wgolding.lordoftheflies-第6章

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h　continued　to　blow　short；　penetrating　blasts。　Piggy　moved　among　the　crowd；　asking　names　and　frowning　to　remember　them。　The　children　gave　him　the　same　simple　obedience　that　they　had　given　to　the　men　with　megaphones。　Some　were　naked　and　carrying　their　clothes；　others　half…naked；　or　more　or　less　dressed；　in　school　uniforms；　grey；　blue；　fawn；　jacketed　or　jerseyed。　There　were　badges；　mottoes　even；　stripes　of　color　in　stockings　and　pullovers。　Their　heads　clustered　above　the　trunks　in　the　green　shade；　heads　brown；　fair；　black；　chestnut；　sandy；　mouse…colored；　heads　muttering；　whispering；　heads　full　of　eyes　that　watched　Ralph　and　speculated。　Something　was　being　done。
　The　children　who　came　along　the　beach；　singly　or　in　twos；　leapt　into　visibility　when　they　crossed　the　line　from　heat　haze　to　nearer　sand。　Here；　the　eye　was　first　attracted　to　a　black；　bat…like　creature　that　danced　on　the　sand；　and　only　later　perceived　the　body　above　it。　The　bat　was　the　child's　shadow；　shrunk　by　the　vertical　sun　to　a　patch　between　the　hurrying　feet。　Even　while　he　blew；　Ralph　noticed　the　last　pair　of　bodies　that　reached　the　platform　above　a　fluttering　patch　of　Hack。　The　two　boys；　bullet…headed　and　with　hair　like　tow；　flung　themselves　down　and　lay　grinning　and　panting　at　Ralph　like　dogs。　They　were　twins；　and　the　eye　was　shocked　and　incredulous　at　such　cheery　duplication。　They　breathed　together；　they　grinned　together；　they　were　chunky　and　vital。　They　raised　wet　lips　at　Ralph；　for　they　seemed　provided　with　not　quite　enough　skin；　so　that　their　profiles　were　blurred　and　their　mouths　pulled　open。　Piggy　bent　his　flashing　glasses　to　them　and　could　be　heard　between　the　blasts；　repeating　their　names。
　〃Sam；　Eric；　Sam；　Eric。〃
　Then　he　got　muddled；　the　twins　shook　their　heads　and　pointed　at　each　other　and　the　crowd　laughed。
　At　last　Ralph　ceased　to　blow　and　sat　there；　the　conch　trailing　from　one　hand；　his　head　bowed　on　his　knees。　As　the　echoes　died　away　so　did　the　laughter；　and　there　was　silence。
　Within　the　diamond　haze　of　the　beach　something　dark　was　fumbling　along。　Ralph　saw　it　first；　and　watched　till　the　intentness　of　his　gaze　drew　all　eyes　that　way。　Then　the　creature　stepped　from　mirage　on　to　clear　sand；　and　they　saw　that　the　darkness　was　not　all　shadows　but　mostly　clothing。　The　creature　was　a　party　of　boys；　marching　approximately　in　step　in　two　parallel　lines　and　dressed　in　strangely　eccentric　clothing。　Shorts；　shirts；　and　different　garments　they　carried　in　their　hands；　but　each　boy　wore　a　square　black　cap　with　a　silver　badge　on　it。　Their　bodies；　from　throat　to　ankle；　were　hidden　by　black　cloaks　which　bore　a　long　silver　cross　on　the　left　breast　and　each　neck　was　finished　off　with　a　hambone　frill。　The　heat　of　the　tropics；　the　descent；　the　search　for　food；　and　now　this　sweaty　march　along　the　blazing　beach　had　　given　　them　　the　　plexions　　of　　newly　washed　plums。　The　boy　who　controlled　them　was　dressed　in　the　same　way　though　his　cap　badge　was　golden。　When　his　party　was　about　ten　yards　from　the　platform　he　shouted　an　order　and　they　halted；　gasping；　sweating；　swaying　in　the　fierce　light。　The　boy　himself　came　forward；　vaulted　on　to　the　platform　with　his　cloak　flying；　and　peered　into　what　to　him　was　almost　plete　darkness。　
　〃Where's　the　man　with　the　trumpet？〃　
　Ralph；　sensing　his　sun…blindness；　answered　him。　
　〃There's　no　man　with　a　trumpet。　Only　me。〃　
　The　boy　came　close　and　peered　down　at　Ralph；　screwing　up　his　face　as　he　did　so。　What　he　saw　of　the　fair…haired　boy　with　the　creamy　shell　on　his　knees　did　not　seem　to　satisfy　him。　He　turned　quickly；　his　black　cloak　circling。　
　〃Isn't　there　a　ship；　then？〃
　Inside　the　floating　cloak　he　was　tall；　thin；　and　bony：　and　his　hair　was　red　beneath　the　black　cap。　His　face　was　crumpled　and　freckled；　and　ugly　without　silliness。　Out　of。　this　face　stared　two　light　blue　eyes；　frustrated　now；　and　turning；　or　ready　to　turn；　to　anger。　
　〃Isn't　there　a　man　here？〃　Ralph　spoke　to　his　back。
　〃No。　We're　having　a　meeting。　e　and　join　in。〃　
　The　group　of　cloaked　boys　began　to　scatter　from　close　line。　The　tall　boy　shouted　at　them。　
　〃Choir！　Stand　still！〃
　Wearily　obedient；　the　choir　huddled　into　line　and　stood　there　swaying　in　the　sun。　None　the　less；　some　began　to　protest　faintly。
　〃But；　Merridew。　Please；　Merridew　。　。　。　can't　we？〃　
　Then　one　of　the　boys　flopped　on　his　face　in　the　sand　and　the　line　broke　up。　They　heaved　the　fallen　boy　to　the　platform　and　let　him　be。　Merridew；　his　eyes　staring；　made　the　best　of　a　bad　job。
　〃All　right　then。　Sit　down。　Let　him　alone。〃　〃But　Merridew。〃
　〃He's　always　throwing　a　faint；〃　said　Merridew。　〃He　did　in　Gib。；　and　Addis；　and　at　matins　over　the　precentor。〃
　This　last　piece　of　shop　brought　sniggers　from　the　choir；　who　perched　like　black　birds　on　the　criss…cross　trunks　and　examined　Ralph　with　interest。　Piggy　asked　no　names。　He　was　intimidated　by　this　uniformed　superiority　and　the　offhand　authority　in　Merridew's　voice。　He　shrank　to　the　other　side　of　Ralph　and　busied　himself　with　his　glasses。
　Merridew　turned　to　Ralph。
　〃Aren't　there　any　grownups？〃
　〃No。〃
　Merridew　sat　down　on　a　trunk　and　looked　round　the　circle。
　〃Then　well　have　to　look　after　ourselves。〃
　Secure　on　the　other　side　of　Ralph；　Piggy　spoke　timidly。
　〃That's　why　Ralph　made　a　meeting。　So　as　we　can　decide　what　to　do。　We've　heard　names。　That's　Johnny。　Those　two　…they're　twins；　Sam　'n　Eric。　Which　is　Eric…？　You？　No　…you're　Sam…〃
　〃I'm　Sam…〃
　〃'n　I'm　Eric。〃
　〃We'd　better　all　have　names；〃　said　Ralph；　〃so　I'm　Ralph。〃
　〃We　got　most　names；〃　said　Piggy。　〃Got　'em　just　now。〃
　〃Kids'　names；〃　said　Merridew。　Why　should　I　be　Jack？　I'm　Merridew。〃
　Ralph　turned　to　him　quickly。　This　was　the　voice　of　one　who　knew　his　own　mind。
　〃Then；〃　went　on　Piggy；　〃that　boy…I　forget…〃
　〃You're　talking　too　much；〃　said　Jack　Merridew。　〃Shut　up；　Fatty。〃
　Laughter　arose。
　〃He　s　not　Fatty；〃　cried　Ralph；　〃his　real　name's　Piggy！〃
　〃Piggy！〃　〃Piggy！〃
　〃Oh；　Piggy！〃
　A　storm　of　laughter　arose　and　even　the　tiniest　child　joined　in。　For　the　moment　the　boys　were　a　closed　circuit　of　sympathy　with　Piggy　outside：　he　went　very　pink；　bowed　his　head　and　cleaned　his　glasses　again。
　Finally　the　laughter　died　away　and　the　naming　continued。　There　was　Maurice；　next　in　size　among　the　choir　boys　to　Jack；　but　broad　and　grinning　all　the　time。　There　was　a　slight；　furtive　boy　whom　no　one　knew；　who　kept　to　himself　with　an　inner　intensity　of　avoidance　and　secrecy。　He　muttered　that　his　name　was　Roger　and　was　silent　again。　Bill；　Robert；　Harold；　Henry；　the　choir　boy　who　had　fainted　sat　up　against　a　palm　trunk；　smiled　pallidly　at　Ralph　and　said　that　his　name　was　Simon。
　Jack　spoke。
　〃We've　got　to　decide　about　being　rescued。〃　
　There　was　a　buzz。　One　of　the　small　boys；　Henry；　said　that　he　wanted　to　go　home。
　〃Shut　up；〃　said　Ralph　absently。　　He　lifted　the　conch。　〃Seems　to　me　we　ought　to　have　a　chief　to　decide　things。〃　
　〃A　chief！　A　chief！〃
　〃I　ought　to　be　chief；〃　said　Jack　with　simple　arrogance；　〃because　I'm　chapter　chorister　and　head　boy。　I　can　sing　C　sharp。〃　
　Another　buzz。
　〃Well　then；〃　said　Jack；　〃I…〃
　He　hesitated。　The　dark　boy；　Roger；　stirred　at　last　and　spoke　up。
　〃Let's　have　a　vote。〃　
　〃Yes！〃
　〃Vote　for　chief！〃　
　〃Let's　vote…〃
　This　toy　of　voting　was　almost　as　pleasing　as　the　conch。　Jack　started　to　protest　but　the　clamor　changed　from　the　general　wish　for　a　chief　to　an　election　by　acclaim　of　Ralph　himself。　None　of　the　boys　could　have　found　good　reason　for　this；　what　intelligence　had　been　shown　was　traceable　to　Piggy　while　the　most　obvious　leader　was　Jack。　But　there　was　a　stillness　about　Ralph　as　he　sat　that　marked　him　out：　there　was　his　size；　and　attractive　appearance；　and　most　obscurely；　yet　most　powerfully；　there　was　the　conch。　The　being　that　had　blown　that；　had　sat　waiting　for　them　on　the　platform　with　the　delicate　thing　balanced　on　his　knees；　was　set　apart。
　〃Him　with　the　shell。〃　〃Ralph！　Ralph！〃
　〃Let　him　be　chief　with　the　trumpet…thing。〃　
　Ralph　raised　a　hand　for　silence。　
　〃All　right。　Who　wants　Jack　for　chief？〃　
　With　dreary　obedience　the　choir　raised　their　hands。　
　〃Who　wants　me？〃
　Every　hand　outside　the　choir　except　Piggy's　was　raised　immediately。　Then　Piggy；　too；　raised　his　hand　grudgingly　into　the　air。　Ralph　counted。　〃I'm　chief　then。〃　The　circle　of　boys　broke　into　applause。　Even　the　choir　applauded；　and　the　freckles　on　Jack's　face　disappeared　under　a　blush　of　mortification。　He　started　up；　then　changed　his　mind　and　sat　down　again　while　the　air　rang。　Ralph　looked　at　him；　eager　to　offer　something。
　〃The　choir　belongs　to　you；　of　course。〃
　〃They　could　be　the　army…〃
　〃Or　hunters…〃
　〃They　could　be…〃
　The　suffusion　drained　away　from　Jack's　face。　Ralph　waved　again　for　silence。
　〃Jack's　in　charge　of　the　choir。　They　can　be…what　do　you　want　them　to　be？〃
　〃Hunters。〃
　Jack　and　Ralph　smiled　at　each　other　with　shy　liking。　The　rest　began　to　talk　eagerly。
　Jack　stood　up。
　〃A11　right；　choir。　Take　off　your　togs。〃
　As　if　released　from　class；　the　choir　boys　stood　up；　chattered；　piled　their　black　cloaks　on　the　grass。　Jack　laid　his　on　the　trunk　by　Ralph。　His　grey　shorts　were　sticking　to　him　with　sweat。　Ralph　glanced　at　them　admiringly；　and　when　Jack　saw　his　glance　he　explained。
　〃I　tried　to　get　over　that　hill　to　see　if　there　was　water　all　round。　But　your　shell　called　us。〃
　Ralph　smiled　and　held　up　the　conch　for　silence。
　〃Listen；　everybody。　I've　got　to　have　time　to　think　things　out　I　can't　decide　what　to　do　straight　off。　If　this　isn't　an　island　we　might　be　rescued　straight　away。　So　we've　got　to　decide　if　this　is　an　island。　Everybody　must　stay　round　here　and　wait　and　not　go　away。　Three　of　us…if　we　take　more　we'd　get　all　mixed；　and　lose　each　other…three　of　us　will　go　on　an　expedition　and　find　out。　I‘ll　go；　and　Jack；　and；　and。。。。〃
　He　looked　round　the　circle　of　eager　faces。　There　was　no　lack　of　boys　to　choose　from。
　〃And　Simon。〃
　The　boys　round　Simon　giggled；　and　he　stood　up；　laughing　a　little。　Now　that　the　pallor　of　his　faint　was　over；　he　was　a　skinny；　vivid　little　boy；　with　a　glance　ing　up　from　under　a　hut　of　straight　hair　that　hung　down；　black　and　coarse。
　He　nodded　at　Ralph。
　〃I'll　e。〃
　〃And　I…〃
　Jack　snatched　from　behind　him　a　sizable　sheath…knife　and　clouted　it　into　a　trunk。　The　buzz　rose　and　died　away。　
　Piggy　stirred。　〃I'll　e。〃　
　Ralph　turned　to　him。　〃You're　no　good　on　a　job　like　this。〃　
　〃All　the　same…〃
　〃We　don't　want　you；〃　said　Jack；　flatly。　
　〃Three's　enough。〃　
　Piggy's　glasses　flashed。
　〃I　was　with　him　when　he　found　the　conch。　I　was　with　him　before　anyone　else　was。〃
　Jack　and　the　others　paid　no　attention。　There　was　a　general　dispersal。　Ralph；　Jack　and　Simon　jumped　off　the　platform　and　walked　along　the　sand　past　the　bathing　pool。　Piggy　hung　bumbling　behind　them。
　〃If　Simon　walks　in　the　middle　of　us；〃　said　Ralph；　〃then　we　could　talk　over　his　head。〃
　The　three　of　them　fell　into　step。　This　meant　that　every　now　and　then　Simon　had　to　do　a　double　shuffle　to　eaten　up　with　the　others。　Presently　Ralph　stopped　and　turned　back　to　Piggy。　
　〃Look。〃
　Jack　and　Simon　pretended　to　notice　nothing。　They　walked　on。
　〃You　can't　e。〃
　Piggy's　glasses　were　misted　again…this　time　with　humiliation。
　〃You　told　'em。　After　what　I　said。〃　
　His　face　flushed；　his　mouth　trembled。　〃After　I