Повелитель мух
Beast from Water
Theotherswerewaitingforthisandcamestraightaway.ThosewhowereawarethatashiphadpassedtheislandwhilethefirewasoutweresubduedbythethoughtofRalph’sanger;whilethose,includingthelittlunswhodidnotknow,wereimpressedbythegeneralairofsolemnity.Theplaceofassemblyfilledquickly;Jack,Simon,Maurice,mostofthehunters,onRalph’sright;therestontheleft,underthesun.Piggycameandstoodoutsidethetriangle.Thisindicatedthathewishedtolisten,butwouldnotspeak;andPiggyintendeditasagestureofdisapproval.
"Thethingis:weneedanassembly."
NoonesaidanythingbutthefacesturnedtoRalphwereintent.Heflourishedtheconch.Hehadlearntasapracticalbusinessthatfundamentalstatementslikethishadtobesaidatleasttwice,beforeeveryoneunderstoodthem.Onehadtosit,attractingalleyestotheconch,anddropwordslikeheavyroundstonesamongthelittlegroupsthatcrouchedorsquatted.Hewassearchinghismindforsimplewordssothateventhelittlunswouldunderstandwhattheassemblywasabout.Laterperhaps,practiceddebaters—Jack,Maurice,Piggy—wouldusetheirwholearttotwistthemeeting:butnowatthebeginningthesubjectofthedebatemustbelaidoutclearly.
"Weneedanassembly.Notforfun.Notforlaughingandfallingoffthelog"—thegroupoflittlunsonthetwistergiggledandlookedateachother—"notformakingjokes,orfor"—heliftedtheconchinanefforttofindthecompellingword—"forcleverness.Notforthesethings.Buttoputthingsstraight."
Hepausedforamoment.
