Why didnt you?
They knew very well why he hadnt: 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 round 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 toward the platform and the meeting.
Chapter Two
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, 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 the larger boys who had not 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, toward 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.
Were on an island. Weve been on the mountain top and seen water all round. We saw no houses, no smoke, no footprints, no boats, no people. Were on an uninhabited island with no other people on it.
Jack broke in.
All the same you need an armyfor hunting. Hunting pigs
Yes. There are pigs on the island.
All three of them tried to convey the sense of the pink live thing struggling in the creepers.
We saw
Squealing
It broke away
Before I could kill itbutnext 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[8].
He lifted the shell on his knees and looked round the sun-slashed faces.
There arent any grownups. We shall have to look after ourselves.
The meeting hummed and was silent.
And another thing. We cant have everybody talking at once. Well have to have Hands up like at school.
He held the conch before his face and glanced round the mouth.
Then Ill give him the conch.
Conch?
Thats what this shells called. Ill give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when hes speaking.
But
Look
And he wont be interrupted: Except by me.
Jack was on his feet.
Well have rules! he cried excitedly. Lots of rules! Then when anyone breaks em
Wheeoh!
Wacco!
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.
Youre hindering Ralph. Youre not letting him get to the most important thing.
He paused effectively.
Who knows were here? Eh?
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 dont know where we are cos we never got there. He gaped at them for a moment, then swayed and sat down.
Ralph took the conch from his hands.
Thats what I was going to say, he went on, when you all, 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 unevenness of Piggys breathing. The sun slanted in and lay golden over half the platform. The breezes 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. WeJack, Simon and mewe climbed the mountain. Its wizard. Theres food and drink, and
Rocks
Blue flowers
Piggy, partly recovered, pointed to the conch in Ralphs hands, and Jack and Simon fell silent. Ralph went on.
While were waiting we can have a good time on this island.
He gesticulated widely.
Its 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. Its a good island. Until the grownups come to fetch us well have fun.
Jack held out his hand for the conch.
Theres pigs, he said. Theres food; and bathing water in that little stream along thereand everything. Didnt 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 six years old, and one side of his face was blotted out by a mulberry-colored birthmark. 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 toward 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 childs voice. Piggy knelt by him, one hand on the great shell, listening and interpreting to the assembly.
He wants to know what youre going to do about the snake-thing.
Ralph laughed, and the other boys laughed with him. The small boy twisted further into himself[9].
Tell us about the snake-thing.
Now he says it was a beastie.
Beastie?
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 couldnt have a beastie, a snake-thing, on an island this size, Ralph explained kindly. You only get them in big countries, like Africa, or India.