Lord of the Flies

by William Golding

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.