Transcript for:
Introduction to Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies by William Golding read by Martin Jarvis chapter 1 the sound of the shell the boy with Fair hair lowered himself down the last few feet of rock and began to pick his way towards the Lagoon though he had taken off his school sweater and trailed it now from one hand his gray shirt stuck to him and his hair was plastered to his forehead all around him the long scar smashed into the jungle was a bath of heat he was clambering heavily among the creepers and broken trunks when a bird a vision of red and yellow flashed upwards with a witch-like cry and this cry was echoed by another hi it said wait a minute the undergrowth at the side of the scar was shaken and a multitude of raindrops fell pattering wait a minute the voice said I got caught up the fair boy stopped and jerked his stockings with an automatic gesture that made the jungle seem for a moment like the home counties The Voice spoke again I can't hardly move with all these creeper things the owner of the voice came backing out of the undergrowth so that Twigs scratched on a greasy windbreaker the naked Crooks of his knees were plump caught and scratched by Thorns he bent down removed the Thorns carefully and turned around he was shorter than the fair boy and very fat he came forward searching out safe lodgments for his feet and then looked up through thick spectacles where's the man with the megaphone the fair boy shook his head this is an island at least I think it's an island there's a reef out in the sea perhaps there aren't any grown-ups anywhere the fat boy looked startled there was that pilot but he wasn't in the passenger tube he was up in the cabin in front the fair boy was peering at The Reef through screwed up eyes all them other kids the fat boy went on some of them must have got out they must have mustn't they the fair boy began to pick his way as casually as possible towards the water he tried tried to be off hand and not tooo obviously uninterested but the fat boy hurried after him aren't there any grown-ups at all I don't think so the fair boy said this solemnly but then the Delight of a realized ambition overcame him in the middle of the scar he stood on his head and grinned at the Reversed fat boy no grown-ups the fat boy thought for a moment that pilot the fair boy allowed his feet to come down and sat on the steamy Earth he must have flown off after he dropped us he couldn't land here not in a plane with wheels we was attacked he'll be back all right the fat boy shook his head when we was coming down I looked through one of them windows I saw the other part of the plane there were Flames coming out of it he looked up and down the scar and this is what the tube done the fair boy reached out and touched the jagged end of a trunk for a moment he looked interested what happened to it he asked where's it got to now that storm dragged it out to sea it wasn't half dangerous with all them tree trunks falling there must have been some kid still in it he hesitated for a moment then spoke again what's your name Ralph the fat boy waited to be asked his name in turn but this profer of acquaintance was not not made the fair boy called Ralph smiled vaguely stood up and began to make his way once more towards the Lagoon the fat boy hung steadily at his shoulder I expect there's a lot more of a scattered about you haven't seen any others have you Ralph shook his head and increased his speed then he tripped over a branch and came down with a crash the fat boy stood by him breathing hard my auntie told me not to run he explained on account of my Asma Asma that's right can't catch me breath I was the only boy in our school what had Asma said the fat boy with a touch of Pride and I've been wearing specks since I was three he took off his glasses and held them out to Ralph blinking and smiling and then started to wipe them against his grubby windbreaker an expression of pain and inward concentration altered the pale Contours of his face he smeared the sweat from his cheeks and quickly adjusted the Spectacles on his nose them fruit he glanced around the scar them fruits he said I expect he put on his glasses wed away from Ralph and crouched down among the Tangled foliage I'll be out again in just a minute Ralph disentangled himself cautiously and stole away through the branches in a few seconds The Fat Boy's grunts were behind him and he was hurrying towards the screen that still lay between him and the Lagoon he climbed over a broken trunk and was out of the Jungle the shore was fledged with palm trees these stood or leaned or reclined against the light and their green feathers were 100 ft up in the air the ground beneath them was a bank covered with coarse grass torn Everywhere by the upheaval of Fallen trees scattered with decaying coconuts and palm saplings behind this was the darkness of the forest proper and the open space of the scar Ralph stood one hand against a gray trunk and screwed up his eyes against the shimmering water out there perhaps a mile away the white surf flinked on a coral reef and beyond that the Open Sea was dark blue within the irregular Arc of coral the Lagoon was still as a mountain lake blue of all shades and shadowy green and purple the beach between the Palm Terrace and the water was a thin bow Stave endless apparently for to Ralph's left the perspectives of palm and Beach and water Drew to a point at infinity and always almost invisible was the heat he jumped down from the Terrace the sand was thick over his black shoes and the Heat hit him he became conscious of the weight of his clothes kicked his shoes off fiercely and ripped off each stocking with its elastic gutter in a single movement then he leapt back on the Terrace pulled off his shirt and stood there among the skull-like Coconuts with green Shadows from The Palms and the forest sliding over his skin he undid the snake clasp of his belt lugged off his shorts and pants and stood there naked looking at the dazzling Beach and the water he was old enough 12 years and a few months to have lost the prominent tummy of childhood not yet old enough for adolescence to have made him awkward you could see now that he might make a boxer as far as width and heaviness of shoulders went but there was a mildness about his mouth and eyes that proclaimed no devil he patted the Palm trunk softly and forced at last to believe in the reality of the island laughed delightedly again and stood on his head he turned neatly onto his feet jumped down to the beach knelt and swept a double armful of sand into a pile against his chest then he sat back and looked at the water with bright excited eyes Ralph the fat boy lowered himself over the Terrace and sat down carefully using the edge as a seat I'm sorry I've been such a Time them fruits he wiped his glasses and adjusted them on his button nose the frame had made a deep pink V on the bridge he looked critically at Ralph's golden body and then down at his own clothes he laid a hand on the end of a zipper that extended down his chest my auntie then he opened the zipper with decision and pulled the whole windbreaker over his head there Ralph looked at him sidelong and said nothing I expect we want to know all their names said the fat boy I make a list we ought to have a meeting Ralph did not take the hint so the fat boy was forced to continue I don't care what they call me he said confidentially so long as they don't call me what they used to call me at school Ralph was faintly interested what was that the fat boy glanced over his shoulder then leaned towards Ralph he whispered they used to call me piggy Ralph shrieked with laughter he jumped up piggy piggy Ralph please piggy clasped his hands in apprehension I said I didn't want piggy piggy Ralph danced out into the hot air of the beach and then returned as a fighter plane with wings swept back and machine gunned piggy he dived in the sand at Piggy's feet and lay there laughing piggy piggy grinned reluctantly pleased despite himself self and even this much recognition well so long as you don't tell the others Ralph giggled into the sand the expression of pain and concentration returned to Piggy's face half a sec he hastened back into the forest Ralph stood up and trotted along to the right here the beach was interrupted abruptly by the square motif of the landscape a great platform of pink Granite thrust up uncompromisingly through Forest and Terrace and sand and Lagoon to make a raised Jetty 4 ft High the top of this was covered with a thin layer of soil and coarse grass and shaded with young palm trees there was not enough soil for them to grow to any height and when they reached perhaps 20 ft they fell and dried forming a crisscross pattern of trunks very convenient to sit on the palms that still stood made a green roof covered on the underside with a quivering tangle of Reflections from the Lagoon Ralph hauled himself onto this platform noted the coolness and shade shot one eye and decided that the Shadows on his body were really green he picked his way to the seawood edge of the platform and stood looking down into the water it was clear to the bottom and bright with the efflorescence of tropical weed and coral a school of tiny glittering fish flicked hither and thither Ralph spoke to himself sounding the base strings of delight wizo beyond the platform there was more enchantment some Act of God a typhoon perhaps or the storm that had accompanied his own arrival had banked sand inside the Lagoon so that there was a long deep pool in the beach with a high ledge of pink Granite at the further end Ralph had been deceived before now by the specious appearance of depth in a beach pool and he approached this one preparing to be disappointed but the island ran true to form and the incredible pool which clearly was only invaded by the Sea at high tide was so deep at one end as to be dark green Ralph inspected the Whole 30 yards carefully and then plunged in the water was warmer than his blood and he might have been swimming in a huge bath piggy appeared again sat on the rocky ledge and watched Ralph's green and white body enviously you can't half swim piggy piggy took off his shoes and socks ranged them carefully on the ledge and tested the water with one toe it's hot what did you expect I didn't expect nothing my auntie sucks to your auntie Ralph did a surface dive and swam underwater with his eyes open the Sandy edge of the pool loomed up like a hillside he turned over holding his nose and a golden light danced and shattered just over his face piggy was looking determined and began to take off his shorts presently he was py and fatly naked he tiptoed down the Sandy side of the pool and sat there up to his neck in water smiling proudly at Ralph aren't you going to swim piggy shook his head I can't swim I wasn't loud my Asma sucks to your Asma piggy bore this with a sort of humble patience you can't off swim well Ralph paddled backwards down the slope immersed his mouth and blew a jet of water into the air then he lifted his chin and spoke I could swim when I was five daddy taught me he's a commander in the Navy when he gets leave he'll come and rescue us what's your father piggy flushed suddenly my dad's dead he said quickly and my mom he took off his glasses and looked vainly for something with which to clean them I used to live with my auntie she kept a sweet shop I used to get ever so many sweets as many as I liked when will your dad rescue us soon as he can piggy Rose dripping from the water and stood naked cleaning his glasses with a sock the only sound that reached them now through the heat of the morning was the long grinding Roar of the breakers on the reef how does he know we're here Ralph lulled in the water sleep enveloped him like the swathing mirages that were wrestling with the Brilliance of the Lagoon how does he know we're here because thought Ralph because because the Roar from The Reef became very distant they'd tell him at the airport piggy shook his head put on his flashing glasses and looked down at Ralph not them didn't you hear what the pilot said about the atom bomb They're All Dead Ralph pulled himself out of the water stood facing Piggy and considered this unusual problem piggy persisted this is an island isn't it I climbed a rock said Ralph slowly and I think this is an island the all dead said Piggy and this is an island nobody don't know we're here your dad don't know nobody don't know his lips quivered and the spectacles were dimmed with mist we may stay here till we die with that word the heat seemed to increase till it became a threatening weight and the Lagoon attacked them with a blinding effulgence get my clothes muted Ralph long there he trotted through the sand enduring the sun's enmity crossed the platform and found his scattered clothes to put on a gray shirt once more was strangely pleasing then he climbed the edge of the platform and sat in the green shade on a convenient trunk piggy hauled himself up carrying most of his clothes under his arms then he sat carefully on a fallen trunk near the little Cliff that fronted the Lagoon and the Tangled Reflections quivered over him presently he spoke we got to find the others we got to do something Ralph said nothing here was a coral island protected from the Sun ignoring Piggy's ill and talk he dreamed pleasantly piggy insisted how many of us are there Ralph came forward and stood by piggy I don't know here and there little breezes crept over the polished Waters beneath the haze of heat when these breezes reached the platform the Palm frons would whisper so that spots of blurred sunlight slid over their bodies or moved like bright winged things in the shade piggy looked up at Ralph all the Shadows on Ralph's face were reversed green above bright below from the Lagoon a blur of sunlight was crawling across his hair we got it something Ralph looked through him here at last was the imagined but never fully realized Place leaping into real life Ralph's lips parted in a delighted smile and piggy taking this smile to himself as a mark of recognition laughed with pleasure if it really is an island what's that Ralph had stopped smiling and was pointing into the Lagoon something creamy lay among the fery weed weeds a stone no a shell suddenly piggy was a bubble with decorous excitement it's right it's a shell I've seen one like that before on someone's back wall a conch he called it he used to blow it and then his mom would come it's ever so valuable near to Ralph's elbow a palm sapling leaned out over the Lagoon indeed the weight was already pulling a lump from the poor soil and soon it would fall he tore out the stem and began to poke about in the water while the brilliant fish flicked away on this side and that piggy leaned dangerously carefully you'll break it shut up Ralph spoke absently the shell was interesting and pretty and a worthy play thing but the Vivid Phantoms of his Daydream still interposed between him and piggy who in this context was an irrelevance the Palm sapling bending pushed the shell across the the weeds Ralph used one hand as a fulcrum and pressed down with the other till the shell Rose dripping and piggy could make a grab now the shell was no longer a thing seen but not to be touched Ralph too became excited piggy babbled a can't sheever so expensive I bet if you wanted to buy one you'd have to pay pounds and pounds and pounds he had it on his garden wall and my auntie Ralph took the shell from Piggy and a little water ran down his arm in color the shell was deep cream touched here and there with fading pink between the point worn away into a little hole and the pink lips of the mouth lay 18 in of shell with a slight spiral twist and covered with a delicate embossed pattern Ralph shook sand out of the deep tube M like a cow said piggy he had some white stones too and a bird cage with a green parrot he didn't blow the white stones of course and he said piggy paused for breath and stroked the glistening thing that lay in Ralph's hands Ralph Ralph looked up we can use this to call the others have a meeting they'll come when they hear us he beamed at Ralph that was what you meant didn't you that's why you got the Conch out of the water Ralph pushed back his fair hair how did your friend Blow The Conch it kind of spat said piggy my auntie wouldn't let me blow on account of my asthma you said you blew from down here piggy laid a hand on his jutting abdomen you try Ralph you'll call the others doubtfully Ralph laid the small end of the shell against his mouth and blew there came a rushing sound from its mouth but nothing more Ralph wiped the salt water off his lips and tried again but the shell remained silent he kind of spat Ralph pursed his lips and squirted air into the shell which emitted a low farting noise this amused both boys so much that Ralph went on squirting for some minutes between bouts of laughter he blew from down here Ralph grasped the idea and hit the Shell with air from his diaphragm immediately the thing sounded a deep harsh note boomed under the palm spread through the intricacies of the forest and echoed back from the pink Granite of the mountain clouds of birds Rose from the Treetops and something squealed and ran in the undergrowth Ralph took the shell away from his lips gosh his ordinary voice sounded like a whisper after the harsh note of The Conch he laid the CCH against his lips took a deep breath and blew once more the note boomed again again and then at his firmer pressure the note fluking up an octave became a strident blare more penetrating than before piggy was shouting something his face pleased his glasses flashing the birds cried small animals scuttered Ralph's breath failed the it dropped the octave became a low wobber was A Rush of air the con was silent a gleaming Tusk Ralph's face was dark with breathlessness and the air over the island was full of bird clamor and Echoes ringing I bet you can hear that for Miles Ralph found his breath and blew a series of short blasts piggy exclaimed there's one a child had appeared Among The Palms about 100 yards along the beach he was a boy of perhaps 6 years sturdy and fair his clothes torn his face covered with a sticky mess of fruit his trousers had been lowered for an obvious purpose and had only been pulled back halfway he jumped off the Palm Terrace into the sand and his trousers fell about his ankles he stepped out of them and trotted to the platform piggy helped him up meanwhile Ralph continued to blow till voices shouted in the forest the small boy squatted in front of Ralph looking up brightly and vertically as he received the Assurance of something purposeful being done he began to look satisfied and his only clean digit a pink thumb slid into his mouth piggy leaned down to him what's your name Johnny piggy muttered the name to himself and shouted it to Ralph who was not interested because he was still blowing his face was dark with the violent pleasure of making this stupendous noise and his heart was making the stretched shirt shake the shouting in the forest was nearer Signs of Life were visible now on the beach the sand trembling beneath the heat Haze concealed many figures in its miles of length boys were making their way towards the platform through the hot dumb sand three small children no older than Johnny appeared from startlingly close at hand where they hadd been gorging fruit in the forest a dark little boy not much younger than piggy parted a tangle of undergrowth walked onto the platform and smiled cheerfully at everybody more and more of them came taking their queue from the innocent Johnny they sat down on the Fallen Palm Trunks and waited Ralph 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 gray blue for jacketed or jerse there were badges motos 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 batlike 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 black the two boys bullet headed and with hair like toe 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 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 onto clear sand and they saw that the darkness was not all Shadow 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 in it their bodies from throat to ankle were hidden by black cloaks which bore a long Silver Cross on the 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 complexions of newly washed plums the boy who controlled them was dressed in the same way though his cat badge was golden when his party was about 10 yards from the platform he shouted an order and they halted gasping sweating swe in the fierce light the boy himself came forward vaulted onto the platform with his cloak flying and peered into what to him was almost complete 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 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 come and join in the group of cloaked boys began to scatter from close line the tall boy shouted at themo stand still wearily obedient the choir huddled into line and stood there swaying in the sun nonetheless some began to protest faintly but mared you please mared you can't we then one of the boys flopped on his face in the sand and the L broke up they heaved the Fallen boy to the platform and let him lie meru his eyes staring made the best of a bad job all right then sit down let him alone but mered you he's always throwing a faint said marid you he did in jib and Addis and at matens over the prento this last piece of Shar brought sniggers from the choir who perched like black birds on the crisscross Trunks and examined Ralph with interest piggy asked no names he was intimidated by this uniformed superiority and the off-hand authority in mery's voice he shrank to the other side of Ralph and busied himself with his glasses merid turned to Ralph aren't there any grown-ups no meridie sat down on a trunk and looked round the circle then we'll 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 and Eric which is Eric you no you're Sam I'm Sam and I'm Eric we better all have names said Ralph so I'm Ralph we got most names said piggy got them just now kids names said merid where should I be Jack I married you 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 merid 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 moris 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 padly 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 chap to corer and head boy I can sing CP 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 a claim 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 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 a 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 Jacks in charge of the choir they can be uh what do you want them to be Hunters Jack and Ralph smiled at each other with shy liking the rest began to talk e l Jack stood up all right Cho 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 gray 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 around but your shell called us r 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 around 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 palor of his faint was over he was a skinny Vivid little boy with a glance coming up from under a Hut of straight hair that hung down black and coarse he nodded at Ralph I'll come and I jack snatched from behind him a sizable sheath knife and and clouted it into the trunk the buzz Rose and died away piggy stirred I'll come 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 is 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 it 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 catch 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 come Piggy's glasses were misted again this time with humiliation you told him after what I said his face flushed his mouth trembled after I said I didn't want what on Earth are you talking about about being called piggy I said I didn't care as long as they didn't call me piggy and I said not to tell and then you went and said straight out Stillness descended on them Ralph looking with more understanding at piggy saw the he was hurt and crushed he hovered between the two courses of apology or further insult better piggy than fatty he said at last with the directness of genuine leadership and anyway I'm sorry if you feel like that now go back Piggy and take names that's your job soong he turned and raced after the other two piggy stood and the rose of indignation faded slowly from his cheeks he went back to the platform the three boys walked briskly on the sand the tide was low and there was a strip of weed strewn Beach that was almost as firm as a road a kind of Glamour was spread over them and the scene and they were conscious of the Glamour and made Happy by it they turned to each other laughing excitedly talking not listening the air was bright Ralph faced by the task of translating all this into explanation stood on his head and fell over when they had done laughing Simon stroked Ralph's arm shilly and they had to laugh again come on said Jack presently we're explorers we'll go to the end of the island said Ralph and look around the corner if it is an island now towards the end of the afternoon the mirages were settling a little they found the end of the island quite distinct and not magied out of shape or sense there was a jumble of the usual squareness with one great block sitting out in the lagoon seabirds were nesting there like icing said Ralph on a pink cake we sh see around this corner said Jack because there isn't one only a slow curve and you can see the Rocks get worse Ralph shaded his eyes and followed the jagged outline of the Crags up towards the mountain this part of the beach was nearer the mountain than any other that they had seen we'll try climbing the mountain from here he said I should think this is the easiest way there's less of that jungly stuff and more pink Rock come on the three boys began to scramble up some unknown Force had wrenched and shattered these cubes so that they lay a skew often piled diminishingly on each other the most usual feature of the Rock was a pink Cliff surmounted by a skewed block and that again surmounted and that again till the pinkness became a stack of Balanced Rock projecting through the looped fantasy of the forest creepers where the pink Cliffs rose out of the ground there were often narrow tracks winding upwards they could Edge along them deep in the Plant World their faces to the Rock what made this track Jack paused wiping the sweat from his face Ralph stood by him breathless men jack shook his head animals Ralph peered into the darkness under the trees the forest minutely vibrated come on the difficulty was not the Steep Ascent round the shoulders of rock but the occasional plunges through the undergrowth to get to the next PATH here the roots and stems of creepers were in such Tangles that the boys had to thread through them like PL giant needles their only guide apart from the brown ground and occasional flashes of light through the foliage was the tendency of slope whether this hole laced as it was with cables of Creeper stood higher than that somehow they moved up immured in these Tangles at perhaps their most difficult moment Ralph turned with shining eyes to the others wacko wizard smashing the cause of their pleasure was not obvious all three were hot dirty and exhausted Ralph was badly scratched the creepers were as thick as their thighs and left little but Tunnels for further penetration Ralph shouted experimentally and they listened to the muted Echoes this is real exploring said Jack I bet nobody's been here before we ought to draw a map said Ralph only we haven't any paper we could make scratches on bark said Simon and rub black stuff in again the solemn communion of shining eyes in the Gloom wacko wizard there was no place for standing on one's head this time Ralph expressed the intensity of his Emotion by pretending to knock Simon down and soon they were a happy heaving Pile in the underd dusk when they had fallen apart Ralph spoke first got to get on the pink Granite of the next Cliff was further back from the creepers and trees so that they could Trot up The Path this again led into more open Forest so that they had a glimpse of the spread sea with openness came the sun it dried the sweat that had soaked their clothes in the dark damp Heat at last the Way to the Top looked like a scramble over pink rock with no more plunging through Darkness the boys chose their way through defiles and over screes of sharp stone look look high over this end of the island the shattered rocks lifted up their stacks and chimneys this one against which Jack leaned moved with a grating sound when they pushed come on but not come on to the top The Assault on the summit must wait while the three boys accepted this challenge The Rock was as large as a small motorc car heave sway back and forth catch the Rhythm heave increase the swing of the pendulum increase come up and bear against that point of furthest balance increase increase heave the great Rock loitered poised on one toe decided not to return moved through the air fell struck turned over Leed droning through the air and smashed a deep hole in the canopy of the forest Echoes and birds flew white and pink dust floated the forest further down shook as with the passage of an enraged monster and then the island was still wacko like a bomb not for 5 minutes could they drag themselves away from this Triumph but they left at last the Way to the Top was easy after that as they reached the last stretch Ralph stopped golly they were on the lip of a Circ or a half Circ in the side of the mountain this was filled with a blue flower a rock plant of some sort and the Overflow hung down the vent and Spilled lavishly among the canopy of the forest the air was thick with butterflies lifting fluttering settling Beyond the cir was the square top of the mountain and soon they were standing on it they had guessed before that this was an island clambering among the pink rocks with the sea on either side and the Crystal Heights of air they had known by some Instinct that the sea lay on every side but there seemed something more fitting in leaving the last word till they stood on the top and could see a circular Horizon of water R turned to the others this belongs to us it was roughly boat shaped humped near this end with behind them the jumbled descent to the shore on either side rocks Cliffs Treetops and a steep slope forward there the length of the boat a Tamer descent tree clad with hints of pink and then the jungly flat of the island dense green but drawn at the end to a pink tail there where the island peted out in water was another Island a rock almost detached standing like a fort facing them across the green with one bold pink Bastion the boys surveyed all this then looked out to see they were high up and the afternoon had Advanced The View was not robbed of sharpness by Mirage that's a reef a coral reef I've seen pictures like that The Reef enclosed more than one side of the island lying perhaps a mile out and parallel to what they now thought of as their Beach the coral was scribbled in the sea as though a giant had bent down to reproduce the shape of the island in a flowing chalk line but tired before he had finished inside was Peacock Water rocks and weed showing as in an aquarium outside was the dark blue of the Sea The Tide was running so that long streaks of foam tailed away from the reef and for a moment they felt that the boat was moving steadily a Stern Jack pointed down that's where we landed Beyond Falls and cliffs there was a gash visible in the trees there were the splintered Trunks and then the drag leaving only a fringe of palm between the scar and the Sea there too jutting into the Lagoon was the platform with insect like figures moving near It Ralph sketched a Twining line from the bald spot on which they stood down a slope a gully through flowers round and down to the rock where the scar started that's the quickest way back eyes shining mouths open triumphant they savored the right of domination they were lifted up were friends there's no Village Smoke and no boats said Ralph wisely we'll make sure later but I think it's uninhabited we'll get food cried Jack Hunt catch things until they fetch us Simon looked at them both saying nothing but nodding till his black hair flopped backwards and forwards his face was glowing Ralph looked down the other way where there was no Reef steeper said Jack Ralph made a cupping gesture that bit of forest down there the mountain holds it up every coin of the mountain held up trees flowers and trees now the forest stirred roared flailed the nearest Acres of rock flowers fluted and for half a minute the breeze blew cool on their faces Ralph spread his arms all ours they laughed and tumbled and shouted on the mountain I'm hungry when Simon mentioned his hunger the others became aware of theirs come on said Ralph we found out what we wanted to know they scrambled down a Rock slope dropped among flowers and made their way under the trees here they paused and examined the bushes around them curiously Simon spoke first like candles candle bushes candle buds the bushes were dark Evergreen and aromatic and the many buds were wax and green and folded up against the light Jack slashed at one with his knife and the scent spilled over them candle buds you couldn't light them said Ralph they just look like candles green candles said Jack contemptuously we can't eat them come on they were in the beginnings of the thick forest plonking with weary feet on a track when they heard the noises squeakings and the hard strike of hoofs on a path as they pushed forward the squeaking increased till it became a frenzy they found a piglet caught in a curtain of creepers throwing itself at the elastic traces and all the madness of extreme Terror its voice was thin needle sharp and insistent the three boys rushed forward and Jack drew his knife again with a flourish he raised his arm in the air there came a pause a Hiatus the pig continued to scream and the creepers to jerk and the blade continued to flash at the end of a bony arm the pause was only long enough for them to realize what an enormity the downward stroke would be then the piglet tore loose from the creepers and scared into the undergrowth they were left looking at each other and the place of Terror Jack's face was white Under the freckles he noticed that he still held the knife Loft and brought his arm down replacing the blade in the sheath then they all three laughed ashamedly and began to climb back to the track I was choosing a place said Jack I was just waiting for a moment to decide where to stab him you should stick a pig said Ralph fiercely they always talk about sticking a pig you cut a pig's throat to let the blood out said Jack otherwise you can't eat the meat why didn't you they knew very well why he hadn't because of the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into living flesh because of the unbearable blood I was going to said Jack he was ahead of them and they could not see his face I was choosing a place next time he snatched his knife out of the sheath and slammed it into a tree trunk next time there would be no Mercy he looked around fiercely daring them to contradict then they broke out into the sunlight and for a while they were busy finding and devouring food as they moved down the scar towards the platform and the meeting chapter 2 Fire on the Mountain by the time Ralph finished blowing The Conch the platform was crowded there were differences between this meeting and the one held in the morning the afternoon sun slanted in from the other side of the platform and most of the children feeling too late the smart of sunburn had put their clothes on the choir noticeably less of a group had discarded their cloaks Ralph sat on a fallen trunk his left side to the sun on his right were most of the choir on his left left the larger boys who had known each other before the evacuation before him small children squatted in the grass silence now Ralph lifted the cream and pink shell to his knees and a sudden Breeze scattered light over the platform he was uncertain whether to stand up or remain sitting he looked sideways to his left towards the bathing pool piggy was sitting near but giving no help Ralph cleared his throat well then all at once he found he could talk fluently and explain what he had to say he passed a hand through his fair hair and spoke we're on an island we've been on the Mountaintop and seen water all round we saw no houses no smoke no Footprints no boats no people we're on an uninhabited island with no other people on it Jack broke in all the same you need an army for hunting hunting pigs yes there are pigs on the island all three of them tried to convey the sense of the pink live things struggling in the creepers we saw squealing it broke away before I could kill it but next time Jack slammed his knife into a trunk and looked round challengingly the meeting settled down again so you see said Ralph we need Hunters to get us meat and another thing he lifted the shell on his knees and looked around the Suns slashed faces there aren't any grown-ups we shall have to look after ourselves the meeting hummed and was silent and another thing we can't have everybody talking at once we'll have to have hands up like at school he held the Conch before his face face and glanced round the mouth then I'll give him the Conch conch that's what this Shell's called I'll give the con to the next person to speak he can hold it when he's speaking but look and he won't be interrupted except by me Jack was on his feet we'll have rules he cried excitedly lots of rules then when anyone breaks them weo whacko bong doink Ralph felt The Conch lifted from his lap then piggy was standing cradling the great cream Shell and the shouting died down Jack left on his feet looked uncertainly at Ralph who smiled and patted the log Jack sat down piggy took off his glasses and blinked at the assembly while he wiped them on his shirt you're hindering Ralph you're not letting him get to the most important thing he paused effectively who knows we're here I they knew at the airport the man with a trumpet thing my dad piggy put on his glasses nobody knows where we are said piggy he was paler than before and breathless perhaps they knew where we was going to and perhaps not but they don't know where we are cuz we never got there he gaped at them for a moment then swayed and sat down Ralph took the C from his hands that's what I was going to say he went on when you all you all he gazed at their intent faces the plane was shot down in flames nobody knows where we are we may be here a long time the silence was so complete that they could hear the Fetch and Miss of Piggy's breathing the sun slanted in and lay golden over half the platform the Brie beees that on the Lagoon had chased their tails like kittens were finding their way across the platform and into the forest Ralph pushed back the tangle of fair hair that hung on his forehead so we may be here a long time nobody said anything he grinned suddenly but this is a good Island we jack Simon and me we climbed the mountain it's wizard there's food and drink and Fox blue flowers piggy partly recovered pointed to the Conch in Ralph's hands and Jack and Simon fell silent Ralph went on while we're waiting we can have a good time on this island he gesticulated widely it's like in a book at once there was a clamor Treasure Island swallows and Amazons coral island Ralph waved The Conch this is our Island it's a good Island until the GR UPS come to fetch us we'll have fun Jack held out his hand for The Conch there's pigs he said there's food and bathing water in that little stream along there and everything didn't anyone find anything else he handed The Conch back to Ralph and sat down apparently no one had found anything the older boys first noticed the child when he resisted there was a group of little boys urging him forward and he did not want to go he was a shrimp of a boy about 6 years old and one side of his face was blotted out by a mury colored birth mark he stood now warped out of the perpendicular by the fierce light of publicity and he bored into the coarse grass with one toe he was muttering and about to cry the other little boys whispering but serious pushed him towards Ralph all right said Ralph come on then the small boy looked round in panic speak up the small boy held out his hands for The Conch and the assembly shouted with laughter at once he snatched back his hands and started to cry let him have the Conch shouted piggy let him have it at last Ralph induced him to hold the shell but by then the blow of laughter had taken away the child's voice piggy knelt by him one hand on the great shell listening and interpreting to the assembly he wants to know what you're going to do about the snake thing Ralph laughed and the other boys laughed with him the small boy Twisted further into himself tell us about the snake thing now he says it was a beasty beasty a snake thing ever so big he saw it where in the woods either the wandering breezes or perhaps the decline of the sun allowed a little coolness to lie under the trees the boys felt it and stirred restlessly you couldn't have a beasty a snake thing on an island this size Ralph explained kindly you only get them in big countries like Africa or India murmur and the grave nodding of heads he says the beasty came in the dark then he couldn't see it laughter and cheers did you hear that says he saw the thing in the dark he still says he saw the beasty it came and went away again and came back and wanted to eat him he was dreaming laughing Ralph looked for confirmation round the Ring of faces the older boys agreed but here and there among the little ones was the dubiety that required more than rational Assurance he must have had a nightmare stumbling about among all those creepers more grave nodding they knew about nightmares he says he saw the beasty the snake thing and will it come back tonight but there isn't a beasty he says in the morning it turned into them things like ropes in the trees and hung in the branches he says will it come back tonight but there isn't a beasty there was no laughter at all now and more grave watching Ral pushed both hands through his hair and looked at the little boy in mixed amusement and exasperation Jack seized The Conch Ralph's right of course there isn't a snake thing but if there was a snake we'd hunt it and kill it we're going to hunt pigs and get meat for everybody and we'll look for the snake too but there isn't a snake we'll make sure when we go hunting Ralph was annoyed and for the moment defeated he felt himself facing something ungraspable the eyes that looked so intently at him were without humor but there isn't a beast something he had not known was there Rose in him and compelled him to make the point loudly and again but I tell you there isn't a beast the assembly was silent Ralph lifted The Conch again and his Good Humor came back as he thought of what he had to say next now we come to the most important thing I've been thinking I was thinking while we were climbing the mountain he flashed a conspiratorial grin at the other two and on the beach just now this is what I thought we want to have fun and we want to be rescued the passionate noise of agreement from the assembly hit him like a wave and he lost his thread he thought again we want to be rescued and of course we shall be rescued voice es babbled the simple statement unbacked by any proof but the weight of Ralph's new Authority brought light and happiness he had to wave the con before he could make them hear him my father is in the Navy he said there aren't any unknown Islands left he says the queen has a big room full of maps and all the islands in the world are drawn there so the Queen's got a picture of this island again came the sounds of cheerfulness and better heart and sooner or later ship will put in here it might even be Daddy's Ship so you see sooner or later we shall be rescued he paused with the point made the assembly was lifted towards safety by his words they liked and now respected him spontaneously they began to clap and presently the platform was loud with Applause Ralph flushed looking sideways at Piggy's open admiration and then the other way at Jack back who was smirking and showing that he too knew how to clap Ralph waved The Conch shut up wait listen he went on in the silence borne on his Triumph there's another thing we can help them to find us if a ship comes near the island they may not notice us so we must make smoke on top of the mountain we must make a fire a fire make a fire at once half the boys were on their feet Jack CL Amed among them The Conch forgotten come on follow me the space under the palm trees was full of noise and Movement Ralph was on his feet too shouting for quiet but no one heard him all at once the crowd swayed towards the island and were gone following Jack even the tiny children went and did their best among the leaves and broken branches Ralph was left holding the Conch with no one but piggy piggy's breef breathing was quite restored like kids he said scornfully acting like a crowd of kids Ralph looked at him doubtfully and laid The Conch on the tree trunk I bet it's gone te time said piggy what do you think they're going to do on that mountain he caressed the shell respectfully then stopped and looked up Ralph hey where are you going Ralph was already clambering over the first smashed SES of the scar a long way ahead of him was crashing and laughter piggy watched him in disgust like a crowd of kids he sighed bent and laced up his shoes the noise of the erant assembly faded up the mountain then with the marted expression of a parent who has to keep up with the senseless abulance of the children he picked up the Conch turned towards the forest and began to pick his way over the tumbled scar end of Disc One Lord of the Flies dis two below the other side of the Mountaintop was a platform of forest once more Ralph found himself making the cupping gesture down there we could get as much wood as we want Jack nodded and pulled at his underl starting perhaps 100 ft below them on the steeper Side of the Mountain the patch might have been designed expressly for fuel trees forced by The Damp heat found too little soil for full growth fell early and decayed creepers cradled them and new saplings searched a way up Jack turned to the choir who stood ready their black caps of Maintenance were slid over one ear like berries wek build a pile come 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 to till everyone but piggy was busy most of the wood was so rotten that when they pulled it it broke up into a shower of fragments and woodlice and Decay but some trunks came out in one piece the Twins Sam and Eric were the first to get a likely log but they could do nothing till r Jack Simon Roger and Morris found room for a handhold then they inched the grotesque dead thing up the Rock and toppled it over on top each party of boys added a quer 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 shared 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 2 three and crashed the log onto 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 sense that the pile was complete the boys stopped going back for more and stood with the pink shattered top of the mountain around them breath came even 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 you 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 incompetence has anyone got any matches you make a bow and spin the arrow said Roger he rubbed his hands in MIM 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 made a big Heap haven't you jack pointed suddenly his specks 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 the glasses off his face mind out give them 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 flame 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 specks Ralph stood away from the pile and put the glasses into Piggy's groping hands his voice subsided to a mutter just blur 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 20 ft in the air for yards around 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 lewood and Windwood 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 the 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 down wind the boys lay panting like dogs Ralph raised his head off his forearm that was no good Roger spat efficiently into the hot dust what do you mean there wasn't any smoke only flame piggy had settled himself in a coin 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 have we tried a fat lot you tried said Jack contemptuously you just sat we used his SP spe 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 con in my hand put on green branches said Morris that's the best way to make smoke I got the con Jack turned fiercely you shut up Piggy wilted Ralph took the Conch from him and looked around 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 tort wire of the Horizon and if we have a signal going they'll come and take us off and another thing we ought to have more rules where the con is that's a meeting the same up here as down there they ascented 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 soy 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 the this generosity brought a spatter of Applause from the boys so that Jack grinned at them then waved the con for silence we'll let the fire burn out now who would see smoke at nighttime anyway and we can start the fire again whenever we like Alto you can keep the fire going this week and trebles the next the assembly ascented 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 youve been a build a pile like a HRI if I say anything cried piggy with bitter realism you say shut up but if Jack or Morris 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 veestoned the dead or dying trees as they watched a flash of fire appeared at the root of one Wisp and then the smoke thickened small Flames stirred at the bowl of a tree and crawled away through leaves and Brushwood W dividing and increasing one patch touched a tree trunk and scrambled up like a bright squirrel the smoke increased sifted rolled outwards the squirrel leapt on the wings of the wind and clung to another standing tree eating downwards beneath the dark canopy of leaves and smoke the fire laid hold on the forest and began to gore Acres of Black and Yellow Smoke rolled steadily towards the sea at the sight of the flames and the irresistible course of the fire the boys broke into shrill excited cheering the Flames as though they were a kind of wildlife crept as a Jaguar creeps on its belly towards a line of birch likee saplings that fledged an outcrop of the pink Rock they flapped at the first of the trees and the branches grew a brief foliage of fire the heart of flame leapt nimbly across the gap between the trees and then went swinging and flaring along the whole row of them beneath the capering boys a quarter of a mile square of forest was Savage with smoke and Flame the separate noises of the fire merged into a drum roll that seemed to shake the mountain you caught your small fire all right startled Ralph realized that the boys were falling still and Silent feeling the beginnings of awe at the power set free below them the knowledge and the awe made him Savage Oh shut up I got the Conch said piggy in a hurt voice I got a right to speak they looked at him with eyes that lacked interest in what they saw and cocked ears at the drum roll of the fire piggy glanced nervously into hell and cradled The Conch we got to let that burn out now and that was our firewood he licked his lips there ain't nothing we can do we ought to be more careful I'm scared Jack dragged his eyes away from the fire you're always scared yah fatty I got the Conch said piggy bleakly he turned to Ralph I got the con ain't I Ralph unwillingly Ralph turned away from The Splendid awful sight what's that the Conch I got a right to speak speak the twins giggled together we wanted smoke now look a Paul stretched for miles away from the island all the boys except piggy started to giggle presently they were shrieking with laughter piggy lost his temper I got a conch just you lessen the first thing we ought to have made was shelters down there by the beach well an half cold down there in the night but the first time Ralph says fire you goes howling and screaming up this here Mountain like a pack of kids by now they were listening to the tyde how can you expect to be rescued if you don't put first things first and act proper he took off his glasses and made as if to put down the Conch but the sudden motion towards it of most of the older boys changed his mind he tucked the shell under his arm and crouched back on a rock then when you get here you build a b fire that isn't no use now You' been and set the whole island on Fire won't we look funny if the whole island burns up cooked fruit that's what we'll have to eat and roast pork and that's nothing to laugh at you said Ralph was Chief and you don't give him time to think and when he says something you rush off like like he paused for breath and the fire growled at them and that's not all them kids the Litt on who took any notice of them who knows how many we got Ralph took a sudden step forward I told you to I told you to get a list of names how could I cried piggy indignantly all by myself they waited for 2 minutes then they fell in the sea they went into the forest they just scattered everywhere how was I to know which was which Ralph licked his pale lips then you don't know how many of us there ought to be how could I with them littl running around like insects then when you three came back as soon as you said make a fire they all ran away and I never had a chance that's enough said Ralph sharply and snatched back the con if you didn't you didn't then you come up here and pinch my specks Jack turned on him you shut up and then Litt on was wandering about down there where the fire is how'd you know they aren't still there Piggy stood up and pointed to the smoke and Flames a murmur Rose Among the boys and died away something strange was happening to piggy for he was gasping for breath little gasped piggy him with the mark on his face I don't see him where is he now the crowd was as silent as death him that talked about the snakes he was down there but tree exploded in the fire like a bomb tall SES of creepers Rose for a moment into view agonized and went down again the little boys screamed at them snakes snakes look at the snakes in the west and unheeded the sun lay only an inch or two above the sea their faces were lit rly from beneath piggy fell against a rock and clutched it with both hands there little and had a mark on his face where is he he now I tell you I don't see him the boys looked at each other fearfully unbelieving where is he now Ralph muttered the reply as if in shame perhaps he went back to the the beneath them on the unfriendly Side of the Mountain the drum roll [Music] continued chapter three huts on the beach Jack was bent double he was down like a sprinter his nose only a few inches from the humid Earth the tree trunks and the creepers that fested them lost themselves in a green dusk 30 ft above him and all about was the undergrowth there was only the faintest indication of a trail here a cracked twig and what might be the impr ression of one side of a hoof he lowered his chin and stared at the traces as though he would force them to speak to him then doglike uncomfortably on all fours yet unheeding his discomfort he stole forward 5 yards and stopped here was a loop of Creeper with a tendril pendant from a node the tendril was polished on the underside pigs passing through the loop brushed it with their bristly hide Jack crouched with his face a few inches from this clue then stared forward into the semi darkness of the undergrowth his Sandy hair considerably longer than it had been when they dropped in was lighter now and his bare back was a mass of dark freckles and peeling sunburn a sharpened stick about 5T long trailed from his right hand and except for a pair of tattered shorts held up by his knife belt he was naked he closed his eyes eyes raised his head and breathed in gently with flared nostrils assessing the current of warm air for information the forest and he were very still at length he let out his breath in a long sigh and opened his eyes they were bright blue eyes that in this frustration seemed bolting and nearly mad he passed his tongue across dry lips and scanned the uncommunicative Forest then again he stole forward and cast this way and that over the ground The Silence of the forest was more oppressive than the heat and at this hour of the day there was not even the wine of insects only when Jack himself roused a gudy bird from A Primitive nest of sticks was the silence shattered and Echoes set ringing by a harsh cry that seemed to come out of the abyss of Ages Jack himself shrank at this cry with a hiss of indrawn breath and for a minute became less a hunter than a furtive thing apik among the tangle of trees then the trail the frustration claimed him again and he searched the ground avidly by the bowl of a vast tree that grew pale flowers on a gray trunk he checked closed his eyes and once more Drew in the warm air and this time his breath came short there was even a passing palor in his face and then the surge of blood again he passed like a shadow under the darkness of the tree and crouched looking down at the trotten ground at his feet the droppings were warm they lay piled among turned Earth they were olive green smooth and they steamed a little Jack lifted his head and stared at the inscrutable masses of creeper that lay across the trail then he raised his Spear and sneaked forward Beyond The Creeper the trail joined a pig run that was wide enough and trotten enough to be a path the ground was hardened by an accustomed tread and as Jack Rose to his full height he heard something moving on it he swung back his right arm and hurled the spear with all his strength from the pig run came the quick hard patter of hoofs a castet side seductive maddening the promise of meat he rushed out of the undergrowth and snatched up his spear the pattering of pigs Trotters died away in the distance Jack stood there streaming with sweat stre with brown Earth stained by all the vicissitudes of a day's hunting swearing he turned off the trail and pushed his way through until the forest opened a little and instead of bowled trunks supporting a dark Ro roof there were light gray Trunks and crowns of feathery Palm Beyond these was the glitter of the sea and he could hear voices Ralph was standing by a Contraption of palm Trunks and leaves a rude shelter that faced the Lagoon and seemed very near to falling down he did not notice when Jack spoke got any water Ralph looked up frowning from the complication of leaves he did not notice Jack even when he saw him I said have you got no water I'm thirsty Ralph withdrew his attention from the shelter and realized Jack with a start oh hello water there by the tree ought to be some left Jack took up a coconut shell that brimmed with fresh water from among a group that were arranged in the shade and drank the water splashed over his chin and neck and chest he breathed nois easily when he had finished needed that Simon spoke from inside the shelter up a bit Ralph turned to the shelter and lifted a branch with a whole tiling of leaves the leaves came apart and fluttered down Simon's contrite face appeared in the hole sorry Ralph surveyed the wreck with distaste never get it done he flung himself down at Jack's feet Simon remember looking out of the hole in the shelter once down Ralph explained been working for days now and look two shelters were in position but shaky this one was a ruin and they keep running off you remember the meeting how everyone was going to work hard until the shelters were finished except me and my Hunters except the hunters well the Lins are he gesticulated sought for a word they hopeless the older ones aren't much better do you see all day I've been working with Simon no one else they're off bathing or eating or playing Simon poked his head out carefully you're chief you tell them off Ralph lay flat and looked up at the palm trees and the sky meetings don't we love meetings every day twice a day we talk he got on one elbow I bet if I blew the Conch this minute theyd come running then we'd be you know very solemn and someone would say we ought to build a jet or a submarine or a TV set when the meeting was over they worked for 5 minutes then wander off or go hunting Jack flushed we want meat well we haven't got any yet and we want shelters besides the rest of your hunters came back hours ago they've been swimming I went on said Jack I let them go I had to go on I he tried to convey the compulsion to track down and kill that was swallowing him up I went on I thought by myself the madness came into his eyes again I thought I might kill but you didn't I thought I might some hidden passion vibrated in Ralph's voice but you haven't yet his invitation might have passed as casual were it not for the undertone you wouldn't care to help with the shelters I suppose we want meat and we don't get it now the antagonism was audible but I shall next time I've got to get a bob on the spear we wounded a pig and the spear fell out if we could only make barbs we need shelters suddenly Jack shouted in Rage are you accusing all I'm saying is we've worked dashed hard that's all they were both read in the face and found looking at each other difficult Ralph rolled on his stomach and began to play with the grass if it rains like when we dropped in we'll need shelters all right and then another thing we need shelters because of the he paused for a moment and they both pushed their anger away then he went on with the safe changed subject you've noticed haven't you jack put down his spear and squatted and notice what well they're frightened he rolled over and peered into Jack's Fierce dirty face I mean the way things are they dream you can hear them have you been awake at night Jack shook his head they talk and scream the littens even some of the others as if as if it wasn't a good Island astonished at the interrupt ruption they looked up at Simon's serious face as if said Simon the beasty the beasty or the snake thing was real remember the two older boys flinched when they heard the shameful syllable snakes were not mentioned now were not mentionable as if this wasn't a good Island said Ralph slowly yes that's right jack sat up and stretched out his legs they're batty crackers remember when we went exploring they grinned at each other remembering the glamour of the first day Ralph went on so we need shelters as a sort of hel that's right jack Drew up his legs clasped his knees and frowned in an effort to attain Clarity all the same in the forest I mean when you're hunting not when you get getting fruit of course but when you're on your own he paused for a moment not sure if Ralph would take him seriously go on if you're hunting sometimes you catch yourself feeling as if he flushed suddenly there's nothing in it of course just a feeling but you can feel as if you're not hunting but being hunted as if something's behind you all the time in the jungle it was silent again Simon intent Ralph incredulous and faintly indignant he sat up rubbing one shoulder with a dirty hand well I Don't Know Jack leapt to his feet and spoke very quickly that's how you can feel in the forest of course there's nothing in it only only he took a few rapid steps towards the beach then came back only I know how they feel see that's all the best thing we can do is get ourselves rescued Jag had had to think for a moment before he could remember what rescue was rescue yes of course all the same I'd like to catch a pig first he snatched up his Spear and dashed it into the ground the opaque mad look came into his eyes again Ralph looked at him critically through his tangle of fair hair so long as your Hunters remember the fire you and your fire the two boys trotted down the beach and turning at the water's edge looked back at the pink mountain the trickle of smoke sketched a chalky line up the solid blue of the Sky wavered High Up and Faded Ralph frowned I wonder how far off you could see that Miles we don't make enough smoke the bottom part of the trickle as though conscious of their gaze thickened to a creamy blur which crept up the feeble column they put on green branches muttered Ralph I wonder he screwed up his eyes and swung round to search the Horizon got it Jack shouted so loudly that Ralph jumped what where is it a ship but Jack was pointing to the high declivities that led down from the mountain to the flatter part of the island of course they'll lie up there they must do and the sun's too hot Ralph gazed bewildered at his wrapped face they get up high high up and in the shade resting during the heat like cows at home I thought you saw a ship we could steal up on one paint our faces so they wouldn't see perhaps surround them and then indignation took away Ralph's control I was talking about smoke don't you want to be rescued all you can talk about is pig pig pig but we want meat and I work all day with nothing but Simon and you come back and don't even notice the hearts I was working too but you like it kit shouted Ralph you want to hunt while I they faced each other on the bright Beach astonished at the rub of feeling Ralph looked away first pretending interest in a group of Lins on the sand from Beyond the platform came the shouting of the hunters in the swimming pool on the end of the platform piggy was lying flat looking down into the brilliant water people don't help much he wanted to explain how people were never quite what you thought they were Simon he helps he pointed at the shelters all the rest rushed off he's done as much as I have only well Simon's always about Ralph started back to the shelters with Jack by his side do a bit for you muttered Jack before I have a bath don't bother but when they reached the shelters Simon was not to be seen Ralph put his head in the hole withdrew it and turned to Jack he's buzzed off got fed up said Jack and gone for a bathe Ralph frowned he's queer he's funny Jack nodded as much for the sake of agreeing as anything and by tacit consent they left the shelter and went towards the bathing pool and then said Jack when I've had a bathe and something to eat I'll just Tre over to the other side of the mountain and see if I can see any traces coming but the sun's nearly set I might have time they walked along to continents of experience and feeling unable to communicate if I could only get a pig I'll come back and go on with the shelter they looked at each other baffled in love and hate all the warm salt water of the bathing pool and the shouting and splashing and laughing were only just sufficient to bring them together again Simon whom they expected to find there was not in the bathing pool when the other two had trotted down the beach to look back at the mountain he had followed them for a few yards and then stopped he had stood frowning down at a pile of sand on the beach where somebody had been trying to build a little house or heart then he turned his back on this and walked into the forest with an air of purpose he was a small skinny boy his chin pointed and his eyes so bright they had deceived Ralph into thinking him delightfully gay and wicked the coarse mop of black hair was long and swung down almost concealing a low broad forehead he wore the remains of shorts and his feet were bare like Jacks always darkish in color Simon was burned by the sun to a deep tan that glistened with sweat he picked his way up the scar past the great rock where Ralph had climbed on the first morning then turned off to his right among the trees he walked with an accustomed tread through the Acres of fruit trees where the least energetic could find an easy if unsatisfying meal flower and fruit grew together on the same tree and everywhere was the scent of ripeness and the booming of a million bees at pasture here the lelands who had run after him caught up with him they talked Cried Out unintelligibly lugged him towards the trees then amid the Roar of bees in the afternoon sunlight Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage passed them back down to the endless outstretched hands when he had satisfied them he paused and looked round the llance watched him inscrutably over double handfuls of ripe fruit Simon turned away from them and went where the just perceptible path led him soon High jungle closed in tall trunks bore unexpected pale flowers all the way up the dark canopy where life went on clamorously the air here was dark too and the creepers dropped their ropes like the rigging of founded ships his feet left prince in the soft soil and the creepers shivered throughout their lengths when he bumped them he came at last to a place where more Sunshine fell since they had not so far to go for light the creepers had woven a great mat that hung at the side of an open space in the jungle for here a patch of rock came close to the surface and would not allow more than little plants and ferns to grow the whole Space was walled with dark aromatic bushes and was a bowl of heat and light a great tree Fallen across one Corner leaned against the trees that still stood and a rapid climber flaunted red and yellow sprays right to the top Simon paused he looked over his shoulder as Jack had done at the close ways behind him and glanced swiftly around to confirm that he was utterly alone for a moment his movements were almost furtive then he bent down and wormed his way into the center of the mat the creepers and the bushes were so close that he left his sweat on them and they pulled together behind him when he was Secure in the middle he was in a little cabin screened off from the Open Space by a few leaves he squatted down parted the leaves and looked out into the clearing nothing moved but a pair of gy butterflies that danced around each other in the hot air holding his breath he cocked a critical ear at the sounds of the island evening was a advancing towards the island the sounds of the bright fantastic Birds the bee sounds even the crying of the gulls that were returning to their roosts among the square rocks were fainter the deep sea breaking miles away on the reef made an undertone less perceptible than the curation of the blood Simon dropped the screen of leaves back into place the slope of the bars of honeycc colored sunlight decreased they slid up the bushes passed over the green candle-like buds moved up towards the canopy and darkness thickened under the trees with the fading of the light the riotous colors died and the Heat and the urgency cooled away the candle buds stirred their green SEL Drew back a little and the white tips of the flowers Rose delicately to meet the open air now the Sun sun light had lifted clear of the open space and withdrawn from the sky Darkness poured out submerging the waves between the trees till they were dim and strange as the bottom of the sea the candle BDS opened their wide white flowers glimmering under the light that pricked down from the first Stars their scent Spilled Out into the air and took possession of the [Music] island chapter four painted faces and long hair the first Rhythm that they became used to was the slow Swing From Dawn to Quick dusk they accepted the pleasures of morning the bright Sun the whelming sea and sweet air as a time when play was good and life so full that hope was not necessary and therefore forgotten towards noon as the floods of light fell more near to the perpendicular the Stark colors of the morning were smoothed in Pearl and opalescence and the heat as though the impending Sun's height gave it momentum became a blow that they ducked running to the shade and lying there perhaps even sleeping strange things happened at midday the glittering sea rose up moved apart in ples of blatant impossibility the coral reef and the few stunted Palms that clung to the more elevated Parts would float up into the sky would quiver be plucked apart run like raindrops on a wire or be repeated as in an odd succession of mirrors sometimes land loomed where there was no land and flicked out like a bubble as the children watched piggy discounted all this learnedly as a mirage and since no boy could reach even the reef over the stretch of water where the snapped sharks waited they grew accustomed to these m iies and ignored them just as they ignored the miraculous throbbing stars at midday the Illusions merged into the sky and there the sun gazed down like an angry eye then at the end of the afternoon The Mirage subsided and the Horizon became level and blue and clipped as the sun declined that was another time of comparative coolness but menaced by the coming of the dark when the sun sank Darkness dropped on the island like an extinguisher and soon the shelters were full of restlessness under the remote Stars nevertheless the northern European tradition of work play and food right through the day made it impossible for them to adjust themselves wholly to this new Rhythm the litland peral had early crawled into a shelter and stayed there for two days talking singing and crying till they thought him batty and were faintly amused ever since then he had been peaked redyed and miserable a Lin who played Little and cried often the smaller boys were known now by the generic title of litland the decrease in size from Ralph down was gradual and though there was a dubious region inhabited by Simon and Robert and Morris nevertheless no one had any difficulty in recognizing biguns at one end and Lins at the other the undoubted litland those aged about six led a quite distinct and at the same time intense life of their own they at most of the day picking fruit where they could reach it and not particular about ripeness and quality they were used now to stomach aches and a sort of chronic diarrhea they suffered Untold terrors in the dark and huddled together for Comfort apart from food and sleep they found time for play aimless and trivial among the White Sand by the Bright Water they cried for their mothers much less often than might have been expected they were very Brown and filthily dirty they obeyed the Summons of The Conch partly because Ralph blew it and he was big enough to be a link with the adult world of authority and partly because they enjoyed the entertainment of the assemblies but otherwise they seldom bothered with the bigun and their passionately emotional and corporate life was their own they had built castles in the sand at the bar of the Little River these castles were about 1T high and were decorated with shells withered flowers and interesting Stones round the castles was a complex of marks tracks walls railway lines that were of significance only if inspected with the eye at beach level the littens played here if not happily at least with absorbed attention and often as many as three of them would play the same game together three were playing here now Henry was the biggest of them he was also a distant relative of that other boy whose mury marked face had not been seen since the evening of the great fire but he was not old enough to understand this and if he had been told that the other boy had gone home in an aircraft he would have accepted the statement without fuss or disbelief Henry was a bit of a leader this afternoon because the other two were peral and Johnny the smallest boys on the island peral was mouse-colored and had not been very attractive even to his mother Johnny was wellb built with Fair hair and a natural belligerence just now he was being obedient because he was interested and the three children kneeling in the sand were at peace Roger and Morris came out of the forest they were relieved from duty at the fire and had come down for a swim Roger led the way straight through the castles kicking them over burying the flowers scattering The Chosen Stones Morris followed laughing and added to the destruction the three Lins paused in their game and looked up as it happened the particular marks in which they were interested had not been touched so they made no protest only peral began to whimper with an eye full of sand and Morris hurried away in his other life Morris had received chastisement for filling a younger eye with sand now though there was no parent to let fall a heavy hand Morris still felt the unease of wrongdoing at the back of his mind formed the uncertain outlines of an excuse he must Ed something about a swim and broke into a trot Roger remained watching the litland he was not noticeably darker than when he had dropped in but the shock of black hair down his nape and low on his forehead seemed to suit his gloomy face and made what had seemed at first an unsociable remoteness into something forbidding perel finished his whimper and went on playing for the tears had washed the sand away Johnny watched him with China blue eyes then began to fling up sand in a shower and presently percel was crying again when Henry tired of his play and wandered off along the beach rer followed him keeping Beneath The Palms and drifting casually in the same direction Henry walked at a distance from The Palms and the shade because he was too young to keep himself out of the sun he went went down the beach and busied himself at the water's edge the Great Pacific tide was coming in and every few seconds the relatively Still Water of the Lagoon heaved forwards an inch there were creatures that lived in this last fling of the sea tiny transparencies that came questing in with the water over the hot dry sand with impalpable organs of sense they examined this new field perhaps food had appeared where the last incursion there had been none bird droppings insects perhaps any of the strun detrus of landwood life like a myriad of tiny teeth in a saw the transparencies came Scavenging over the beach this was fascinating to Henry he poked about with a bit of stick that itself was wave WN and whitened and a vagrant and tried to control the Motions of the scavengers he made little runnels that the tide filled and tried to crowd them with creatures he became absorbed Beyond mere happiness as he felt himself exercising control over living things he talked to them urging them ordering them driven back by the tide his Footprints became bays in which they were trapped and gave him the illusion of Mastery he squatted on his hams at the water's edge bowed with a shock of hair falling over his forehead and past his eyes and the afternoon sun empted down invisible arrows Roger waited too at first he had hidden behind a great Palm Bowl but Henry's absorption with the transparencies was so obvious that at last he stood out in full view he looked along the beach percel had gone off crying and Johnny was left in triumphant possession of the castles he sat there C in to himself and throwing sand at an imaginary personal Beyond him Roger could see the platform and the glint of spray where Ralph and Simon and piggy and Morris were diving in the pool he listened carefully but could only just hear them a sudden Breeze shook The Fringe of palm trees so that the frond tossed and fluttered 60 ft above Roger a cluster of nuts fibrous lumps as big as rugby balls were loosed from their stems they fell about him with a series of hard thumps and he was not touched Roger did not consider his Escape but looked from the nuts to Henry and back again the subsoil beneath the palm trees was a raised Beach and generations of Palms had worked loose in this the stones that had Lain on the Sands of another Shore Roger stooped picked up a stone aimed and threw threw it at Henry threw it to miss the stone that token of preposterous time bounced five yards to Henry's right and fell in the water Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them yet there was a space round Henry perhaps six yards in diameter into which he dare not throw here invisible yet strong was the taboo of the old life round the squatting child was the protection of P parents and school and policemen and the law Roger's arm was conditioned by a civilization that knew nothing of him and was in Ruins Henry was surprised by the plopping sounds in the water he abandoned the noiseless transparencies and pointed at the center of the spreading Rings like a setter this side and that the stones fell and Henry turned obediently but always too late to see the stones in the air and at last he saw one and laughed looking for the friend who was teasing him but Roger had whipped behind the Palm Bowl again was leaning against it breathing quickly his eyelids flattering then Henry lost interest in stones and wandered off Roger Jack was standing under a tree about 10 yards away when Roger opened his eyes and saw him a darker Shadow crept beneath the swarthiness of his skin but Jack noticed nothing he was eager impatient beckoning so that Roger went to him there was a pool at the end of the river a tiny mirr damned back by sand and full of white water lies and needle likee reads here Sam and Eric were waiting and Bill Jack concealed from the Sun knelt by the pool and opened the two large leaves that he carried one of them contained white clay and the other red by them lay a stick of charcoal brought down from the fire Jack explained to Roger as he worked they don't smell me they see me I think something pink Under the trees he smeared on the clay if only had had some green he turned a half concealed face up to Roger and answered the comprehension of his gaze for hunting like in the war you know Dazzle paint like things trying to look like something else he twisted in the urgency of telling like moths on a tree trunk Roger understood and nodded Gravely the twins moved towards Jack and began to protest timidly about something Jack waved them away shut up he rubbed the charcoal stick between the patches of red and white on his face no you two come with me he peered at his reflection and disliked it he bent down took up a double handful of lukewarm water water and rubbed the mess from his face freckles and Sandy eyebrows appeared Roger smiled unwillingly you don't half look a mess Jack planned his new face he made one cheek and one eye socket white then rubbed red over the other half of his face and slashed a black B of charcoal across from right ear to left jaw he looked in the mirror for his reflection but his breathing troubled the mirror samon Eric get me a coconut an empty one he knelt holding the shell of water a rounded patch of sunlight fell on his face and a brightness appeared in the depths of the water he looked in astonishment no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger he spilled the water and leapt to his feet laughing excitedly beside the mirr his seny body held up a mask that Drew their their eyes and appalled them he began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling he capered towards bill and the mask was the thing on its own behind which Jack hid liberated from shame and self-consciousness the face of red and white and black swung through the air and jigged towards Bill Bill started up laughing then suddenly he fell silent and blundered Away through the bushes Jack rushed towards the twins the rest are making a line come on but we come on I'll creep up and stab The Mask compelled them Ralph climbed out of the bathing pool and trotted up the beach and sat in the shade Beneath The Palms his fair hair was plastered over his eyebrows and he pushed it back Simon was floating in the water and kicking with his feet and Morris was was practicing diving piggy was mooning about aimlessly picking up things and discarding them the rock pools which so fascinated him were covered by the tide and so he was without an interest until the tide went back presently seeing Ralph Under The Palms he came and sat by him piggy wore the remainders of a pair of shorts his fat body was golden brown and the glasses still flashed when he looked at anything he was was the only boy on the island whose hair never seemed to grow the rest were shockheaded but Piggy's hair still lay in wisps over his head as though baldness were his Natural State and this imperfect covering would soon go like the Velvet on a young Stags antlers I've been thinking he said about a clock we can make a su we could put a stick in the sand and then the effort to express the mathematical processes involved was too great he made a few passes instead and an airplane and a TV set said Ralph Sly and a steam engine piggy shook his head you have to have a lot of metal things for that he said and we haven't got no metal but we got a stick Ralph turned and smiled involuntarily piggy was a bore his fat his Asar and his matter of fact ideas were dull but there was always a little pleasure to be got out of pulling his leg even if one did it by accident piggy saw the smile and misinterpreted it as friendliness there had grown up tacitly among the bins the opinion that piggy was an outsider not only by accent which did not matter but by fat and Asma and specs and a certain disinclination for manual labor now finding that something he had said made Ralph smile he rejoiced and pressed his Advantage we got a lot of sticks we could have a su dial each then we should know what the time was a fat lot of good that would be well you said you wanted things done so as we could be rescued oh shut up he leapt to his feet and trotted back to the pool just as Morris did a rather poor dive Ralph was glad of a chance to change the subject he shouted as Morris came to the surface bely flop bely flop Morris flashed a smile at Ralph who slid easily into the water of all the boys he was the most at home there but today irked by the mention of rescue the useless footling mention of rescue even the green depths of water and the shattered Golden Sun held no balm instead of remaining and playing he swam with steady Strokes under Simon and crawled out of the other side of the pool to lie there sleek and streaming like a seal piggy always clumsy stood up and came to stand by him so that Ralph rolled on his stomach and pretended not to see the mirages had died away and gloomily he ran his eye along the tort blue line of the Horizon the next moment he was on his feet and shouting smoke smoke Simon tried to sit up in the water and got a mouthful Morris who'd been standing ready to dive swayed back on his heels made a bolt for the platform then swerved back to the grass under the Palms there he started to pull on his tattered shorts to be ready for anything Ralph stood one hand holding back his hair the other clenched Simon was climbing out of the water piggy was rubbing his glasses on his shorts and squinting at the sea Morris had got both legs through one leg of his shorts of all the boys only Ralph was still I can't see no smoke said piggy incredulously I can't see no smoke Ralph where is it Ralph said nothing now both his hands were clenched over his forehead so that the fair hair was kept out of his eyes he was leaning forward and already the salt was whitening his body Ralph where's the ship Simon stood by looking from Ralph to the Horizon Morris's trousers gave way with a sigh and he abandoned them as a wreck rushed towards the forest and then came back again the smoke was a tight little knot on the horizon and was uncoiling slowly beneath the smoke was a DOT that might be a funnel Ralph's face was pale as he spoke to himself they'll see our smoke piggy was looking in the right direction now it don't look much he turned around and peered up at the mountain Ralph continued to watch the ship ravenously color was coming back into his face Simon stood by him silent I know I can't see very much said piggy but have we got any smoke Ralph moved impatiently still watching the ship the Smoke On The Mountain Morris came running and stared out to see both Simon and piggy were looking up at the mountain piggy screwed up his face but Simon cried out as though he had hurt himself Ralph Ralph the quality of his speech slewed Ralph on the sand you tell me said piggy anxiously is there a signal Ralph looked back at the dispersing Smoke on the horizon then up at the mountain Ralph please is there a signal Simon put out his hand timidly to touch Ralph but Ralph sted started to run splashing through the shallow end of the bathing pool across the hot white sand and Under The Palms a moment later he was battling with the complex undergrowth that was already engulfing the scar Simon ran after him then Morris piggy shouted Ralph please Ralph then he too started to run stumbling over Morris's discarded shorts before he was across the Terrace behind the four boys the smoke moved gently along The Horizon and on the beach Henry and Johnny were throwing sand at peral who was crying quietly again and all three were in complete ignorance of the excitement by the time Ralph had reached the landwood end of the scar he was using precious breath to swear he did Desperate violence to his naked body among the rasping creepers so that blood was sliding over him just where the Steep Ascent to the mountain began he stopped Morris was only a few yards behind him piggy specks shouted Ralph if the fire's right out we'll need them he stopped shouting and swayed on his feet piggy was only just visible bumbling up from the beach Ralph looked at the Horizon then up to the mountain was it better to fetch Piggy's glasses or would the ship have gone or if they climbed on supposing the fire was right out and they had to watch piggy crawling nearer and the ship sinking Under The Horizon Bal on a high peak of need agonized by indecision Ralph cried out oh God oh God Simon struggling with bushes caught his breath his face was twisted Ralph blundered on savaging himself as the whsp of smoke moved on the fire was dead they saw that straight away saw what they had really known down on the beach When the Smoke of home had Beck the fire was right out smokeless and dead the Watchers were gone a pile of unused fuel lay ready Ralph turned to the Sea The Horizon stretched impersonal once more Barren of all but the faintest trace of smoke Ralph ran stumbling along the Rocks saved himself on the edge of the pink cliff and screamed at the ship come back come back he ran backwards and forwards along the cliff his face always to the Sea and his voice Rose insanely come back come back Simon and Morris arrived Ralph looked at them with unwinking eyes Simon turned away smearing the water from his cheeks Ralph reached inside himself for the worst word he knew they let the bloody fire out he looked down the unfriendly Side of the Mountain piggy arrived out of breath and whimpering like a litten Ralph clenched his fists and went very red the intentness of his gaze the bitterness of his voice pointed for him there they are A procession had appeared far down among the pink screes that lay near the water's edge some of the boys wore black caps but otherwise they were almost naked they lifted sticks in the air together whenever they came to an easy patch they were chanting something to do with the bundle that the erant twins carried so carefully Ralph picked out Jack easily even at that distance tall redhaired and inevitably leading the procession Simon looked now from Ralph to Jack as he had looked from Ralph to the Horizon and what he saw seemed to make him afraid Ralph said nothing more but waited while the procession came nearer the chant was audible but at that distance still wless behind Jack walked the twins carrying a great stake on their shoulders the gutted carcass of a pig swung from the stake swinging heavily as the twins toiled over the uneven ground the Pig's head hung down with gaping neck and seemed to search for something on the ground at last the words of the chant floated up to them across the bowl of blackened wood and Ashes kill the pig cut to throat spill her blood yet as the words became audible the procession reached the steepest part of the mountain and in a minute or two the chant had died away Piggy sniveled and Simon shush him quickly as though he had spoken too loudly in church Jack his face smeared with Clays reached the top first and hailed Ralph excitedly with lifted spear look we've killed a pig we stole up on them we got in a circle voices broke from the hunters we got in a circle we crept up the pig squealed the twins stood with the pigs swinging between them dropping black gouts on the Rock the seemed to share one wide ecstatic grin Jack had too many things to tell Ralph at once instead he danced a step or two then remembered his dignity and Stood Still grinning he noticed blood on his hands and grimaced distastefully looked for something on which to clean them then wiped them on his shorts and laughed Ralph spoke you let the fire out Jack checked V ly irritated by this irrelevance but too happy to let it worry him we can light the fire again you should have been with us Ral 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 laugh laugh in and shuddering you should have seen it we'll go hunting every day Ralph spoke again hely he had not moved you let the fire 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 like up again he noticed Ralph's scarred nakedness and the somber 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 come 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 end of dis two Lord of the Flies dis three 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 towards 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 married you you and you were hunting we might have gone home Ralph pushed Piggy on 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 blooded 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 Common 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 did not to have let that fire out you said you'd keep the smoke going this from Piggy and the whales 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 stack 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 tinted on the Rocks piggy cried out in Terror my specks 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 specks now I only got one eye just you wait Jack made a move towards 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 just you wait y Piggy and the parody was so funny that the hunters began to laugh Jack felt encouraged he went on scrambling and the laugh 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 gation 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 right 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 Mountaintop 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 the tension died Ralph said no more did nothing stood looking down at the ashes around 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 Chieftain ship 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 Piggy and took the glasses from him not even Ralph knew how a link between him and Jack had been snapped and fastened elsewhere I'll bring them back I'll come too piggy stood behind him islanded in a sea of meaningless color while Ralph knelt and focused the glossy spot instantly the fire was a light piggy held out his hand and grabbed the glasses back before these Fant fantastically attractive flowers of violet and red and yellow unkindness melted away they became a circle of boys around a campfire 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 steak burnt more quickly than the pig roasted in the end they skewered bits of meat on brunch es and held them in the flames and even then almost as much boy was roasted as meat Ralph dribbled 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 gwed it like a wolf piggy spoke almost dribbling on I having none Jack had meant to leave him in doubt as an assertion of power but piggy by advertising this 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 Hao 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 numis and inexpressible frustrations combined to make his rage Elemental and Orin inspiring I painted my face I stole up now you eat all of you and I slowly the silence on the Mountaintop 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 Morris 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 up because they hadn't barbs on the pig ran away and made an awful noise it turned back and ran into the circle bleeding all the boys were talking at once relieved and excited we closed in the first blow had paralyzed its hind quarters so then the circle could close in and beat and beat I cut the pig's throat the twins still sharing their identical grin jumped up and ran around each other then the rest joined in making Pig dying noises and shouting one for is knob give him a 4ly one then Morris pretended to be the pig and ran squealing into the center and the hunters circling still pretended to beat him as they danced they sang kill the pig cut her throat bash her in Ralph watched them envious and resentful not till they flagged and the chant died away did he speak I'm calling an assembly one by one they halted and stood watching him with the Conch I'm calling a meeting even if we have to go on into the dark down on the platform when I blow it now he turned away and walked off down the mountain chapter 5 beast from water the tide was coming in and there was only a narrow strip of firm Beach between the water and the white stumbling stuff near the Palm Terrace Ralph chose the firm strip as a path because he needed to think and only here could he allow his feet to move without having to watch them suddenly pacing by the water he was overcome with astonishment he found himself understanding the wearisomeness of this life where every path was an improvisation and a considerable part of one's Waking Life was spent watching one's feet he stopped facing the strip and remembering that first enthusiastic exploration as though it were part of a brighter childhood he smiled jeeringly he turned then and walked back towards the platform with the sun in his face the time had come for the assembly and as he walked into the concealing splendors of the sunlight he went carefully over the points of his speech there must be no mistake about this assembly no chasing imaginary he lost himself in a maze of thoughts that were rendered vague by his lack of words to express them frowning he tried again this meeting must not be fun but business at that he walked faster aware all at once of urgency and the declining sun and a little wind created by his speed that breathed about his face this wind pressed his gray shirt against his chest so that he noticed in this new mode of comprehension how the folds were stiff like cardboard and unpleasant noticed too how The Frayed edges of his shorts were making an uncomfortable pink area on the front of his thighs with a convulsion of the Mind Ralph discovered dirt and Decay understood how much he disliked perpetually flicking the Tangled hair out of his eyes and at last when the sun was gone rolling noisily to rest among dry leaves at that he began to trot the beach near the bathing pool was dotted with groups of boys waiting for the assembly they made way for him silently conscious of his Grim mood and the fault at the fire the place of assembly in which he stood was roughly a triangle but irregular and sketchy like everything they made first there was the log on which he himself sat a dead tree that must have been quite exceptionally big for the platform perhaps one of those legendary storms of the Pacific had shifted it here this Palm trunk lay parallel to the beach so that when Ralph sat he faced the island but to the boys was a darkish figure against the Shimmer of the Lagoon the two sides of the triangle of which the log was base were less evenly defined on the right was a log Polished by Restless seats along the top but not so large as the Chiefs and not so comfortable on the left were four small logs one of them the furthest lamentably springy assembly after assembly had broken up in laughter when someone had leaned too far back and the log had whipped and thrown half a dozen boys backwards into the grass yet now he saw no one had the wit not himself nor Jack nor piggy to bring a stone and wedge the thing so they would continue enduring the ill-balanced Twister because because again he lost himself in deep Waters grass was worn away in front of each trunk but grew tall and untrodden in the center of the triangle then at the Apex the grass was thick again because no one sat there all around the place of assembly the gray trunks Rose straight or leaning and supported the low roof of leaves on two sides was the beach behind the Lagoon in front the darkness of the island Ralph turned to the chief's seat they had never had an assembly as late before that was why the place looked so different normally the underside of the green roof was lit by a tangle of golden Reflections and their faces were lit upside down like thought Ralph when you hold an electric torch in your hands but now the the sun was slanting in at one side so that the Shadows were where they ought to be again he fell into that strange mood of speculation that was so foreign to him if faces were different when lit from above or below what was a face what was anything Ralph moved impatiently the trouble was if you were a chief you had to think you had to be wise and then the occasion slipped by so that you had to grab but a decision this made you think because thought was a valuable thing that got results only decided Ralph as he faced the chief's seat I can't think not like Piggy once more that evening Ralph had to adjust his values piggy could think he could go step by step inside that fat head of his only piggy was no Chief but piggy for all all his ludicrous body had brains Ralph was a specialist in thought now and could recognize thought in another the sun in his eyes reminded him how time was passing so he took the Conch down from the tree and examined the surface exposure to the air had bleached the yellow and pink to near White and transparency Ralph felt a kind of affectionate reverence for The Conch even though he had fished the thing out of the Lagoon himself he faced the place of assembly and put the Conch to his lips the others were waiting for this and came straight away those who were aware that a ship had passed the island while the fire was out were subdued by the thought of Ralph's anger while those including the litland who did not know were impressed by the General Air of solemnity the place of assembly filled quickly Jack Simon Morris most of the Hunters on Ralph's right the rest on the left under the sun piggy came and stood outside the triangle this indicated that he wished to listen but would not speak and piggy intended it as a gesture of disapproval the thing is we need an assembly no one said anything but the faces turned to Ralph were intent he flourished The Conch he had learned as a practical business that fundamental statements like this had to be said at least twice before everyone understood them one had to sit attracting all eyes to the con and drop words like heavy round Stones among the little groups that crouched or squatted he was searching his mind for simple words so that even the littens would understand what the assembly was about later perhaps practice Debaters Jack Morris piggy would use their whole art to twist the meeting but now at the beginning the subject of the debate must be laid out clearly we need an assembly not for fun not for laughing and falling off the log the group of Lins on the Twister giggled and looked at each other not for making jokes or for he lifted The Conch in an effort to find the compelling word for cleverness not for these things but to put things straight he paused for a moment I've been Along by myself I went thinking what's what I know what we need an assembly to put things straight and first of all I speaking he paused for a moment and automatically pushed back his hair piggy tiptoed to the triangle his ineffectual protest made and joined the others Ralph went on we have lots of assemblies everybody enjoys speaking and being together we decide things but they don't get done we were going to have water brought from the stream and left in those coconut shells under fresh leaves so it was for a few days now there's no water the shells are dry people drink from the river there was a murmur of ascent not that there's anything wrong with drinking from the river I mean I'd sooner have water from that place you know the pool where the waterfall is than out of an old coconut shell only we said we'd have the water brought and now not there were only two full shells there this afternoon he licked his lips then there's Huts shelters the murmur swelled again and died away you mostly sleep in shelters tonight except for Sam nerk up by the fire you'll all sleep there who built the shelters clamor Rose at once everyone had built the shelters Ralph had to wave The Conch once more wait a minute I mean who built all three we all built the first one four of us the second and me and Simon built the last one over there that's why it's so tottery no don't laugh that shelter might fall down if the rain comes back we'll need those shelters then he paused and cleared his throat there's another thing we chose those rocks right along beyond the bathing pool as a lavatory that was sensible too the tide cleans the place up you Lins know about that the sniggers here and there and Swift glances now people seem to use everywhere even near the shelters and the platforms you lons when you're getting fruit if you're taken short the assembly roared I said if you're taken short you keep away from the fruit that's dirty laughter rose again I said that's dirty he plucked at his stiff gray shirt that's really dirty if you're taken short you go right along the beach to The Rock rocks see piggy held out his hands for The Conch but Ralph shook his head this speech was planned Point by Point we've all got to use the Rocks again this place is getting dirty he paused the assembly is sensing a crisis was tensely expectant and then about the fire Ralph let out his spare breath with a little gasp that was echoed by his audience started to chip a piece of wood with his knife and whispered something to Robert who looked away the fire is the most important thing on the island how can we ever be rescued except by luck if we don't keep a fire going is a fire too much for us to make he flung out an arm look at us how many are we and yet we can't keep a fire going to make smoke don't you understand can't you see we ought to ought to die before we let the fire out there was a self-conscious giggling among the hunters Ralph turned on them passionately you Hunters you can laugh but I tell you smoke is more important than the pig however often you kill one do all of you see he spread his arms wide and turned to the whole triangle we've got to make smoke up there or die he paused feeling for his next point and and another thing someone called out too many things there came mutters of agreement Ralph overrode them and another thing we nearly set the whole island on fire and we waste time rolling rocks and making little cooking fires now I say this and make it a rule because I'm Chief we won't have a fire anywhere but on the mountain ever there was a row immediately boys stood up and shouted and Ralph shouted back because if you want a fire to cook fish or crab you can Jolly well go up the mountain that way we'll be certain hands were reaching for the Conch in the light of the Setting Sun he held on and leapt on the trunk all this I meant to say now I've said it you voted me for chief now you do what I say they quietened slowly and at last was seated again Ralph dropped down and spoke in his ordinary voice so remember the rocks for a lavatory keep the fire going and smoke showing a signal don't take fire from the mountain take your food up there Jack stood up scowling in the Gloom and held out his hands I haven't finished yet but you've talked and talked I've Got The Conch Jack sat down grumbling then the last thing this is what people can talk about he waited till the platform was very still things are breaking up I don't understand why we began well we were happy and then he moved the con gently looking Beyond them at nothing remembering the beasty the snake the fire the talk of fear then people started getting frightened a murma almost a moan Rose and passed away Jack had stopped whittling Ralph went on abruptly but that's Lin's talk we'll get that straight so the last part the bit we can all talk about is kind of deciding on the fear the hair was creeping into his eyes again we've got to talk about this fear and decide there's nothing in it I'm frightened myself sometimes only that's nonsense like Bogies then when we've decided we can start again and be careful about things like fire a picture of three boys walking along the bright Beach flitted through his mind and be happy ceremonially Ralph laid The Conch on the trunk beside him as a sign that the speech was over what sunlight reached them was devil Jack stood up and took the Conch so this is a meeting to find out what's what I'll tell you what's what you litts started all this with the fear talk Beasts where from of course we're frightened sometimes but we put up with being frightened only Ralph says you scream in the night what does that mean but nightmares anyway you don't hunt or build or help you're a lot of crybabies and sisses that's what and as for the fear you'll have to put up with that like the rest of us Ralph looked at Jack open-mouthed but Jack took no notice the thing is fear can't hurt you any more than a dream there aren't any beasts to be afraid of on this island he looked along the row of whispering litland serve you right if something did get you you useless lot of crybabies but there is no animal Ralph interrupted him testily what is all this who's said anything about an animal you did the other day you said they dream and cry out now they talk not only the littens but my Hunters sometimes talk of a thing a dark thing a beast some sort of animal I've heard you thought not didn't you now listen you don't get big animals on small Islands only pigs you only get lions and tigers in big countries like Africa and India and the zoo I've got the cons I'm not talking about the fear I'm talking about the Beast be frightened if you like but as for the Beast Jack paused cradling The Conch and turned to his Hunters with their dirty black caps am I a hunter or am I not they nodded simply he was a hunter all right no one doubted that well then I've been all over this island by myself if there were a beast I'd have seen it be frightened because you're like that but there is no beast in the forest Jack handed Back The Conch and sat down the whole assembly applauded him with relief then piggy held out his hand I don't agree with all Jack said but with some of course there isn't a beast in the forest how could there be what would a beast eat pig we eat pig piggy piggy I got the Conch said piggy indignantly Ralph they ought to shut up ought they you shut up you littl what I mean is that I don't agree about this here fear of course isn't nothing to be afraid of in the forest why I've been there myself you'll be talking about ghosts and such things next we know what goes on and if there's something wrong there's someone to put it right he took off his glasses and blinked at them the sun had gone as if the light had been turned off he proceeded to explain if you got a pain in your stomach whether it's a little one or a big one yours is a big one when you've done laughing perhaps we can get on with the meeting and if them Litt on climb back on the Twister again they'll only fall off in a sec so they might as well sit on the ground and listen no you have doctors for everything even the inside of your mind you don't really mean that we got to be frightened all the time of nothing life said piggy expansively is scientific that's what it is in a year or two when the war's over they'll be traveling to Mars and back I know there isn't no Beast not with Claws and all that I mean but I know there isn't no fear either piggy paused unless Ralph moved restlessly unless what unless we get frightened of people a sound half laugh half Geer Rose Among the seated boys piggy ducked his head and went on hastily so let's hear from the litten who talked about a beast and perhaps we can show him how silly he is the littl began to jabber among themselves then one stood forward what's your name Phil for a little and he was self-confident holding out his hands cradling The Conch as Ralph did looking round at them to collect their attention before he spoke last night I had a dream a horrid dream fighting with things I was outside the shelter by myself fighting with things those twisty things in the trees he paused and the littl on laughed in horrified sympathy then I was frightened and I woke up and I was outside the shelter by myself in the dark and the twisty things had gone away the Vivid horror of this so possible and so nakedly terrifying held them all silent the child's voice went piping on from behind the white conch and I was frightened and started to call out for Ralph and then I saw something moving among the trees something big and horrid he paused half frightened by the recollection yet proud of the sensation he was creating that was a nightmare said Ralph he was walking in his sleep the assembly murmured in subdued agreement the Litt and shook his head stubbornly I was asleep when the twisty things were fighting and when they went away I was awake and I saw something big and horrid moving in the trees Ralph held out his hands for The Conch and the litland sat down you were asleep there wasn't anyone there how could anyone be wandering about in the forest at night was anyone did anyone go out there was a long pause while the assembly grinned at the thought of anyone going out in the darkness then Simon stood up and Ralph looked at him in astonishment you what were you McKing about in the dark for Simon grabbed the Conch convulsively I wanted to go to a place a place I know what place just a place I know a place in the jungle he hesitated Jack settled the question for them with that contempt in his voice that could sound so funny and so final he was taken short with a feeling of humiliation on Simon's behalf Ralph took back The Conch looking Simon sternly in the face as he did so well don't do it again understand not at night there's enough silly talk about beasts without the litland seeing you gliding about like a the derisive laughter that Rose had fear in it and condemnation Simon opened his mouth to speak but Ralph had the Conch so he backed to his seat when the assembly was silent Ralph turned to piggy well piggy there was another one him the littens pushed peral forward then left him by himself he stood kneed deep in the central grass looking at his hidden feet trying to pretend he was in a tent Ralph remembered another small boy who had stood like this and he flinched away from the memory he had pushed the thought Down and Out of Sight where only some positive reminder like this could bring it to the surface there had been no further the numberings of the litland partly because there was no means of ensuring that all of them were accounted for and partly because Ralph knew the answer to at least one question piggy had asked on the Mountaintop there were little boys Fair dark freckled and all dirty but their faces were all dreadfully free of major blemishes no one had seen the mury colored birth mark again but that time piggy had coaxed and bullied tacitly admitting that he remembered the unmentionable Ralph nodded to piggy go on ask him piggy knelt holding the Conch now then what's your name the small boy Twisted away into his tent piggy turned helplessly to Ralph who spoke sharply what's your name tormented by the silence and the refusal the assembly broke into a chant what's your name what's your your name quiet Ralph peered at the child in the Twilight now tell us what's your name perciful Willams Madison the vicarage harcour St Anthony H telephone telephone Tel as if this information was rooted far down in the springs of Sorrow the Lin wept his face puckered the tears leapt from his eyes his mouth opened till they could see a square black hole at first he was a silent Effigy Of Sorrow but then the lamentation rose out of him loud and sustained as The Conch shut up you shut up peral weams Madison would not shut up a spring had been tapped far beyond the reach of Authority or even physical intimidation the cry went on breath after breath and seemed to sustain him upright as if he were nailed to it shut up shut up for now the lons were no longer silent they were reminded of their personal sorrows and perhaps felt themselves to share in a sorrow that was Universal they began to cry in sympathy two of them almost as loud as peral Morris saved them he cried out look at me he pretended to fall over he rubbed his rump and sat on the Twister so that he fell in the grass he clowned badly but peral and the others noticed and sniffed and laughed presently they were all laughing so absurdly that the bigun joined in Jack was the first to make himself heard he had not got the Conch And Thus Spoke against the rules but nobody minded and what about the Beast something strange was happening to peral he yawned and staggered so that Jack seized and shook him where does the Beast live peral sagged in Jack's grip that's a clever Beast said piggy jering if it can hide on this island Jack's Been Everywhere where could a beast live Beast my foot pil muttered something and the assembly laughed again Ralph leaned forward what does he say Jack listened to peral's answer and then let go of him peral released surrounded by the comfortable presence of humans fell in the long grass and went to sleep Jack cleared his throat then reported casually he says the Beast comes out of the sea the last laugh died away Ralph turned involuntarily a black humped figure against the Lagoon the assembly looked with him considered the vast stretches of water the high sea Beyond unknown Indigo of infinite possibility heard silently the S and Whisper from The Reef Morris spoke so loudly that they jumped daddy says they haven't found all the animals in the sea yet argument started again Ralph held out the glimmering Conch and Morris took it immediately the meeting subsided I mean when Jack says you can be frightened because people are frightened anyway that's all right but when he says there's only pigs on this island I expect he's right but he doesn't know not really not certainly I mean Morris took a breath my daddy says there's things what do you call them that make ink squids that are hundreds of yards long and eat whales whole He paused again and laughed gay I don't believe in the Beast of course as piggy says life's scientific but we don't know do we not certainly I mean someone shouted a squid couldn't come up out of the water could couldn't in a moment the platform was full of arguing gesticulating Shadows to Ralph seated this seemed the breaking up of Sanity fear beasts no General agreement that the fire was all important and when one tried to get the thing straight the argument sheared off bringing up fresh unpleasant matter he could see a whiteness in the Gloom near him so he grabbed it from Morris and blew as loudly as he could the assembly was shocked into silence Simon was close to him laying hands on The Conch Simon felt a perilous necessity to speak but to speak in assembly was a terrible thing to him maybe he said hesitantly maybe there is a beast the assembly cried out savagely and Ralph stood up in amazement you Simon you believe in this I don't know said Simon his heartbeats were choking him but the storm broke sit down shut up take the Conch s you shut up Ralph shouted hear him he's got the Conch what I mean is maybe it's only us no s that was from piggy shocked out of decorum Simon went on we could be sort of Simon became inarticulate in his effort to express Mankind's essential illness inspiration came to him what's the dirtiest thing there is as an answer Jack dropped into the uncomprehending silence that followed it the one crude expressive syllable release was like an orgasm those littens who had climbed back on the Twister fell off again and did not mind the hunters were screaming with delight Simon's effort fell about him in ruins the laughter beat him cruy and he shrank away defenseless to his seat at last the assembly was silent again someone spoke out of turn Maybe he means it some sort of ghost Ralph lifted The Conch and peered into the Gloom the lightest thing was the pale Beach surely the litland were nearer yes there was no doubt about it they were huddled into a tight knot of bodies in the central grass a flurry of wind made the Palms talk and the noise seemed very loud now that darkness and silence made it so noticeable two gray trunks rubbed each other with an evil squeaking that no one had noticed by day piggy took the Conch out of his hands his voice was indignant I don't believe in no ghosts ever Jack was up too unaccountably angry who cares what you believe fatty I got the Conch there was the sound of a brief tussle and The Conch moved to and fro you give me the Conch back Ralph pushed between them and got a thump on the chest he rested The Conch from someone and sat down breath LLY there's too much talk about ghosts we ought to have left all this for daylight a hushed and Anonymous voice broke in perhaps that's what the Beast is the ghost the assembly was shaken as by a wind there's too much talking out of turn Ralph said because we can't have proper assemblies if you don't stick to the rules he stopped again the careful plan of this assembly had broken down what do you want me to say then I was wrong to call this assembly so late we'll have to vote on them on ghosts I mean and then go to the shelters because we're all tired no Jack is it wait a minute I'll say here and now that I don't believe in ghosts or I don't think I do but I don't like the thought of them not now that is in the dark but we were going to decide what's what he raised the con for a moment very well then I suppose what's what is whether there are ghosts or not he thought for a moment formulating the question who thinks there may be ghosts for a long time there was silence and no apparent movement then Ralph peered into the Gloom and made out the hands he spoke flatly I see the world that understandable and lawful world was slipping away once there was this and that and now and the ship had gone The Conch was snatched from his hands and Piggy's voice shrilled I didn't vote for no ghosts he Whirled around on the assembly remember that all of you they heard him stamp what are we humans or animals or Savages what's grown-ups going to think going off hunting pigs letting fires out and now a shadow fronted him tempestuously you shut up you fat slug there was a moment's struggle and The glimmering Conch jigged up and down Ralph leapt to his feet Jack Jack you haven't got the con let him speak Jack's face swam near him and you shut up who are you anyway sitting there telling people what to do you can't hunt you can't sing I'm Chief I was chosen why should choosing make any difference just giving orders that don't make any sense Piggy's got the con that's right favor piggy as you always do Jack Jack's voice sounded in bitter mimicry Jack Jack the rules shouted Ralph you're breaking the rules who cares Ralph summoned his wits because the rules are the only thing we've got but Jack was shouting against him bollocks to the rules we're strong we hunt if there Beast will hunt it down we'll close in and beat and beat and beat he gave a wild whoop and leapt down to the pale sand at once the platform was full of noise and excitement scrambling screams and laughter the assembly shredded away and became a discursive and random scatter from The Palms to the water and away Along the beach Beyond Night site Ralph found his cheek touching the Conch and took it from piggy what's growing Up's going to say cried piggy again look at him the sound of mock hunting hysterical laughter and real terror came from the beach Blow The Conch Ralph piggy was so close that Ralph could see the glint of his one glass there's the fire can't they see you got to be tough now make them do what you want Ralph answered in the cautious voice of one who rehearses a theorum if I blow the con and they don't come back and we've had it we Shan keep the fire going we'll be like animals we'll never be rescued if you don't blow we'll soon be animals anyway I can't see what they're doing but I can hear the dispersed figures had come together on the sand and were a dense black mass that revolved they were chanting something and Litt ons that had had enough were staggering away howling Ralph raised The Conch to his lips and then lowered it the trouble is are there ghosts piggy or beasts of course there aren't why not cuz things wouldn't make sense houses and streets and TV they wouldn't work the dancing chanting boys had worked themselves away till their sound was nothing but a wordless rhythm but suppose they don't make sense not here on this island supposing things are watching us and waiting Ralph shuddered violently and moved closer to piggy so that they bumped frighteningly you stop talking like that we got enough trouble Ralph and I've had as much as I can stand if there is ghosts I ought to give up being Chief hear him oh Lord oh no piggy gripped Ralph's arm if Jack was Chief he'd have all hunting and no fire we'd be here till we died his voice ran up to a squeak who's that sitting there me Simon fat lot of good we are said Ralph Three Blind Mice I'll give up if you give up said piggy in an appalled whisper what would happened to me nothing he hates me I don't know why if he could do what he wanted you're all right he respects you besides you'd hit him you were having a nice fight with him just now I had the conch said piggy simply I had a right to speak Simon stirred in the dark go on being Chief you shut up young Simon why couldn't you say there wasn't a beast I'm scared of him said Piggy and that's why I know him if you're scared of someone you hate him but you can't stop thinking about him you kid yourself he's all right really and then when you see him again it's like asthma and you can't breathe I tell you what he hates you too Ralph me why me I don't know you got him over the fire and you're chief and he isn't but he's he's Jack married you I've been in bed so much I done some thinking I know about people I know about me and him he can't hurt you but if you stand out of the way he'd hurt the next thing and that me Piggy's right Ral there's you and Jack go and be in Chief we're all drifting and things are going wrong at home there was always a grownup please sir please miss and then youve got an answer how I wish I wish my auntie was here I wish my father oh what's the use keep the fire going the dance was over and the hunters were going back to the shelters grown-ups know things said piggy they ain't afraid of the dark they'd meet and have tea and discuss then things will be all right they wouldn't Set Fire to the island or lose they'd build a ship the three boys stood in the darkness striving unsuccessfully to convey the Majesty of adult life they wouldn't quarrel or break my specks or talk about a beast if only they could get a message to us cried Ralph desperately if only they could send to something grown up a sign or something a thin whale out of the darkness chilled them and set them grabbing for each other then the whale Rose remote and uney and turned to an inarticulate gibbering peral weams Madison of the vicarage harkort and Anthony lying in the long grass was living through circumstances in which the incantation of his address was powerless to help him chapter 6 beast from Air there was no light left save that of the stars when they had understood what made this ghostly noise and peral was quiet again Ralph and Simon picked him up unhandy and carried him to a shelter piggy hung about near for all his Brave words and the three bigger boys went together to the next shelter they lay restlessly and noisily among the dry leaves watching the patch of stars that was opening towards the Lagoon sometimes a Litt and cried out from the other shelters and once a bigun spoke in the dark then they too fell asleep sleep a sliver of moon Rose Over the Horizon hardly large enough to make a path of light even when it sat right down on the water but there were other lights in the sky that moved fast winked or went out though not even a faint popping came down from the battle fought at 10 m height but a sign came down from the world of grown-ups though at the time there was no child awake to read it there was a sudden bright explosion and a cork screw Trail across the sky then Darkness again and stars there was a speck above the island a figure dropping swiftly beneath a parachute a figure that hung with dangling limbs The Changing Winds of various altitudes took the figure where they would then 3 miles up the wind steadied and bore it in a descending curve round the sky and swept it in a great slant across the reef and the Lagoon towards the mountain the figure fell and crumpled among the blue flowers of the mountain side but now there was a gentle breeze at this height too and the parachute flopped and banged and pulled so the figure with feet that dragged behind it slid up the mountain yard by yard puff by Puff The Breeze hauled the figure through the blue flowers over the boulders and red stones till it lay huddled among the shattered rocks of the Mountaintop here the breeze was fitful and allowed the strings of the parachute to tangle and feston and the figure sat its helmeted head between its knees held by a complication of lines when the breeze blew the lines would strain tort and some accident of this pull lifted the head and chest upright so that the figure seemed to peer across Ross the brow of the mountain then each time the wind dropped the lines would slacken and the figure bow forward again sinking its head between its knees so as the Stars moved across the sky the figure sat on the Mountaintop and bowed and sank and bowed again in the darkness of early morning there were Noises by a rock a little way down the side of the mountain two boys rolled out of a pile of Brushwood and Dead Leaves two dim Shadows talking sleepily to each other they were the twins on duty at the fire in theory one should have been asleep and one on watch but they could never manage to do things sensibly if that meant acting independently and since staying awake all night was impossible they had both gone to sleep now they approached the darker smudge that had been the signal fire yawning rubbing their eyes treading with practiced feet when they reached it they stopped yawning and one ran quickly back for Brushwood and leaves the other knelt down I believe it's out he fiddled with the sticks that were pushed into his hands no he lay down and put his lips close to the smudge and blew softly his face appeared lit readly he stopped blowing for a moment Sam give us tinderwood Eric bent down and blew softly again till the patch was bright Sam poked the piece of tinderwood into the hot spot then a branch the glow increased and the branch took fire Sam piled on more branches don't burn the lot said Eric you're putting on too much let's warm up we'll only have to fetch more wood I'm cold so am I besides it's dark all right then Eric squatted back and watched Sam make up the fire he built a little tent of dead wood and the fire was safely a light that was near he'd have been waxy for a few moments the twins watched the fire in silence then Eric sniggered wasn't he waxy about the fire and the pig lucky he went for Jack instead of us remember a waxy at school boy you are driving me slowly insane the twins shared their identical laughter then remembered the darkness and other things and glanced around uneasily the Flames busy about the tent Drew their eyes back again Eric watched the scurrying wood Li that was so frantically unable to avoid the flames and thought of the first fire just down there on the steeper Side of the Mountain where now was complete darkness he did not like to remember it and looked away at the Mountaintop warmth radiated now and beat pleasantly on them Sam amused himself by fitting branches Into the Fire as closely as possible Eric spread out his hands searching for the distance at which the heat was just bearable idly looking beyond the fire he resettled the scattered rocks from their flat Shadows into daylight Contours just there was the big rock and the Three Stones there that Split Rock and there Beyond was a gap just there Sam huh nothing the Flames were mastering the branches the bark was curling and falling away the wood exploding the tent fell inwards and flung a wide circle of light over the Mountaintop Sam huh Sam Sam Sam looked at Eric irritably the intensity of Eric's gaze made the direction in which he looked terrible for Sam had his back to it he scrambled around the fire squatted by Eric and looked to see they became motionless gripped in each other's arms Four unwinking Eyes aimed and two mouths open far beneath them the Trees of the forest side then roared the hair on their foreheads fluttered and Flames blew out Sideways from the fire 15 yards away from them came the plopping noise of fabric blown open neither of the boys screamed but the grip of their arms tightened and their mouths grew peaked for perhaps 10 seconds they crouched like that while the flailing fire sent smoke and Sparks and waves of inconstant light over the top of the mountain then as though they had but one terrified mind between them they scrambled away over over the rocks and fled Ralph was dreaming he had fallen asleep after what seemed hours of tossing and turning noisily among the dry leaves even the sounds of nightmare from the other shelters no longer reached him for he was back from where he came from feeding the ponies with sugar Over the Garden Wall then someone was shaking his arm telling him that it was time for tea Ralph wake up the leaves were roaring like the sea Ralph Wake Up what's the matter we saw the Beast plain who are you the twins we saw the Beast quiet piggy the leaves were roaring still piggy bumped into him and a twin grabbed him as he made for the oblong of paling Stars you can't go out it's horrible piggy where are the spear I can hear the quiet then lie still they lay there listening at first with doubt but then with Terror to the description the twins breathed at them between bouts of extreme silence Soon the Darkness was full of claws full of the awful unknown and Menace an interminable Dawn faded the stars out and At Last Light sad and gray filtered into the shelter they began to stir though still the world outside the shelter was impossibly dangerous the Maze of the darkness sorted into near and far and at the high point of the sky the cloudlets were warmed with color a single seabird flapped upwards with a horse cry that was echoed presently and something squared in the forest now streaks of cloud near the Horizon began to glow rosily and the feathery tops of the Palm were green Ralph knelt in the the entrance to the shelter and peered cautiously around him samon Eric call them to an assembly quietly go on the twins holding tremulously to each other dared the few yards to the next shelter and spread the Dreadful news Ralph stood up and walked for the sake of dignity though with his back pricking to the platform Piggy and Simon followed him and the other boys came sneaking after Ralph took the Conch from where it lay on the polished seat and held it to his lips but then he hesitated and did not blow he held the shell up instead and showed it to them and they understood the Rays of the Sun that were Fanning upwards from below the Horizon swung downwards to eye level Ralph looked for a moment at the growing slice of gold that lit them from the right hand and seemed to make speech possible the circle of boys before him bristled with hunting Spears he handed The Conch to Eric the nearest of the twins we've seen the Beast with our own eyes no we weren't asleep Sam took up the story by custom now one conch did for both twins for their substantial Unity was recognized it was furry there was something moving behind its head wings the Beast moved too that was awful kind of set up the fire was bright we just made it up more sticks on there were eyes teeth claws we ran as fast as we could bashed into things the Beast followed us I saw it slinking behind the trees nearly touched me Ralph pointed fearfully at Eric's face which was striped with scars where the bushes had torn him how did you do that that Eric felt his face I'm all rough am I bleeding the circle of boys shrank away in horror Johnny yawning still burst into noisy tears and was slapped by Bill till he choked on them the bright morning was full of threats and the circle began to change it faced out rather than in and the spears of sharpened wood were like a fence Jack called them back to the center this will be a real hunt HEK come Ralph moved impatiently these Spears are made of wood don't be silly Jack sneered at him frightened of course I'm frightened who wouldn't be he turned to the twins yearning but hopeless I suppose you aren't pulling our legs the reply was too emphatic for anyone to doubt them piggy took the Conch couldn't we kind of stay here maybe the Beast won't come near us but for the sense of some something watching them Ralph would have shouted at him stay here and be cramped into this bit of the island always on the lookout how should we get our food and what about the fire let's be moving said Jack restlessly we're wasting time no we're not what about the Litt on sucks to the Litt on someone's got to look after them nobody has so far there was no need now there is Piggy look after them that's right keep piggy out of danger have some sense what can piggy do with only one ey the rest of the boys were looking from Jack to Ralph curiously and another thing you can't have an ordinary hunt because the Beast doesn't leave tracks if it did you'd have seen them for all we know the Beast may swing through the trees like what's its name they nodded so we've got to think piggy took off his damaged glasses and cleaned the remaining lens how about us Ralph you haven't got the C here no I mean how about us suppose supp the Beast comes when you're all away I can't see proper and if I get scared Jack broke in contemptuously you're always scared I got the Conch conch conch shouted Jack we don't need the Conch anymore we know who ought to say things what good did Simon do speaking or Bill or Walter it's time some people knew they've got to keep quiet and leave deciding things to the rest of us Ralph could no longer ignore his speech the blood was hot in his cheeks you haven't got the Conch he said sit down Jack's face went so white that the freckles showed as clear Brown flxs he licked his lips and remained standing this is a hunter's job the rest of the boys watched intently piggy finding himself uncomfortably embroiled slided The Conch to Ralph's knees and sat down the silence grew oppressive and piggy held his breath this is more than a hunter's job said Ralph at last because you can't track the Beast and don't you want to be rescued he turned to the assembly don't you all want to be rescued he looked back at Jack I said before the fire is the main thing now the fire must be out the old exasperation saved him and gave him the energy to attack hasn't anyone got any sense we've got to relight that fire you never thought of that Jack did you or don't any of you want to be rescued yes they wanted to be rescued there was no doubt about that and with a violent swing to Ralph's side the crisis passed piggy let out his breath with a gasp reached for it again and failed he lay against a log his mouth gaping blue Shadows creeping around his lips nobody minded him now think Jack is there anywhere on the island you haven't been unwillingly Jack answered there's only but of course you remember the tail end part where the rocks are all piled up I've been near there The Rock makes a sort of bridge there's only one way up and the thing might live there all the assembly talked at once quiet all right that's where we'll look if the Beast isn't there we'll go up the mountain and look and light the fire let's go we'll eat first then go Ralph paused we'd better take Spears end of dis three lord of the FES dis four after they had eaten Ralph and the biguns set out along the beach they left piggy propped up on the platform this day promised like the others to be a sunbath under a Blue Dome the beach stretched away before them in a gentle curve till perspective drew it into one with the forest for the day was not Advanced enough to be obscured by the shifting veils of Mirage under Ralph's Direction they picked a careful way along the Palm Terrace rather than dare the hot sand down by the water he let Jack lead the way and Jack trod with theatrical caution though they could have seen an enemy 20 yards away Ralph walked in the rear thankful to have escaped responsibility for a Time Simon walking in front of Ralph felt a flicker of incredulity a beast with claws that scratched that sat on a Mountaintop that left no tracks and yet was not fast enough to catch Sam nerk however Simon thought of the Beast There Rose before his inward sight the picture of a human at once heroic and sick he sighed other people could stand up and speak to an assembly apparently without that Dreadful feeling of the pressure of Personality could say what they would as though they were speaking to only one person he stepped aside and looked back Ralph was coming along holding his spear over his shoulder diffidently Simon allowed his Pace to slacken until he was walking side by side with Ralph and looking up at him through the the coarse black hair that fell now to his eyes Ralph glanced sideways smiled constrainedly as though he had forgotten that Simon had made a fool of himself then looked away again at nothing for a moment or two Simon was happy to be accepted and then he ceased to think about himself when he bashed into a tree Ralph looked sideways impatiently and Robert sniggered Simon reeled and a white spot on his forehead turned turned red and trickled Ralph dismissed Simon and returned to his personal hell they would reach the castle sometime and the chief would have to go forward Jack came trotting back we're in sight now all right we'll get as close as we can he followed Jack towards the castle where the ground Rose slightly on their left was an impenetrable tangle of creepers and trees what why couldn't there be something in that because you can see nothing goes in or out what about the castle then look Ralph parted the screen of grass and looked out there were only a few more yards of Stony ground and then the two sides of the island came almost together so that one expected a peak of Headland but instead of this a narrow ledge of rock a few yards wide and perhaps 15 long continued the island out into the sea there lay another of those pieces of pink squareness that underlay the structure of the island this side of the castle perhaps 100 ft high was the pink Bastion they had seen from The Mountaintop the rock of the cliff was split and the top littered with great lumps that seemed to totter behind Ralph The Tall Grass had filled with silent Hunters Ralph looked at Jack you're a hunter Jack went red I know all right something deep in Ralph spoke for him I'm Chief I'll go don't argue he turned to the others you hide here wait for me he found his voice tended either to disappear or to come out too loud he looked at Jack do you think Jack muttered I've been all over it must be here I see Simon mumbled confusedly I don't believe in the Beast Ralph answered him politely as if agreeing about the weather no I suppose not his mouth was tight and pale he put back his hair very slowly well so long he forced his feet to move until they had carried him out onto the neck of land he was surrounded on all sides by chasms of empty air there was nowhere to hide even if one did not have to go on he paused on the narrow neck and looked down soon in a matter of centuries the sea would make an island of the castle on the right hand was the Lagoon troubled by the Open Sea and on the left Ralph shattered the Lagoon had protected them from the Pacific and for some reason only Jack had gone right down to the water on the other side now he saw the landsman's view of the swell and it seemed like the breathing of some stupendous creature slowly the waters sank among the rocks revealing pink tables of granite strange growths of coral pop and weed down down the waters went Whispering like the wind among the heads of the forest there was one Flat Rock there spread like a table and the waters sucking down on the four weedy sides made them seem like Cliffs then the sleeping Leviathan breathed out the waters Rose the weed streamed and the water boiled over the table rock with a raw there was no sense of the passage of waves only this minute long fall and Rise and Fall Ralph turned away to the Red Cliff they were waiting behind him in the long grass waiting to see what he would do he noticed that the sweat in his palm was cool now realized with surprise that he did not really expect to meet any beast and didn't know what he would do about it if he did he saw that he could climb the cliff but this was not necessary the squareness of the rock allowed a sort of plinth round it so that to the right over the lagoon one could inch along a ledge and turn around the corner out of sight it was easy going and soon he was peering around the rock nothing but what you might expect pink tumbled Boulders with guano layered on them like icing and a steep slope up to the shattered rocks that crowned the Bastion a sound behind him made him turn jack was edging along the ledge couldn't let you do it on your own Ralph said nothing he led the way over the Rocks inspected a sort of half cave that held nothing more terrible than a clutch of rotten eggs and at last sat down looking around him and tapping the rock with the butt of his spear Jack was excited what a place for a fort a column of spray wetted them no fresh water oh what's that then there was indeed a long green smudge halfway up the rock they climbed up and tasted the trickle of water you could keep a coconut shell there filling all the time not me this is a rotten Place side by side they scaled the last height to where the diminishing pile was crowned by the last broken rock Jack struck the near one with his fist and it grad slightly do you remember consciousness of the bad times in between came to them both Jack talked quickly shove a palm tree under that and if an enemy came look 100 ft below them was the narrow Causeway then the Stony ground then the grass dotted with heads and behind that the forest one heave cried Jack exulting and we he made a swooping movement with his hand Ralph looked towards the mountain what's the matter Ru turned why you were looking I don't know how there's no signal now nothing to show you're nuts on the signal the Tor Blue Horizon encircled them broken only by The Mountaintop that's all we've got he leaned his spear against the rocking Stone and pushed back two handfuls of hair we'll have to go back and climb the mountain that's where they saw the Beast the Beast won't be there what else can we do the others waiting in the grass saw Jack and Ralph unharmed and broke cover into the sunlight they forgot the beast in the excitement of exploration they swarmed across the bridge and soon were climbing and shouting Ralph stood now one hand against an enormous red block a block large as a millwheel that had been split off and hung tottering somberly he watched the mountain he clenched his fist and beat Hammer wise on the red wall at his right his lips were tightly compressed and his eyes yearned Beneath The Fringe of hair smoke he sucked his bruised fist Jack come on but Jack was not there a knot of boys making a great noise that he had not noticed were heaving and pushing at a rock as he turned the base cracked and the whole Mass topped pulled into the sea so that a thunderous plume of spray leapt halfway up the cliff stop it stop it his voice struck a silence among them smoke a strange thing happened in his head something flitted there in front of his mind like a bats Wing obscuring his idea smoke at once the ideas were back and the anger we want smoke and you go wasting your time you r rocks Roger shouted we've got plenty of time Ralph shook his head we'll go to the mountain the clamor broke out some of the boys wanted to go back to the beach some wanted to roll more rocks the sun was bright and danger had faded with the darkness Jack the Beast might be on the other side you can lead again you've been we could go by the shore there's fruit bill came up to Ralph why can't we stay here for a bit that's right let's have a f there's no food here said Ralph and no shelter not much fresh water this would make a wizard fought we can roll rocks right onto the bridge I say we'll go on shouted Ralph furiously we've got to make certain we'll go now let's stay here back to the shelter I'm tired no Ralph struck the skin off his knuckles they did not seem to heard I'm Chief we've got to make certain can't you see the mountain there's no signal showing there may be a ship out there are you all off your rockers mutinously the boys fell silent or muttering Jack led the way down the Rock and across the bridge chapter 7 shadows and tall trees the pig run kept close to the jumble of rocks that lay down by the water on the other side and Ralph was content to follow Jack along it if you could shut your ears to the slow suck down of the sea and boil of the return if you could forget how done and unvisited were the ferny covers on either side then there was a chance that you might put the Beast out of mind and dream for a while the sun had swung over the vertical and the afternoon he was closing in on the island Ralph passed a message forward to Jack and when they next came to fruit the whole party stopped and at sitting Ralph was aware of the heat for the first time that day he pulled distastefully at his gray shirt and wondered whether he might undertake the adventure of washing it sitting under what seemed an unusual heat even for this island Ralph planned his toilet he would like to have a pair of scissors and cut this hair he flung the mass back cut this filthy hair right back to half an inch he would like to have a bath a proper wallow with soap he passed his tongue experimentally over his teeth and decided that a toothbrush would come in handy too then there were his Nails Ralph turned his hand over and examined them they were bitten down to the quick though he could not remember when he had restarted this habit nor any time when he indulged it Bes sucking my thumb next he looked around furtively apparently no one had heard the hunters sat stuffing themselves with this easy meal trying to convince themselves that they got sufficient kick out of bananas and that other olive gray jellylike fruit with the memory of his sometime clean self as a standard Ralph looked them over they were dirty not with the spectacular dirt of boys who would fallen into mud or been brought down hard on a rainy day not one of them was an obvious subject for a shower and yet hair much too long Tangled here and there knotted around a dead leaf or a twig faces cleaned fairly well by the process of eating and sweating but marked in the less accessible angles with a kind of Shadow clothes worn away stiff like his own with sweat put on not for decorum or Comfort but out of custom the skin of the body scurfy with brine he discovered With A Little Fall of the heart that these were the conditions he took as normal now and that he did not mind He sighed and pushed away the stalk from which he had stripped the fruit already the hunters were stealing away to do their business in the woods or down by the Rocks he turned and looked out to see here on the other side of the island The View was utterly different the filmy enchantments of Mirage could not endure the cold ocean water and the Horizon was hard clipped blue Ralph wandered down to the Rocks down here almost on a level with the sea you could follow with your eye the ceaseless bulging passage of the deep sea waves they were miles wide apparently not Breakers or the banked Ridges of shallow water they traveled the length of the island with an air of disregarding it and being set on other business they were less a progress than a momentous rise and fall of the whole ocean now the sea would suck down making Cascades and waterfalls of retreating water would sink past the rocks and plaster down the seaweed like shining hair then pausing gather and rise with a roar irresistibly swelling over point and outcrop climbing the little Cliff sending at last an arm of surf up a galy to end a yard or so from him in fingers of spray wave after wave Ralph followed the rise and fall until something of the remoteness of the sea numbed his brain then gradually the almost infinite size of this land forced itself on his attention this was the divider the barrier on the other side of the island SED at midday with Mirage defended by The Shield of The Quiet lagoon one might dream of rescue but here faced by The Brute obtuseness of the ocean the miles of division one was clamped down one was helpless one was condemned one was Simon was speaking almost in his ear Ralph found that he had Rock painfully gripped in both hands found his body arched the muscles of his neck stiff his mouth strained open you'll get back to where you came from Simon nodded as he spoke he was kneeling on one knee looking down from a higher Rock which he held with both hands his other leg stretched down to Ralph's level Ralph was puzzled and searched Simon's face for a clue it's so big I mean Simon nodded all the same you'll get back all right I think so anyway some of the strain had gone from Ralph's body he glanced at the sea and then smiled bitterly at Simon got a ship in your pocket Simon grinned and shook his head how do you know then when Simon was still silent Ralph said curtly your batty Simon shook his head violently till the coarse black hair flew backwards and forwards across his face no I'm not I just think you'll get back all right for a moment nothing more was said and then they suddenly smiled at each other Roger called from the covers come and see the ground was turned over near the pig run and there were droppings that steamed Jack bent down to them as though he loved them Ralph we need meat even if we are hunting the other thing if you mean going the right way we'll hunt they set off again the hunters bunched a little by fear of the mentioned Beast while Jack quested ahead they went more slowly than Ralph had bargained for yet in a way he was glad to loiter cradling his spear Jack came up against some emergency of his craft and soon the procession stopped Ralph leaned against a tree and at once the Daydreams came swarming up Jack was in charge of the hunt and there would be time to get to the mountain once following his father from chattam to devonport they had lived in a cottage on the edge of the Moors in the succession of houses that Ralph had known this one stood out with particular Clarity because after that house he had been sent away to school mommy had still been with them and Daddy had come home every day wild ponies came to the stone wall at the bottom of the garden and it had snowed just behind the cottage there was a sort of shed and you could lie up there watching the flakes swirl past you could see the damp spot where each flake died then you could Mark the first flake that lay down without melting and watch the whole ground turn white you could go Ino doors when you were cold and look out of the window past that bright Copper Kettle and the plate with the little blue men when you went to bed there was a bowl of cornflakes with sugar and cream and the books they stood on the shelf by the bed leaning together with always two or three laid flat on top because he had not bothered to put them back properly they were doged and scratched there was the bright shining one about Topsy and mopsy that he never read because it was about two girls there was the one about the magician which you read with a kind of tied down Terror skipping page 27 with the awful picture of the spider there was a book about people who had dug things up Egyptian things there was the boy's book of trains The Boy book of ships vividly they came before him he could have reached up and touched them could feel the weight and slow slide with which the mammoth book for boys would come out out and Slither down everything was all right everything was good humored and friendly the bushes crashed ahead of them boys flung themselves wildly from the big track and scrabbled in the creepers screaming Ralph saw Jack nudged aside and fall then there was a creature bounding along the pig track towards him with tusks gleaming and an intimidating grunt Ralph found he was able to measure the distance coldly and take Aim with the boar only 5 yards away he flung The foolish wooden stick that he carried saw it hit the great snout and hang there for a moment The Boar's note changed to a squeal and it swerved aside into the cover the pig run filled with shouting boys again jack came running back and poked about in the undergrowth through here but he do us through here I said the bo was floundering away from from them they found another Pig run parallel to the first and Jack raced away Ralph was full of fright and apprehension and pride I hit him the spear stuck in now they came unexpectedly to an open space By the Sea Jack casted about on the bare rock and looked anxious he's gone I hit him said Ralph again and the spear stuck in a bit he felt the need of witnesses didn't you see me Morris nodded I saw you right bang on his snout we Ralph talked on excitedly I hit him all right the spear stuck in I wounded him he sunned himself in their new respect and felt that hunting was good after all I walloped him properly that was the Beast I think Jack came back that wasn't the Beast that was a boore I hit him why didn't you grab him I tried Ralph's voice ran up but a boore jack flushed suddenly he said he'd do us what did you want to throw for why didn't you wait he held out his arm look he turned his left forearm for them all to see on the outside was a rip not much but bloody he did that with his tusks I couldn't get my spear down in time attention focused on Jack that's a wound said Simon and you ought to suck it like bararia Jack sucked I hit him said Ralph indignantly I hit him with my spear I wounded him he tried for their attention he was coming along the path I threw like this Robert snarled at him Ralph entered into the play and everybody laughed presently they were all jabbing at Robert who made mock rushes Jack shouted make a ring the circle moved in and round Robert squealed in mock Terror then in real pain ow stop it you're hurting the butt end of a spear fell on his back and he blundered among them hold him they got his arms and legs Ralph Carried Away by a sudden thick excitement grabbed Eric's Spear and jabbed at Robert with it kill him kill him all at once Robert was screaming and struggling with the strength of frenzy Jack had him by the hair and was brandishing his knife behind him was Roger fighting to get CL the chant Rose ritually as the last moment of a dance or a hunt kill the pig cut his throat kill the pig bash him in Ralph too was fighting to get near to get a handful of that brown vulnerable flesh the desire to squeeze and hurt was overmastering Jack's arm came down the heaving Circle cheered and made Pig dying noises then they lay quiet panting listening to Robert's frightened snivels he wiped his face with a dirty arm and made an effort to retrieve his status oh my bum he rubbed his rump ruul Jack rolled over that was a good game just a game said Ralph uneasily I got Jolly badly hurt at rager once we ought to have a drum said Morris then we could do it properly Ralph looked at him how properly I don't know you want a fire I think and a drum and you keep time to the drum you want a pig said Roger like a real hunt or someone to pretend said Jack you could get someone to dress up as a pig and then he could act you know pretend to knock me over and all that you want a real pig said Robert still caressing his rump because you've got got to kill him use a little one said Jack and everybody laughed Ralph sat up well we Shan find what we're looking for at this rate one by one they stood up twitching Rags into place Ralph looked at jackow for the mountain shouldn't we go back to piggy said Morris before dark the twins nodded like one boy yes that's right let's go up there in the morning Ralph looked out and saw the sea we've got to start the fire again you hav't got biggy specs said Jack say you can't then we'll find out if the Mountain's clear Morris spoke hesitating not wanting to seem a funk supposing the beasts up there Jack brandished his spear we'll kill it the sun seemed a little cooler he slashed with the spear what are we waiting for I suppose said Ralph if we keep on By the Sea this way we'll come out below the burnt bit and then we can climb the mountain once more Jack LED them along by the sck and heave of the blinding sea once more Ralph dreamed letting his skillful feet deal with the difficulties of the path yet here his feet seemed less skillful than before for most of the way they were forced right down to the bare rock by the water and had to Edge along between that and the Dark luxuriance of the forest there were little Cliffs to be scaled some to be used as paths lengthy traverses where one used hands as well as feet here and there they could clamber over wave Wet Rock leaping across clear pools that the tide had left they came to a galy that split the narrow foreshore like a defense this seemed to have no bottom and they peered or stricken into the gloomy crack where water gurgled then the wave came back the galley boiled before them and spray dashed up to the very creeper so that the boys were wet and shrieking they tried the forest but it was thick and woven like a bird's nest in the end they had to jump one by one waiting till the water sank and even so some of them got a second drenching after that the Rocks seemed to be growing impossible so they sat for a time letting their Rags dry and watching the clipped outlines of the rollers that moved so slowly past the island they found fruit in a haunt of bright little birds that hovered like insects then Ralph said they were going too slowly he himself climbed a tree and parted the canopy and saw the square head of the mountain seeming still a great way off then they tried to hurry along the rocks and Robert cut his knee quite badly and they had to recognize that this path must be taken slowly if they were to be safe so they proceeded after that as if they were climbing a dangerous mountain until the Rocks became an uncompromising Cliff overhung with impossible jungle and falling sheer into the sea Ralph looked at the sun critically early evening after tea time at any rate I don't remember this Cliff said Jack crestfallen so this must be the bit of the coast I missed Ralph nodded let me think by now Ralph had no self-consciousness in public thinking but would treat the day's decisions as though he were playing chess the only trouble was that he would never be a very good chess player he thought of the littens and piggy vividly he imagined piggy by himself huddled in a shelter that was silent except for the sounds of nightmare we can't leave the litland AL alone with piggy not all night the other boys said nothing but stood round watching him if we went back we should take ours Jack cleared his throat and spoke in a queer tight voice we mustn't let anything happen to piggy must we Ralph tapped his teeth with the dirty point of Eric's spear if we go across he glanced around him someone's got to cross the island and tell piggy we'll be back after dark Bill spoke unbelieving through the forest by himself now we can't spare more than one Simon pushed his way to Ralph's elbow I'll go if you like I don't mind honestly before Ralph had time to reply he smiled quickly turned and climbed into the forest Ralph looked back at Jack seeing him infuriatingly for the first time Jack that time you went the whole way to the Castle Rock Jack glowed yes you came along part of this Shore below the mountain Beyond there yes and then I found a pig run it went for Miles Ralph nodded he pointed at the forest so the pig run must be somewhere in there everybody agreed sagely all right then we'll smash way through till we find the pig run he took a step and halted wait a minute though where does the pig run go to the mountain said Jack I told you he sneered don't you want to go to the mountain Ralph sighed sensing the rising antagonism understanding that this was how Jack felt as soon as he ceased to lead I was thinking of the light we'll be stumbling about we were going to look for the Beast there won't be enough light I don't mind going said Jack hotly I'll go when we get there won't you would you rather go back to the shelters and tell piggy now it was Ralph's turn to flush but he spoke despairingly out of the new understanding that piggy had given him why do you hate me the boys stirred uneasily as though something indecent had been said the silence lengthened Ralph still hot and hurt turned away first come on he led the way and set himself as by right to hack at the tangles Jack brought up the rear displaced and brooding the pig track was a dark tunnel for the sun was sliding quickly towards the edge of the world and in the forest Shadows were never far to seek the track was Broad and beaten and they ran along at a swift Trot then the roof of leaves br broke up and they halted breathing quickly looking at the few stars that pricked round the head of the mountain there you are the boys peered at each other doubtfully Ralph made a decision we'll go straight across to the platform and climb tomorrow they murmured agreement but Jack was standing by his shoulder if you're frightened of course Ralph turned on him who went first on the Castle Rock I went too and that was Daylight all right who wants to climb the mountain now silence was the only answer Sam NK what about you we ought to go and tell piggy yes tell piggy that but Simon went we ought to tell piggy in case Robert bill they were going straight back to the platform now not of course that they were afraid but tired Ralph turned back to Jack you see I'm going up the mountain Mountain the words came from Jack viciously as though they were a curse he looked at Ralph his thin body tense his spear held as if he threatened him I'm going up the mountain to look for the Beast now then the Supreme Sting the Casual bitter word coming at that word the other boys forgot their urge to be gone and turned back to sample this fresh rub of two spirits in the dark the word was too too good too bitter too successfully daunting to be repeated it took Ralph at low water when his nerve was relaxed for the return to the shelter and the still friendly Waters of the Lagoon I don't mind astonished he heard His Voice come out cool and Casual so that the bitterness of Jack's taunt fell powerless if you don't mind of course oh not at all Jack took a step well then side by side watched by silent boys the two started up the mountain Ralph stopped we're silly why should only two go if we find anything two won't be enough there came the sound of boys scuttling away astonishingly a dark figure moved against the tide Roger yes well that's three then once more they set out to climb the slope of the mountain the darkness seemed to flow around them like a tide Jack who said Nothing began to choke and cough and a gust of wind set all three splattering Ralph's eyes were blinded with tears ashes were on the edge of the burnt patch their footsteps and the occasional Breeze were stirring up small Devils of dust now that they stopped again Ralph had time while he coughed to remember how silly they were if there was no beast and almost certainly there was no beast in that case well and good but if there was something waiting on top of the mountain what was the use of three of them handicapped by the darkness and carrying only sticks we're being fools out of the darkness came the answer Wendy irritably Ralph shook himself this was all Jack's fault of course I am but we're still being fools if you don't want to go on said the voice sarcastically I'll go out by myself Ralph heard the mockery and hated Jack The Sting of ashes in his eyes tiredness fear enraged him go on then we'll wait here there was silence why don't you go are you frightened a stain in the darkness a stain that was Jack detached itself and began to draw away all right so long the stain vanished another took its place Ralph felt his knee against something hard and rocked a charred trunk that was edgy to the touch he felt the sharp Cinders that had been bark push against the back of his knee and knew that Roger had sat down he felt with his hands and lowered himself beside Roger while the trunk rocked among invisible ashes Roger uncommunicative by Nature said nothing he offered no opinion on the Beast nor told Ralph why he had chosen to come on this mad Expedition he simply sat and rocked the trunk gently Ralph noticed a rapid and infuriating tapping noise and realized that Roger was banging his sly wooden stick against something so they sat the rocking tapping impervious Roger and Ralph fuming round them the close sky was loaded with stars save where the mountain punched up a hole of Blackness there was a slithering noise high above them the sound of someone taking giant and dangerous strides on rock or Ash then Jack found them and was shivering and croaking in a voice they could just recognize as his I saw a thing on top they heard him blunder against the trunk which rocked violently he lay silent for a moment then muttered keep a good Lookout it may be following a shower of Ash pattered around them Jack sat up I saw a thing bulge on the mountain you only imagined it said Ralph shaking because nothing would bulge not any sort of creature Roger spoke they jumped for they'd forgotten him a frog Jack giggled and shuddered some frog there was a noise too a kind of plop noise then the thing bulged Ralph surprised himself not so much by the quality of his voice which was even but by the bravado of its intention we'll go and look for the first time since he had known Jack Ralph could feel him hesitate now his voice spoke for him of course he got off the trunk and led the way across the clinking Cinders up into the dark and the others followed now that his physical voice was silent the inner voice of reason and other voices too made themselves heard piggy was calling him a kid another voice told him not to be a fool and the Darkness and desperate Enterprise gave the night a kind of dentist's chair unreality as they came to the last slope Jack and Roger Drew near changed from ink stains to distinguishable figures by Common consent they stopped and crouched together behind them on the horizon was a patch of lighter sky where in a moment the moon would rise the wind roared once in the forest and pushed their Rags against them Ralph stirred come on they crept forward Roger lagging a little Jack and Ralph turned the shoulder of the mountain together the glittering lengths of the Lagoon lay below them and beyond that a long white smudge that was The Reef Roger joined them Jack whispered let's creep forward on hands and knees maybe it's asleep Roger and Ralph moved on this time leaving Jack in the rear for all his Brave words they came to the flat top where The Rock was hard to hands and knees a creature that bulged Ralph put his hand in the cold soft ashes of the fire and smothered a cry his hand and shoulder were twitching from the unlooked for contact green lights of noria appeared for a moment and at into the darkness Roger lay behind him and Jack's mouth was at his ear over there where there used to be a gap in the Rock a sort of Hump see ashes blew into Ralph's face from the dead fire he could not see the gap or anything else because the green lights were opening again and growing and the top of the mountain was sliding sideways once more from a distance he heard Jack's whisper scared not scared so much as paralyzed hung up here immovable on the top of the diminishing moving Mountain Jack slid away from him Roger bumped fumbled with a hiss of breath and passed onwards he heard them Whispering can you see anything there in front of them only three or four yards away was a rock like hump where no Rock should be Ralph could hear a tiny chattering noise coming from somewhere perhaps from his own mouth he bound himself together with his will fused his Fear and Loathing into her hatred and stood up he took two leaden steps forward behind them the sliver of moon had drawn clear of the Horizon before them something like a great ape was sitting asleep with its head between its knees then the wind roared in the forest Forest there was confusion in the darkness and the creature lifted its head holding towards them the ruin of a face Ralph found himself taking giant strides among the ashes heard other creatures crying out and leaping and dared The Impossible on the dark slope presently the mountain was deserted save for the three abandoned sticks and the thing that bowed chapter 8 gift for the darkness piggy looked up miserably from the dawn pale Beach to the dark Mountain are you sure really sure I mean I told you a dozen times now said Ralph we saw it do you think we safe down here how the hell should I know Ralph jerked away from him and walked a few Paces along the beach Jack was kneeling and drawing a circular pattern in the sand with his forefinger Piggy's voice came to them hushed are you sure really go up and see said Jack contemptuously and good riddance no feir the Beast had teeth said Ralph and big black eyes he shuddered violently piggy took off his one round of glass and Polished the surface what are we going to do Ralph turned towards the platform The Conch glimmered among the trees a white blob against the place where the Sun would rise he pushed back his mop I don't know he remembered the Panic Flight down the mountain side I don't think we'd ever fight a thing that SI honestly you know we talk but we wouldn't fight a tiger we'd hide even Jack had hide Jack Still looked at the Sand what about my Hunters Simon came stealing Out of the Shadows by the shelters Ralph ignored Jack's question he pointed to the touch of yellow above the sea as long as there's light we're brave enough but then and now that thing squats by the fire as though it didn't want us to be rescued he was twisting his hands now unconsciously his voice Rose so we can't have a signal fire we're beaten a point of gold appeared above the sea and at once all the sky lightened what about my Hunters boy armed with sticks Jack got to his feet his face was red as he marched away piggy put on his one glass and looked at Ralph now you done it you've been rude about his Hunters oh shut up the sound of the inexpertly blown conch interrupted them as though he was serenading the rising Sun Jack went on blowing till the shelters were a stir and the hunters crept to the platform and the litts whimpered as now they so frequently did Ralph Rose obediently and piggy and they went to the platform talk said Ralph bitterly talk talk talk he took the Conch from Jack this meeting Jack interrupted him I called it if you hadn't called it I should have you just blew the C well isn't that oh take it go on talk Ralph thrust The Conch into Jack's arms and sat down on the trunk I've called an assembly said Jack because of a lot of things first you know now we've seen the Beast we crawled up we were only a few feet away the Beast sat up and looked at us I don't know what it does we don't even know what it is the Beast comes out of the sea out of the dark trees quiet shouted Jack you listen the Beast is sitting up there whatever it is perhaps it's waiting hunting yes hunting hunting said Jack he remembered his age-old tremors in the forest yes the Beast is a hunter only shut up the next thing is that we couldn't kill it and the next thing is that Ralph said my Hunters are no good I never said that I've Got The Conch Ralph thinks your cards running away from the boar and the Beast and that's not all there was a kind of sigh on the platform as if everyone knew what was coming Jack's voice went on tremulous yet determined pushing against the uncooperative silence he's like Piggy he says things like Piggy he isn't a proper Chief Jack clutched The Conch to him he's a coward himself for a moment he paused and then then went on on top when Roger and me went on he stayed back I went too after the two boys glared at each other through screens of hair I went on too said Ralph then I ran away so did you call me a card then Jack turned to the hunters he's not a hunter he'd never have got us meet he isn't a prefect and we don't know anything about him he just gives orders and expects people to obey for nothing all this talk all this talk shouted Ralph talk talk who wanted it who called the meeting Jack turned read in the face his chin sunk back he glowed up under his eyebrows all right then he said in tones of deep meaning and Menace all right he held the Conch against his chest with one hand and stabbed the air with his index finger who thinks Ralph oughton to be chief he looked expectantly at the boys ranged round who had Frozen Under The Palms there was deadly silence hands up said Jack strongly whoever wants Ralph not to be Chief the silence continued breathless and heavy and full of Shame slowly the red drained from Jack's cheeks then came back with a painful Rush he licked his lips and turned his head at an angle so that his gaze avoided the embarrassment of linking with another's eye how many think his voice tailed off the hands that held the Conch shook he cleared his throat and spoke loudly all right then he laid The Conch with great care in the Grass at his feet the humiliating tears were running from the corner of each eye I'm not going to play any longer not with you most of the boys were looking down now at the grass or their feet Jack cleared his throat again I'm not going to be part of Ralph's lot he looked along the right hand logs numbering the hunters that had been a choir I'm going off by myself he can catch his own pigs anyone who wants to hunt when I do can come too he blundered out of the triangle towards the drop to the White Sand Jack Jack turned and looked back at Ralph for a moment he paused and then cried out high pitched enraged no he leapt down from the platform and ran along the beach paying no heed to the steady fall of his tears and until he dived into the forest Ralph watched him piggy was indignant I've been talking Ralph and you just stood there like softly looking at Piggy and not seeing him Ralph spoke to himself he'll come back when the Sun goes down he'll come he looked at the Conch in Piggy's hand what well there piggy gave up the attempt to rebuke Ralph he polished his glass again and went back to his subject we can do without Jack mered you there's others besides him on this island but now we really got a beast though I can't hardly believe it we'll need to stay close to the platform there'll be less need of him and his hunting so now we can really decide on what's what there's no help piggy nothing to be done for a while they sat in depressed silence then Simon stood up and took the Conch from piggy who was so astonished that he remained on his feet Ralph looked up at Simon Simon what is it this time a half sound of jering ran around the circle and Simon shrank from it I thought there might be something to do something we again the pressure of the assembly took his voice away he sought for help and sympathy and chose piggy he turned half towards him clutching the Conch to his brown chest I think we ought to climb the mountain the circle shivered with Dread Simon broke off and turned to piggy who was looking at him with an expression of derisive incomprehension what's the good of climbing up to this ear beast when Ralph and the other two couldn't do nothing Simon whispered his answer what else is there to do his speech made he allowed piggy to lift the Conch out of his hands then he retired and sat as far away from the others as possible piggy was speaking now with more assurance and with what if the circumstances had not been so serious the others would have recognized as pleasure I said we could all do without a certain person now I say we got to decide on what can be done and I think I could tell you what Ralph's going to say next the most important thing on the island is the smoke and you can't have no smoke without a fire Ralph made a Restless movement no go piggy we've got no fire that thing sits up there we'll have to stay here piggy lifted the cons as though to add power to his next words we got no Fire on the Mountain but what's wrong with a fire down here a fire could be built on them rocks on the sand even we'd make smoke just the same that's right smoke B the bathing pool the boys began to babble only piggy could have the intellectual daring to suggest moving the fire from the mountain so we'll have the fire down here said Ralph he looked about him we can build it just here between the bathing pool and the platform of course he broke off frowning thinking the thing out unconsciously tugging at the stub of a nail with his teeth of course the smoke won't show so much not be seen so far away but we needn't go near near the the others nodded in perfect comprehension there would be no need to go near we'll build the fire now the greatest ideas are the simplest now there was something to be done they worked with passion piggy was so full of delight and expanding Liberty in Jack's departure so full of pride in his contribution to the good of society that he helped to fetch wood the wood he fetched was close at hand a Fallen Tree on the platform that they did not need for the assembly yet to the others the sanctity of the platform had protected even what was useless there then the twins realized they would have a fire near them as a comfort in the night and this set a few litts dancing and clapping hands the wood was not so dry as the fuel they had used on the mountain much of it was damply rotten and full of insects that scurried logs had to be lifted from the soil with care or they crumbled into Soden powder more than this in in order to avoid going deep into the forest the boys worked near at hand on any Fallen wood no matter how Tangled with new growth the skirts of the forest and the scar were familiar near The Conch and the shelters and sufficiently friendly in daylight what they might become in darkness nobody cared to think they worked therefore with great energy and cheerfulness though as time crept by there was a suggestion of panic in the energy and hysteria in the cheerfulness they built a pyramid of leaves and twigs branches and logs on the bare Sand by the platform for the first time on the island piggy himself removed his one glass knelt down and focused the sun on Tinder soon there was a ceiling of smoke and a bush of yellow Flame the Lins who had seen few fires since the first catastrophe became wildly excited they danced and sang and there was a partyish air about the Gathering at last Ralph stopped work and stood up smudging the sweat from his face with a dirty forearm we'll have to have a small fire this one's too big to keep up Piggy sat down carefully on the sand and began to polish his glass we could experiment we could find out how to make a small hot fire and then put green branches on to make smoke some of them leaves must be better for that than the others as the fire died down so did the excitement the littens stopped singing and dancing and drifted away towards the sea or the fruit trees or the shelters Ralph flopped down in the sand we'll have to make a new list of who's to look after the fire if you can find them he looked round then for the first time he saw how few biguns there were and understood why the work had been so hard where's Morris piggy wiped his glass again I expect no he wouldn't go into the forest by himself would he Ralph jumped up ran swiftly around the fire and stood by piggy holding up his hair but we've got to have a list that's you and me and Sam nerk and he would not look at piggy but spoke casually where's Bill and Roger piggy leaned forward and put put a fragment of wood on the fire I expect they've gone I expect they won't play either Ralph sat down and began to poke little holes in the sand he was surprised to see that one had a drop of blood on it he examined his bitten nail closely and watched the little globe of blood that gathered where the quick was gwed away piggy went on speaking I seen them stealing off when we was gathering wood they went that way the same way as he went himself Ralph finished his inspection and looked up into the air the sky as if in sympathy with the great changes among them was different today and so Misty that in some places the hot air seemed white the disc of the sun was dull silver as though it was nearer and not so hot yet the air stifled they always been making trouble haven't they The Voice came near his shoulder and sounded anxious we can do without him we'll be happier now won't we Ral sat the twins came dragging a great log and grinning in their Triumph they dumped the log among the Embers so that Sparks flew we can do all right on our own can't we for a long time while the log dried caught fire and turned red hot Ralph sat in the the sand and said nothing he did not see piggy go to the Twins and Whisper with them nor how the three boys went into the forest here you are he came to himself with a jolt Piggy and the other two were by him they were Laden with fruit I thought perhaps said piggy we ought to have a feast kind of the three boys sat down they had a great mass of fruit with them and all of it properly ripe they grinned at Ralph as he took some and began to eat thanks he said then with an accent of pleased surprise thanks do all right on our own said piggy it's them that haven't know common sense that might trouble on this island we'll make a little hot fire Ralph remembered what had been worrying him where's Simon I don't know you don't think he's CL ing the mountain piggy broke into noisy laughter and took more fruit he might be he gulped his mouthful he's cracked Simon had passed through the area of fruit trees but today the littl on had been too busy with the fire on the beach and they had not pursued him there he went on among the creepers until he reached the great mat that was woven by the open space and crawled inside beyond the screen of leaves the sunlight pelted down and the butterflies danced in the middle their unending dance he knelt down and the arrow of the sun fell on him the other time the air had seemed to vibrate with heat but now it threatened soon the sweat was running from his long coarse hair he shifted restlessly but there was no avoiding the Sun presently he was thirsty and then very thirsty he continued to sit far off along the beach Jack was standing before a small group of boys he was looking brilliantly Happy Hunting he said he sized them up each of them wore the remains of a black cab and ages ago they had stood in two demure rows and their voices had been the song of angels we'll hunt I'm going to be Chief they nodded and the crisis passed easily and then about the Beast they moved looked at the forest I say this we aren't going to bother about the Beast he nodded at them we're going to forget the beast that's right yes forget the Beast if Jack was astonished by their fervor he did not show it and another thing we shall don't dream so much down here this is near the end of the island they agreed passionately out of the depths of their tormented private lives now listen we might go later to the Castle Rock but now I'm going to get more of the bigin away from the con and all that we'll kill a pig and give a feast he paused and went on more slowly and about the beast when we kill we'll leave some of the kill for it then it won bother us maybe he stood up abruptly wek go into the forest now and Hunt he turned and trotted away and after a moment they followed him obediently they spread out nervously in the forest almost at once Jack found the dug and Scattered roots that told of pig and soon the track was fresh Jack signaled the rest of the hunt to be quiet and went forward by himself he was happy and wore the damp darkness of the forest like his old clothes he crept down a slope to rocks and Scattered trees by the Sea the pigs lay bloated bags of fat sensuously enjoying the Shadows under the trees there was no wind and they were unsuspicious and practice had made Jack silent as the Shadows he stole away again and instructed his hidden Hunters presently they all began to inch forward sweating in the silence and heat under the trees an ear flapped idly a little apart from the rest sunk in deep maternal Bliss lay the largest s of the lot she was black and pink and the great bladder of her belly was fringed with a row of piglets that slept or burrowed and squeaked 15 yards from the drove Jack stopped and his arm straightening pointed at the S he looked round in inquiry to make sure that everyone understood and the other boys nodded at him the row of right arms slid back now the drove of pigs started up and at a range of only 10 yards the wooden Spears with fire hardened points flew towards the chosen Pig one piglet with a demented shriek rushed into the sea trailing Roger's spear behind it the sa gave a gasping squeal and staggered up with two Spears sticking in her fat flank the boys shouted and rushed forward the piglets scattered and the S burst the advancing line and went crashing away through the forest after her they raced along the pig track but the forest was too dark and Tangled so that Jack cursing stopped them and cast among the trees then he said nothing for a long time but breathed fiercely so that they were AED by him and looked at each other in uneasy admiration presently he stabbed down at the ground with his finger there before the others could examine the drop of blood Jack had swerved off judging a trace touching a bow that gave so he followed mysteriously right and assured and the hunters trod behind him he stopped before a covet in there they surrounded the cover but the sa got away with the sting of another spear in her flank the trailing butts hindered her and the sharp Crosscut points were a torment she blundered into a tree forcing a spear still deeper and after that any of the hunters could follow her easily by the drops of vivid blood the afternoon wore on hazy and Dreadful with damp heat the sa staggered her way ahead of them bleeding and mad and the hunters followed wedded to her in lust excited by the long Chase and the dropped blood they could see her now nearly got up with her but she spurted with her last strength and held ahead of them again they were just behind her when she staggered into an open space where bright flowers grew and butterflies danced around each other and the air was hot and still here struck down by the heat the s fell and the hunters hurled themselves at her this Dreadful eruption from an unknown world made her frantic she squealed and bucked and the air was full of sweat and noise and blood and Terror Roger ran round the Heap pring with his spear whenever Pig flesh appeared Jack was on top of the sa stabbing downward with his knife Roger found a lodgment for his point and began to push till he was leaning with his whole weight the spear moved forward inch by inch and the terrified squealing became a high-pitched scream then Jack found the throat and the hot blood spouted over his hands the S collapsed under them and they were heavy and fulfilled upon her the butterflies still danced preoccupied in the center of the clearing at last the immediacy of the kill subsided the boys Drew back and Jack stood up holding out his hands look he giggled and flicked them while the boys laughed at his wreaking Palms then Jack grabbed Morris and rubbed the stuff over his cheeks Roger began to withdraw his Spear and the boys noticed it for the first time Robert stabilized the thing in a phrase which was received uproariously right up her ass did you hear did you hear what said right up her ass this time Robert and Morris acted the two parts and Morris's acting of the pig's efforts to avoid the advancing spear was so funny that the boys cried with laughter at length even this paed Jack began to clean his bloody hands on the Rock then he started work on the S and punched her lugging out the hot bags of colored guts pushing them into a pile on the Rock while the others watched him he he talked as he worked we'll take the meat along the beach I'll go back to the platform and invite them to a feast that should give us time Roger spoke Chief H how can we make a fire Jack squatted back and frowned at the pig we'll raid them and take fire there must be four of you Henry and you Bill and Morris will put on paint and sneak up Roger can snatch a branch while I say what I want the rest of you can get this back to where we were we'll build the fire there and after that he paused and stood up looking at the Shadows under the trees his voice was lower when he spoke again but we'll leave part of the kill for he knelt down again and was busy with his knife the boys crowded around him he spoke over his shoulder to Roger sharpen a stick at both ends presently he stood up holding the dripping sa's head in his hands where's that stick here Ram one end in the earth oh it's rock jam it in that crack there Jack held up the head and jammed the soft throat down on the pointed end of the stick which pierced through into the mouth he stood back and the head hung there a little blood dribbling down the stick instinctively the boys Drew back too and the forest was very still they listened and the loudest noise was the buzzing of flies over the spilled guts Jack spoke in a whisper pick up the pig Morris and Robert skewered the carcass lifted the dead weight and stood ready in the silence and standing over the dry blood they looked suddenly furtive Jack spoke loudly this head is for the Beast it's a gift the silence accepted the gift and AED them the head remained there dim eyed grinning faintly blood blackening between the teeth all at once they were running away as fast as they could through the forest towards the open Beach end of dis four Lord of the Flies dis 5 Simon stayed where he was a small brown image concealed by the leaves even if he shut his eyes the Sour's head still remained like an after image the half shot eyes were dim with the infinite cynicism of adult life they assured Simon that everything was a bad business I know that Simon discovered that he had spoken aloud he opened his eyes quickly and there was the head grinning amusedly in the strange daylight ignoring the Flies the spilled guts even ignoring the indignity of being spiked on a stick he looked away licking his dry lips a gift for the Beast might not the Beast come for it the head he thought appeared to agree with him run away said the head silently go back to the others it was a joke really why should you bother you were just wrong that's all little headache something you ate perhaps go back child said the head silently Simon looked up feeling the weight of his wet hair and gazed at the sky up there for once were clouds great bulging towers that sprouted away over the island gray and cream and copper colored the clouds were sitting on the land they squeezed produced Moment by moment this close tormenting heat even the butterflies deserted the open space where the obscene thing grinned and dripped Simon lowered his head carefully keeping his eyes shut then sheltered them with his hand there were no Shadows under the trees but everywhere a pearly Stillness so that what was real seemed Elusive and without definition the pile of guts was a black blob of flies that buzzed like a saw after a while these flies found Simon gorged they are lighted by his rals of sweat and drank they tickled under his nostrils and played Leap Frog on his thighs they were black and iridescent green and without number and in front of Simon the Lord of the Flies hung on his stick and grinned at last Simon gave up and looked back saw the white teeth and dim eyes the blood and his gaze was held by that ancient inescapable recognition in Simon's right Temple a pulse began to beat on the brain Ralph and piggy lay in the sand gazing at the fire and idly flicking pebbles in into its smokeless heart that branch is gone where's Sam NK we ought to get some more wood we're out of green branches Ralph sighed and stood up there were no Shadows Under The Palms on the platform only this strange light that seemed to come from everywhere at once high up among the bulging clouds Thunder went off like a gun we're going to get buckets of rain what about the fire Ralph trotted into the forest and returned with a wide spray of green which he dumped on the fire the branch crackled the leaves curled and the yellow smoke expanded piggy made an aimless little pattern in the sand with his fingers trouble is we haven't got enough people for a fire you got to treat samon Eric as one turn they do everything together of course well that isn't fair don't you see they ought to do two turns Ralph considered this and understood he was vexed to find how little he thought like a grown up and sighed again the island was getting worse and worse piggy looked at the fire you want another green Branch soon Ralph rolled over piggy what are we going to do just have to get on without him but the fire he frowned the black and white mess in which lay the unburned ends of branches he tried to formulate I'm scared he saw Piggy look up and blundered on not of the Beast I mean I'm scared of that too but nobody understands about the fire if someone threw you a rope when you were drowning if a doctor said take this because if you don't take it you'll die you would wouldn't you I mean of course I would can't they see can't they understand without the smoke signal we'll die here look at that a wave of heated air trembled above the ashes but without a trace of smoke we can't keep one fire going and they don't care and what's more he looked intensely into Piggy's streaming face what's more I don't sometimes supposing I got like the others not not caring what had become of us piggy took off his glasses deeply troubled I don't know Ralph we just got to go on that's all that's what grown-ups would do Ralph having begun the business of unburdening himself continued piggy what's wrong piggy looked at him in astonishment do you mean the no not it I mean what makes things break up like they do piggy rubbed his glasses slowly and thought when he understood how far Ralph had gone towards accepting him he flushed pinkly with pride I don't know Ralph I expect it's him Jack Jack a taboo was evolving around that word too Ralph nodded solemnly yes he said I suppose it must be the forest near them burst into uproar demoniac figures with faces of white and red and green rushed out howling so that the Litt on fled screaming out of the corner of his eye Ralph saw piggy running two figures rushed at the fire and he prepared to defend himself but they grabbed half burnt branches and raced away Along the beach the three others s stood still watching Ralph and he saw that the tallest of them Stark naked save for paint and a belt was Jack Ralph had his breath back and spoke Well Jack ignored him lifted his Spear and began to shout listen all of you me and my Hunters we're living along the beach by A Flat Rock we hunt and feast and have fun if you want to join my tribe come and see us perhaps I'll let you join perhaps not he paused and looked round he was safe from shame or self-consciousness behind the mask of his paint and could look at each of them in turn Ralph was kneeling by the remains of the fire like a sprinter at his Mark and his face was half hidden by hair and smut Sam nerk peered together round a palm tree at the edge of the forest a little and howled creased and Crimson by the bathing pool and piggy stood on the platform the white conch gripped in his hands tonight we're having a feast we've killed a pig and we've got meat you can come and eat with us if you like up in the cloud Canyons the Thunder boomed again Jack and the two Anonymous Savages with him swayed looked up and then recovered the litten went on howling Jack was waiting for something he whispered urgently to the others go on now the two Savages murmured Jack spoke sharply go on the two Savages looked at each other raised their Spears and spoke in time the chief has spoken then the three of them turned and trotted away presently Ralph Rose to his feet looking at the place where the Savages had vanished Sam NK came talking in an AED whisper I thought it was and I was scared piggy stood above them on the platform still holding the Conch that was Jack and Morris and Robert said Ralph aren't they having fun I thought I was going to have Asma sucks to your Asar when I saw Jack I was sure he'd go for the Conch can't think why the group of boys looked at the white shell with affectionate respect piggy placed it in Ralph's hands and the Lin seeing the familiar symbol started to come back back not here he turned towards the platform feeling the need for ritual first went Ralph the white conch cradled then piggy very grave then the Twins then the littens and the others sit down all of you they raided us for fire they're having fun but the Ralph was puzzled by the shutter that flickered in his brain there was something he wanted to say then the shutter had come down but the they were regarding him Gravely not yet troubled by any doubts about his sufficiency Ralph pushed the idiot hair out of his eyes and looked at piggy but the you the fire of course the fire he started to laugh then stopped and became fluent instead the fires the most important thing without the fire we can't be rescued I'd like to put on war paint and be a Savage but we must keep the fire burning the fire is the most important thing on the island because because it paused again and the silence became full of doubt and wonder piggy whispered urgently rescue oh yes without the the fire we can't be rescued so we must stay by the fire and make smoke when he stopped no one said anything after the many brilliant speeches that had been made on this very spot Ralph's remarks seemed lame even to the litland at last bill held out his hands for the con now we can't have the fire up there because we can't have the fire up there we need more people to keep it going let's go to this feast and tell them the fire's hard on the rest of us and then hunting and all that being Savages I mean must be jolly good fun Sam nerk took the Conch that must be fun like bill says and as he's invited us to a feast meat crackling I could do with some meat Ralph held up his hand why shouldn't we get our own meat the twins looked at each other Bill answered said we don't want to go in the jungle Ralph grimaced he you know goes he's a hunter they're all Hunters that's different no one spoke for a moment then piggy muttered to the sand meat the littens SAT solemnly thinking of meat and dribbling overhead the cannon boomed again and the dry Palm front clattered in a sudden gust of hot wind you are a silly little boy said the Lord of the Flies just an ignorant silly little boy Simon moved his swollen tongue but said nothing don't you agree said the Lord of the Flies aren't you just a silly little boy Simon answered him in the same silent voice well then said the Lord of the Flies youd better run off and play with the others they think you're BTY you don't want Ralph to think you're BTY do you you like Ralph a lot don't you and piggy and Jack Simon's head was tilted slightly up his eyes could not break away and the Lord of the Flies hung in space before him what are you doing out here all alone aren't you afraid of me Simon shook there isn't anyone to help you only me and I'm the Beast Simon's mouth labored brought forth audible words Pig's head on a stick fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill said the head for a moment or two the forest and all the other dimly appreciated places echoed with the parody of laughter you knew didn't you I'm part of you close close close I'm the reason why it's noo why things are what they are the laughter shivered again come now said the Lord of the Flies get back to the others and we'll forget the whole thing Simon's head wobbled his eyes were half closed as though he were imitating the obscene thing on the stick he knew that one of his times was coming on the Lord of the Flies was expanding like a balloon this is ridiculous you know perfectly well you'll only meet me down there so don't try to escape Simon's body was arched and stiff the Lord of the Flies spoke in the voice of a school Master this has gone quite far enough my poor misguided child do you think you know better than I do there was a pause I'm warning you I'm going to get waxy do you see you're not wanted understand we are going to have fun on this island understand we are going to have fun on this island so don't try it on my poor misguided boy or else Simon found he was looking into a vast mouth there was Blackness within a Blackness that spread or else said the Lord of the Flies we shall do you see Jack and Roger and moris and Robert and Bill and piggy and Ralph do you see Simon was inside the mouth he fell down and lost Consciousness chapter N A View to a death over the island the buildup of clouds continued a steady current of heated air Rose all day from the mountain and was thrust to 10,000 ft revolving masses of gas piled up the static until the air was ready to explode by early evening the sun had gone and a brassy glare had taken the place of clear daylight even the air that pushed in from the sea was hot and held no refreshment colors drained from water and trees and pink surfaces of rock and the white and brown clouds brooded nothing prospered but the Flies who blackened their lord and made the spil guts look like a heap of glistening coal even when the vessel broke in Simon's nose and the blood gushed out they left him alone preferring the pig's High flavor with the running of blood Simon's pit passed into the weariness of sleep he lay in the mat of creepers while the evening Advanced and the cannon continued to play at last he woke and saw dimly the dark Earth close by his cheek still he did not move but lay there his face sideways on the earth his eyes looking dully before him then he turned over drew his feet under him and laid hold of the creepers to pull himself up when the creeper shook the Flies exploded from the guts with a vicious note and clamped back on again Simon got to his feet the light was unearthly the Lord of the Flies hung on his stick like a black ball Simon spoke aloud to the clearing what else is there to do nothing replied s turned away from the open space and crawled through the creepers till he was in The Dusk of the forest he walked drearily between the trunks his face empty of expression and the blood was dry around his mouth and Chin only sometimes as he lifted the ropes of Creeper aside and chose his direction from the trend of the land he mouthed words that did not reach the air presently the creepers festooned the trees less frequent quently and there was a scatter of pearly light from the sky down through the trees this was the backbone of the island the slightly higher land that lay beneath the mountain where the forest was no longer Deep Jungle here there were wide spaces interspersed with thickets and huge trees and the trend of the ground led him up as the forest opened he pushed on staggering sometimes with his weariness but never stopping the usual brightness was gone from his eyes and he walked with a sort of glum determination like an old man a buffet of wind made him stagger and he saw that he was out in the open on Rock under a brassy Sky he found his legs were weak and his tongue gave him pain all the time when the wind reached the Mountaintop he could see something happen a flicker of blue stuff against Brown clouds he pushed himself forward and the wind came again stronger now cuffing the forest heads till they ducked and roared Simon saw a humped thing suddenly sit up on the top and looked down at him he HIIT his face and toiled on the Flies had found the figure too the lifelike move movement would scare them off for a moment so that they made a dark cloud round the head then as the blue material of the parachute collapsed the corpulent figure would bow forward sighing and the Flies settle once more Simon felt his knees Smack The Rock he crawled forward and soon he understood the tangle of lines showed him the mechanics of this parody he examined the white nasal Bones the teeth the colors of corruption he saw how pitilessly the layers of rber and canvas held together the poor body that should be rotting away then the wind blew again and the figure lifted bowed and breathed fouly at him Simon knelt on all fours and was sick till his stomach was empty then he took the lines in his hands he freed them from the rocks and the figure from the winds indignity at last he turned away and looked down at the beaches the fire by the platform appeared to be out or at least making no smoke further along the beach Beyond The Little River and near a great slab of rock a thin trickle of smoke was climbing into the sky Simon forgetful of the Flies shaded his eyes with both hands and peered at the smoke even at that distance it was possible to see that most of the boys perhaps all the boys were there so they had shifted Camp then away from the Beast as Simon thought this he turned to the poor broken thing that sat stinking by his side the Beast was harmless and horrible and the News must reach the others as soon as possible he started down the mountain and his legs gave beneath him even with great care the best he could do was a stagger bathing said Ralph that's the only thing to do piggy was inspecting the looming Sky through his glass I don't like the clouds remember how it rained just after we landed going to rain again Ralph dived into the pool a couple of Lins were playing at the edge trying to extract comfort from a wetness warmer than blood piggy took off his glasses stepped primly into the water and then put them on again Ralph came to the surface and squirted a jet of water at him mind my specks said piggy if I get water on the glass I got to get out and clean them Ralph squirted again and missed he laughed at piggy expecting him to retire meekly as usual and in pained silence instead piggy beat the water with his hands stop it he shouted you here furiously he drove the water into Ralph's face all right all right said Ralph keep your hair on piggy stopped beating the water I got a pain in my head I wish the air was cooler I wish the rain would come I wish we could go home piggy lay back against the sloping sand side of the pool his stomach protruded and the water dried on it Ralph squirted up at the sky one could guess at the movement of the Sun by the progress of a light patch among the clouds he knelt in the water and looked round where's everybody piggy sat up perhaps they're lying in the shelter where's Sam nerk and Bill piggy pointed beyond the platform that's where they've gone Jack's party let them go said Ralph uneasily I don't care just for some meat and for hunting said Ralph wisely and for pretending to be a tribe and putting on war paint piggy stirred the sand underwater and did not look at Ralph perhaps we ought to go too Ralph looked at him quickly and piggy blushed I mean to make sure nothing happens Ralph squirted water again long before Ralph and piggy came up with Jacks lot they could hear the party there was a stretch of grass in a place where The Palms left a wide band of turf between the forest and the shore just one step down from the edge of the turf was the white blown sand of above high water warm dry trotten below that again was a rock that stretched away towards the Lagoon Beyond was a short stretch of sand and then the edge of the water a fire burned on a rock and fat dripped from The Roasting pig meat into the invisible Flame Flames all the boys of the island except piggy Ralph Simon and the two tending the pig were grouped on the turf they were laughing singing lying squatting or standing on the grass holding food in their hands but to judge by the greasy faces the meat eating was almost done and some held coconut shells in their hands and were drinking from them before the party had started a great log had been dragged into the center of the lawn and Jack painted and garlanded sat there like an idol there were piles of meat on green leaves near him and fruit and coconut shells full of drink Piggy and Ralph came to the edge of the grassy platform and the boys as they noticed them fell silent one by one till only the boy next to Jack was talking then the silence intruded even there and Jack turned where he sat for a time he looked at them and the crackle of the fire was the loudest noise over the bordon of the reef Ralph looked away and Sam thinking that Ralph had turned to him accusingly put down his GW bone with a nervous giggle Ralph took an uncertain step pointed to a palm tree and whispered something inaudible to Piggy and they both giggled like Sam lifting his feet high out of the sand Ralph started to stroll past piggy tried to whistle at this moment the boys who were cooking at the fire suddenly hauled off a great chunk of meat and ran with it towards the grass they bumped piggy who was burnt and yelled and danced immediately Ralph and the crowd of boys were United and relieved by a storm of laughter piggy once more was the center of social derision so that everyone felt cheerful and normal Jack stood up and waved his spear take them some meat the boys with the spit gave Ralph and piggy each a succulent chunk they took the gift dribbling so they stood and ET beneath a sky of thunderous brass that rang with the storm coming Jack waved his spear again has everybody eaten as much as they want there was still food left sizzling on the wooden spits heaped on the green platters betrayed by his stomach piggy threw a picked bone down on the beach and stooped for more Jack spoke again impatiently has everybody eaten as much as they want his tone conveyed a warning given out of the pride of ownership and the boy a faster while there was still time seeing there was no immediate likelihood of pause Jack Rose from the log that was his throne and sauntered to the edge of the grass he looked down from behind his paint at Ralph and piggy they moved a little further off over the sand and Ralph watched the fire as he Ed he noticed without understanding how the Flames were visible now against the dull light evening was come not with calm Beauty but with the threat of violence Jack spoke give me a drink Henry brought him a shell and he drank watching Piggy and Ralph over the jagged Rim Power lay in the brown swell of his forearms Authority sat on his shoulder and chattered in his ear like an ape all sit down the boys ranged themselves in rows on the grass before him but Ralph and piggy stayed a foot lower standing on the soft sand Jack ignored them for a moment turned his mask down to the seated boys and pointed at them with the spear who is going to join my tribe Ralph made a sudden movement that became a stumble some of the boys turned towards him I gave you food said Jack and my hunter will protect you from the Beast who will join my tribe I'm Chief said Ralph because you chose me and we were going to keep the fire going now you run after food you ran yourself shouted Jack look at that bone in your hands Ralph went Crimson I said you were Hunters that was your job Jack ignored him again we'll join my tribe and have fun I'm Chief said Ralph tremulously and what about the fire and I've Got The Conch you haven't got it with you said Jack sneering you left it behind see clever and the con doesn't count at this end of the island all at once the thunder struck instead of the dull boom there was a point of impact in the explosion The Conch counts here too said Ral and all over the island what are you going to do about it then Ralph examined the ranks of boys there was no help in them and he looked away confused and sweating piggy whispered the fire rescue who'll join my tribe I will me I will I'll blow the Conch said Ralph breathlessly and call an assembly we Shan hear it Piggy touched Ralph's wrist Come Away there going to be trouble and we've had our meet there was a blink of bright light Beyond the Forest and the Thunder exploded again so that a little and started to whine big drops of rain fell among them making individual sounds when they struck going to be a storm said Ralph and you'll have rain like when we dropped here who's clever now where are your shelters what are you going to do about that the hunters were looking uneasily at the sky flinching from The Stroke of the drops a wave of restlessness set the boys swaying and moving aimlessly the flickering light became brighter and the blows of the Thunder were only just bearable the Lin began to run about screaming Jack leapt onto the sand do I dance come on Dance he ran stumbling through the thick sand to the open space of rock beyond the the fire between the flashes of lightning the air was dark and terrible and the boys followed him clamorously rer became the pig grunting and charging at Jack who Sid stepped the hunters took their Spears the cooks took spits and the rest clubs of firewood while Roger MiniMed the terror of the pig the little ons ran and jumped on the outside of the circle Piggy and Ralph under the threat of the sky found themselves eager to take a place in this demented but partly secure Society they were glad to touch the brown backs of the fence that hemmed in the terror and made it governable kill the Beast cut his throat spill his blood the movement became regular while the chant lost its first superficial excitement and began to beat like a steady pulse Roger ceased to be a pig and became a hunter so that the center of the Ring yawned wed emptily some of the Lin started a ring on their own and the complimentary circles went round and round as though repetition would achieve safety of itself there was the throb and stamp of a single organism the dark sky was shattered by a blue White Scar an instant later the noise was on them like the blow of a gigantic whip the chant Rose a tone in agony kill the Beast cut his throat spill his blood now out of the terror Rose another desire thick urgent blind kill the Beast cut his throat spill his blood again the blue White Scar Jagged above them and the sulfurous explosion beat down the Litt and screamed and blundered about fleeing from the edge of the forest and one of them broke the Ring of bigun in his Terror him him the circle became a horseshoe a thing was crawling out of the forest it came Darkly uncertainly the shrill screaming that Rose before the Beast was like a pain the Beast stumbled into the Horseshoe kill the Beast cut his throat spill his blood the blue White Scar was constant the noise unendurable Simon was crying out something about a dead man on a hill kill the Beast cut his throat spill his blood do him in the sticks fell and the mouth of the new Circle crunched and screamed the Beast was on its knees in the center its arms folded over its face it was crying out against the Abominable noise something about a body on the hill the Beast struggled forward broke the ring and and fell over the Steep edge of the rock to the Sand by the water at once the crowd surged after it poured down the rock leapt onto the Beast screamed struck bit tore there were no words and no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws then the clouds opened and let down the rain like a waterfall the water bounded from The Mountaintop tore leaves and branches from the trees poured like a cold shower over the struggling Heap on the sand presently the Heap broke up and figures staggered away only the Beast lay still a few yards from the sea even in the rain they could see how small a beast it was and already its blood was staining the sand now a great wind blew the rain sideway ways cascading the water from the forest trees on the Mountaintop the parachute filled and moved the figure slid Rose to its feet spun swayed down through a vastness of wet air and trod with ungainly feet the tops of the high trees falling still falling it sank towards the beach and the boys rushed screaming into the darkness the parachute took the figure forward farrowing the Lagoon and bumpt it over the reef and out to sea towards midnight the rain ceased and the clouds drifted away so that the sky was scattered once more with the incredible lamps of stars then the breeze died too and there was no noise save the drip and trick of water that ran out of clifts and Spilled down Leaf by Leaf to the brown Earth of the island the air was cool moist and clear and presently even the sound of the water was still the Beast lay huddled on the pale Beach and the stains spread inch by inch the edge of the Lagoon became a streak of phosphor foressence which Advanced minutely as The Great Wave of the tide flowed the Clear Water mirrored the clear sky and the angular bright constellations the line of phosphorescence bulged about the sand Grins and the little Pebbles it held them each in a dimple of tension then suddenly accepted them with an inaudible syllable and moved on along the shoreward edge of the shallows the the advancing clearness was full of strange Moonbeam bodied creatures with fiery eyes here and there a larger Pebble clung to its own air and was covered with a coat of pearls the tide swelled in over the rain pitted sand and smoothed everything with a layer of silver now it touched the first of the stains that seeped from the broken body and the creatures made a moving patch of light as they gathered at the edge the water Rose further and dressed Simon's coarse hair with brightness the line of his cheek silvered and the turn of his shoulder became sculptured marble the strange attendant creatures with their fiery eyes and trailing Vapors busied themselves around his head the body lifted a fraction of an inch from the sand and a bubble of air escaped from the mouth with a wet plop then it turned gently In The Water Somewhere over the darkened curve of the world the sun and moon were pulling and the film of water on the Earth planet was held bulging slightly on one side while the solid core turned the Great Wave of the tide moved further along the island and the water lifted softly surround rounded by a fringe of inquisitive bright creatures itself a silver shape beneath the steadfast constellations Simon's dead body moved out towards the Open Sea chapter 10 the shell and the glasses piggy eyed 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 rough 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 are some little on they don't count no biguns oh Sam narck they're collecting wood 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 Chief's 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 did you say Ralph spoke up Simon piggy said nothing but nodded solemnly they continued to sit gazing with impaired sight at the chief's seat and the glittering Lagoon the green light and the glossy patches of sunshine played over their befouled 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 H what are 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 no you are over us I got the Conch Ralph stop laughing like that look there ain't no need Ralph what's the others going to think at last Ralph stopped he was shivering piggy H that that was Simon you said that before piggy that was Mur 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 Bloody dance there 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 you 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 tailed off at the sight of Ralph's face you were outside outside the circle you never really came in didn't 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 not 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 no business crawling like that out of the dark he was batty he asked for it he gesticulated 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 around quickly then leaned close don't let on we was in that dance not to Sam narck but we were all of us piggy shook his head not as to last they never noticed in the dark anyway you said I was only on the outside so was I muttered Ralph I was on the outside too piggy nodded eagerly that's right we was on the outside we never done nothing we never seen nothing piggy paused then went on we'll live on our own the four of us four of us we aren't enough to keep the fire burning we'll try see I let it Sam nerk 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 for a moment then walked on they're going to bathe Ralph better get it over the Twins were very surprised to see Ralph they flushed and looked past him into the air hello Francy meeting you Ralph we just been in the forest to get wood for the fire we got lost last night Ralph examined his toes you got lost after the piggy cleaned his lens after the feast said Sam in a stifled voice Eric nodded yes after the feast we left early said piggy quickly because we were tired tired so did weep very early we were very tired Sam touched a scratch on his forehead and then hurriedly took his hand away Eric fingered his Split Lip yes we were very tired repeated Sam so we left early was it a good the air was Heavy with unspoken knowledge Sam twisted and the obscene word shot out of him D memory of the the dance that none of them had attended shook all four boys convulsively we left only 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 the diminishing cags were balanced one on another H who goes there Roger Vance friend Roger Advanced you can see who I was the chief 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 slightly 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 somberly 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 well fall Robert shook his head doubtfully I don't know he didn't say he got angry and made us 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 rocks 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 towards the cave and the rest of the tribe the chief was sitting there naked to the waist his face blocked out in 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 this Savage and that with his spear some of you will stay here to improve the cave and defend the gate I shall take a few Hunters with me and bring back meat The Defenders of the gate will see that the other s don't sneak in a Savage raised his hand and the chief turned a bleak painted face towards 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 Watchers at the gate 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 we gave him the head of our kill to eat so watch and be careful Stanley lifted his forearm off the Rock and held up an interrogative finger well but did 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 the head if you go hunting Stanley flicked his finger again I expect the Beast disguised itself perhaps said the chief a theological speculation presented 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 was 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 meat we'll have a feast Bill put up his hand Chief yes what do we use for lighting the fire the chief's blush was hidden by the white and red clay into his uncertain silence the Trib spilled their murmur once more then the chief held up his hand we shall take fire from the others tomorrow we'll hunt and get meat tonight I'll go along with two Hunters who'll come Morris and Roger put up their hands Morris yes Chief where was their fire back at 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 Morris Roger and me we've got work to do we'll leave just before Sunset Morris put up his hand but what happens if we meet the chief waved his objection aside we'll keep Along by the sand 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 fire he looked around guiltily at the three boys standing by this was the first time he had admitted the double function of the fire certainly one was to send up a beckoning colum of smoke but the other was to be a half now and a comfort until they slept Eric breathed on the wood till it glowed and sent out a little flame a billow of white and yellow smoke red up piggy took back his glasses and looked at the smoke with pleasure if only we could make a radio or 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 be better than he would not name people and Sam finished the sentence for him by nodding along the beach Ralph remembered the UNG ly figure on a parachute he said something about a dead man he flushed painfully at this admission that he had been present at the dance he made urging motions at the smoke with his body don't stop go on up Smoke's Getting Thinner we need more wood already even when it's wet my asthma the response was mechanical sucks to your Asma if I pull logs about I get my my Asma bad I wish I didn't Ralph but there it is the three boys went into 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 saying little cramming in 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 Eric 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' got to keep it going Eric flung himself down I'm too tired and what's the good Eric cried Ralph in a shocked voice don't talk like like that Sam knelt by Eric well what is the good Ralph tried indignantly to remember there was something good about a fire something overwhelmingly good Ralph 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 knelt there his fist clenched gazed ing 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 two to mind the fire said Ralph half to himself that's 12 hours a day we can't get any more wood Ralph 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 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 Ain was talking in his sleep before bigin crept into the shelter and borrowed under the leaves the twins lay together and Ralph and Piggy at the other end for a while there was the continual Creek 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 Jed then before morning they would land at that big Airfield in Wilshire 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 the garden the wild ponies would come and look over the wall Ralph turned restlessly in the leaves dartmore 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 center with its lamps and wheels all at once Ralph was dancing round 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 at 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 were fighting each other Sam Sam hi Eric presently all was quiet again piggy 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 piggy if we don't get home soon we'll be bomy round the bend Bomb happy crackers Ralph pushed the damp tendrils of hair out of his eyes you write a letter to your auntie piggy considered this solemnly I don't know where she is now and I haven't got an envelop a stamp and there isn't a pillow box 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 all that funny Ralph continued to snigger though his chest hurt his twitching exhausted him till he lay breathless and woone 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 Eric moaned something and then lay still the darkness save for the useless oblong of stars was Blanket thick I can't hear anything there something moving outside Ralph's head prickled the sound of his blood drowned all else and then subsided I still can't hear anything listen listen 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 Ralph Ralph shut up and listen desperately Ralph prayed that the Beast would prefer litland a voice whispered horribly outside piggy piggy it's come gasped 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 snar in in the mouth of the shelter and the plunge and thump of living things someone tripped over Ralph and Piggy's Corner became a complication of snars and crashes and flying limbs Ralph hit out then he and what seemed like a dozen others were rolling over and over hitting biting scratching he was torn and jolted found fingers in his mouth and bit them a fist withdrew and came back like a piston so that the whole shelter exploded into life Ralph 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 a knee jerked up between his legs and he 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 out and through dark figures Drew themselves out of the wreckage and flitted away till the screams of the Litt on and Piggy's gasps were once more audible Ralph called out in a quavering voice all you Lance go to sleep we've had a fight with the others now go to sleep Sam nerk came close and peered at Ralph are you to all right I think so I got busted said 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 W for said Ralph I smashed him up all right 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 a 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 we didn't do too badly Ralph moved suddenly in the dark but then he heard Eric working at his mouth what's the matter just a tooth loose piggy Drew up his legs you right piggy I thought they wanted the Conch Ralph trotted down the pale Beach and jumped onto the platform The Conch still glimmered by the chief's 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 what am I going to do far off along the bow Stave of beach three figures trotted towards 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 end of dis five Lord of the Flies dis six chapter 11 Castle Rock in the short chill of dawn the four boys gathered around the black smudge where the fire had been while Ralph knelt and blew gray feathery ashes scurried hither and thither at his breath but no spark Shone among them the twins watched anxiously and piggy sat expressionless behind the Luminous wall of his myopia Ralph continued to blow till his ears were singing with the effort but then the first Breeze of dawn took the job off his hands and blinded him with ashes he squatted back swore and rubbed water out of his eyes no use Eric looked down at him through a mask of dried blood piggy peered in the G enal direction of Ralph of course it's no use Ralph now we got no fire Ralph brought his face within a couple of feet of piggies can you see me a bit Ralph allowed the swollen flap of his cheek to close his eye again they've got our fire Rage shrilled in his voice they stole it that's them said piggy they blinded me see that's Jack married you you calling a assembly Ralph we got to decide what to do an assembly for only us it's all we got Sam let me hold on to you they went towards the platform Blow The Conch said piggy blow as loud as you can the forest re-echoed and birds lifted crying out of the Treetops as on that first morning ages ago both ways the beach was deserted some Litt ons came from the shelters Ralph sat down on the polished trunk and the three others stood before him he nodded and Sam nerk sat down on the right Ralph pushed the Conch into Piggy's hands he held The Shining thing carefully and blinked at Ralph go on then I just take the Conch to say this I can't see no more and I got to get my glasses back awful things has been done on this island I voted for you for chief he's the only one who ever got anything done so now you speak Ralph and tell us what you're else piggy broke off sniveling Ralph took back The Conch as he sat down just an ordinary fire you'd think we could do that wouldn't you just a smoke signal so we can be rescued are we Savages or what only now there's no signal going up ships may be passing do you remember how he went hunting and the fire went out and a ship passed by and they all think he's best as Chief then there was there was well that's his fault too if it hadn't been for him it would never have happened now piggy can't see and they came stealing Ralph's voice ran up at night in darkness and stole our fire they stole it we'd have given them fire if they'd asked but they stole it and the signals out and we can't ever be rescued don't you see what I mean we'd have given them fire for themselves only they stole it I he paused lamely as the curtain flickered in his brain piggy held out his hands for The Conch what are you going to do Ralph this is just talk without deciding I want my glasses I'm trying to think supposing we go looking like we used to washed and hair brushed after all we aren't Savages really and being rescued isn't a game he opened the flap of his cheek and looked at the twins we could smarten up a bit and then go we ought to take Spears said Sam even piggy because we may need them you haven't got the Conch piggy held up the shell you can take Spears if you want but I Shan what's the good I'll have to be led like a dog anyhow yes laugh go on laugh there's them on this Islanders would laugh at anything and what happened what's grown up's going to think Young Simon was murdered and there was that other kid what had a mark on his face who's seen him since we first come here piggy stop a minute I got the Conch I'm going to that Jack merido and tell him I am you'll get hurt what can he do more than he has I'll tell him what's what you let me carry the con Ralph I'll show him the one thing he hasn't got piggy paused for a moment and peered round at the dim figures the shape of the old assembly trotten in the grass listened to him I'm going to him with this crch in my hands I'm going to hold it out look I'm going to say you're stronger than I am and you haven't got asthma you can see I'm going to say and with both eyes but I don't ask for my glasses back not as a favor I don't ask you to be a sport I'll say not because you're strong but because what's right's right give me my glasses I'm going to say you got to piggy ended flushed and trembling he pushed the Conch quickly into Ralph's hands as though in a hurry to be rid of it and wiped the tears from his eyes the green light was gentle about them and The Conch lay at Ralph's feet fragile and white as single drop of water that had escaped Piggy's fingers now flashed on the delicate curve like a star at last Ralph sat up straight and Drew back his hair all right I mean you can try if you like we'll go with you he'll be painted said Sam timidly you know how he'll be he won't think much of us if he gets waxy we've had it Ralph scar at Sam dimly he remembered something that Simon had said to him once by the Rocks don't be silly he said and then he added quickly let's go he held out the Conch to piggy who flushed this time with pride you must carry it when we're ready I'll carry it piggy sought in his mind for words to convey his passionate willingness to carry the Conch Against All Odds I don't mind I'll be glad Ralph only I'll have to be led Ralph put the Conch back on The Shining log we better eat and then get ready they made their way to the devastated fruit trees piggy was helped to his food and found some by touch while they ate Ralph thought of the afternoon we'll be like we were We'll Wash Sam gulped down a mouthful and protested but we bathe every day Ralph looked at the filthy objects before him and sighed we ought to comb our hair and it's too long I've got both socks left in the shelter said Eric so we could pull them over our heads like caps sort of we could find some stuff said Piggy and tie your hair back like a girl no of course not then we must go as we are said Ralph and they won't be any better Eric made a entertaining gesture but they'll be painted you know how it is the others nodded they understood only too well The Liberation into savagery that the concealing paint brought well we won't be painted said Ralph because we aren't Savages Sam nerk looked at each other all the same Ralph shouted no paint he tried to remember smoke he said we want smoke he turned on the twins fiercely I said smoke we've got to have smoke there was silence except for the multitudinous murmur of the bees at last piggy spoke kindly of course we have cuz the Smoke's a signal and we can't be rescued if we don't have smoke I knew that shouted Ralph he pulled his arm away from piggy are you suggesting I'm just just saying what you always say said piggy hastily I thought for a moment I hadn't said Ralph loudly I knew all the time I hadn't forgotten piggy nodded propitiatingly your Chief Ralph you remember everything I hadn't forgotten of course not the Twins were examining Ralph curiously as though they were seeing him for the first time they set off along the beach in formation Ralph went first limping a little his spear carried over one shoulder he saw things partially through the tremble of the heat Haze over the flashing Sands and his own long hair and injuries behind him came the twins worried now for a while but full of unquenchable Vitality they said little but trailed the butts of their wooden Spears for piggy had found that looking down shielding his tired sight from the sun he could just see these moving along the sand he walked between the trailing Barts therefore the Con held carefully between his two hands the boys made a compact little group that moved over the beach four platelike Shadows dancing and mingling beneath them there was no sign left of the storm and the beach was swept clean like a blade that has been scoured the sky and the mountain were at an immense distance shimmering in the Heat and the reef was lifted by Mirage floating in a kind of silver pool halfway up the sky they passed the place where the tribe had danced the charred sticks still lay on the Rocks where the rain had quenched them but the Sand by the water was smooth again they passed this in silence no one doubted that the tribe would be found at Castle Rock and and when they came in sight of it they stopped with one Accord the densest tangle on the island a mass of Twisted stems black and green and impenetrable lay on their left and Tall Grass swayed before them now Ralph went forward here was the crushed grass where they had all Lain when he had gone to prospect there was the neck of land the ledge skirting the rock up there were the red Pinnacles Sam touched his arm smoke there was a tiny smudge of smoke wavering into the air on the other side of the rock some fire I don't think Ralph turned what are we hiding for he stepped through the screen of grass onto the little open space that led to the narrow neck you two follow behind I'll go first then piggy a pace behind me keep your Spears ready piggy peered anxiously into the Luminous Veil that hung between him and The World Is it safe ain't no C I can hear the sea you keep right close to me Ralph moved forward onto the neck he kicked a stone and it bounded into the water then the sea sucked down revealing a red weedy Square 40 ft beneath Ralph's left arm am I safe qued piggy I feel awful high above them from the Pinnacles came a sudden shout and then an imitation war cry that was answered by a dozen voices from behind the rock give me the Conch and stay still halt who goes there Ralph bent back his head and glimpsed Roger's dark face at the top you can see who I am he shouted stop being silly he put the Conch to his lips and began to blow Savages appeared painted out of recognition edging round the ledge towards the neck They Carried Spears and disposed themselves to defend the entrance Ralph went on blowing and ignored Piggy's Terrors Roger was shouting you mind out see at length Ralph took his lips away and paused to get his breath back his first words were a gasp but audible calling an assembly the Savages guarding the neck muttered among themselves but made no motion Ralph walked forward a couple of steps a voice whispered urgently behind him don't leave me Ralph you kneel down said Ralph sideways and wait till I come back he stood halfway along the neck and gazed at the Savages intently freed by the paint they had tied their hair back and were more comfortable than he was Ralph made a resolution to tie his own back on afterwards indeed he felt like telling them to wait and doing it there and then but that was impossible the Savages sniggered a bit and one gestured at Ralph with his spear high above Roger took his hands off the lever and leaned out to see what was going on the boys on the neck stood in a pool of their own shadow diminished to Shaggy heads piggy crouched his back shapeless as a sack I'm calling an assembly silence Roger took up a small Stone and flung it between the Twins aiming to miss they started and Sam only just kept his footing some source of power began to pulse in Roger's body Ralph spoke again loudly I'm calling an assembly he ran his eye over them where's Jack the group of boys stirred and consulted a painted face spoke with the voice of Robert he's hunting and he said we weren't let you in I've come to see you about the fire said Ralph and about Piggy's specks the group in front of him shifted and laughter shivered outwards from among them light excited laughter that went echoing among the tall rocks a voice spoke from behind Ralph what do you want the twins made a bolt past Ralph and got between him and the entry he turned quickly Jack identifiable by personality and red hair was advancing from the forest a hunter crouched on either side all three were masked in black and green behind them on the grass The Headless and paunched body of a sa lay where they had dropped it piggy wailed Ralph don't leave me with ludicrous care he embraced The Rock pressing himself to it above the sucking sea the sniggering of the Savages became a loud derisive jeer Jack shouted above the noise you go away Ralph you keep to your end this is my end and my tribe you leave me alone the jering died away you pinched Piggy's specks said Ralph breathlessly you've got to give them back got who says Ralph's temper blazed out I say you voted for me for chief didn't you hear the con you played a dirty trick we'd have given you fire if you'd asked for it the blood was flowing in his cheeks and the bunged up eye throbbed you could have had fire whenever you wanted but you didn't you came sneaking up like a thief and stole Piggy's glasses say that again thief thief piggy screamed Ralph mind me Jack made a rush and stabbed at Ralph's chest with his spear Ralph sensed the position of the weapon from the Glimpse he caught of Jack's arm and put the thrust aside with his own butt then he brought the end round and caught Jack a stinger across the ear they were chest to chest breathing fiercely pushing and glaring who's a thief you are Jack wrenched free and swung at Ralph with his spear by Common consent they were using the spears as Sabers now no no longer daring the lethal points the blow struck Ralph's Spear and slid down to fall agonizingly on his fingers they were apart once more their positions reversed Jack towards the Castle Rock and Ralph on the outside towards the island both boys were breathing very heavily come on then come on truculently they squared up to each other but kept just out of fighting distance you come and see what you get you come on piggy clutching the ground was trying to attract Ralph's attention Ralph moved bent down kept a we eye on Jack Ralph remember what we came for the fire my specks Ralph nodded he relaxed his fighting muscles stood easily and grounded the butt of his spear Jack watched him inscrutably through his paint Ralph glanced up at the Pinnacles then towards the group of savages listen we've come to say this first you've got to give back Piggy's specks if he hasn't got them he can't see you aren't playing the game the tribe of painted Savages giggled And Ralph's mind faltered he pushed his hair up and gazed at the green and black mask before him trying to remember what Jack looked like Piggy whispered and the fire oh yes then about the fire I say this again I've been saying it ever since we dropped in he held out his Spear and pointed at the Savages your only hope is keeping a signal fire going as long as there's light to see then maybe a ship will notice the smoke and come and rescue us and take us home but without that smoke we've got to wait till some ship comes by accident we might wait years till we were old the shivering silvery unreal laughter of the Savages sprayed out and echoed away a gust of Rage shook Ralph his voice cracked don't you understand you painted fools Sam Eric Piggy and me we aren't enough we tried to keep the fire going but we couldn't and then you playing at hunting he pointed past them to where the trickle of smoke dispersed in the Pearly air look at that call that a signal fire that's a cooking fire now you'll eat and there'll be no smoke don't you understand there may be a ship out there he paused defeated by the silence and the painted anonymity of the group guarding the entry the chief opened a pink mouth and addressed Sam nerk who were between him and his tribe you to get back back no one answered him the twins puzzled looked at each other while piggy reassured by the cessation of violence stood up carefully Jack glanced back at Ralph and then at the twins grab them no one moved Jack shouted angrily I said grab them the painted group moved around Sam NK nervously and unhandy once more the Silvery laughter scattered Sam NK protested out of the heart of civilization oh I say honestly their Spears were taken from them tie them up Ralph Cried Out hopelessly against the black and green mask Jack go on tie them now the painted group felt the otherness of Sam neric felt the power in their own hands they felled the Twins clumsily and excitedly Jack was inspired he knew that Ralph would attempt to rescue he struck in a humming circle behind him and Ralph only just parried the blow Beyond them the tribe and the twins were a loud and writhing Heap piggy crouched again then the twins lay astonished and the tribes stood round them Jack turned to Ralph and spoke between his teeth see they do what I want there was silence again the twins lay inexpertly tied up and the tribe watched Ralph to see what he would do he numbered them through his Fringe glimpsed the ineffectual smoke his temper broke he screamed at Jack you're a beast and a swine and a bloody bloody Thief he charged Jack knowing this was the crisis charged too they met with a jolt and bounced apart Jack swung with his fist at Ralph and caught him on the ear Ralph hit Jack in the stomach and made him grunt then they were facing each other again panting and Furious but unnerved by each other's ferocity they became aware of the noise that was the background to this fight the steady shrill cheering of the tribe behind them Piggy's voice penetrated to Ralph let me speak he was standing in the dust of the fight and as the Trib saw his intention the shrill cheer changed to a steady booing piggy held up the Conch and the booing sagged a little then came up again to strength I got the Conch he shouted I tell you I got the Conch surprisingly there was silence now the tribe were curious to hear what amusing thing he might have to say silence and pause but in the silence a curious air noise close by Ralph's head he gave it half his attention and there it was again a faint zap someone was throwing stones Roger was dropping them his one hand still on the lever below him Ralph was a shock of hair and piggy a bag of fat I got this to say you're acting like a crowd of kids the booing Rose and died again as piggy lifted the white Magic Shell which is better to be a pack of painted like you are or to be sensible like Ralph is a great clamor Rose Among the Savages piggy shouted again which is better to have rules and agree or to hunt and kill again the clamor and again zap Ralph shouted against the noise which is better law and rescue or hunting and breaking things up now Jack was yelling too and Ralph could no longer make himself heard Jack had backed right against the tribe and they were a solid mass of Menace that bristled with Spears the intention of a charge was forming among them they were working up to it and the neck would be swept clear Ralph stood facing them a little to one side his spear ready by him stood piggy still holding out the Talisman The Fragile shining beauty of the shell the storm of sound beat at them an incantation of hatred High overhead Roger with a sense of delirious abandonment leaned all his weight on the lever Ralph heard the great Rock long before he saw it he was aware of a jolt in the earth that came to him through the soles of his feet and the breaking sound of stones at the top of the cliff then the Monstrous red thing bounded across the neck and he flung himself flat while the tribe shrieked The Rock struck piggy a glancing Blow from chin to knee The Conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist piggy saying nothing with no time for even a grunt traveled through the air Sideways from The Rock turning over as he went the rock bounded twice and was lost in the forest piggy fell 40 ft and landed on his back across that square Red Rock in the sea his head opened and staff came out and turned red Piggy's arms and legs twitched a bit like a pigs after it has been killed then the sea breathed again in a long slow sigh the water boiled white and pink over the Rock and when it went sucking back again the body of piggy was gone this time the silence was complete Ralph's lips formed a word but no sound came suddenly Jack bounded out from the tribe and began screaming wildly see see that's what you're get I meant that there isn't a tribe for you anymore the cons is gone he ran forward stooping I'm Chief viciously with full intention he hurled his spear at Ralph the point tore the skin and flesh over Ralph's ribs then sheared off and fell in the water Ralph stumbled feeling not pain but panic and the tribe screaming now like the chief began to advance another spear a bent one that would not fly straight went past his face and one one fell from on high where Roger was the twins lay hidden behind the tribe and the anonymous Devil's faces swarmed across the neck Ralph turned and ran a great noise as of Seagulls Rose behind him he obeyed an instinct that he did not know he possessed and swerved over the open space so that the spears went wide he saw the headless body of the sa and jumped in time then he was crashing through foliage and small boughs and was hidden by the forest the chief stopped by the pig turned and held up his hands back back to the Fort presently the tribe returned noisily to the neck where Roger joined them the chief spoke to him angrily why aren't you on watch Roger looked at him Gravely I just came down The Hangman's horror clung to him the chief said no more to him but he looked down at Sam nerk you've got to join the tribe you let me go and me the chief snatched one of the few Spears that were left and poked Sam in the ribs what do you mean by it eh said the chief fiercely what do you mean by coming with Spears what do you mean by not joining My Tribe the prodding became rhythmic Sam yelled that's not the way Roger edged past the chief only just avoiding pushing him with his shoulder the yelling ceased and Sam nerk lay looking up in quiet Terror Roger Advanced upon them as one wielding a nameless Authority chapter 12 Cry Of The Hunters Ralph lay in a covered one wondering about his wounds the bruised flesh was inches in diameter over his right ribs with a swollen and bloody scar with a spear had hit him his hair was full of dirt and tapped like the tendrils of a creeper all over he was scratched and bruised from his flight through the forest by the time his breathing was normal again he had worked out that bathing these injuries would have to wait how could you listen for naked feet if he were splashing in water how could you be safe by the little stream or on the open beach Ralph listened he was not really far from The Castle Rock and during the first panic he had thought he heard sounds of pursuit but the hunters had only sneaked into the fringes of the greenery retrieving Spears perhaps and then had rushed back to the sunny rock as if terrified of the darkness under the leaves he had glimpsed one of them striped brown black and red and had judged that it was Bill but really thought Ralph this was not bill this was a Savage whose image refused to blend with that ancient picture of a boy in shorts and shirt the afternoon died away the circular spots of sunlight moved steadily over green frons and brown fiber but no sound came from behind the Rock at last Ralph wormed out of the ferns and sneaked forward to the edge of that impenetrable thick that fronted the neck of land he peered with elaborate caution between branches at the edge and could see Robert sitting on guard at the top of the cliff he held a spear in his left hand and was tossing up a pebble and catching it again with the right behind him a column of smoke Rose thickly so that Ralph's nostrils flared and his mouth dribbled he wiped his nose and mouth with the back of his hand and for the first time since the morning felt hungry the tribe must be sitting round the gutted Pig watching the fat ooze and burn among the ashes they would be intent another figure an unrecognizable one appeared by Robert and gave him something then turned and went back behind the rock Robert laid his spear on the Rock beside him and began to GNA between his raised hands so the feast was beginning and the Watchmen had been given his portion Ralph saw that for the time being he was safe he limped away through the fruit trees drawn by the thought of the poor food yet bitter when he remembered the feast Feast today and then tomorrow he argued unconvincingly that they would let him alone perhaps even make an outlaw of him but then the Fatal unreasoning knowledge came to him again the the breaking of The Conch and the deaths of Piggy and Simon lay over the island like a vapor these painted Savages would go further and further then there was that indefinable connection between himself and Jack who therefore would never let him alone never he paused sunfleck holding up a bow prepared to duck under it a spasm of Terror set him shaking and he cried aloud no they're not as bad as that it was an accident he ducked under the bow ran clumsily then stopped and listened he came to the smashed Acres of fruit and at greedily he saw two Lin and not having any idea of his own appearance wondered why they screamed and ran when he had eaten he went towards the beach the sunlight was slanting now into the Palms by the wrecked shelter there was the platform and the pool the best thing to do was to ignore this Leen feeling about the heart and rely on their Common Sense their daylight sanity now that the tribe had eaten the thing to do was to try again and anyway he couldn't stay here all night in an empty Shelter by the deserted platform his flesh crept and he shivered In The Evening Sun no fire no smoke no rescue he turned and limped Away through the forest towards Jack's end of the island the slanting sticks of sunlight were lost among the branches at length he came to a clearing in the forest where Rock prevented vegetation from growing now it was a pool of Shadows and Ralph nearly flung himself behind a tree when he saw something standing in the center but then he saw that the white face was bone and that the pig's skull grinned at him from the top of a stick he walked slowly into the middle of the clearing and looked steadily at the skull that gleamed as white as ever The Conch had done and seemed to jeer at him cynically an inquisitive ant was busy in one of the eye sockets but otherwise the thing was lifeless or was it little prickles of sensation ran up and down his back he stood the skull about on a level with his face and hel up his hair with two hands the teeth grinned the empty sockets seemed to hold his gaze masterfully and without effort what was it the skull regarded Ralph like one who knows all the answers and won't tell a sick fear and rage swept him fiercely he hit out at the filthy thing in front of him that bobbed like a toy and came back still grinning into his face so that he lashed and cried out in loathing then he was licking his bruised Knuckles and looking at the bare stick while the skull lay in two pieces its grin now 6 feet across he wrenched the quivering stick from the crack and held it as a spear between him and the white pieces then he backed away keeping his face to the skull that lay grinning at the sky when the green glow had gone from the Horizon and night was fully accomplished Ralph came again to the thicket in front of Castle Rock peeping through he could see that the height was still occupied and whoever it was up there had a spear at the ready knelt among the shadows and felt his isolation bitterly they were Savages it was true but they were human and the ambushing fears of the deep night were coming on Ralph moaned faintly tired though he was he could not relax and fall into a well of sleep for fear of the tribe might it not be possible to walk boldly into the fort and say I've got packs laugh lightly and sleep among the others pretend they were still boys school boys who had said sir yes sir and worn caps daylight might have answered yes but dark and the horrors of death said no lying there in the darkness he knew he was an outcast cuz I had some scents he rubbed his cheek along his forearm smelling the acrid scent of salt and sweat on the staleness of dirt over to the left the waves of ocean were breathing sucking down then boiling back over the rock there were sounds coming from behind the Castle Rock list listening carefully detaching his mind from the swing of the sea Ralph could make out a familiar Rhythm kill the Beast cut his throat spill his blood the tribe was dancing somewhere on the other side of this Rocky wall there would be a dark circle a glowing fire and meat they would be savoring food and the comfort of safety a noise nearer at hand made him quiver Savages were clambering up The Castle Rock right up to the top and he could hear voices he sneaked forward a few yards and saw the shape at the top of the rock change and enlarge there were only two boys on the island who moved or talked like that Ralph put his head down on his forearms and accepted this new fact like a wound Sam neric were part of the tribe now they were guarding the Castle Rock against him there was no chance of rescuing them and building up an outlaw tribe at the other end of the island samic were Savages like the rest piggy was dead and The Conch smashed to powder at length the guard climbed down the two that remained seemed nothing more than a dark extension of the rock a star appeared behind them and was momentarily eclipsed by some Movement Ralph edged forward feeling his way over the uneven surface as though he were blind there were miles of vague water at his right and the Restless ocean lay under his left hand as awful as the shaft of a pit every minute the water breathed round the death Rock and flowed into a field of whiteness Ralph crawled until he found the ledge of the entry and his grasp the Lookouts were immediately above him and he could see the end of a spear projecting over Over The Rock he called very gently Sam nark there was no reply to carry he must speak louder and this would Rouse those striped and inimical creatures from their feasting by the fire he set his teeth and started to climb finding the holds by touch the stick that had supported a skull hampered him but he would not be parted from his only weapon he was nearly level with the twins before he spoke Again Sam nerk he heard a cry and a flurry from The Rock the twins had grabbed each other and were gibbering it's me Ralph terrified that they would run and give the alarm he hauled himself up until his head and shoulders stuck over the top far below his armpit he saw the Luminous flowering round the rock it's only me Ralph at length they bent forward and peered in his face face we thought it was we didn't know what it was we thought memory of their new and shameful loyalty came to them Eric was silent but Sam tried to do his duty you got to go Ralph you go away now he wagged his Spear and essayed fierceness you shove off see Eric nodded agreement and jabbed his spear in the air Ralph leaned on his arms and did not go I came to see you to his voice was thick his throat was hurting him now though it had received no wound I came to see you to words could not express the dull pain of these things he fell silent while the Vivid stars were spilt and danced all ways Sam shifted uneasily honest Ralph you better go Ralph looked up again you two aren't painted how can you if it were light if it were light shame would burn them at admitting these things but the night was dark Eric took up and then the twins started their antifonal speech you got to go because it's not safe they made us they hurt us who Jack oh no they bent to him and lowered their voices push off Ralph it's a tribe they made us we couldn't help it when Ralph spoke again his voice was low and seemed breathless what have I done I liked him and I wanted us to be rescued again the Stars spilled about the sky Eric shook his head earnestly listen Ralph never mind what's sense that's gone never mind about the chief you got to go for your own good the chief and Roger yes Roger they hate you Ralph they're going to do you they're going to hunt you tomorrow but why I don't know and Ralph Jack the chief says it'll be dangerous and we got to be careful and throw our Spears like at a pig we're going to spread out in a line across the island we're going forward from this end until we find you we've got to give signals like this Eric raised his mouth and achieved a faint ululation by beating on his open mouth and he glanced behind him nervously like that only louder of course but I've done nothing whispered Ralph urgently I only wanted to keep up a fire he paused for a moment thinking miserably of the morrow a matter of overwhelming importance occurred to him what are you he could not bring himself to be specific at first but then fear and loneliness goed him when they find me what are they going to do the Twins were silent beneath him the death Rock flowered again what are they oh God I'm hungry The Towering Rock seemed to sway under him well what the twins answered his question indirectly you got to go now Ralph for your own good keep away as far as you can won't you come with me three of us we'd stand a chance after a moment's silence Sam spoke in a strangled voice you don't know Roger he's a terror and the chief they're both Terrors only Roger both boys froze someone was climbing towards them from the tribe he's coming to see if we're keeping watch Quick Ralph as he prepared to let himself down the cliff Ralph snatched at the last possible advantage to be rung out of this meeting I'll lie up close in that that Thicket down there he whispered so keep them away from it they'll never think to look so close the footsteps were still some distance away Sam I'm going to be all right aren't I the Twins were silent again here said Sam suddenly take this Ralph felt a chunk of meat pushed against him and grabbed it but what are you going to do when you catch me silence above it sounded silly to himself he lowered himself down the rock what are you going to do from the top of the Towering Rock came the incomprehensible reply Roger sharpened a stick at both ends Roger sharpened a stick at both ends Ralph tried to attach a meaning to this but could not he used all the bad words he could think of in a fit of temper that passed into yawning how long could you go without sleep he yearned for a bed and sheets but the only whiteness here was the slow spilt milk luminous round the rock 40 ft below where piggy had fallen piggy was everywhere was on his neck was become terrible in darkness and death if piggy were to come back now out of the water with his empty head Ralph whimpered and yawned like a litten the stick in his hand became a crutch on which he reeled then he tensed again there were voices raised on the top of the Castle Rock Sanner were arguing with someone but the ferns and the grass were near that was the place to be in Hidden and next to the thicket that would serve for tomorrow's Hideout here and His Hands touched grass was a place to be in for the night not far from the tribe so that if the horrors of the super Supernatural emerged one could at least mix with humans for the time being even if it meant what did it mean a stick sharpened at both ends what was there in there they had thrown Spears and missed all but one perhaps they would miss next time too he squatted down in the Tall Grass remembered the meat that Sam had given him and began to tear at it ravenous ly while he was eating he heard fresh noises cries of pain from Sam nerk cries of panic angry voices what did it mean someone besides himself was in trouble for at least one of the twins was catching it then the voices passed away down the Rock and he ceased to think of them he felt with his hands and found cool delicate fronds backed against the thicket he the then was the knight's Lair at first light he would creep into the thicket squeeze between the Twisted stems and scon himself so deep that only a crawler like himself could come through and that crawler would be jabbed there he would sit and the search would pass by and The Cordon waver on ululating along the island and he would be free he pulled himself Between the Ferns tumling in he laid the stick beside him and huddled himself down in the Blackness one must remember to wake at first light in order to diddle the Savages and he did not know how quickly sleep came and hurled him down a dark interior slope he was awake before his eyes were open listening to a noise that was near he opened an eye found the mold and an inch or so from his face and his fingers gripped into it light filtering between the fronds of fern he had just time to realize that the agong nightmares of falling and death were passed and that the morning was come when he heard the sound again it was an ululation over by the seash shore and now the next Savage answered and the next the cry swept by him across the narrow end of the island from sea to Lagoon like the Cry of a flying bird he took no time to consider but grabbed his sharp stick and wriggled back among the ferns within seconds he was worming his way into the thicket but not before he had glimpsed the legs of a Savage coming towards him the ferns were thumped and beaten and he heard legs moving in the long grass The Savage whoever he was ululated twice and the cry was repeated in both directions and then died away Ralph crouched still Tangled in the mid break and for a time he heard nothing at last he examined the break itself certainly no one could attack him here and moreover he had a stroke of luck the great rock that had killed piggy had bounded into this Thicket and bounced there right in the center making a smashed space a few feet in extent each way when Ralph had wriggled into this he felt secure and clever he sat down carefully among the smashed stems and waited for the hunt to pass looking up between the leaves he caught a glimpse of something red that must be the top of Castle Rock distant and un menacing he composed himself triumphantly to hear the sounds of the hunt dying away yet no one made a sound and as the minutes passed in the green shade his feeling of Triumph faded at last he heard a voice Jack's voice but hushed are you certain The Savage addressed said nothing perhaps he made a gesture Roger spoke if you're fooling us immediately after this there came a gasp and a squeal of pain Ralph crouched instinctively one of the twinss was there outside the thicket with Jack and Roger you're sure he meant in there the twin moaned faintly and then squealed again he meant he'd hide in there yes yes oh silvery laughter scattered among the trees so they knew Ralph picked up his stick and prepared for battle but what could they do it would take them a week to break a path through the thicket and anyone who wormed his way in would be helpless he felt the point of his spear with his thumb and grinned without Amusement whoever tried that would be stuck squealing like a pig they were going away back to the Tower Rock he could hear feet moving and then someone sniggered there came again that high birdlike cry that swept along the line so some were still watching for him but some there was a long breathless silence Ralph found that he had bark in his mouth from the Nord spear he stood and peeped upwards to the Castle Rock as he did so he heard Jack's voice from the top heave heave heave the red rock that he could see at the top of the cliff vanished like a curtain and he could see figures and blue sky a moment later the Earth jolted there was a rushing sound in the air and the top of the thicket was coughed as with a gigantic hand The Rock bounded on thumping and smashing towards the beach while a shower of broken twigs and leaves fell on him beyond the thicket the tribe was cheering silence again Ralph put his fingers in his mouth and bit them there was only one other rock out there that might conceivably move but that was half as big as a cottage big as a car a tank he visualized its probable progress with agonizing clearness that one would start slowly drop from ledge to ledge trundle across the neck like an outside Steamroller heave heave heave Ralph put down his spear then picked it up again he pushed his hair back irritably took two Hasty steps across the little space and then came back he stood looking at the broken ends of branches still silence he caught sight of the rise and fall of his diaphragm and was surprised to see how quickly he was breathing just left of center his heartbeats were visible he put the spear down again heave heave a frill prolonged cheer something boomed up on the Red Rock then the Earth jumped and began to shake steadily while the noise as steadily increased Ralph was shot into the air thrown down dashed against branches at his right hand and only a few feet away the whole Thicket bent and The Roots screamed as they came out of the earth together he saw something red that turned over slowly as a millwheel then the red thing was passed and the elephantine progress diminished towards the sea Ralph knelt on the plow up soil and waited for the earth to come back presently the white broken stumps the split sticks and the tangle of the thicket refocused there was a kind of heavy feeling in his body where he had watched his own pulse silence again yet not entirely so they were Whispering out there and suddenly the branches were shaking furiously at two places on his right the pointed end of a stick appeared in panic Ralph thrust his own stick through the crack and struck with all his might his spear Twisted a little in his hands and then he withdrew it again oh someone was moaning outside and a babble of voices Rose a fierce argument was going on and the wounded Savage kept groaning then when when there was silence a single voice spoke and Ralph decided that it was not Jax see I told you he's dangerous the wounded Savage moaned again what else what next Ralph fastened his hands round the chewed Spear and his hair fell someone was muttering only a few yards away towards the Castle Rock he heard a Savage say no in a shocked voice voice and then there was suppressed laughter he squatted back on his heels and showed his teeth at the wall of branches he raised his spear snarled a little and waited once more the invisible group sniggered he heard a curious trickling sound and then a louder crepitation as if someone were unwrapping great sheets of cellophan a stick snapped and he stifled a cough smoke was seeping through the branches in white and yellow wisps the patch of Blue Sky overhead turned to the color of a storm cloud and then the smoke billowed around him someone laughed excitedly and a voice shouted smoke he wormed his way through the thicket towards the forest keeping as far as possible beneath the smoke presently he saw open space and the green leaves of the edge of the thicket a smallish sad saage was standing between him and the rest of the forest a Savage striped red and white and carrying a spear he was coughing and smearing the paint about his eyes with the back of his hand as he tried to see through the increasing smoke Ralph launched himself like a cat stabbed snarling with the spear and the Savage doubled up there was a shout from Beyond the thicket and then Ralph was running with the swiftness of fear through the undergrowth he came to a pig run followed it for perhaps 100 yards and then swerved off behind him the ululation swept across the island once more and a single voice shouted three times he guessed that was the signal to advance and sped away again till his chest was like fire then he flung himself down under a bush and waited for a moment till his breathing steadied he passed his tongue tentatively over his teeth and lips and heard far off the UL of the pursuers there were many things he could do he could climb a tree but that was putting all his eggs in one basket if he were detected they had nothing more difficult to do than wait if only one had time to think another double cry at the same distance gave him a clue to their plan any Savage bulked in the forest would utter the double shout and hold up the line till he was free again that way they might hope to keep the C unbroken right across the island Ralph thought of the boore that had broken through them with such ease if necessary when the chase came too close he could charge the Cordon while it was still thin burst through and run back but run back where the Cordon would turn and sweep again sooner or later he would have to sleep or eat and then he would awaken with hands clawing at him and the hunt would become a running down what was to be done then the tree burst the line like a boar either way the choice was terrible a single cry quickened his heartbeat and leaping up he dashed away towards the ocean side and the thick jungle till he was hung up among creepers he stayed there for a moment with his carves quivering if only one could have packs a long pause a time to think and there again shrill and inevitable was the ululation sweeping across the island at that sound he shied like a horse among the creepers and ran once more till he was panting he flung himself down by some ferns the tree or the charge he mastered his breathing for a moment wiped his mouth and told himself to be calm Sam nerk was somewhere in that line and hating it or were they and supposing instead of them he met the chief or Roger who carried Death In His Hands Ralph pushed back his tangled hair and wiped the sweat out of his best eye he spoke aloud think what was the sensible thing to do there was no piggy to talk sense there was no solemn assembly for debate nor Dignity of The Conch think most he was beginning to dread the curtain that might waver in his brain blacking out the sense of danger making a simpleton of him a third idea would be to hide so well that the advancing line would pass without discovering him he jerked his head off the ground and listened there was another noise to attend to now a deep grumbling noise as though the forest itself were angry with him a somber noise across which the ululations were scribbled excruciatingly as on slate he knew he had heard it before somewhere but had no time to remember break the line a tree hide and let them pass a nearer cry stood him on his feet and immediately he was away again running fast among the thorns and brambles suddenly he blundered into the open found himself again in that open space and there was the fathom wide grin of the skull no longer ridiculing a deep blue patch of sky but jeering up into a blanket of smoke then Ralph was running beneath trees with the grum of the forest explained they had smoked him out and set the island on fire hide was better than a tree because you had a chance of breaking the line if you were discovered hide then he wondered if a pig would agree and grimaced at nothing find the deepest Thicket the darkest hole on the island and creep in now as he ran he peered about him bars and splashes of sunlight flitted over him and sweat made glistening streaks on his dirty body the cries were far now and faint at last he found what seemed to him the right place though the decision was desperate here bushes and a wild tangle of Creeper made a mat that kept out all the light of the sun beneath it was a space perhaps a foot high though it was pierced Everywhere by parallel and Rising stems if you wormed into the middle of that you would be 5 yards from The Edge and hidden unless the Savage chose to lie down and look for you and even then you would be in darkness and if the worst happened and he saw you then you had a chance to burst out at him fling the whole line out of step and double back cautiously his stick trailing behind him Ralph wormed between the rising stems when he reached the middle of the mat he lay and listened the fire was a big one and the drum roll that he had thought was left so far behind was nearer couldn't a fire outrun a galloping horse he could see the Suns splashed ground over an area of perhaps 50 yards from where he lay and as he watched the sunlight in every patch blinked at him this was so like the curtain that flapped in his brain that for a moment he thought the blinking was inside him but then the patches blinked more rapidly dulled and went out so that he saw that a great heaviness of smoke lay between the island and the sun if anyone peered under the bushes and chanced to Glimpse human flesh it might be Sam nerk who would pretend not to see and say nothing he laid his cheek against the chocolate colored Earth licked his dry lips and closed his eyes Under the thicket the Earth was vibrating very slightly or perhaps there was a sound beneath the obvious Thunder of the fire and scribbled ululations that was too low to hear someone Cried Out Ralph jerked his cheek off the Earth and looked into the dulled light they must be near now he thought and his chest began to thump hide break the line climb a tree which was the best after all the trouble was you only had one chance now the fire was nearer those voling shots were great limbs trunks even bursting the fools the fire must be almost at the fruit trees what would they eat tomorrow Ralph stirred restlessly in his narrow bed one chanced nothing what could they do beat him so what kill him a stick sharpened at both ends the cries suddenly nearer jerked him up he could see a striped Savage moving hastily out of a green tangle and coming towards the mat where he hid a Savage who carried a spear Ralph gripped his fingers into the Earth be ready now in case Ralph fumbled to hold his spear so that it was Point foremost and now he saw that the stick was sharpened at both ends The Savage stopped 15 yards away and uttered his cry perhaps he can hear my heart over the noises of the fire don't scream get ready The Savage moved forward so that you could only see him from the waist done that was the butt of his spear now you could see him from the knee down don't scream a herd of pigs came squealing out of the greenery behind the Savage and rushed away into the forest birds were screaming mice shrieking and a little hopping thing came under the mat and cowed five yards away the Savage stopped standing right by the thicket and cried out Ralph drew his feet up and crouched the steak was in his hands the steak sharpened at both ends the steak that vibrated so wildly That Grew long short light heavy light again the ululation spread from Shore to Shore The Savage knelt down by the edge of the thicket and there were lights flickering in the forest behind him you could see a knee disturb the mold now the other two hands a spear a face The Savage peered into the obscurity beneath the thicket you could tell that he saw light on this side and on that but not in the middle there in the middle was a blob of dark and the Savage wrinkled up his face trying to decipher the darkness the seconds lengthened Ralph was looking straight into the Savage's eyes don't scream you'll get back now he's seen you he's making sure a stick sharpened Ralph screamed a scream of fright and anger and Desperation his legs straightened the screams became continuous and foaming he shot forward burst the thicket was in the open screaming snarling bloody he swung the stake and the Savage tumbled over but there were others coming towards him crying out he swerved as a spear flew past and then was Silent Running all at once the lights flickering ahead of him merged together the Roar of the Forest Rose to thunder and a tall Bush directly in his path burst into a great fan-shaped flame he swung to the right running desperately fast with the heat beating on his left side and the fire racing forward like a Tide The ululation Rose behind him and spread along a series of short sharp cries the sighting call a brown figure showed up at his right and fell away they were all running all crying out madly he could 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 towards 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 route 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 armar 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 of the peak was a crown an anchor gold foliage he saw a white drill epolets a revolver a row of guilt 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 boughs hauled up and held by two ratings in the stern sheets another rating held a submachine 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 hello squirming a little conscious of his filthy appearance Ralph answered shily hello the officer nodded as if a question had been answered are there any adults any grown-ups 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 attached swung like an acrobat and licked up the Palm heads on the platform 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 to 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 tauns some of them brown with the distended bellies of small Savages one of them came close to the officer and looked up I'm I'm but there was no more to come peral weams Madison sought in his head for an incantation that had faded clean away the officer turned back to Ralph wek 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 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 no 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 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 emmotion 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 out 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