wgolding.lordoftheflies-第34章

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uld　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　possibly　withstand　Hitler。　It's　possible　to　look　at　the　question　in　this　way　and　say；　〃Is　the　remedy　not　as　bad　as　the　disease？〃　I　don't　know。
　Q。：　Well；　the　innocence　in　man；　for　example；　that　you　bring　out　among　the　boys　in　this　novel；　would　you　say　it　was　an　inherent　kind　of　thing　which　materializes；　or　is　it　a　thing　from　without　which　is　taken　on　during　a　transitional　process　from　innocence　to　non…innocence？　Are　the　boys　innocent　of　themselves　or　are　they　innocent　of　evil　from　without　and　evil　of　others？
　A。：　They're　innocent　of　their　own　natures。　They　don't　understand　their　own　natures　and　therefore；　when　they　get　to　this　island；　they　can　look　forward　to　a　bright　future；　because　they　don't　understand　the　things　that　threaten　it。　This　seems　to　me　to　be　innocence；　I　suppose　you　could　almost　equate　it　with　ignorance　of　men's　basic　attributes；　and　this　is　inevitable　with　anything　which　is　born　and　begins　to　grow　up。　Obviously；　it　doesn't　understand　its　own　nature。
　Q。：　Then　it's　more　a　bination　of　innocence　of　their　own　and　other's　attributes？
　A。：　Yes。　I　think；　quite　simply；　that　they　don't　understand　what　beasts　there　are　in　the　human　psyche　which　have　to　be　curbed。　They're　too　young　to　look　ahead　and　really　put　the　curbs　on　their　own　nature　and　implement　them；　because　giving　way　to　these　beasts　is　always　a　pleasure；　in　some　ways；　and　so　their　society　breaks　down。　Of　course；　on　the　other　hand；　in　an　adult　society　it　is　possible　society　will　not　break　down。　It　may　be　that　we　can　put　sufficient　curbs　on　our　own　natures　to　prevent　it　from　breaking　down。　We　may　have　the　very　mon　sense　to　say　that　if　we　have　atom　bombs　and　so　on…H…bombs…well；　we　cannot　possibly　use　these　things。
　Now　that　is；　in　a　sense；　the　lowest　possible　bit　of　mon　sense…obviously　we　can't…but　you　know　as　well　as　I　do　that　there　is　a　large　chance　that　those　weapons　will　be　used　and　we'll　be　done　for。　I　think　that　democratic　attitude　of　voluntary　curbs　put　on　one's　own　nature　is　the　only　possible　way　for　humanity；　but　I　wouldn't　like　to　say　that　it's　going　to　work　out；　or　survive。
　Q。：　You　recently　stated　your　belief　that　humanity　would　either　be　saved；　or　save　itself。　Is　that　correct？
　A。：　Yes；　but　here　again　this　is　because　I'm　basically　an　optimist。　Intellectually　I　can　see　man's　balance　is　about　fifty…fifty；　and　his　chances　of　blowing　himself　up　are　about　one　to　one。　I　can't　see　this　any　way　but　intellectually。　I'm　just　emotionally　unable　to　believe　that　he　will　do　this。　This　means　that　I　am　by　nature　an　optimist　and　by　intellectual　conviction　a　pessimist；　I　suppose。
　Q。：　The　reason　I　posed　that　ment　was　because　in　your　published　notes　in　Lord　of　the　Flies　。　。　。
　A。：　They　aren't　my　notes。
　Q。：　I'm　sorry。　I　thought　Mr。　Epstein2　quoted　you。
　A。：　Did　he？
　Q。：　In　the　summation　。　。　。
　A。：　Oh；　yes。
　Q。：　In　the　end　the　question　is；　who　will　rescue　the　adult　and　his　cruiser？　This　seems　to　me　a　little　fatalistic；　it　conveys　the　notion　that　there　isn't　really　any　hope。
　A。：　Yes；　but　there　again　you　can　take　。　。　。　there　are　two　answers　here；　I　think　they　are　both　valid　answers。　The　first　one　is　the　one　I　made　before；　and　that　is　that　the　quotation　there　is　what　I　said　is　intellectual　fatalism。　It's　making　the　thing　a　sort　of　series　of　Chinese　boxes；　one　inside　of　the　Other。　The　other　thing　is　to　say　that　as　the　fabulist　is　always
　
　2。E。　L。　Epstein；　〃Notes　on　Lord　of　the　Flies〃　reprinted　below；　p。　277。…Eds。
　
　a　moralist；　he　is　always　overstating　his　case；　because　he　has　a　point　he　wishes　to　drive　home。　I　would　prefer　to　say　if　you　don't　curb　yourself；　then　this　is　what　will　happen　to　you。
　Q。：　Again；　in　Lord　of　the　Flies；　I　noticed　a　very　definite　relationship　between　Simon　and　his　brutal　death　and　Christ　and　his　crucifixion。　Would　you　care　to　discuss　this；　or　give　any　omniscient　judgment？
　A。：　Well；　I　can't　give　an　omniscient　judgment。　I　can　only　say　what　I　intended。　First　you've　got　to　remember　I　haven　t　read　this　book　for　ten　years；　so　I　may　be　a　bit　off。　I　intended　a　Christ　figure　in　the　novel；　because　Christ　figures　occ