more。
　Jack　spoke　again；　impatiently。　
　〃Has　everybody　eaten　as　much　as　they　want？〃
　His　tone　conveyed　a　warning；　given　out　of　the　pride　of　ownership；　and　the　boys　ate　faster　while　there　was　still　time。　Seeing　there　was　no　immediate　likelihood　of　a　pause。　Jack　rose　from　the　log　that　was　his　throne　and　sauntered　to　the　edge　of　the　grass。　He　looked　down　from　behind　his　paint　at　Ralph　and　Piggy。　They　moved　a　little　farther　off　over　the　sand　and　Ralph　watched　the　fire　as　he　ate。　He　noticed；　without　understanding；　how　the　flames　were　visible　now　against　the　dull　light。　Evening　was　e；　not　with　calm　beauty　but　with　the　threat　of　violence。
　Jack　spoke。
　〃Give　me　a　drink。〃
　Henry　brought　him　a　shell　and　he　drank；　watching　Piggy　and　Ralph　over　the　jagged　rim。。　Power　lay　in　the　brown　swell　of　his　forearms：　authority　sat　on　his　shoulder　and　chattered　in　his　ear　like　an　ape。
　〃All　sit　down。〃
　The　boys　ranged　themselves　in　rows　on　the　grass　before　him　but　Ralph　and　Piggy　stayed　a　foot　lower；　standing　on　the　soft　sand。　Jack　ignored　them　for　the　moment；　turned　his　mask　down　to　the　seated　boys　and　pointed　at　them　with　the　spear。
　〃Who　is　going　to　join　my　tribe？〃
　Ralph　made　a　sudden　movement　that　became　a　stumble。　Some　of　the　boys　turned　toward　him。
　〃I　gave　you　food；〃　said　Jack；　〃and　my　hunters　will　protect　you　from　the　beast。　Who　will　join　my　tribe？〃
　〃I'm　chief；〃　said　Ralph；　〃because　you　chose　me。　And　we　were　going　to　keep　the　fire　going。　Now　you　run　after　food…〃
　〃You　ran　yourself　！〃　shouted　Jack。　〃Look　at　that　bone　in　your　hands！〃
　Ralph　went　crimson。
　〃I　said　you　were　hunters。　That　was　your　job。〃
　Jack　ignored　him　again。
　〃Who'll　join　my　tribe　and　have　fun？〃
　I'm　chief；〃　said　Ralph　tremulously。　〃And　what　about　the　fire？　And　I've　got　the　conch…〃
　〃You　haven't　got　it　with　you；〃　said　Jack；　sneering。　〃You　left　it　behind。　See；　clever？　And　the　conch　doesn't　count　at　this　end　of　the　island…〃
　All　at　once　the　thunder　struck。　Instead　of　the　dull　boom　there　was　a　point　of　impact　in　the　explosion。
　〃The　conch　counts　here　too；〃　said　Ralph；　〃and　all　over　the　island。〃
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　about　it　then？〃
　Ralph　examined　the　ranks　of　boys。　There　was　no　help　in　them　and　he　looked　away；　confused　and　sweating。　Piggy　whispered。
　〃The　fire…rescue。〃
　〃Who'll　join　my　tribe？〃
　〃I　will。〃
　〃Me。〃
　〃I　will。〃
　〃I'll　blow　the　conch；〃　said　Ralph　breathlessly；　〃and　call　an　assembly。〃
　〃We　shan't　hear　it。〃
　〃e　away。　There's　going　to　be　trouble。　And　we've　had　our　meat。〃
　There　was　a　blink　of　bright　light　beyond　the　forest　and　the　thunder　exploded　again　so　that　a　littlun　started　to　whine。　Big　drops　of　rain　fell　among　them　making　individual　sounds　when　they　struck。
　〃Going　to　be　a　storm；〃　said　Ralph；　〃and　you'll　have　rain　like　when　we　dropped　here。　Who's　clever　now？　Where　are　your　shelters？　What　are　you　going　to　do　about　that？〃
　The　hunters　were　looking　uneasily　at　the　sky；　flinching　from　the　stroke　of　the　drops。　A　wave　of　restlessness　set　the　boys　swaying　and　moving　aimlessly。　The　flickering　light　became　brighter　and　the　blows　of　the　thunder　were　only　just　bearable。　The　littluns　began　to　run　about；　screaming。
　Jack　leapt　on　to　the　sand。
　〃Do　our　dance！　e　on！　Dance！〃
　He　ran　stumbling　through　the　thick　sand　to　the　open　space　of　rock　beyond　the　fire。　Between　the　flashes　of　lightning　the　air　was　dark　and　terrible；　and　the　boys　followed　him；　clamorously。　Roger　became　the　pig；　grunting　and　charging　at　Jack；　who　side…stepped。　The　hunters　took　their　spears；　the　cooks　took　spits；　and　the　rest　clubs　of　firewood；　A　circling　movement　developed　and　a　chant　While　Roger　mimed　the　terror　of　the　pig；　the　littluns　ran　and　jumped　OB　the　outside　of　the　circle。　Piggy　and　Ralph；　under　the　threat　of　the　sky；　found　themselves　eager　to　take　a　place　in　this　demented　but　partly　secure　society。　They　were　glad　to　touch　the　brown　backs　of　the　fence　that　hemmed　in　the　terror　and　made　it　governable。
　〃Kill　the　beast！　Cut　his　throat！　Spill　his　blood！〃
　The　movement　became　regular　while　the　chant　lost　its　first　superficial　excitement　and　began　to　beat　like　a　steady　pulse。　Roger　ceased　to　be　a　pig　and　became　a　hunter；　so　that　the　center　of　the　ring　yawned　emptily。　Some　of　the　littluns　started　a　ring　on　their　own；　and　the　plementary　circles　went　round　and　round　as　though　repetition　would　achieve　safety　of　itself。　There　was　tie　throb　and　stamp　of　a　single　organism。
　The　dark　sky　was　shattered　by　a　blue…white　scar。　An　instant　later　the　noise　was　on　them　like　the　blow　of　a　gigantic　whip。　The　chant　rose　a　tone　in　agony。
　〃Kill　the　beast！　Cut　his　throat！　Spill　his　blood！
　Now　out　of　the　terror　rose　another　desire；　thick；　urgent；　blind。
　〃Kill　the　beast！　Cut　his　throat！　Spill　his　blood！〃
　Again　the　blue…white　scar　Jagged　above　them　and　the　sulphurous　explosion　beat　down。　The　littluns　screamed　and　blundered　about；　fleeing　from　the　edge　of　the　forest；　and　one　of　them　broke　the　ring　of　biguns　in　his　terror。
　〃Him！　Him！〃
　The　circle　became　a　horseshoe。　A　thing　was　crawling　out　of　the　forest。　It　came　darkly；　uncertainly。　The　shrill　screaming　that　rose　before　the　beast　was　like　a　pain。　The　beast　stumbled　into　the　horseshoe。
　〃Kill　the　beast！　Cut　his　throat！　Spill　his　blood！〃
　The　blue…white　scar　was　constant；　the　noise　unendurable。　Simon　was　crying　out　something　about　a　dead　man　on　a　hill。
　〃Kill　the　beast！　Cut　his　throat！　Spill　his　blood！　Do　him　in！〃
　The　sticks　fell　and　the　mouth　of　the　new　circle　crunched　and　screamed。　The　beast　was　on　its　knees　in　the　center；　it's　arms　folded　over　its　face。　It　was　crying　out　against　the　abominable　noise　something　about　a　body　on　the　hill。　The　beast　struggled　forward；　broke　the　ring　and　fell　over　the　steep　edge　of　the　rock　to　the　sand　by　the　water。　At　once　the　crowd　surged　after　it；　poured　down　the　rock；　leapt　on　to　the　beast；　screamed；　struck；　bit；　tore。　There　were　no　words；　and　no　movements　but　the　tearing　of　teeth　and　claws。
　Then　the　clouds　opened　and　let　down　the　rain　like　a　waterfall。　The　water　bounded　from　the　mountain…top；　tore　leaves　and　branches　from　the　trees；　poured　like　a　cold　shower　over　the　straggling　heap　on　the　sand。　Presently　the　heap　broke　up　and　figures　staggered　away。　Only　the　beast　lay　still；　a　few　yards　from　the　sea。　Even　in　the　rain　they　could　see　how　small　a　beast　it　was；　and　already　its　blood　was　stain…log　the　sand。
　Now　a　great　wind　blew　the　rain　sideways；　cascading　the　water　from　the　forest　trees。　On　the　mountain…top　the　parachute　filled　and　moved；　the　figure　slid；　rose　to　its　feet；　spun；　swayed　down　through　a　vastness　of　wet　air　and　trod　with　ungainly　feet　the　tops　of　the　high　trees；　falling；　still　falling；　it　sank　toward　the　beach　and　the　boys　rushed　screaming　into　the　darkness。　The　parachute　took　the　figure　forward；　furrowing　the　lagoon；　and　bumped　it　over　the　reef　and　out　to　sea。
　Toward　midnight　the　rain　ceased　and　the　clouds　drifted　away；　so　that　the　sky　was　scattered　once　more　with　the　incredible　lamps　of　stars。　Then　the　breeze　died　too　and　there　was　no　noise　save　the　drip　and　trickle　of　water　that　ran　out　of　clefts　and　spilled　down；　leaf　by　leaf；　to　the　brown　earth　of　the　island。　The　air　was　cool；　moist；　and　clear；　and　presently　even　the　sound　of　the　water　was　still。　The　beast　lay　huddled　on　the　pale　beach　and　the　stains　spread；　inch　by　inch。
　The　edge　of　the　lagoon　became　a　streak　of　phosphorescence　which　advanced　minutely；　as　the　great　wave　of　th