wgolding.lordoftheflies-第17节

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　〃We　can　light　the　fire　again。　You　should　have　been　with　us；　Ralph。　We　had　a　smashing　time。　The　twins　got　knocked　over…〃
　〃We　hit　the　pig…〃
　〃…I　fell　on　top…〃
　〃I　cut　the　pig's　throat；〃　said　Jack；　proudly；　and　yet　twitched　as　he　said　it。　〃Can　I　borrow　yours；　Ralph；　to　make　a　nick　in　the　hilt？〃
　The　boys　chattered　and　danced。　The　twins　continued　to　grin。
　There　was　lashings　of　blood；〃　said　Jack；　laughing　and　shuddering；　〃you　should　have　seen　it！〃
　〃We'll　go　hunting　every　day…〃
　Ralph　spoke　again；　hoarsely。　He　had　not　moved。
　〃You　let　the　fire　go　out。〃
　This　repetition　made　Jack　uneasy。　He　looked　at　the　twins　and　then　back　at　Ralph。
　〃We　had　to　have　them　in　the　hunt；〃　he　said；　〃or　there　wouldn't　have　been　enough　for　a　ring。〃
　He　flushed；　conscious　of　a　fault。
　〃The　fire's　only　been　out　an　hour　or　two。　We　can　light　up　again…〃
　He　noticed　Ralph's　scarred　nakedness；　and　the　sombre　silence　of　all　four　of　them。　He　sought；　charitable　in　his　happiness；　to　include　them　in　the　thing　that　had　happened。　His　mind　was　crowded　with　memories；　memories　of　the　knowledge　that　had　e　to　them　when　they　closed　in　on　the　struggling　pig；　knowledge　that　they　had　outwitted　a　living　thing；　imposed　their　will　upon　it；　taken　away　its　life　like　a　long　satisfying　drink。
　He　spread　his　arms　wide。
　〃You　should　have　seen　the　blood！〃
　The　hunters　were　more　silent　now；　but　at　this　they　buzzed　again。　Ralph　flung　back　his　hair。　One　arm　pointed　at　the　empty　horizon。　His　voice　was　loud　and　savage；　and　struck　them　into　silence。
　〃There　was　a　ship。〃
　Jack；　faced　at　once　with　too　many　awful　implications；　ducked　away　from　them。　He　laid　a　hand　on　the　pig　and　drew　his　knife。　Ralph　brought　his　arm　down；　fist　clenched；　and　his　voice　shook。
　〃There　was　a　ship。　Out　there。　You　said　you'd　keep　the　fire　going　and　you　let　it　out！〃　He　took　a　step　toward　Jack；　who　turned　and　faced　him。
　〃They　might　have　seen　us。　We　might　have　gone　home…〃
　This　was　too　bitter　for　Piggy；　who　forgot　his　timidity　in　the　agony　of　his　loss。　He　began　to　cry　out；　shrilly：
　〃You　and　your　blood；　Jack　Merridew！　You　and　your　hunting！　We　might　have　gone　home…〃
　Ralph　pushed　Piggy　to　one　side。
　〃I　was　chief；　and　you　were　going　to　do　what　I　said。　You　talk。　But　you　can't　even　build　huts…then　you　go　off　hunting　and　let　out　the　fire…〃
　He　turned　away；　silent　for　a　moment。　Then　his　voice　came　again　on　a　peak　of　feeling。
　〃There　was　a　ship…〃
　One　of　the　smaller　hunters　began　to　wail。　The　dismal　truth　was　filtering　through　to　everybody。　Jack　went　very　red　as　he　hacked　and　pulled　at　the　pig。
　〃The　job　was　too　much。　We　needed　everyone。〃
　Ralph　turned。
　〃You　could　have　had　everyone　when　the　shelters　were　finished。　But　you　had　to　hunt…〃
　〃We　needed　meat。〃
　Jack　stood　up　as　he　said　this；　the　bloodied　knife　in　his　hand。　The　two　boys　faced　each　other。　There　was　the　brilliant　world　of　hunting；　tactics；　fierce　exhilaration；　skill；　and　there　was　the　world　of　longing　and　baffled　mon…sense。　Jack　transferred　the　knife　to　his　left　hand　and　smudged　blood　over　his　forehead　as　he　pushed　down　the　plastered　hair。
　Piggy　began　again。
　〃You　didn't　ought　to　have　let　that　fire　out。　You　said　you'd　keep　the　smoke　going…〃
　This　from　Piggy；　and　the　wails　of　agreement　from　some　of　the　hunters；　drove　Jack　to　violence。　The　bolting　look　came　into　his　blue　eyes。　He　took　a　step；　and　able　at　last　to　hit　someone；　stuck　his　fist　into　Piggy's　stomach。　Piggy　sat　down　with　a　grunt。　Jack　stood　over　him。　His　voice　was　vicious　with　humiliation。
　〃You　would；　would　you？　Fatty！〃
　Ralph　made　a　step　forward　and　Jack　smacked　Piggy's　head。　Piggy's　glasses　flew　off　and　tinkled　on　the　rocks。　Piggy　cried　out　in　terror：
　〃My　specs！〃
　He　went　crouching　and　feeling　over　the　rocks　but　Simon；　who　got　there　first；　found　them　for　him。　Passions　beat　about　Simon　on　the　mountain…top　with　awful　wings。
　〃One　side's　broken。〃
　Piggy　grabbed　and　put　on　the　glasses。　He　looked　malevolently　at　Jack。
　〃I　got　to　have　them　specs。　Now　I　only　got　one　eye。　Jus‘　you　wait…〃
　Jack　made　a　move　toward　Piggy　who　scrambled　away　till　a　great　rock　lay　between　them。　He　thrust　his　head　over　the　top　and　glared　at　Jack　through　his　one　flashing　glass。
　〃Now　I　only　got　one　eye。　Just　you　wait…〃
　Jack　mimicked　the　whine　and　scramble。　
　〃Jus'　you　wait…yah！〃
　Piggy　and　the　parody　were　so　funny　that　the　hunters　began　to　laugh。　Jack　felt　encouraged。　He　went　on　scrambling　and　the　laughter　rose　to　a　gale　of　hysteria。　Unwillingly　Ralph　felt　his　lips　twitch；　he　was　angry　with　himself　for　giving　way。
　He　muttered。
　〃That　was　a　dirty　trick。〃
　Jack　broke　out　of　his　gyration　and　stood　facing　Ralph。　His　words　came　in　a　shout。
　〃All　right；　all　right！〃
　He　looked　at　Piggy；　at　the　hunters；　at　Ralph。
　〃I'm　sorry。　About　the　fire；　I　mean。　There。　I…〃
　He　drew　himself　up。
　〃…I　apologize。〃
　The　buzz　from　the　hunters　was　one　of　admiration　at　this　handsome　behavior。　Clearly　they　were　of　the　opinion　that　Jack　had　done　the　decent　thing；　had　put　himself　in　the　right　by　his　generous　apology　and　Ralph；　obscurely；　in　the　wrong。　They　waited　for　an　appropriately　decent　answer。
　Yet　Ralph's　throat　refused　to　pass　one。　He　resented；　as　an　addition　to　Jack's　misbehavior；　this　verbal　trick。　The　fire　was　dead；　the　ship　was　gone。　Could　they　not　see？　Anger　instead　of　decency　passed　his　throat。
　〃That　was　a　dirty　trick。〃
　They　were　silent　on　the　mountain…top　while　the　opaque　look　appeared　in　Jack's　eyes　and　passed　away。
　Ralph's　final　word　was　an　ungracious　mutter。
　〃All　right。　Light　the　fire。〃
　With　some　positive　action　before　them；　a　little　of　die　tension　died。　Ralph　said　no　more；　did　nothing；　stood　looking　down　at　the　ashes　round　his　feet。　Jack　was　loud　and　active。　He　gave　orders；　sang；　whistled；　threw　remarks　at　the　silent　Ralph…remarks　that　did　not　need　an　answer；　and　therefore　could　not　invite　a　snub；　and　still　Ralph　was　silent。　No　one；　not　even　Jack；　would　ask　him　to　move　and　in　the　end　they　had　to　build　the　fire　three　yards　away　and　in　a　place　not　really　as　convenient。　So　Ralph　asserted　his　chieftainship　and　could　not　have　chosen　a　better　way　if　he　had　thought　for　days。　Against　this　weapon；　so　indefinable　and　so　effective；　Jack　was　powerless　and　raged　without　knowing　why。　By　the　time　the　pile　was　built；　they　were　on　different　sides　of　a　high　barrier。
　When　they　had　dealt　with　the　fire　another　crisis　arose。　Jack　had　no　means　of　lighting　it。　Then　to　his　surprise；　Ralph　went　to　Piggy　and　took　the　glasses　from　him。　Not　even　Ralph　knew　now　a　link　between　him　and　Jack　had　been　snapped　and　fastened　elsewhere。
　'I'll　bring　'em　back。〃
　〃I'll　e　too。〃
　Piggy　stood　behind　him；　islanded　in　a　sea　of　meaningless　color；　while　Ralph　knelt　and　focused　the　glossy　spot。　Instantly　the　fire　was　alight　Piggy　held　out　his　hands　and　grabbed　the　glasses　back。
　Before　these　fantastically　attractive　flowers　of　violet　and　red　and　yellow；　unkindness　melted　away。　They　became　a　circle　of　boys　round　a　camp　fire　and　even　Piggy　and　Ralph　were　half…drawn　in。　Soon　some　of　the　boys　were　rushing　down　the　slope　for　more　wood　while　Jack　hacked　the　pig。　They　tried　holding　the　whole　carcass　on　a　stake　over　the　fire；　but　the　stake　burnt　more　quickly　than　the　pig　roasted。　In　the　end　they　skewered　bits　of　meat　on　branches　and　held　them　in　the　flames：　and　even　then　almost　as　much　boy　was　roasted　as　meat。
　Ralph's　mouth　watered。　He　meant　to　refuse　meat　but　his　past　diet　of　fruit　and　nuts；　with　an　odd　crab　or　fish；　gave　him　too　little　resistance。　He　accepted　a　piece　of　half…raw　meat　and　gnawed　it　like　a　wolf。
　Piggy　spoke；　also　dribbling。
　〃Aren't　I　having　none？〃
　Jack　had　meant　to　leave　him　in　doubt；　as　an　assertion　of　power；　but　Piggy　by　advertising　his　omission　made　more　cruelty　necessary。
　〃You　didn't　hunt。〃
　〃No　more　did　Ralph；〃　said　Piggy　wetly；　〃nor　Simon。〃　He　amplified。　〃There　isn't　more　than　a　ha'porth　of　meat　in　a　crab。〃
　Ralph　stirred　uneasily。　Simon；　sitting　between　the　twins　and　Piggy；　wiped　his　mouth　and　shoved　his　piece　of　meat　over　the　rocks　to　Piggy；　who　grabbed　it。　The　twins　giggled　and　Simon　lowered　his　face　in　shame。
　Then　Jack　leapt　to　his　feet；　slashed　off　a　great　hunk　of　meat；　and　flung　it　down　at　Simon's　feet。
　〃Eat！　Damn　you！〃
　He　glared　at　Simon。
　〃Take　it！〃
　He　spun　on　his　heel；　center　of　a　bewildered　circle　of　boys。
　〃I　got　you　meat！〃
　Numberless　and　inexpressible　frustrations　bined　to　make　his　rage　elemental　and　awe…inspiring。
　〃I　painted　my　face…I　stole　up。　Now　you　eat…all　of　you　…and　I…〃
　Slowly　the　silence　on　the　mountain…top　deepened　till　the　click　of　the　fire　and　the　soft　hiss　of　roasting　meat　could　be　heard　clearly。　Jack　looked　round　for　understanding　but　found　only　respect。　Ralph　stood　among　the　ashes　of　the　signal　fire；　his　hands　full　of　meat；　saying　nothing。
　Then　at　last　Maurice　broke　the　silence。　He　changed　the　subject　to　the　only　one　that　could　bring　the　majority　of　them　together。
　〃Where　did　you　find　the　pig？〃
　Roger　pointed　down　the　unfriendly　side。　〃They　were　there…by　the　sea。〃
　Jack；　recovering；　could　not　bear　to　have　his　story　told。　He　broke　in　quickly。
　〃We　spread　round。　I　crept；　on　hands　and　knees。　The　spears　fell　out　because　they　hadn't　barbs　on。　The　pig　ran　away　and　made　an　awful　n