wgolding.lordoftheflies-第5部分

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nd　water　drew　to　a　point　at　infinity；　and　always；　almost　visible；　was　the　heat。
　He　jumped　down　from　the　terrace。　The　sand　was　thick　over　his　black　shoes　and　the　heat　hit　him。　He　became　conscious　of　the　weight　of　clothes；　kicked　his　shoes　off　fiercely　and　ripped　off　each　stocking　with　its　elastic　garter　in　a　single　movement　Then　he　leapt　back　on　the　terrace；　pulled　off　his　shirt；　and　stood　there　among　the　skull…like　coconuts　with　green　shadows　from　the　palms　and　the　forest　sliding　over　his　skin。　He　undid　the　snake…clasp　of　his　belt；　lugged　off　his　shorts　and　pants；　and　stood　there　naked；　looking　at　the　dazzling　beach　and　the　water。
　He　was　old　enough；　twelve　years　and　a　few　months；　to　have　lost　the　prominent　tummy　of　childhood；　and　not　yet　old　enough　for　adolescence　to　have　made　him　awkward。　You　could　see　now　that　he　might　make　a　boxer；　as　far　as　width　and　heaviness　of　shoulders　went；　but　there　was　a　mildness　about　his　mouth　and　eyes　that　proclaimed　no　devil。　He　patted　the　palm　trunk　softly；　and；　forced　at　last　to　believe　in　the　reality　of　the　island；　laughed　delightedly　again　and　stood　on　his　head。　He　turned　neatly　on　to　his　feet；　jumped　down　to　the　beach；　knelt　and　swept　a　double　armful　of　sand　into　a　pile　against　his　chest。　Then　he　sat　back　and　looked　at　the　water　with　bright；　excited　eyes。
　〃Ralph…〃
　The　fat　boy　lowered　himself　over　the　terrace　and　sat　down　carefully；　using　the　edge　as　a　seat。
　〃I'm　sorry　I　been　such　a　time。　Them　fruit…〃
　He　wiped　his　glasses　and　adjusted　them　on　his　button　nose。　The　frame　had　made　a　deep；　pink　〃V〃　on　the　bridge。　He　looked　critically　at　Ralph's　golden　body　and　then　down　at　his　own　clothes。　He　laid　a　hand　on　the　end　of　a　zipper　that　extended　down　his　chest。
　〃My　auntie…〃
　Then　he　opened　the　zipper　with　decision　and　pulled　the　whole　wind…breaker　over　his　head。
　〃There！〃
　Ralph　looked　at　him　sidelong　and　said　nothing。
　〃I　expect　we'll　want　to　know　all　their　names；〃　said　the　fat　boy；　〃and　make　a　list。　We　ought　to　have　a　meeting。〃
　Ralph　did　not　take　the　hint　so　the　fat　boy　was　forced　to　continue。
　〃I　don't　care　what　they　call　me；〃　he　said　confidentially；　〃so　long　as　they　don't　call　me　what　they　used　to　call　me　at　school。'
　Ralph　was　faintly　interested。
　〃What　was　that？〃
　The　fat　boy　glanced　over　his　shoulder；　then　leaned　toward　Ralph。
　He　whispered。
　〃They　used　to　call　me　'Piggy。'　〃
　Ralph　shrieked　with　laughter。　He　jumped　up。
　〃Piggy！　Piggy！〃
　〃Ralph…please！〃
　Piggy　clasped　his　hands　in　apprehension。
　〃I　said　I　didn't　want…〃
　〃Piggy！　Piggy！〃
　Ralph　danced　out　into　the　hot　air　of　the　beach　and　then　returned　as　a　fighter…plane；　with　wings　swept　back；　and　machine…gunned　Piggy。
　〃Sche…aa…ow！〃
　He　dived　in　the　sand　at　Piggy's　feet　and　lay　there　laughing。
　〃Piggy！〃
　Piggy　grinned　reluctantly；　pleased　despite　himself　at　even　this　much　recognition。
　〃So　long　as　you　don't　tell　the　others…〃
　Ralph　giggled　into　the　sand。　The　expression　of　pain　and　concentration　returned　to　Piggy's　face。
　〃Half　a　sec'。〃
　He　hastened　back　into　the　forest。　Ralph　stood　up　and　trotted　along　to　the　right。
　Here　the　beach　was　interrupted　abruptly　by　the　square　motif　of　the　landscape；　a　great　platform　of　pink　granite　thrust　up　unpromisingly　through　forest　and　terrace　and　sand　and　lagoon　to　make　a　raised　jetty　four　feet　high。　The　top　of　this　was　covered　with　a　thin　layer　of　soil　and　coarse　grass　and　shaded　with　young　palm　trees。　There　was　not　enough　soil　for　them　to　grow　to　any　height　and　when　they　reached　perhaps　twenty　feet　they　fell　and　dried；　forming　a　criss…cross　pattern　of　trunks；　very　convenient　to　sit　on。　The　palms　that　still　stood　made　a　green　roof；　covered　on　the　underside　with　a　quivering　tangle　of　reflections　from　the　lagoon。　Ralph　hauled　himself　onto　this　platform；　noted　the　coolness　and　shade；　shut　one　eye；　ana　decided　that　the　shadows　on　his　body　were　really　green。　He　picked　his　way　to　the　seaward　edge　of　the　platform　and　stood　looking　down　into　the　water。　It　was　clear　to　the　bottom　and　bright　with　the　efflorescence　of　tropical　weed　and　coral。　A　school　of　tiny；　glittering　fish　flicked　hither　and　thither。　Ralph　spoke　to　himself；　sounding　the　bass　strings　of　delight。
　〃Whizzoh！〃
　Beyond　the　platform　there　was　more　enchantment。　Some　act　of　God…a　typhoon　perhaps；　or　the　storm　that　had　acpanied　his　own　arrival…had　banked　sand　inside　the　lagoon　so　that　there　was　a　long；　deep　pool　in　the　beach　with　a　high　ledge　of　pink　granite　at　the　further　end。　Ralph　had　been　deceived　before　now　by　the　specious　appearance　of　depth　in　a　beach　pool　and　he　approached　this　one　preparing　to　be　disappointed。　But　the　island　ran　true　to　form　and　the　incredible　pool；　which　clearly　was　only　invaded　by　the　sea　at　high　tide；　was　so　deep　at　one　end　as　to　be　dark　green。　Ralph　inspected　the　whole　thirty　yards　carefully　and　then　plunged　in。　The　water　was　warmer　than　his　blood　and　he　might　have　been　swimming　in　a　huge　bath。
　Piggy　appeared　again；　sat　on　the　rocky　ledge；　and　watched　Ralph's　green　and　white　body　enviously。
　〃You　can't　half　swim。〃
　〃Piggy。〃
　Piggy　took　off　his　shoes　and　socks；　ranged　them　carefully　on　the　ledge；　and　tested　the　water　with　one　toe。
　〃It's　hot！〃
　〃What　did　you　expect？〃
　〃I　didn't　expect　nothing。　My　auntie…〃
　〃Sucks　to　your　　auntie！〃
　Ralph　did　a　surface　dive　and　swam　under　water　with　his　eyes　open；　the　sandy　edge　of　the　pool　loomed　up　like　a　hillside。　He　turned　over；　holding　his　nose；　and　a　golden　light　danced　and　shattered　just　over　his　face。　Piggy　was　looking　determined　and　began　to　take　off　his　shorts。　Presently　he　was　palely　and　fatly　naked。　He　tiptoed　down　the　sandy　side　of　the　pool；　and　sat　there　up　to　his　neck　in　water　smiling　proudly　at　Ralph。
　〃Aren't　you　going　to　swim？〃
　Piggy　shook　his　head。
　〃I　can't　swim。　I　wasn't　allowed。　My　asthma…〃
　〃Sucks　to　your　　ass…mar！〃
　Piggy　bore　this　with　a　sort　of　humble　patience。
　〃You　can't　half　swim　well。〃
　Ralph　paddled　backwards　down　the　slope；　immersed　his　mouth　and　blew　a　jet　of　water　into　the　air。　Then　he　lifted　his　chin　and　spoke。
　〃I　could　swim　when　I　was　five。　Daddy　taught　me。　He's　a　mander　in　the　Navy。　When　he　gets　leave　hell　e　and　rescue　us。　What's　your　father？〃
　Piggy　flushed　suddenly。
　〃My　dad's　dead；〃　he　said　quickly；　〃and　my　mum…〃
　He　took　off　his　glasses　and　looked　vainly　for　something　with　which　to　clean　them。
　〃I　used　to　live　with　my　auntie。　She　kept　a　candy　store。　I　used　to　get　ever　so　many　candies。　As　many　as　I　liked。　When'll　your　dad　rescue　us？〃
　〃Soon　as　he　can。〃
　Piggy　rose　dripping　from　the　water　and　stood　naked；　cleaning　his　glasses　with　a　sock。　The　only　sound　that　reached　them　now　through　the　heat　of　the　morning　was　the　long；　grinding　roar　of　the　breakers　on　the　reef。
　〃How　does　he　know　we're　here？〃
　Ralph　lolled　in　the　water。　Sleep　enveloped　him　like　the　swathing　mirages　that　were　wrestling　with　the　brilliance　of　the　lagoon。
　〃How　does　he　know　we're　here？〃
　Because；　thought　Ralph；　because；　because。　The　roar　from　the　reef　became　very　distant。
　〃They'd　tell　him　at　the　airport。〃
　Piggy　shook　his　head；　put　on　his　flashing　glasses　and　looked　down　at　Ralph。
　〃Not　them。　Didn't　you　hear　what　the　pilot　said？　About　the　atom　bomb？　They're　all　dead。〃
　Ralph　pulled　himself　out　of　the　water；　stood　facing　Piggy；　and　considered　this　unusual　problem。
　Piggy　persisted。
　〃This　an　island；　isn't　it？〃
　〃I　climbed　a　rock；〃　said　Ralph　slowly；　〃and　I　think　this　is　an　island。〃
　〃They're　all　dead；〃　said　Piggy；　〃an'　this　is　an　island。　Nobody　don't　know　we're　here。　Your　dad　don't　know；　nobody　don　t　know…〃
　His　lips　quivered　and　the　spectacles　were　dimmed　with　mist。
　〃We　may　stay　here　till　we　die。〃
　With　that　word　the　heat　seemed　to　increase　till　it　became　a　threatening　weight　and　the　lagoon　attacked　them　with　a　blinding　effulgence。
　〃Get　my　clothes；〃　muttered　Ralph。　〃Along　there。〃
　He　trotted　through　the　sand；　enduring　the　sun's　enmity；　crossed　the　platform　and　found　his　scattered　clothes。　To　put　on　a　grey　shirt　once　more　was　strangely　pleasing。　Then　he　climbed　the　edge　of　the　platform　and　sat　in　the　green　shade　on　a　convenient　trunk。　Piggy　hauled　himself　up；　carrying　most　of　his　clothes　under　his　arms。　Then　he　sat　carefully　on　a　fallen　trunk　near　the　little　cliff　that　fronted　the　lagoon；　and　the　tangled　reflections　quivered　over　him。
　Presently　he　spoke。
　〃We　got　to　find　the　others。　We　got　to　do　something。〃
　Ralph　said　nothing。　Here　was　a　coral　island。　Protected　from　the　sun；　ignoring　Piggy's　ill…omened　talk；　he　dreamed　pleasantly。
　Piggy　insisted。
　〃How　many　of　us　are　there？〃
　Ralph　came　forward　and　stood　by　Piggy。
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　Here　and　there；　little　breezes　crept　over　the　polished　waters　beneath　the　haze　of　heat。　When　these　breezes　reached　the　platform　the　palm　fronds　would　whisper；　so　that　spots　of　blurred　sunlight　slid　over　their　bodies　or　moved　like　bright；　winged　things　in　the　shade。
　Piggy　looked　up　at　Ralph。　All　the　shadows　on　Ralph's　face　were　reversed；　green　above；　bright　below　from　the　lagoon。　A　blur　of　sunlight　was　crawling　across　his　hair。
　〃We　got　to　do　something。〃
　Ralph　looked　through　him。　Here　at　last　was　the　imagined　out　never　fully　realized　place　leaping　into　real　life。　Ralph's　lips　parted　in　a　delighted　smile　and　Piggy；　taking　this　smile　to　himself　as　a　mark　of　recognition；　laughed　with　pleasure。
　〃If　ft　really　is　an　island…〃
　〃What's　that？〃
　Ralph　had　stopped　smiling　and　was　pointing　into　the　lagoon。　Something　creamy　lay　among　the　ferny　weeds。
　〃A　stone。〃
　〃No。　A　shell〃
　Suddenly　Piggy　was　a…bubble　with　decorous　excitement
　〃S'right。　It's　a　shell！　I　seen　one　like　that　before。　On　someone's　back　wall　A　conch　he　called　it。　He　used　to　blow　it　and　then　his　mum　would　e。　It's　ever　so　valuable…〃
　Near　to　Ralph's　elbow　a　palm　sapling　leaned　out　over　the　lagoon。　Indeed；　the　weight　was　already　pulling　a　lump　from　the　poor　soil　and　soon　it　would　fall。　He　tore　out　the　stem　and　began　to　poke　about　in　the　water；　while　the　brilliant　fish　flicked　away　on　this　side　and　that。　Piggy　leaned　dangerously。
　〃Careful！　You'll　break　it…〃
　〃Shut　up。〃
　Ralph　spoke　absently。　The　shell　was　interesting　and　pretty　and　a　worthy　plaything；　but　the　vivid　phantoms　of　his　day…dream　still　interposed　between　him　and　Pig