Повелитель мух
Beast from Water
"I’vebeenalone.BymyselfIwent,thinkingwhat’swhat.Iknowwhatweneed.Anassemblytoputthingsstraight.Andfirstofall,I’mspeaking."
Hepausedforamomentandautomaticallypushedbackhishair.Piggytiptoedtothetriangle,hisineffectualprotestmade,andjoinedtheothers.
Ralphwenton.
"Wehavelotsofassemblies.Everybodyenjoysspeakingandbeingtogether.Wedecidethings.Buttheydon’tgetdone.Weweregoingtohavewaterbroughtfromthestreamandleftinthosecoconutshellsunderfreshleaves.Soitwas,forafewdays.Nowthere’snowater.Theshellsaredry.Peopledrinkfromtheriver."
Therewasamurmurofassent.
"Notthatthere’sanythingwrongwithdrinkingfromtheriver.ImeanI’dsoonerhavewaterfromthatplace—youknow,thepoolwherethewaterfallis—thanoutofanoldcoconutshell.Onlywesaidwe’dhavethewaterbrought.Andnownot.Therewereonlytwofullshellstherethisafternoon."
Helickedhislips.
"Thenthere’shuts.Shelters."
Themurmurswelledagainanddiedaway.
"Youmostlysleepinshelters.Tonight,exceptforSamnericupbythefire,you’llallsleepthere.Whobuilttheshelters?"
Clamorroseatonce.Everyonehadbuilttheshelters.Ralphhadtowavetheconchoncemore.
