Повелитель мух
Beast from Water
"I’vegottheconch.I’mnottalkingaboutthefear.I’mtalkingaboutthebeast.Befrightenedifyoulike.Butasforthebeast—"
Jackpaused,cradlingtheconch,andturnedtohishunterswiththeirdirtyblackcaps.
"AmIahunteroramInot?"
Theynodded,simply.Hewasahunterallright.Noonedoubtedthat.
"Wellthen—I’vebeenalloverthisisland.Bymyself.IftherewereabeastI’dhaveseenit.Befrightenedbecauseyou’relikethat—butthereisnobeastintheforest."
Jackhandedbacktheconchandsatdown.Thewholeassemblyapplaudedhimwithrelief.ThenPiggyheldouthishand.
"Idon’tagreewithallJacksaid,butwithsome.’Coursethereisn’tabeastintheforest.Howcouldtherebe?Whatwouldabeasteat?"
"Pig."
"Weeatpig."
"Piggy!"
"Igottheconch!"saidPiggyindignantly."Ralph—theyoughttoshutup,oughtn’tthey?Youshutup,youlittluns!WhatImeanisthatIdon’tagreeaboutthisherefear.Ofcoursethereisn’tnothingtobeafraidofintheforest.Why—Ibeentheremyself!You’llbetalkingaboutghostsandsuchthingsnext.Weknowwhatgoesonandifthere’ssomethingwrong,there’ssomeonetoputitright."
