wgolding.lordoftheflies-第31部分

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　This　time　the　silence　was　plete。　Ralph's　lips　formed　a　word　but　no　sound　came。
　Suddenly　Jack　bounded　out　from　the　tribe　and　began　screaming　wildly。
　〃See？　See？　That's　what　you'll　get！　I　meant　that！　There　isn't　a　tribe　for　you　any　morel　The　conch　is　gone…〃
　He　ran　forward；　stooping。
　〃I'm　chief！〃
　Viciously；　with　full　intention；　he　hurled　his　spear　at　Ralph。　The　point　tore　the　skin　and　flesh　over　Ralph's　ribs；　then　sheared　off　and　fell　in　the　water。　Ralph　stumbled；　feeling　not　pain　but　panic；　and　the　tribe；　screaming　now　like　the　chief；　began　to　advance。　Another　spear；　a　bent　one　that　would　not　fly　straight；　went　past　his　face　and　one　fell　from　on　high　where　Roger　was。　The　twins　lay　hidden　behind　the　tribe　and　the　anonymous　devils'　faces　swarmed　across　the　neck。　Ralph　turned　and　ran。　A　great　noise　as　of　sea　gulls　rose　behind　him。　He　obeyed　an　instinct　that　he　did　not　know　he　possessed　and　swerved　over　the　open　space　so　that　the　spears　went　wide。　He　saw　the　headless　body　of　the　sow　and　jumped　in　time。　Then　he　was　crashing　through　foliage　and　small　boughs　and　was　hidden　by　the　forest。
　The　chief　stopped　by　the　pig；　turned　and　held　up　his　hands。
　〃Back！　Back　to　the　fort！〃
　Presently　the　tribe　returned　noisily　to　the　neck　where　Roger　joined　them。
　The　chief　spoke　to　him　angrily。
　〃Why　aren't　you　on　watch？〃
　Roger　looked　at　him　gravely。
　〃I　just　came　down…〃
　The　hangman's　horror　clung　round　him。　The　chief　said　no　more　to　him　but　looked　down　at　Samneric。　
　〃You　got　to　join　the　tribe。〃　
　〃You　lemme　go…〃
　〃…and　me。〃
　The　chief　snatched　one　of　the　few　spears　that　were　left　and　poked　Sam　in　the　ribs。
　〃What　d'you　mean　by　it；　eh？〃　said　the　chief　fiercely；　〃What　d'you　mean　by　ing　with　spears？　What　d'you　mean　by　not　joining　my　tribe？〃
　The　prodding　became　rhythmic。　Sam　yelled。
　〃That's　not　the　way。〃
　Roger　edged　past　the　chief；　only　just　avoiding　pushing　him　with　his　shoulder。　The　yelling　ceased；　and　Samneric　lay　looking　up　in　quiet　terror。　Roger　advanced　upon　them　as　one　wielding　a　nameless　authority。
　
　
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　TWELVE
　Cry　of　the　Hunters
　
　Ralph　lay　in　a　covert；　wondering　about　his　wounds。　The　bruised　flesh　was　inches　in　diameter　over　his　right　ribs；　with　a　swollen　and　bloody　scar　where　the　spear　had　hit　him。　His　hair　was　full　of　dirt　and　tapped　like　the　tendrils　of　a　creeper。　All　over　he　was　scratched　and　bruised　from　his　flight　through　the　forest。　By　the　time　his　breathing　was　normal　again；　he　had　worked　out　that　bathing　these　injuries　would　have　to　wait。　How　could　you　listen　for　naked　feet　if　you　were　splashing　in　water？　How　could　you　be　safe　by　the　little　stream　or　on　the　open　beach？　
　Ralph　listened。　He　was　not　really　far　from　the　Castle　Rock；　and　during　the　first　panic　he　had　thought　he　heard　sounds　of　pursuit　But　the　hunters　had　only　sneaked　into　the　fringes　of　the　greenery；　retrieving　spears　perhaps；　and　then　had　rushed　back　to　the　sunny　rock　as　if　terrified　of　the　darkness　under　the　leaves。　He　had　even　glimpsed　one　of　them；　striped　brown；　black；　and　red；　and　had　judged　that　it　was　Bill。　But　really；　thought　Ralph；　this　was　not　Bill。　This　was　a　savage　whose　image　refused　to　blend　with　that　ancient　picture　of　a　boy　in　shorts　and　shirt。
　The　afternoon　died　away；　the　circular　spots　of　sunlight　moved　steadily　over　green　fronds　and　brown　fiber　but　no　sound　came　from　behind　the　rock。　At　last　Ralph　wormed　out　of　the　ferns　and　sneaked　forward　to　the　edge　of　that　impenetrable　thicket　that　fronted　the　neck　of　land。　He　peered　with　elaborate　caution　between　branches　at　the　edge　and　could　see　Robert　sitting　on　guard　at　the　top　of　the　cliff。　He　held　a　spear　in　his　left　hand　and　was　tossing　up　a　pebble　and　catching　it　again　with　the　right。　Behind　him　a　column　of　smoke　rose　thickly；　so　that　Ralph's　nostrils　flared　and　his　mouth　dribbled。　He　wiped　his　nose　and　mouth　with　the　back　of　his　hand　and　for　the　first　time　since　the　morning　felt　hungry。　The　tribe　must　be　sitting　round　the　gutted　pig；　watching　the　fat　ooze　and　burn　among　the　ashes。　They　would　be　intent
　Another　figure；　an　unrecognizable　one；　appeared　by　Robert　and　gave　him　something；　then　turned　and　went　back　behind　the　rock。　Robert　laid　his　spear　on　the　rock　beside　him　and　began　to　gnaw　between　his　raised　hands。　So　the　feast　was　beginning　and　the　watchman　had　been　given　his　portion。
　Ralph　saw　that　for　the　time　being　he　was　safe。　He　limped　away　through　the　fruit　trees；　drawn　by　the　thought　of　the　poor　food　yet　bitter　when　he　remembered　the　feast。　Feast　today；　and　then　tomorrow。　。　。　。
　He　argued　unconvincingly　that　they　would　let　him　alone；　perhaps　even　make　an　outlaw　of　him。　But　then　the　fatal　unreasoning　knowledge　came　to　him　again。　The　breaking　of　the　conch　and　the　deaths　of　Piggy　and　Simon　lay　over　the　island　like　a　vapor。　These　painted　savages　would　go　further　and　further。　Then　there　was　that　indefinable　connection　between　himself　and　Jack；　who　therefore　would　never　let　him　alone；　never。
　He　paused；　sun…flecked；　holding　up　a　bough；　prepared　to　duck　under　it　A　spasm　of　terror　set　him　shaking　and　he　cried　aloud。
　〃No。　They're　not　as　bad　as　that。　It　was　an　accident。〃
　He　ducked　under　the　bough；　ran　clumsily；　then　stopped　and　listened。
　He　came　to　the　smashed　acres　of　fruit　and　ate　greedily。　He　saw　two　littluns　and；　not　having　any　idea　of　his　own　appearance；　wondered　why　they　screamed　and　ran。
　When　he　had　eaten　he　went　toward　the　beach。　The　sunlight　was　slanting　now　into　the　palms　by　the　wrecked　shelter。　There　was　the　platform　and　the　pool。　The　best　thing　to　do　was　to　ignore　this　leaden　feeling　about　the　heart　and　rely　on　their　mon　sense；　their　daylight　sanity。　Now　that　the　tribe　had　eaten；　the　thing　to　do　was　to　try　again。　And　anyway；　he　couldn't　stay　here　all　night　in　an　empty　shelter　by　the　deserted　platform。　His　flesh　crept　and　he　shivered　in　the　evening　sun。　No　fire；　no　smoke；　no　rescue。　He　turned　and　limped　away　through　the　forest　toward　Jack's　end　of　the　island。
　The　slanting　sticks　of　sunlight　were　lost　among　the　branches。　At　length　he　came　to　a　clearing　in　the　forest　where　rock　prevented　vegetation　from　growing。　Now　it　was　a　pool　of　shadows　and　Ralph　nearly　flung　himself　behind　a　tree　when　he　saw　something　standing　in　the　center；　but　then　he　saw　that　the　white　face　was　bone　and　that　the　pig's　skull　grinned　at　him　from　the　top　of　a　stick。　He　walked　slowly　into　the　middle　of　the　clearing　and　looked　steadily　at　the　skull　that　gleamed　as　white　as　ever　the　conch　had　done　and　seemed　to　jeer　at　him　cynically。　An　inquisitive　ant　was　busy　in　one　of　the　eye　sockets　but　otherwise　the　thing　was　lifeless。
　Or　was　it？
　Little　prickles　of　sensation　ran　up　and　down　his　back。　He　stood；　the　skull　about　on　a　level　with　his　face；　and　held　up　his　hair　with　two　hands。　The　teeth　grinned；　the　empty　sockets　seemed　to　hold　his　gaze　masterfully　and　without　effort。
　What　was　it？
　The　skull　regarded　Ralph　like　one　who　knows　all　the　answers　and　won't　tell。　A　sick　fear　and　rage　swept　him。　Fiercely　he　hit　out　at　the　filthy　thing　in　front　of　him　that　bobbed　like　a　toy　and　came　back；　still　grinning　into　his　face；　so　that　he　lashed　and　cried　out　in　loathing。　Then　he　was　licking　his　bruised　knuckles　and　looking　at　the　bare　stick；　while　the　skull　lay　in　two　pieces；　its　grin　now　six　feet　across。　He　wrenched　the　quivering　stick　from　the　crack　and　held　it　as　a　spear　between　him　and　the　white　pieces。　Then　he　backed　away；　keeping　his　face　to　the　skull　that　lay　grinning　at　the　sky。
　When　the　green　glow　had　gone　from　the　horizon　and　night　was　fully　acplished；　Ralph　came　again　to　the　thicket　in　front　of　the　Castle　Rock。　Peeping　through；　he　could　see　that　the　height　was　still　occupied；　and　whoever　it　was　up　there　had　a　spear　at　the　ready。
　He　knelt　among　the　shadows　and　felt　his　isolation　bitterly。　They　were　savages　it　was　true；　but　they　were　human；　and　the　ambushing　fears　of　the　deep　night　were　ing　on。
　Ralph　moaned　faintly。　Tired　though　he　was；　he　could　not　relax　and　fall　into　a　well　of　sleep　for　fear　of　the　tribe。　Might　it　not　be　possible　to　walk　boldly　into　the　fort；　say…〃I've　got　pax；〃　laugh　lightly　and　sleep　among　the　others？　Pretend　they　were　still　boys；　schoolboys　who　had　said；　〃Sir；　yes；　Sir〃…and　worn　caps？　Daylight　might　have　answered　yes；　but　darkness　and　the　horrors　of　death　said　no。　Lying　there　in　the　darkness；　he　knew　he　was　an　outcast。
　〃　'Cos　I　had　some　sense。〃
　He　rubbed　his　cheek　along　his　forearm；　smelling　the　acrid　scent　of　salt　and　sweat　and　the　staleness　of　dirt。　Over　to　the　left；　the　waves　of　ocean　were　breathing；　sucking　down；　then　boiling　back　over　the　rock。
　There　were　sounds　ing　from　behind　the　Castle　Rock　Listening　carefully；　detaching　his　mind　from　the　swing　of　the　sea；　Ralph　could　make　out　a　familiar　rhythm。
　〃Kill　the　beast！　Cut　his　throat！　Spill　his　blood！〃
　The　tribe　was　dancing。　Somewhere　on　the　other　side　of　this　rocky　wall　there　would　be　a　dark　circle；　a　glowing　fire；　and　meat。　They　would　be　savoring　food　and　the　fort　of　safety。
　A　noise　nearer　at　hand　made　him　quiver。　Savages　were　clambering　up　the　Castle　Rock；　right　up　to　the　top；　and　he　could　hear　voices。　He　sneaked　forward　a　few　yards　and　saw　the　shape　at　the　top　of　the　rock　change　and　enlarge。　There　were　only　two　boys　on　the　island　who　moved　or　talked　like　that。
　Ralph　put　his　head　down　on　his　forearms　and　accepted　this　new　fact　like　a　wound。　Samneric　were　part　of　the　tribe　now。　They　were　guarding　the　Castle　Rock　against　him。　There　was　no　chance　of　rescuing　them　and　building　up　an　outlaw　tribe　at　the　other　end　of　the　island。　Samneric　were　savages　like　the　rest；　Piggy　was　dead；　and　the　conch　smashed　to　powder。
　At　length　the　guard　climbed　down。　The　two　that　remained　seemed　nothing　more　than　a　dark　extension　of　the　rock。　A　star　appeared　behind　them　and　was　momentarily　eclipsed　by　some　movement。
　Ralph　edged　forward；　feeling　his　way　over　the　uneven　surface　as　though　he　were　bund。　There　were　miles　of　vague　water　at　his　right　and　the　restless　ocean　lay　under　his　left　hand；　as　awful　as　the　shaft　of　a　pit。　Every　minute　the　water　breathed　round　the　death　rock　and　flowered　into　a　field　of　whiteness。　Ralph　crawled　until　he　found　the　ledge　of　the　entry　in　his　grasp。　The　lookouts　were　immediately　above　him　and　he　could　see　the　end　of　a　spear　projecting　over　the　rock。
　He　called　very　gently。
　〃Samneric…〃
　There　was　no　reply。　To　carry　he　must　speak　louder；　and　this　would　rouse　those　striped　and　inimical　creatures　from　their　feasting　by　the　fire。　He　set　his　teeth　and　started　to　climb；　finding　the　holds　by　touch。　The　stick　that　had　supported　a　skull　hampered　him　but　he　would　not　be　parted　from　his　only　weapon。　He　was　nearly　level　with　the　twins　before　he　spoke　again。
　〃Samneric…〃
　He　heard　a　cry　and　a　flurry　from　the　rock。　The　twins　had　grabbed　each　other　and　were　gibbering。
　〃It's　me。　Ralph。〃
　Terrified　that　they　would　run　and　give　the　alarm；　he　hauled　himself　up　until　his　head　and　shoulders　stuck　over　the　top。　Far　below　his　armpit　he　saw　the　luminous　flowering　round　the　rock。
　〃It's　only　me。　Ralph。〃
　At　length　they　bent　forward　and　peered　in　his　face。
　〃We　thought　it　was…〃
　〃…we　didn't　know　what　it　was…〃
　〃…we　thought…〃
　Memory　of　their　new　and　shameful　loyalty　came　to　them。　Eric　was　silent　but　Sam　tried　to　do　his　duty。