wgolding.lordoftheflies-第30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！


　〃Am　I　safe？〃　quavered　Piggy。　〃I　feel　awful…〃
　High　above　them　from　the　pinnacles　came　a　sudden　shout　and　then　an　imitation　war…cry　that　was　answered　by　a　dozen　voices　from　behind　the　rock。
　〃Give　me　the　conch　and　stay　still。〃
　〃Halt！　Who　goes　there？〃
　Ralph　bent　back　his　head　and　glimpsed　Roger's　dark　face　at　the　top。
　〃You　can　see　who　I　am！〃　he　shouted。　〃Stop　being　silly！〃
　He　put　the　conch　to　his　lips　and　began　to　blow。　Savages　appeared；　painted　out　of　recognition；　edging　round　the　ledge　toward　the　neck。　They　carried　spears　and　disposed　themselves　to　defend　the　entrance。　Ralph　went　on　blowing　and　ignored　Piggy's　terrors。
　Roger　was　shouting。
　〃You　mind　out…see？〃
　At　length　Ralph　took　his　lips　away　and　paused　to　get　his　breath　back。　His　first　words　were　a　gasp；　but　audible。
　〃…calling　an　assembly。〃
　The　savages　guarding　the　neck　muttered　among　themselves　but　made　no　motion。　Ralph　walked　forwards　a　couple　of　steps。　A　voice　whispered　urgently　behind　him。
　〃Don't　leave　me；　Ralph。〃
　〃You　kneel　down；〃　said　Ralph　sideways；　〃and　wait　till　I　e　back。〃
　He　stood　halfway　along　the　neck　and　gazed　at　the　savages　intently。　Freed　by　the　paint；　they　had　tied　their　hair　back　and　were　more　fortable　than　he　was。　Ralph　made　a　resolution　to　tie　his　own　back　afterwards。　Indeed　he　felt　Eke　telling　them　to　wait　and　doing　it　there　and　then；　but　that　was　impossible。　The　savages　sniggered　a　bit　and　one　gestured　at　Ralph　with　his　spear。　High　above；　Roger　took　his　hands　off　the　lever　and　leaned　out　to　see　what　was　going　on。　The　boys　on　the　neck　stood　in　a　pool　of　their　own　shadow；　diminished　to　shaggy　heads。　Piggy　crouched；　his　back　shapeless　as　a　sack。
　〃I'm　calling　an　assembly。〃
　Silence。
　Roger　took　up　a　small　stone　and　flung　it　between　the　twins；　aiming　to　miss。　They　started　and　Sam　only　just　kept　his　footing。　Some　source　of　power　began　to　pulse　in　Roger's　body。
　Ralph　spoke　again；　loudly。
　〃I'm　calling　an　assembly。〃
　He　ran　his　eye　over　them。
　〃Where's　Jack？〃
　The　group　of　boys　stirred　and　consulted。　A　painted　face　spoke　with　the　voice　of　Robert。
　〃He's　hunting。　And　he　said　we　weren't　to　let　you　in。〃
　〃I've　e　to　see　about　the　fire；〃　said　Ralph；　〃and　about　Piggy's　specs。〃
　The　group　in　front　of　him　shifted　and　laughter　shivered　outwards　from　among　them；　light；　excited　laughter　that　went　echoing　among　the　tall　rocks。
　A　voice　spoke　from　behind　Ralph。
　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　The　twins　made　a　bolt　past　Ralph　and　got　between　him　and　the　entry。　He　turned　quickly。　Jack；　identifiable　by　personality　and　red　hair；　was　advancing　from　the　forest　A　hunter　crouched　on　either　side。　All　three　were　masked　in　black　and　green。　Behind　them　on　the　grass　the　headless　and　paunched　body　of　a　sow　lay　where　they　had　dropped　it。
　Piggy　wailed。
　〃Ralph！　Don't　leave　me！〃
　With　ludicrous　care　he　embraced　the　rock；　pressing　himself　to　it　above　the　sucking　sea。　The　sniggering　of　the　savages　became　a　loud　derisive　jeer。
　Jack　shouted　above　the　noise。
　〃You　go　away；　Ralph。　You　keep　to　your　end。　This　is　my　end　and　my　tribe。　You　leave　me　alone。〃
　The　jeering　died　away。
　〃You　pinched　Piggy‘s　specs；〃　said　Ralph；　breathlessly。　〃You've　got　to　give　them　back。〃
　〃Got　to？　Who　says？〃
　Ralph's　temper　blazed　out。
　〃I　say！　You　voted　for　me　for　chief。　Didn't　you　hear　the　conch？　You　played　a　dirty　trick…we'd　have　given　you　fire　if　you'd　asked　for　it…〃
　The　blood　was　flowing　in　his　cheeks　and　the　bunged…up　eye　throbbed。
　〃You　could　have　had　fire　whenever　you　wanted。　But　you　didn't。　You　came　sneaking　up　like　a　thief　and　stole　Piggy's　glasses！〃　
　〃Say　that　again！〃
　〃Thief！　Thief！〃
　Piggy　screamed。
　〃Ralph！　Mind　me！〃
　Jack　made　a　rush　and　stabbed　at　Ralph's　chest　with　his　spear。　Ralph　sensed　the　position　of　the　weapon　from　the　glimpse　he　caught　of　Jack's　arm　and　put　the　thrust　aside　with　his　own　butt。　Then　he　brought　the　end　round　and　caught　Jack　a　stinger　across　the　ear。　They　were　chest　to　chest；　breathing　fiercely；　pushing　and　glaring。
　〃Who's　a　thief？〃
　〃You　are！〃
　Jack　wrenched　free　and　swung　at　Ralph　with　his　spear。　By　mon　consent　they　were　using　the　spears　as　sabers　now；　no　longer　daring　the　lethal　points。　The　blow　struck　Ralph's　spear　and　slid　down；　to　fall　agonizingly　on　his　fingers。　Then　they　were　apart　once　more；　their　positions　reversed；　Jack　toward　the　Castle　Rock　and　Ralph　on　the　outside　toward　the　island。
　Both　boys　were　breathing　very　heavily。
　〃e　on　then…〃
　〃e　on…〃
　Truculently　they　squared　up　to　each　other　but　kept　just　out　of　fighting　distance。
　〃You　e　on　and　see　what　you　get！〃
　〃You　e　on…〃
　Piggy　clutching　the　ground　was　trying　to　attract　Ralph's　attention。　Ralph　moved；　bent　down；　kept　a　wary　eye　on　Jack。
　〃Ralph…remember　what　we　came　for。　The　fire。　My　specs。〃
　Ralph　nodded。　He　relaxed　his　fighting　muscles；　stood　easily　and　grounded　the　butt　of　his　spear　Jack　watched　him　inscrutably　through　his　paint。　Ralph　glanced　up　at　the　pinnacles；　then　toward　the　group　of　savages
　〃Listen。　We've　e　to　say　this。　First　you've　got　to　give　back　Piggy's　specs。　If　he　hasn't　got　them　he　can't　see　You　aren't　playing　the　game…〃
　The　tribe　of　painted　savages　giggled　and　Ralph's　mind　faltered。　He　pushed　his　hair　up　and　gazed　at　the　green　and　black　mask　before　him；　trying　to　remember　what　Jack　looked　like。
　Piggy　whispered。
　〃And　the　fire。〃
　〃Oh　yes。　Then　about　the　fire。　I　say　this　again。　I've　been　saying　it　ever　since　we　dropped　in。〃
　He　held　out　his　spear　and　pointed　at　the　savages。
　〃Your　only　hope　is　keeping　a　signal　fire　going　as　long　as　there's　light　to　see。　Then　maybe　a　ship‘ll　notice　the　smoke　and　e　and　rescue　us　and　take　us　home。　But　without　that　smoke　we've　got　to　wait　till　some　ship　es　by　accident。　We　might　wait　years；　till　we　were　old…〃
　The　shivering；　silvery；　unreal　laughter　of　the　savages　sprayed　out　and　echoed　away。　A　gust　of　rage　shook　Ralph　His　voice　cracked。
　〃Don't　you　understand；　you　painted　fools？　Sam；　Eric；　Piggy　and　me…we　aren't　enough。　We　tried　to　keep　the　fire　going；　but　we　couldn't。　And　then　you；　playing　at　hunting。　。　。　。〃
　He　pointed　past　them　to　where　the　trickle　of　smoke　dispersed　in　the　pearly　air。
　〃Look　at　that！　Call　that　a　signal　fire？　That's　a　cooking　fire　Now　you'll　eat　and　there'll　be　no　smoke。　Don't　you　understand？　There　may　be　a　ship　out　there…〃
　He　paused；　defeated　by　the　silence　and　the　painted　anonymity　of　the　group　guarding　the　entry。　Jack　opened　a　pink　mouth　and　addressed　Samneric；　who　were　between　him　and　his　tribe。
　〃You　two。　Get　back。〃
　No　one　answered　him。　The　twins；　puzzled；　looked　at　each　Other；　while　Piggy；　reassured　by　the　cessation　of　violence；　stood　up　carefully。　Jack　glanced　back　at　Ralph　and　then　at　the　twins。
　〃Grab　them！〃
　No　one　moved。　Jack　shouted　angrily。
　〃I　said　'grab　them'！〃
　The　painted　group　moved　round　Samneric　nervously　and　unhandily。　Once　more　the　silvery　laughter　scattered。
　Samneric　protested　out　of　the　heart　of　civilization。
　〃Oh；　I　say！〃
　〃…honestly！〃
　Their　spears　were　taken　from　them。
　〃Tie　them　up！〃
　Ralph　cried　out　hopelessly　against　the　black　and　green　mask。
　〃Jack！〃
　〃Go　on。　Tie　them。〃
　Now　the　painted　group　felt　the　otherness　of　Samneric；　felt　the　power　in　their　own　hands。　They　felled　the　twins　clumsily　and　excitedly。　Jack　was　inspired。　He　knew　that　Ralph　would　attempt　a　rescue。　He　struck　in　a　humming　circle　behind　him　and　Ralph　only　just　parried　the　blow。　Beyond　them　the　tribe　and　the　twins　were　a　loud　and　writhing　heap。　Piggy　crouched　again。　Then　the　twins　lay；　astonished；　and　the　tribe　stood　round　them。　Jack　turned　to　Ralph　and　spoke　between　his　teeth。
　〃See？　They　do　what　I　want。〃
　There　was　silence　again。　The　twins　lay；　inexpertly　tied　up；　and　the　tribe　watched　Ralph　to　see　what　he　would　do。　He　numbered　them　through　his　fringe；　glimpsed　the　ineffectual　smoke。
　His　temper　broke。　He　screamed　at　Jack。
　〃You're　a　beast　and　a　swine　and　a　bloody；　bloody　thief！〃
　He　charged。
　Jack；　knowing　this　was　the　crisis；　charged　too。　They　met　with　a　jolt　and　bounced　apart。　Jack　swung　with　his　fist　at　Ralph　and　aught　him　on　the　ear。　Ralph　hit　Jack　in　the　stomach　and　made　him　grunt。　Then　they　were　facing　each　other　again；　panting　and　furious；　but　unnerved　by　each　other's　ferocity。　They　became　aware　of　the　noise　that　was　the　background　to　this　fight；　the　steady　shrill　cheering　of　the　tribe　behind　them。
　Piggy's　voice　penetrated　to　Ralph。
　〃Let　me　speak。〃
　He　was　standing　in　the　dust　of　the　fight；　and　as　the　tribe　saw　his　intention　the　shrill　cheer　changed　to　a　steady　booing。
　Piggy　held　up　the　conch　and　the　booing　sagged　a　little；　then　came　up　again　to　strength。
　〃I　got　the　conch！〃
　He　shouted。
　〃I　tell　you；　I　got　the　conch！〃
　Surprisingly；　there　was　silence　now；　the　tribe　were　curious　to　hear　what　amusing　thing　he　might　have　to　say。
　Silence　and　pause；　but　in　the　silence　a　curious　air…noise；　close　by　Ralphs　head。　He　give　it　half　his　attention…and　there　it　was　again；　a　faint　〃Zup！〃　Someone　was　throwing　stones：　Roger　was　dropping　them；　his　one　hand　still　on　the　lever。　Below　him；　Ralph　was　a　shock　of　hair　and　Piggy　a　bag　of　fat。
　〃I　got　this　to　say。　You're　acting　like　a　crowd　of　lads。〃
　The　booing　rose　and　died　again　as　Piggy　lifted　the　white；　magic　shell。
　〃Which　is　better…to　be　a　pack　of　painted　Indians　like　you　are；　or　to　be　sensible　like　Ralph　is？〃
　A　great　clamor　rose　among　the　savages。　Piggy　shouted　again。
　〃Which　is　better…to　have　rules　and　agree；　or　to　hunt　and　kill？〃
　Again　the　clamor　and　again〃Zup！〃
　Ralph　shouted　against　the　noise。
　〃Which　is　better；　law　and　rescue；　or　hunting　and　breaking　things　up？〃
　Now　Jack　was　veiling　too　and　Ralph　could　no　longer　make　himself　heard。　Jack　had　backed　right　against　the　tribe　and　they　were　a　solid　mass　of　menace　that　bristled　with　spears。　The　intention　of　a　charge　was　forming　among　them；　they　were　working　up　to　it　and　the　neck　would　be　swept　clear。　Ralph　stood　facing　them；　a　little　to　one　side；　his　spear　ready。　By　him　stood　Piggy　still　holding　out　the　talisman；　the　fragile；　shining　beauty　of　the　shell。　The　storm　of　sound　beat　at　them；　an　incantation　of　hatred。　High　overhead；　Roger；　with　a　sense　of　delirious　abandonment；　leaned　all　his　weight　on　the　lever。
　Ralph　heard　the　great　rock　long　before　he　saw　it。　He　was　aware　of　a　jolt　in　the　earth　that　came　to　him　through　the　soles　of　his　feet；　and　the　breaking　sound　of　stones　at　the　top　of　the　cliff。　Then　the　monstrous　red　thing；　bounded　across　the　neck　and　he　flung　himself　fiat　while　the　tribe　shrieked。
　The　rock　struck　Piggy　a　glancing　blow　from　chin　to　knee；　the　conch　exploded　into　a　thousand　white　fragments　and　ceased　to　exist。　Piggy；　saying　nothing；　with　no　time　for　even　a　grunt；　traveled　through　the　air　sideways　from　the　rock；　turning　over　as　he　went。　The　rock　bounded　twice　and　was　lost　in　the　forest。　Piggy　fell　forty　feet　and　landed　on　his　back　across　that　square　red　rock　in　the　sea。　His　head　opened　and　stuff　came　out　and　turned　red。　Piggy's　arms　and　legs　twitched　a　bit；　like　a　pig's　after　it　has　been　killed。　Then　the　sea　breathed　again　in　a　long；　slow　sigh；　the　water　boiled　white　and　pink　over　the　rock；　and　when　it　went；　sucking　back　again；　the　body　of　Piggy　was　gone。
　This　time　the　silence　was　plete。　Ralph's　lips　formed　a　word　but　no　sound　came。
　S