Повелитель мух
Beast from Water
Hetookoffhisglassesandblinkedatthem.Thesunhadgoneasifthelighthadbeenturnedoff.
Heproceededtoexplain.
"Ifyougetapaininyourstomach,whetherit’salittleoneorabigone—"
"Yoursisabigone."
"Whenyoudonelaughingperhapswecangetonwiththemeeting.Andifthemlittlunsclimbbackonthetwisteragainthey’llonlyfalloffinasec.Sotheymightaswellsitonthegroundandlisten.No.Youhavedoctorsforeverything,eventheinsideofyourmind.Youdon’treallymeanthatwegottobefrightenedallthetimeofnothing?Life,"saidPiggyexpansively,"isscientific,that’swhatitis.Inayearortwowhenthewar’soverthey’llbetravelingtoMarsandback.Iknowthereisn’tnobeast—notwithclawsandallthat,Imean—butIknowthereisn’tnofear,either."
Piggypaused.
"Unless—"
Ralphmovedrestlessly.
"Unlesswhat?"
"Unlesswegetfrightenedofpeople."
Asound,half-laugh,half-jeer,roseamongtheseatedboys.Piggyduckedhisheadandwentonhastily.
"Solet’shearfromthatlittlunwhotalkedaboutabeastandperhapswecanshowhimhowsillyheis."
