Повелитель мух
Painted Faces and Long Hair
Threewereplayingherenow.Henrywasthebiggestofthem.Hewasalsoadistantrelativeofthatotherboywhosemulberry-markedfacehadnotbeenseensincetheeveningofthegreatfire;buthewasnotoldenoughtounderstandthis,andifhehadbeentoldthattheotherboyhadgonehomeinanaircraft,hewouldhaveacceptedthestatementwithoutfussordisbelief.
Henrywasabitofaleaderthisafternoon,becausetheothertwowerePercivalandJohnny,thesmallestboysontheisland.Percivalwasmouse-coloredandhadnotbeenveryattractiveeventohismother;Johnnywaswellbuilt,withfairhairandanaturalbelligerence.Justnowhewasbeingobedientbecausehewasinterested;andthethreechildren,kneelinginthesand,wereatpeace.
RogerandMauricecameoutoftheforest.Theywererelievedfromdutyatthefireandhadcomedownforaswim.Rogerledthewaystraightthroughthecastles,kickingthemover,buryingtheflowers,scatteringthechosenstones.Mauricefollowed,laughing,andaddedtothedestruction.Thethreelittlunspausedintheirgameandlookedup.Asithappened,theparticularmarksinwhichtheywereinterestedhadnotbeentouched,sotheymadenoprotest.OnlyPercivalbegantowhimperwithaneyefulofsandandMauricehurriedaway.InhisotherlifeMauricehadreceivedchastisementforfillingayoungereyewithsand.Now,thoughtherewasnoparenttoletfallaheavyhand,Mauricestillfelttheuneaseofwrongdoing.Atthebackofhismindformedtheuncertainoutlinesofanexcuse.Hemutteredsomethingaboutaswimandbrokeintoatrot.
Rogerremained,watchingthelittluns.Hewasnotnoticeablydarkerthanwhenhehaddroppedin,buttheshockofblackhair,downhisnapeandlowonhisforehead,seemedtosuithisgloomyfaceandmadewhathadseemedatfirstanunsociableremotenessintosomethingforbidding.
