wgolding.lordoftheflies-第37部分

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


e　trouble　was　you　only　had　one　chance。
　Now　the　fire　was　nearer；　those　volleying　shots　were　great　limbs；　trunks　even；　bursting。　The　fools！　The　fools！　The　fire　must　be　almost　at　the　fruit　trees…what　would　they　eat　tomorrow？
　Ralph　stirred　restlessly　in　his　narrow　bed。　One　chanced　nothing！　What　could　they　do？　Beat　him？　So　what？　Kill　him？　A　stick　sharpened　at　both　ends。
　The　cries；　suddenly　nearer；　jerked　him　up。　He　could　see　a　striped　savage　moving　hastily　out　of　a　green　tangle；　and　ing　toward　the　mat　where　he　hid；　a　savage　who　carried　a　spear。　Ralph　gripped　his　fingers　into　the　earth。　Be　ready　now；　in　case。
　Ralph　fumbled　to　hold　his　spear　so　that　it　was　point　foremost；　and　now　he　saw　that　the　stick　was　sharpened　at　both　ends。
　The　savage　stopped　fifteen　yards　away　and　uttered　his　cry。
　Perhaps　he　can　hear　my　heart　over　the　noises　of　the　fire。　Don't　scream。　Get　ready。
　The　savage　moved　forward　so　that　you　could　only　see　him　from　the　waist　down。　That　was　the　butt　of　his　spear。　Now　you　could　see　him　from　the　knee　down。　Don't　scream。　　A　herd　of　pigs　came　squealing　out　of　the　greenery　behind　the　savage　and　rushed　away　into　the　forest。　Birds　were　screaming；　mice　shrieking；　and　a　little　hopping　thing　came　under　the　mat　and　cowered。
　Five　yards　away　the　savage　stopped；　standing　right　by　the　thicket；　and　cried　out。　Ralph　drew　his　feet　up　and　crouched。　The　stake　was　in　his　hands；　the　stake　sharpened　at　both　ends；　the　stake　that　vibrated　so　wildly；　that　grew　long；　short；　light；　heavy；　light　again。
　The　ululation　spread　from　shore　to　shore。　The　savage　knelt　down　by　the　edge　of　the　thicket；　and　there　were　lights　flickering　in　the　forest　behind　him。　You　could　see　a　knee　disturb　the　mold。　Now　the　other。　Two　hands。　A　spear。
　A　face。
　The　savage　peered　into　the　obscurity　beneath　the　thicket。　You　could　tell　that　he　saw　light　on　this　side　and　on　that；　but　not　in　the　middle…there。　In　the　middle　was　a　blob　of　dark　and　the　savage　wrinkled　up　his　face；　trying　to　decipher　the　darkness。
　The　seconds　lengthened　Ralph　was　looking　straight　into　the　savage's　eyes。
　Don't　scream。
　You'll　get　back。
　Now　he's　seen　you。　He's　making　sure。　A　stick　sharpened。
　Ralph　screamed；　a　scream　of　fright　and　anger　and　desperation。　His　legs　straightened；　the　screams　became　continuous　and　foaming。　He　shot　forward；　burst　the　thicket；　was　in　the　open；　screaming；　snarling；　bloody。　He　swung　the　stake　and　the　savage　tumbled　over；　but　there　were　others　ing　toward　him；　crying　out。　He　swerved　as　a　spear　flew　past　and　then　was　silent；　running。　All　at　once　the　lights　flickering　ahead　of　him　merged　together；　the　roar　of　the　forest　rose　to　thunder　and　a　tall　bush　directly　in　his　path　burst　into　a　great　fan…shaped　flame。　He　swung　to　the　right；　running　desperately　fast；　with　the　heat　beating　on　his　left　side　and　the　fire　racing　forward　like　a　tide。　The　ululation　rose　behind　him　and　spread　along；　a　series　of　short　sharp　cries；　the　sighting　call。　A　brown　figure　showed　up　at　his　right　and　fell　away。　They　were　all　running；　all　crying　out　madly。　He　could　hear　them　crashing　in　the　undergrowth　and　on　the　left　was　the　hot；　bright　thunder　of　the　fire。　He　forgot　his　wounds；　his　hunger　and　thirst；　and　became　fear；　hopeless　fear　on　flying　feet；　rushing　through　the　forest　toward　the　open　beach。　Spots　jumped　before　his　eyes　and　turned　into　red　circles　that　expanded　quickly　till　they　passed　out　of　sight。　Below　him　someone's　legs　were　getting　tired　and　the　desperate　ululation　advanced　like　a　jagged　fringe　of　menace　and　was　almost　overhead。
　He　stumbled　over　a　root　and　the　cry　that　pursued　him　rose　even　higher。　He　saw　a　shelter　burst　into　flames　and　the　fire　flapped　at　his　right　shoulder　and　there　was　the　glitter　of　water。　Then　he　was　down；　rolling　over　and　over　in　the　warm　sand；　crouching　with　arm　up　to　ward　off；　trying　to　cry　for　mercy。
　
　He　staggered　to　his　feet；　tensed　for　more　terrors；　and　looked　up　at　a　huge　peaked　cap。　It　was　a　white…topped　cap；　and　above　the　green　shade　or　the　peak　was　a　crown；　an　anchor；　gold　foliage。　He　saw　white　drill；　epaulettes；　a　revolver；　a　row　of　gilt　buttons　down　the　front　of　a　uniform。
　A　naval　officer　stood　on　the　sand；　looking　down　at　Ralph　in　wary　astonishment。　On　the　beach　behind　him　was　a　cutter；　her　bows　hauled　up　and　held　by　two　ratings。　In　the　stern…sheets　another　rating　held　a　sub…machine　gun。
　The　ululation　faltered　and　died　away。
　The　officer　looked　at　Ralph　doubtfully　for　a　moment；　then　took　his　hand　away　from　the　butt　of　the　revolver。
　〃Hullo。〃
　Squirming　a　little；　conscious　of　his　filthy　appearance；　Ralph　answered　shyly。
　〃Hullo。〃
　The　officer　nodded；　as　if　a　question　had　been　answered。
　〃Are　there　any　adults…any　grownups　with　you？〃
　Dumbly；　Ralph　shook　his　head。　He　turned　a　half…pace　on　the　sand。　A　semicircle　of　little　boys；　their　bodies　streaked　with　colored　clay；　sharp　sticks　in　their　hands；　were　standing　on　the　beach　making　no　noise　at　all。
　〃Fun　and　games；〃　said　the　officer。
　The　fire　reached　the　coconut　palms　by　the　beach　and　swallowed　them　noisily。　A　flame；　seemingly　detached；　swung　like　an　acrobat　and　licked　up　the　palm　heads　on　the　platfonn。　The　sky　was　black。
　The　officer　grinned　cheerfully　at　Ralph。
　〃We　saw　your　smoke。　What　have　you　been　doing？　Having　a　war　or　something？〃
　Ralph　nodded。
　The　officer　inspected　the　little　scarecrow　in　front　of　him。　The　kid　needed　a　bath；　a　haircut；　a　nose…wipe　and　a　good　deal　of　ointment。
　〃Nobody　killed；　I　hope？　Any　dead　bodies？〃
　〃Only　two。　And　they've　gone。〃
　The　officer　leaned　down　and　looked　closely　at　Ralph。
　〃Two？　Killed？〃
　Ralph　nodded　again。　Behind　him；　the　whole　island　was　shuddering　with　flame。　The　officer　knew；　as　a　rule；　when　people　were　telling　the　truth。　He　whistled　softly。
　Other　boys　were　appearing　now；　tiny　tots　some　of　them；　brown；　with　the　distended　bellies　of　small　savages。　One　of　them　came　dose　to　the　officer　and　looked　up。
　〃I'm；　I'm…〃
　But　there　was　no　more　to　e。　Percival　Wemys　Madison　sought　in　his　head　for　an　incantation　that　had　faded　clean　away。
　The　officer　turned　back　to　Ralph。
　〃We'll　take　you　off。　How　many　of　you　are　there？〃
　Ralph　shook　his　head。　The　officer　looked　past　him　to　the　group　of　painted　boys。
　〃Who's　boss　here？〃
　〃I　am；〃　said　Ralph　loudly。
　A　little　boy　who　wore　the　remains　of　an　extraordinary　black　cap　on　his　red　hair　and　who　carried　the　remains　of　a　pair　of　spectacles　at　his　waist；　started　forward；　then　changed　his　mind　and　stood　still。
　〃We　saw　your　smoke。　And　you　don't　know　how　many　of　you　there　are？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　〃I　should　have　thought；〃　said　the　officer　as　he　visualized　the　search　before　him；　〃I　should　have　thought　that　a　pack　of　British　boys…you're　all　British；　aren't　you？…would　have　been　able　to　put　up　a　better　show　than　that…I　mean…〃
　〃It　was　like　that　at　first；〃　said　Ralph；　〃before　things…〃
　He　stopped。
　〃We　were　together　then…〃
　The　officer　nodded　helpfully。
　〃I　know。　Jolly　good　show。　Like　the　Coral　Island。〃
　Ralph　looked　at　him　dumbly。　For　a　moment　he　had　a　fleeting　picture　of　the　strange　glamour　that　had　once　invested　the　beaches。　But　the　island　was　scorched　up　like　dead　wood…Simon　was　dead…and　Jack　had。　。　。　。　The　tears　began　to　flow　and　sobs　shook　him。　He　gave　himself　up　to　them　now　for　the　first　time　on　the　island；　great；　shuddering　spasms　of　grief　that　seemed　to　wrench　his　whole　body。　His　voice　rose　under　the　black　smoke　before　the　burning　wreckage　of　the　island；　and　infected　by　that　emotion；　the　other　little　boys　began　to　shake　and　sob　too。　And　in　the　middle　of　them；　with　filthy　body；　matted　hair；　and　unwiped　nose；　Ralph　wept　for　the　end　of　innocence；　the　darkness　of　man's　heart；　and　the　fall　through　the　air　of　the　true；　wise　friend　called　Piggy。
　The　officer；　surrounded　by　these　noises；　was　moved　and　a　little　embarrassed。　He　turned　away　to　give　them　time　to　pull　themselves　together；　and　waited；　allowing　his　eyes　to　rest　on　the　trim　cruiser　in　the　distance。
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　Interview　with　William　Golding1
　JAMES　KEATING
　
　
　Purdue　University；　May　10；　1962
　
　Question：　It　has　often　been　said　that　wars　are　caused　by　the　dictatorial　few。　Do　you　feel　this　to　be　so；　or　do　you　think　anyone　given　the　power　is　capable　of　such　inhuman　atrocity？
　Answer：　Well；　I　think　wars　are　much　more　plicated　than　that。　Some　of　them　have　been　caused　by　a　few。　On　the　other　hand　if　some　of　them　are　surely　the　bursting　of　some　vicious　growth；　almost；　in　civilization；　then　who　knows　who　applies　the　lancer　to　it？　There's　all　the　difference　in　the　world　between　the　wars　of　1917…the　munist　Revolution…on　the　one　hand；　and　the　wars　of　Genghis　Khan　on　the　other；　isn't　there？
　Q。：　Yes。　Obviously；　in　Lord　of　the　Flies　society　plays　little　part　in　determining　the　corruption　and　violence　in　man。　You've　said　this　is　true　in　society；　that　it　does　play　a　minor　role；　but　do　you　feel　that　there　are　societies　that　will　enhance　the　possibility　of　man　being　good？　And　are　we　working　toward　this　in　democracy？
　A。：　By　instinct　and　training；　and　by　birth　and　by　position　on　the　face　of　the　globe；　I'm　pretty　well　bound　to　subscribe　to　a　democratic　doctrine；　am　I　not？　This　is　so　deeply　woven　into　the　way　we　live；　or　at　least　the　way　we　live　at　home　in　England；　that　I　don't　suppose　one　really　questions　it　much。　I　think　I　would　say　democracy　is　moving　in　the　right
　
　1。This　interview　is　printed　here　by　permission　of　William　Golding　and　James　Keating。　（c）　1964　by　James　Keating　and　William　Golding。
　
　direction；　or　the　democratic　way　is　the　way　in　which　to　move；　equally；　it　seems　to　me　that　a　democracy　has　inherent　weaknesses　in　it…built…in　weaknesses。　You　can't　give　people　freedom　without　weakening　society　as　an　implement　of　war；　if　you　like；　and　so　this　is　very　much　like　a　sheep　among　wolves。　It's　not　a　question　with　me　as　to　whether　democracy　is　the　right　way　so　much；　as　to　whether　democracy　can　survive　and　remain　what　it　is。　Every　time　democracy　pulls　itself　together　and　says；　〃Well；　now　I'm　being　threatened　by　a　totalitarian　regime；〃　the　first　thing　it　has　to　do　is　give　up　some　of　its　own　principles。　In　England　during　the　Second　World　War　we　had　to　give　up　a　tremendous　number　of　principles　in　order　to　achieve　the　one　pointed　unity　which　could　possib