Повелитель мух
Beast from Water
"Ihaven’tfinishedyet."
"Butyou’vetalkedandtalked!"
"I’vegottheconch."
Jacksatdown,grumbling.
"Thenthelastthing.Thisiswhatpeoplecantalkabout."
Hewaitedtilltheplatformwasverystill.
"Thingsarebreakingup.Idon’tunderstandwhy.Webeganwell;wewerehappy.Andthen—"
Hemovedtheconchgently,lookingbeyondthematnothing,rememberingthebeastie,thesnake,thefire,thetalkoffear.
"Thenpeoplestartedgettingfrightened."
Amurmur,almostamoan,roseandpassedaway.Jackhadstoppedwhittling.Ralphwenton,abruptly.
"Butthat’slittluns’talk.We’llgetthatstraight.Sothelastpart,thebitwecanalltalkabout,iskindofdecidingonthefear."
Thehairwascreepingintohiseyesagain.
"We’vegottotalkaboutthisfearanddecidethere’snothinginit.I’mfrightenedmyself,sometimes;onlythat’snonsense!Likebogies.Then,whenwe’vedecided,wecanstartagainandbecarefulaboutthingslikethefire."Apictureofthreeboyswalkingalongthebrightbeachflittedthroughhismind."Andbehappy."
