wgolding.lordoftheflies-第31部分

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　Ralph　carried　a　fragment　to　the　fire　and　watched　the　smoke　that　drifted　into　the　dusk。
　''We've　got　to　keep　it　going。〃
　Eric　flung　himself　down。
　〃I'm　too　tired。　And　what's　the　good？〃
　〃Eric！〃　cried　Ralph　in　a　shocked　voice。　〃Don't　talk　like　that！〃
　Sam　knelt　by　Eric。
　〃Well…what　is　the　good？〃
　Ralph　tried　indignantly　to　remember。　There　was　something　good　about　a　fire。　Something　overwhelmingly　good。
　〃Ralph's　told　you　often　enough；〃　said　Piggy　moodily。　〃How　else　are　we　going　to　be　rescued？〃
　〃Of　course！　If　we　don't　make　smoke…〃
　He　squatted　before　them　in　the　crowding　dusk。
　〃Don't　you　understand？　What's　the　good　of　wishing　for　radios　and　boats？〃
　He　held　out　his　hand　and　twisted　the　fingers　into　a　fist
　〃There's　only　one　thing　we　can　do　to　get　out　of　this　mess。　Anyone　can　play　at　hunting；　anyone　can　get　us　meat…〃
　He　looked　from　face　to　face。　Then；　at　the　moment　of　greatest　passion　and　conviction；　that　curtain　flapped　in　his　head　and　he　forgot　what　he　had　been　driving　at。　He　knelt　there；　his　fist　clenched；　gazing　solemnly　from　one　to　the　other。　Then　the　curtain　whisked　back。
　〃Oh；　yes。　So　we've　got　to　make　smoke；　and　more　smoke…〃
　〃But　we　can't　keep　it　going！　Look　at　that！〃
　The　fire　was　dying　on　them。
　〃Two　to　mind　the　fire；〃　said　Ralph；　half　to　himself；　〃that's　twelve　hours　a　day。〃
　〃We　can't　get　any　more　wood；　Ralph…〃
　〃…not　in　the　dark…〃
　〃…not　at　night…〃
　〃We　can　light　it　every　morning；〃　said　Piggy。　〃Nobody　ain't　going　to　see　smoke　in　the　dark。'
　Sam　nodded　vigorously。
　〃It　was　different　when　the　fire　was…〃
　〃…up　there。〃
　Ralph　stood　up；　feeling　curiously　defenseless　with　the　darkness　pressing　in。
　〃Let　the　fire　go　then；　for　tonight。〃
　He　led　the　way　to　the　first　shelter；　which　still　stood；　though　battered。　The　bed　leaves　lay　within；　dry　and　noisy　to　the　touch。　In　the　next　shelter　a　littlun　was　talking　in　his　sleep。　The　four　biguns　crept　into　the　shelter　and　burrowed　under　the　leaves。　The　twins　lay　together　and　Ralph　and　Piggy　at　the　other　end。　For　a　while　there　was　the　continual　creak　and　rustle　of　leaves　as　they　tried　for　fort。
　〃Piggy。〃
　〃Yeah？〃
　〃All　right？〃
　〃S'pose　so。〃
　At　length；　save　for　an　occasional　rustle；　the　shelter　was　silent。　An　oblong　of　blackness　relieved　with　brilliant　spangles　hung　before　them　and　there　was　the　hollow　sound　of　surf　on　the　reef。　Ralph　settled　himself　for　his　nightly　game　of　supposing。　。　。　。
　Supposing　they　could　be　transported　home　by　jet；　then　before　morning　they　would　land　at　that　big　airfield　in　Wiltshire。　They　would　go　by　car；　no；　for　things　to　be　perfect　they　would　go　by　train；　all　the　way　down　to　Devon　and　take　that　cottage　again。　Then　at　the　foot　of　the　garden　the　wild　ponies　would　e　and　look　over　the　wall。　。　。　。
　Ralph　turned　restlessly　in　the　leaves。　Dartmoor　was　wild　and　so　were　the　ponies。　But　the　attraction　of　wildness　had　gone。
　His　mind　skated　to　a　consideration　of　a　tamed　town　where　savagery　could　not　set　foot。　What　could　be　safer　than　the　bus　center　with　its　lamps　and　wheels？
　All　at　once；　Ralph　was　dancing　round　a　lamp　standard。　There　was　a　bus　crawling　out　of　the　bus　station；　a　strange　bus。　。　。　。
　〃Ralph！　Ralph！〃
　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃Don't　make　a　noise　like　that…〃
　〃Sorry。〃
　From　the　darkness　of　the　further　end　of　the　shelter　came　a　dreadful　moaning　and　they　shattered　the　leaves　in　their　fear。　Sam　and　Eric；　locked　in　an　embrace；　were　fighting　each　other。
　〃Sam！　Sam！〃
　〃Hey…Eric！〃
　Presently　all　was　quiet　again。
　Piggy　spoke　softly　to　Ralph。
　〃We　got　to　get　out　of　this。〃
　〃What　d‘you　mean？〃
　〃Get　rescued。〃
　For　the　first　time　that　day；　and　despite　the　crowding　blackness；　Ralph　sniggered。
　〃I　mean　it；'　whispered　Piggy。　〃If　we　don't　get　home　soon　we'll　be　barmy。〃
　〃Round　the　bend。〃
　〃Bomb　happy。〃
　〃Crackers。〃
　Ralph　pushed　the　damp　tendrils　of　hair　out　of　his　eyes。
　〃You　write　a　letter　to　your　auntie。〃
　Piggy　considered　this　solemnly。
　〃I　don't　know　where　she　is　now。　And　I　haven't　got　an　envelope　and　a　stamp。　An'　there　isn't　a　mailbox。　Or　a　postman。〃
　The　　success　　of　　his　　　tiny　　joke　　overcame　　　Ralph。　　　His　sniggers　became　　uncontrollable；　　his　　body　jumped　and
　Piggy　rebuked　him　with　dignity。
　〃I　haven't　said　anything　all　that　funny。〃
　Ralph　continued　to　snigger　though　his　chest　hurt。　His　twitchings　exhausted　him　till　he　lay；　breathless　and　woebegone；　waiting　for　the　next　spasm。　During　one　of　these　pauses　he　was　ambushed　by　sleep。
　〃Ralph！　You　been　making　a　noise　again。　Do　be　quiet；　Ralph…because。〃
　Ralph　heaved　over　among　the　leaves。　He　had　reason　to　be　thankful　that　his　dream　was　broken；　for　the　bus　had　been　nearer　and　more　distinct
　〃Why…because？〃
　〃Be　quiet…and　listen。〃
　Ralph　lay　down　carefully；　to　the　acpaniment　of　a　long　sigh　from　the　leaves。　Eric　moaned　something　and　then　lay　still。　The　darkness；　save　for　the　useless　oblong　of　stars；　was　blanket…thick。
　〃I　can't　hear　anything；〃
　〃There's　something　moving　outside。〃
　Ralph's　head　prickled。　The　sound　of　his　blood　drowned　all　else　and　then　subsided。
　〃I　still　can't　hear　anything。〃
　〃Listen。　Listen　for　a　long　time。〃
　Quite　clearly　and　emphatically；　and　only　a　yard　or　so　away　from　the　back　of　the　shelter；　a　stick　cracked。　The　blood　roared　again　in　Ralph's　ears；　confused　images　chased　each　other　through　his　mind。　A　posite　of　these　things　was　prowling　round　the　shelters。　He　could　feel　Piggy's　head　against　his　shoulder　and　the　convulsive　grip　of　a　hand。
　〃Ralph！　Ralph！〃
　〃Shut　up　and　listen。〃
　Desperately；　Ralph　prayed　that　the　beast　would　prefer　littluns。
　A　voice　whispered　horribly　outside。
　〃Piggy…Piggy…〃
　〃It's　e！　　　gasped　Piggy。　It's　real！〃
　He　clung　to　Ralph　and　reached　to　get　his　breath。
　〃Piggy；　e　outside。　I　want　you；　Piggy。〃
　Ralph's　mouth　was　against　Piggy's　ear。
　〃Don't　say　anything。〃
　〃Piggy…where　are　you；　Piggy？〃
　Something　brushed　against　the　back　of　the　shelter。　Piggy　kept　still　for　a　moment；　then　he　had　his　asthma。　He　arched　his　back　and　crashed　among　the　leaves　with　his　legs。　Ralph　rolled　away　from　him。
　Then　there　was　a　vicious　snarling　in　the　mouth　of　the　shelter　and　the　plunge　and　thump　of　living　things。　Someone　tripped　over　Ralph　and　Piggy's　corner　became　a　plication　of　snarls　and　crashes　and　flying　limbs。　Ralph　hit　out；　then　he　and　what　seemed　like　a　dozen　others　were　rolling　over　and　over；　hitting；　biting；　scratching。　He　was　torn　and　jolted；　found　fingers　in　his　mouth　ana　bit　them。　A　fist　withdrew　and　came　back　like　a　piston；　so　that　the　whole　shelter　exploded　into　light　Ralph　twisted　sideways　on　top　of　a　writhing　body　and　felt　hot　breath　on　his　cheek　He　began　to　pound　the　mouth　below　him；　using　his　clenched　fist　as　a　hammer；　he　hit　with　more　and　more　passionate　hysteria　as　the　face　became　slippery。　A　knee　jerked　up　between　his　legs　and　he　fell　sideways；　busying　himself　with　his　pain；　and　the　fight　rolled　over　him。　Then　the　shelter　collapsed　with　smothering　finality；　and　the　anonymous　shapes　fought　their　way　out　and　through。　Dark　figures　drew　themselves　out　of　the　wreckage　and　flitted　away；　till　the　screams　of　the　littluns　and　Piggy's　gasps　were　once　more　audible。
　Ralph　called　out　in　a　quavering　voice。
　〃All　you　littluns；　go　to　sleep。　We've　bad　a　fight　with　the　others。　Now　go　to　sleep。〃
　Samneric　came　close　and　peered　at　Ralph。
　〃Are　you　two　all　right？〃
　〃I　think　so…〃
　〃…I　got　busted。〃
　〃So　did　I。　How's　Piggy？〃
　They　hauled　Piggy　clear　of　the　wreckage　and　leaned　him　against　a　tree。　The　night　was　cool　and　purged　of　immediate　terror。　Piggy's　breathing　was　a　little　easier。
　〃Did　you　get　hurt；　Piggy？〃
　〃Not　much。〃
　〃That　was　Jack　and　his　hunters；〃　said　Ralph　bitterly。　〃Why　can't　they　leave　us　alone？〃
　〃We　gave　them　something　to　think　about；〃　said　Sam。　Honestly　pelled　him　to　go　on。　〃At　least　you　did。　I　got　mixed　up　with　myself　in　a　corner。〃
　〃I　gave　one　of　'em　what　for；〃　said　Ralph；　1　smashed　him　up　all　right。　He　won't　want　to　e　and　fight　us　again　in　a　hurry。〃
　〃So　did　I；〃　said　Eric。　〃When　I　woke　up　one　was　kicking　me　in　the　face。。。　I　got　an　awful　bloody　face；　I　think；　Ralph。　But　I　did　him　in　the　end。〃
　〃What　did　you　do？〃
　〃I　got　my　knee　up；〃　said　Eric　with　simple　pride；　〃and　I　hit　him　with　it　in　the　pills。　You　should　have　heard　him　holler！　He　won't　e　back　in　a　hurry　either。　So　we　didn't　do　too　badly。〃
　Ralph　moved　suddenly　in　the　dark；　but　then　he　heard　Eric　working　at　his　mouth。
　〃What's　the　matter？〃
　〃Jus'　a　tooth　loose。〃
　Piggy　drew　up　his　legs。
　〃You　all　right；　Piggy？〃
　〃I　thought　they　wanted　the　conch。〃
　Ralph　trotted　down　the　pale　beach　and　jumped　on　to　the　platform。　The　conch　still　glimmered　by　the　chiefs　seat　He　gazed　for　a　moment　or　two；　then　went　back　to　Piggy。
　〃They　didn't　take　the　conch。〃
　〃I　know。　They　didn't　e　for　the　conch。　They　came　for　something　else。　Ralph…what　am　I　going　to　do？〃
　Far　off　along　the　bowstave　of　beach；　three　figures　trotted　toward　the　Castle　Rock。　They　kept　away　from　the　forest　and　down　by　the　water。　Occasionally　they　sang　softly；　occasionally　they　turned　cartwheels　down　by　the　moving　streak　of　phosphorescence。　The　chief　led　them；　trotting　steadily；　exulting　in　his　achievement　He　was　a　chief　now　in　truth；　and　he　made　stabbing　motions　with　his　spear。　From　his　left　hand　dangled　Piggy's　broken　glasses。
　
　
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　ELEVEN
　Castle　Rock
　
　In　the　short　chill　of　dawn　the　four　boys　gathered　round　the　black　smudge　where　the　fire　had　been；　while　Ralph　knelt　and　blew。　Grey；　feathery　ashes　scurried　hither　and　thither　at　his　breath　but　no　spark　shone　among　them　The　twins　watched　anxiously　and　Piggy　sat　expressionless　behind　the　luminous　wall　of　his　myopia。　Ralph　continued　to　blow　till　his　ears　were　singing　with　the　effort；　but　then　the　first　breeze　of　dawn　took　the　job　off　his　hands　and　blinded　him　with　ashes。　He　squatted　back；　swore；　and　rubbed　water　out　of　his　eyes。
　〃No　use。〃
　Eric　looked　down　at　him　through　a　mask　of　dried　blood。　Piggy　peered　in　the　general　direction　of　Ralph。
　〃　'Course　it's　no　use；　Ralph。　Now　we　got　no　fire。〃
　Ralph　　brought　his　　face　　within　a　couple　of　feet　of　Piggy‘s。
　〃Can　you　see　me？〃
　〃A　bit。〃
　Ralph　allowed　the　swollen　flap　of　his　cheek　to　close　his　eye　again。
　〃They've　got　our　fire。〃
　Rage　shrilled　his