wgolding.lordoftheflies-第11节

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！


decayed：　creepers　cradled　them；　and　new　saplings　searched　a　way　up。
　Jack　turned　to　die　choir；　who　stood　ready。　Their　black　caps　of　maintenance　were　slid　over　one　ear　like　berets。
　〃Well　build　a　pile。　e　on。〃
　They　found　the　likeliest　path　down　and　began　tugging　at　the　dead　wood。　And　the　small　boys　who　had　reached　the　top　came　sliding　too　till　everyone　but　Piggy　was　busy。　Most　of　the　wood　was　so　rotten　that　when　they　pulled　it　broke　up　into　a　shower　of　fragments　and　woodlice　and　decay；　but　some　trunks　came　out　in　one　piece。　The　twins；　Sam　'n　Eric；　were　the　first　to　get　a　likely　fog　but　they　could　do　nothing　till　Ralph；　Jack；　Simon；　Roger　and　Maurice　found　room　for　a　hand…hold。　Then　they　inched　the　grotesque　dead　thing　up　the　rock　and　toppled　it　　over　on　top。　　　Each　　party　of　boys　added　a　quota；　less　or　more；　and　the　pile　grew。　At　the　return　Ralph　found　himself　alone　on　a　limb　with　Jack　and　they　grinned　at　each　other；　sharing　this　burden。　Once　more；　amid　the　breeze；　the　shouting；　the　slanting　sunlight　on　the　high　mountain；　was　shed　that　glamour；　that　strange　invisible　light　of　friendship；　adventure；　and　content。　
　〃Almost　too　heavy。〃　
　Jack　grinned　back。　
　〃Not　for　the　two　of　us。〃
　Together；　joined　in　effort　by　the　burden；　they　staggered　up　the　last　steep　of　the　mountain。　Together；　they　chanted　One！　Two！　Three！　and　crashed　the　log　on　to　the　great　pile。　Then　they　stepped　back；　laughing　with　triumphant　pleasure；　so　that　immediately　Ralph　had　to　stand　on　his　head。　Below　them；　boys　were　still　laboring；　though　some　of　the　small　ones　had　lost　interest　and　were　searching　this　new　forest　for　fruit。　Now　the　twins；　with　unsuspected　intelligence；　came　up　the　mountain　with　armfuls　of　dried　leaves　and　dumped　them　against　the　pile。　One　by　one；　as　they　sensed　that　the　pile　was　plete；　the　boys　stopped　going　back　for　more　and　stood；　with　the　pink；　shattered　top　of　the　mountain　around　them。　Breath　came　evenly　by　now；　and　sweat　dried。
　Ralph　and　Jack　looked　at　each　other　while　society　paused　about　them。　The　shameful　knowledge　grew　in　them　and　they　did　not　know　how　to　begin　confession。　
　Ralph　spoke　first；　crimson　in　the　face。　
　〃Will　your？〃
　He　cleared　his　throat　and　went　on。　
　〃Will　you　light　the　fire？〃
　Now　the　absurd　situation　was　open；　Jack　blushed　too。　He　began　to　mutter　vaguely。
　〃You　rub　two　sticks。　You　rub…〃
　He　glanced　at　Ralph；　who　blurted　out　the　last　confession　of　inpetence。　〃Has　anyone　got　any　matches？〃
　〃You　make　a　bow　and　spin　the　arrow；〃　said　Roger。　He　rubbed　his　hands　in　mime。　〃Psss。　Psss。〃
　A　little　air　was　moving　over　the　mountain。　Piggy　came　with　it；　in　shorts　and　shirt；　laboring　cautiously　out　of　the　forest　with　the　evening　sunlight　gleaming　from　his　glasses。　He　held　the　conch　under　his　arm。
　Ralph　shouted　at　him。
　〃Piggy！　Have　you　got　any　matches？〃
　The　other　boys　took　up　the　cry　till　the　mountain　rang。　Piggy　shook　his　head　and　came　to　the　pile。
　〃My！　You've　made　a　big　heap；　haven't　you？〃
　Jack　pointed　suddenly。
　〃His　specs…use　them　as　burning　glasses！〃
　Piggy　was　surrounded　before　he　could　back　away。
　〃Here…let　me　go！〃　His　voice　rose　to　a　shriek　of　terror　as　Jack　snatched　toe　glasses　off　his　face。　〃Mind　out！　Give'em　back！　I　can　hardly　see！　You'll　break　the　conch！〃
　Ralph　elbowed　him　to　one　side　and　knelt　by　the　pile。
　〃Stand　out　of　the　light。〃
　There　was　pushing　and　pulling　and　officious　cries。　Ralph　moved　the　lenses　back　and　forth；　this　way　and　that；　till　a　glossy　white　image　of　the　declining　sun　lay　on　a　piece　of　rotten　wood。　Almost　at　once　a　thin　trickle　of　smoke　rose　up　and　made　him　cough。　Jack　knelt　too　and　blew　gently；　so　that　the　smoke　drifted　away；　thickening；　and　a　tiny　name　appeared。　The　flame；　nearly　invisible　at　first　in　that　bright　sunlight；　enveloped　a　small　twig；　grew；　was　enriched　with　color　and　reached　up　to　a　branch　which　exploded　with　a　sharp　crack。　The　flame　flapped　higher　and　the　boys　broke　into　a　cheer。
　〃My　specs！〃　howled　Piggy。　〃Give　me　my　specs！〃
　Ralph　stood　away　from　the　pile　and　put　the　glasses　into　Piggy　s　groping　hands。　His　voice　subsided　to　a　mutter。
　〃Jus‘　blurs；　that's　all。　Hardly　see　my　hand…〃
　The　boys　were　dancing。　The　pile　was　so　rotten；　and　now　so　tinder…dry；　that　whole　limbs　yielded　passionately　to　the　yellow　flames　that　poured　upwards　and　shook　a　great　beard　of　flame　twenty　feet　in　the　air。　For　yards　round　the　fire　the　heat　was　like　a　blow；　and　the　breeze　was　a　river　of　sparks。　Trunks　crumbled　to　white　dust。
　Ralph　shouted。
　〃More　wood！　All　of　you　get　more　wood！〃
　Life　became　a　race　with　the　fire　and　the　boys　scattered　through　the　upper　forest。　To　keep　a　clean　flag　of　flame　flying　on　the　mountain　was　the　immediate　end　and　no　one　looked　further。　Even　the　smallest　boys；　unless　fruit　claimed　them；　brought　little　pieces　of　wood　and　threw　them　in。　The　air　moved　a　little　faster　and　became　a　light　wind；　so　that　leeward　and　windward　side　were　clearly　differentiated。　On　one　side　the　air　was　cool；　but　on　the　other　the　fire　thrust　out　a　savage　arm　of　heat　that　crinkled　hair　on　the　instant。　Boys　who　felt　the　evening　wind　on　their　damp　faces　paused　to　enjoy　the　freshness　of　it　and　then　found　they　were　exhausted。　They　flung　themselves　down　in　the　shadows　that　lay　among　die　shattered　rocks。　The　beard　of　flame　diminished　quickly；　then　the　pile　fell　inwards　with　a　soft；　cindery　sound；　and　sent　a　great　tree　of　sparks　upwards　that　leaned　away　and　drifted　downwind。　The　boys　lay；　panting　like　dogs。
　Ralph　raised　his　head　off　his　forearms。
　〃That　was　no　good。〃
　Roger　spat　efficiently　into　the　hot　dust。
　〃What　d'you　mean？〃
　〃There　wasn't　any　smoke。　Only　flame。〃
　Piggy　had　settled　himself　in　a　space　between　two　rocks；　and　sat　with　the　conch　on　his　knees。
　〃We　haven't　made　a　fire；〃　he　said；　〃what's　any　use。　We　couldn't　keep　a　fire　like　that　going；　not　if　we　tried。'
　〃A　fat　lot　you　tried；〃　said　Jack　contemptuously。　〃You　just　sat。〃
　〃We　used　his　specs；〃　said　Simon；　smearing　a　black　cheek　with　his　forearm。　He　helped　that　way。〃
　〃I　got　the　conch；〃　said　Piggy　indignantly。　〃You　let　me　speak！〃
　〃The　conch　doesn't　count　on　top　of　the　mountain；〃　said　Jack；　〃so　you　shut　up。〃
　〃I　got　the　conch　in　my　hand。〃
　〃Put　on　green　branches；〃　said　Maurice。　〃That's　the　best　way　to　make　smoke。〃　
　〃I　got　the　conch…〃
　Jack　turned　fiercely。　〃You　shut　up！〃
　Piggy　wilted。　Ralph　took　the　conch　from　him　and　looked　round　the　circle　of　boys。　
　〃We've　got　to　have　special　people　for　looking　after　the　fire。　Any　day　there　may　be　a　ship　out　there〃…he　waved　his　arm　at　the　taut　wire　of　the　horizon…〃and　if　we　have　a　signal　going　they'll　e　and　take　us　off。　And　another　thing。　We　ought　to　have　more　rules。　Where　the　conch　is；　that's　a　meeting。　The　same　up　here　as　down　there。〃
　They　assented。　Piggy　opened　his　mouth　to　speak；　caught　Jack's　eye　and　shut　it　again。　Jack　held　out　his　hands　for　the　conch　and　stood　up；　holding　the　delicate　thing　carefully　in　his　sooty　hands。
　〃I　agree　with　Ralph。　We've　got　to　have　rules　and　obey　them。　After　all；　we're　not　savages。　We're　English；　and　the　English　are　best　at　everything。　So　we've　got　to　do　the　right　things。〃
　He　turned　to　Ralph。
　〃Ralph；　I'll　split　up　the　choir…my　hunters；　that　is…into　groups；　and　we'll　be　responsible　for　keeping　the　fire　going…〃
　This　generosity　brought　a　spatter　of　applause　from　the　boys；　so　that　Jack　grinned　at　them；　then　waved　the　conch　for　silence。
　〃We'll　let　the　fire　burn　out　now。　Who　would　see　smoke　at　night…time；　anyway？　And　we　can　start　the　fire　again　whenever　we　like。　Altos；　you　can　keep　the　fire　going　this　week；　and　trebles　the　next…〃
　The　assembly　assented　gravely。
　〃And　we'll　be　responsible　for　keeping　a　lookout　too。　If　we　see　a　ship　out　there〃…they　followed　the　direction　of　his　bony　arm　with　their　eyes…〃we'll　put　green　branches　on。　Then　there'll　be　more　smoke。〃
　They　gazed　intently　at　the　dense　blue　of　the　horizon；　as　if　a　little　silhouette　might　appear　there　at　any　moment。
　The　sun　in　the　west　was　a　drop　of　burning　gold　that　slid　nearer　and　nearer　the　sill　of　the　world。　All　at　once　they　were　aware　of　the　evening　as　the　end　of　light　and　warmth。
　Roger　took　the　conch　and　looked　round　at　them　gloomily。
　〃I've　been　watching　the　sea。　There　hasn't　been　the　trace　of　a　ship。　Perhaps　we'll　never　be　rescued。〃
　A　murmur　rose　and　swept　away。　Ralph　took　back　the　conch。
　〃I　said　before　we'll　be　rescued　sometime。　We've　just　got　to　wait；　that's　all。〃
　Daring；　indignant；　Piggy　took　the　conch。
　〃That's　what　I　said！　I　said　about　our　meetings　and　things　and　then　you　said　shut　up…〃
　His　voice　lifted　into　the　whine　of　virtuous　recrimination。　They　stirred　and　began　to　shout　him　down。
　〃You　said　you　wanted　a　small　fire　and　you　been　and　built　a　pile　like　a　hayrick。　If　I　say　anything；'　cried　Piggy；　with　bitter　realism；　〃you　say　shut　up；　but　if　Jack　or　Maurice　or　Simon…〃
　He　paused　in　the　tumult；　standing；　looking　beyond　them　and　down　the　unfriendly　side　of　the　mountain　to　the　great　patch　where　they　had　found　dead　wood。　Then　he　laughed　so　strangely　that　they　were　hushed；　looking　at　the　flash　of　his　spectacles　in　astonishment。　They　followed　his　gaze　to　find　the　sour　joke。　
　〃You　got　your　small　fire　all　right。〃
　Smoke　was　rising　here　and　there　among　the　creepers　that　festooned　th