"No use."

　　Eric looked down at him through a mask of dried blood. Piggy peered in the general direction of Ralph.

　　" 'Course it's no use, Ralph. Now we got no fire."

　　Ralph brought his face within a couple of feet of Piggy's.

　　"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 his voice.

　　"They stole it!"

　　"That's them," said Piggy. "They blinded me. See? That's Jack Merridew. You call an 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 toward the platform.

　　"Blow the conch," said Piggy. "Blow as loud as you can."

　　The forests re-echoed; and birds lifted, crying out of the treetops, as on that first morning ages ago. Both ways the beach was deserted. Some littluns came from the shelters. Ralph sat down on the polished trunk and the three others stood before him. He nodded, and Samneric 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. Or 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 . . . 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 signal's 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--"

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