Повелитель мух
The Sound of the Shell
Simonspokefirst.
"Likecandles.Candlebushes.Candlebuds."
Thebushesweredarkevergreenandaromaticandthemanybudswerewaxengreenandfoldedupagainstthelight.Jackslashedatonewithhisknifeandthescentspilledoverthem.
"Candlebuds."
"Youcouldn’tlightthem,"saidRalph."Theyjustlooklikecandles."
"Greencandles,"saidJackcontemptuously."Wecan’teatthem.Comeon."
Theywereinthebeginningsofthethickforest,plonkingwithwearyfeetonatrack,whentheyheardthenoises—squeakings—andthehardstrikeofhoofsonapath.Astheypushedforwardthesqueakingincreasedtillitbecameafrenzy.Theyfoundapigletcaughtinacurtainofcreepers,throwingitselfattheelastictracesinallthemadnessofextremeterror.Itsvoicewasthin,needle-sharpandinsistent;ThethreeboysrushedforwardandJackdrewhisknifeagainwithaflourish.Heraisedhisarmintheair.Therecameapause,ahiatus,thepigcontinuedtoscreamandthecreeperstojerk,andthebladecontinuedtoflashattheendofabonyarm.Thepausewasonlylongenoughforthemtounderstandwhatanenormitythedownwardstrokewouldbe.Thenthepiglettoreloosefromthecreepersandscurriedintotheundergrowth.Theywereleftlookingateachotherandtheplaceofterror.Jack’sfacewaswhiteunderthefreckles.Henoticedthathestillheldtheknifealoftandbroughthisarmdownreplacingthebladeinthesheath.Thentheyallthreelaughedashamedlyandbegantoclimbbacktothetrack.
