chapter 10 the shell and the glasses piggy ID the advancing figure carefully nowadays he sometimes found that he saw more clearly if he removed his glasses and shifted the one lens to the other eye but even through the good eye after what had happened Ralph remained unmistakably Ralph he came now out of the coconut trees limping dirty with dead leaves hanging from his shock of yellow hair one eye was a slit in his puffy cheek and a great scab had formed on his right knee he paused for a moment and peered at the figure on the platform piggy are you the only one left there's some little uns they don't count no big uns Oh Sam and Eric they're collecting would nobody else not that I know of Ralph climbed onto the platform carefully the coarse grass was still worn away where the assembly used to sit the fragile white conch still gleamed by the polished seat Ralph sat down in the grass facing the Chiefs seat and the conch piggy knelt at his left and for a long minute there was silence at last Ralph cleared his throat and whispered something piggy whispered back what you say Ralph spoke up Simon piggy said nothing but nodded solemnly they continued to sit gazing with impaired sight at the Chiefs seat and the glittering Lagoon the green light and the glassy patches of sunshine played over there be fouled bodies at length Ralph got up and went to the conch he took the shell caressingly with both hands and knelt leaning against the trunk piggy huh what's we going to do piggy nodded at the conch you could call an assembly Ralph laughed sharply as he said the word and piggy frowned you're still chief Ralph laughed again you are over us I got the conch Ralph stop laughing like that look there ain't no needs Ralph what's the others going to think at last Ralph stopped he was shivering piggy huh that was Simon you said that's before piggy huh that was murder you stop it said piggy shrilly what good are you doing talking like that he jumped to his feet and stood over Ralph it was dark there was that that's bloody dance that was lightning and thunder and rain we were scared I wasn't scared said Ralph slowly I was I don't know what I was we were scared said piggy excitedly anything might have happened it wasn't what she said he was gesticulating searching for a formula Oh piggy Ralph's voice low and stricken stopped Piggy's gestures he bent down and waited Ralph cradling the conch rocked himself to and fro don't you understand piggy the things we did he may still be no perhaps he was only pretending Piggy's voice trailed off at the sight of Ralph's face you are outside outside of the circle you never really came in did you see what we what they did there was loathing and at the same time a kind of feverish excitement in his voice didn't you see piggy nuts all that well I only got one eye now you ought to know that Ralph Ralph continued to rock to and fro it was an accident said piggy suddenly that's what it was an accident his voice shrilled again coming in the dark he had a no business crawling like that out of the dark he was batty he asked for it he just stick you lated widely again it was an accident you didn't see what they did look Ralph we got to forget this we can't do no good thinking about it see I'm frightened of us I want to go home oh god I want to go home it was an accident said piggy stubbornly and that's that he touched Ralph's bare shoulder and Ralph shuddered at the human contact and look Ralph piggy glanced round quickly then leaned close don't let on we was in that dance not to Sam and Eric but we were all of us piggy shook his head not us to last they never noticed in the dark anyway you said I was only on the outside so as I muttered Ralph I was on the outside - piggy nodded eagerly that's right we was on the outside we never done nothing we've never seen nothing piggy paused and went on we'll live on our own the four of us four of us we aren't enough to keep the fire burnin we'll try see I lit it Sam and Eric came dragging a great log out of the forest they dumped it by the fire and turned to the pool Ralph jumped to his feet hi you to the twins checked a moment and then walked on they're going to bathe Ralph bet it gets it's over the twins were very surprised to see Ralph they flushed and looked past him into the air hello fancy meeting you Ralph we just been in the forest to get wood for the fire we got lost that night Ralph examined his toes you got lost after the piggy cleaned his lens the feast said Sam in a stifled voice Eric nodded yes after the feast we left only said piggy quickly because we were tired so did we very early we were very tired Sam touched a scratch on his forehead and then hurriedly took his hand away Eric finger to split lip yes we were very tired repeated Sam so he left early was he too good the air was heavy with unspoken knowledge Sam twisted in the obscene words shot out of him dots memory of the dance that none of them had attended shook all four boys convulsively we left early when Roger came to the neck of land that joined the Castle Rock to the mainland he was not surprised to be challenged he had reckoned during the terrible night on finding at least some of the tribe holding out against the horrors of the island in the safest place the voice rang out sharply from on high where the diminishing crags were balanced on one another halt who goes there Rajah advance friend Roger advanced you could see who I was that she said we got to challenge everyone Roger peered up you couldn't stop me coming if I wanted couldn't I climb up and see Roger clambered up the ladder like cliff look at this a log had been jammed under the topmost rock and another lever under that Robert leaned lightly on the lever and the rock groaned a full effort would send the rock thundering down to the neck of land Roger admired he's a proper chief isn't he Robert nodded he's going to take us hunting he jerked his head in the direction of the distant shelters where a thread of white smoke climbed up the sky Roger sitting on the very edge of the cliff looked sombrely back at the island as he worked with his fingers at a loose tooth his gaze settled on the top of the distant Mountain and Robert changed the unspoken subject he's going to beat Wilfred what's fall robert shook his head doubtfully i don't know he didn't say he got angry and made his tie wilfred up he's been he giggled excitedly he's been tied for hours waiting but didn't the chief say why I never heard him sitting on the tremendous rock in the torrid Sun Roger received this news as an illumination he ceased to work at his tooth and sat still assimilating the possibilities of irresponsible Authority then without another word he climbed down the back of the rocks toward the cave and the rest of the tribe the chief was sitting there naked to the waist his face blocked out and white and red the tribe lay in a semicircle before him the newly beaten and untied Wilfred was sniffing noisily in the background Roger squatted with the rest tomorrow went on the chief we shall hunt again he pointed at the savage of that with a spear some of you will stay here to improve the cave and defends the gate I shall take a few hunters with me and bring back meat the defenders of the gates will see that the others don't sneak in a savage raised his hand and the chief turned a bleak painted face toward him why should they try to sneak in chief the chief was vague but earnest they will they'll try to spoil things we do so the watch is that the gates must be careful and then the chief paused they saw a triangle of startling pink dart out pass along his lips and vanish again and then the Beast might try to come in you remember how he crawled the semicircle shuddered and muttered in agreement he came disguised he may come again even though he gave him the head of out kill to eat so watch and be careful Stanley lifted his forearm off the rock and held up an interrogated finger well but didn't we didn't we he squirmed and looked down no in the silence that followed each savage flinched away from his individual memory no how could we kill it half relieved half daunted by the implication of further terrors the savages murmured again so leave the mountain alone said the chief solemnly and give it's the head if you go hunting Stanley flicked his finger again I expect the Beast disguised itself perhaps said the chief the theological speculations nted itself we'd better keep on the right side of him anyhow you can't tell what he might do the tribe considered this and then were shaken as if by a flow of wind the chief saw the effect of his words and stood abruptly but tomorrow we'll hunt and when we've got to meet we'll have a feast bill put up his hand chief yes what's we used for lights in the fire the Chiefs blush was hidden by the white and red clay into his uncertain silence the tribe spilled their murmur once more then the chief held up his hand we shall take the fire from the others listen tomorrow we'll hunt and get to meet tonight I'll go along with two hunters who Maurice and Roger put up their hands Maurice yes chief where was their fire back it's the old place by the fire rock the chief nodded the rest of you can go to sleep as soon as the Sun sets but us three Maurice Roger and me we've got to work to do we'll leave just before sunset Maurice put up his hand but what happens if we meet the chief waived his objection aside we'll keep along by the sands then if he comes we'll do our our dance again only the three of us again the murmur swelled and died away piggy handed Ralph his glasses and waited to receive back his sight the wood was damp and this was the third time they had lighted it Ralph stood back speaking to himself we don't want another night without Sofia he looked round guiltily at the three boys standing by this was the first time he'd admitted the double function of the fire certainly one was to send up a beckoning column of smoke but the other was to be a hearth now and a comfort until they slept Erik breathed on the wood to the glowed and sent out a little flame a billow of white and yellow smoke wreaked up piggy took back his glasses and looked at the smoke with pleasure if only we could make a radio or a plane or boat Ralph dredged in his fading knowledge of the world we might get taken prisoner by the Reds Eric pushed back his hair they'd be better then he would not name people and Sam finished the sentence for him by nodding along the beach Ralph remembered the ungainly figure on a parachute he said something about two dead men he flushed painfully at this admission that he had been present at the dance he made urging motions at the smoke and with his body don't stop go on up smokes getting thinner we needs more woods already even when it's wet my asthma the response was mechanical sucks to your ass ma if I pour logs I get asthma bad I wish I didn't it Ralph but there it is the three boys went to the forest and fetched armfuls of rotten wood once more the smoke rose yellow and thick let's get something to eat together they went to the fruit trees carrying their spears same little cramming and haste when they came out of the forest again the Sun was setting and only embers glowed in the fire and there was no smoke I can't carry any more wood said Erik I'm tired Ralph cleared his throat we kept the fire going up there up there it was small but this has got to be a big one Ralph carried a fragment to the fire and watched the smoke that drifted into the dusk we've got to keep it going Erik flung himself down I'm too tired it was the good Erik cried Ralph in a shocked voice don't talk like that sam knelt by Erik well what is the good Ralph tried indignantly to remember there was something good about a fire something overwhelmingly good Ralph's told you often enough said piggy moodily how else are we going to be rescued of course if we don't make smoke he squatted before them in the crowding dusk don't you understand what's the good of wishing for radios and boats he held out his hand and twisted the fingers into a fist there's only one thing we can do to get out of this mess anyone can play at hunting anyone can get us meat he looked from face to face then at the moment of greatest passion and conviction that curtain flapped in his head and he forgot what he had been driving at he melt there his fists clenched gazing solemnly from one to the other then the curtain whisked back oh yes so we've got to make smoke and more smoke but we can't keep it going look at that the fire was dying on them - - mines the fire said Ralph half to himself that's 12 hours a day we can't get any more wood Ralph's not in the dark not at night we can light it every morning said piggy nobody ain't going to see smoke in the dark Sam nodded vigorously it was different when the fire was up there Ralph stood up feeling curiously defenseless with the darkness pressing in let's the fire go then for tonight he led the way to the first shelter which still stood though battered the bed leaves lay within dry and noisy to the touch in the next shelter a little one was talking in his sleep the four big uns crept into the shelter and burrowed under the leaves the twins lay together and Ralph and piggy at the other end for a while there was the continual creak and rustle of leaves as they tried for comfort piggy yeah all right suppose so at length save for an occasional rustle the shelter was silent an oblong of blackness relieved with brilliant spangles hung before them and there was the hollow sound of surf on the reef Ralph settled himself for his nightly game of supposing supposing they could be transported home by jet than before morning they would land at that big airfield and Wiltshire they would go by car no for things to be perfect they would go by train all the way down to Devon and take that cottage again then at the foot of the garden the wild ponies would come and look over the wall Ralph turned restlessly in the leaves Dartmoor was wild and so were the ponies but the attraction of wildness had gone his mind skated to a consideration of a tamed town where savagery could not set foot what could be safer than the bus centre with its lamps and wheels all at once Ralph was dancing around a lamp standard there was a bus crawling out of the bus station a strange bus Ralph Ralph what is it don't make a noise like that sorry from the darkness of the further end of the shelter came a dreadful moaning and they shattered the leaves in their fear Sam and Eric locked in an embrace or fighting each other Sam Sam hey Eric presently all was quiet again biggie spoke softly to Ralph we got to get out of this what do you mean get rescued for the first time that day and despite the crowding blackness Ralph sniggered I mean it whispered biggie if we don't get home soon we'll be balmy rounds the bend bomb happy crackers Ralph pushed the damp tendrils of hair out of his eyes you write a letter to your auntie pig he considered the solemnly I don't know where she is now and I haven't got an envelope and a stump and there isn't a mailbox or a postman the success of his tiny joke overcame Ralph his sniggers became uncontrollable his body jumped and twitched piggy rebuked him with dignity I haven't said anything oh that's funny Ralph continued to snicker though his chest hurt his twitchings exhausted him to heal a breathless and woebegone waiting for the next spasm during one of these pauses he was ambushed by sleep Ralph you've been making a noise again do be quiet Ralph because Ralph heaved over among the leaves he had reason to be thankful that his dream was broken for the bus had been nearer and more distinct why because be quiet and listen Ralph lay down carefully to the accompaniment of a long sigh from the leaves Erica moaned something and then lay still the darkness same for the useless oblong of stars was blanket thick I can't hear anything there's something moving outside Ralph's head prickled the sound of his blood drowned all else and then subsided I still can't hear anything then this is for a long time quite clearly and emphatically and only a yard or so away from the back of the shelter a stick cracked the blood roared again in Ralph's ears confused images chased each other through his mind a composite of these things was prowling round the shelters he could feel Piggy's head against his shoulder and the convulsive grip of a hand mouth ruff shut up and listen desperately Ralph prayed that the Beast would prefer little Ennis a voice whispered horribly outside Peggy Peggy its cub gasps piggy it's real he clung to Ralph and reached to get his breath piggy come outside I want you piggy Ralph's mouth was against Piggy's ear don't say anything piggy where are you piggy something brushed against the back of the shelter piggy kept still for a moment then he had his asthma he arched his back and crashed among the leaves with his legs Ralph rolled away from him then there was a vicious snarling in the mouth of the shelter and the plunge and thump of living things someone tripped over Ralph in Piggy's corner became a complication of snarls and crashes and flying limbs Ralph hid out then he and what seemed like a dozen others were rolling over and over hitting biting scratching to his torn and jolted found fingers in his mouth and bid them a fist withdrew and like a piston so that the whole shelter exploded into light Ralph's twisted sideways on top of a writhing body and felt hot breath on his cheek he began to pound the mouth below him using his clenched fist as a hammer he hit with more and more passionate hysteria as the face became slippery Amy jerked up between his legs knee fell sideways busying himself with his pain and the fight rolled over him then the shelter collapsed with smothering finality and the anonymous shapes fought their way out and through dark figures drew themselves out of the wreckage and flitted away until the screams of the little uns and Piggy's gasps were once more audible Ralph called out in a quavering voice oh you little uns goes to sleep we've had two fights with the others now go to sleep Sam and Eric came close and peered at Ralph are you two all right I think so I got busted so did I how's piggy they hauled piggy clear of the wreckage and leaned him against a tree the night was cool and purged of immediate terror Piggy's breathing was a little easier did you get hurt piggy not much that was Jack and his hunters said Ralph bitterly why can't they leave us alone we gave them something to think about said Sam honesty compelled him to go on at least you did I got mixed up with myself in a corner I gave one of them what for said Ralph I smashed him up alright he won't want to come and fight us again in a hurry so did I said Eric when I woke up one was kicking me in the face I got an awful bloody face I think Ralph but I did him in the end what did you do I got my knee up said Eric with simple pride and I hit him with it in the pills you should have heard him holler he won't come back in a hurry either so he didn't do too badly Ralph moved suddenly in the dark but then he heard Eric working his mouth what's the matter just a tooth loose piggy drew up his legs you all right pinkie I thought they wanted the conch Ralph trotted down the pale Beach and jumped onto the plan form the conch still glimmered by the chief seat he gazed for a moment or two then went back to piggy they didn't take the conch I know they didn't come for the conch they came for something else Ralph orts am I going to do far off along the bow stave of Beach three figures trotted toward the castle rock they kept away from the forest and down by the water occasionally they sang softly occasionally they turned cartwheels down by the moving streak of phosphorescence the chief led them trotting steadily exalting in his achievement he was a chief now in truth and he made stabbing motions with his spear from his left hand dangled Piggy's broken glasses [Music]