Повелитель мух
Beast from Water
Thederisivelaughterthatrosehadfearinitandcondemnation.SimonopenedhismouthtospeakbutRalphhadtheconch,sohebackedtohisseat.
WhentheassemblywassilentRalphturnedtoPiggy.
"Well,Piggy?"
"Therewasanotherone.Him."
ThelittlunspushedPercivalforward,thenlefthimbyhimself.Hestoodknee-deepinthecentralgrass,lookingathishiddenfeet,tryingtopretendhewasinatent.Ralphrememberedanothersmallboywhohadstoodlikethisandheflinchedawayfromthememory.Hehadpushedthethoughtdownandoutofsight,whereonlysomepositivereminderlikethiscouldbringittothesurface.Therehadbeennofurthernumberingsofthelittluns,partlybecausetherewasnomeansofinsuringthatallofthemwereaccountedforandpartlybecauseRalphknewtheanswertoatleastonequestionPiggyhadaskedonthemountaintop.Therewerelittleboys,fair,dark,freckled,andalldirty,buttheirfaceswerealldreadfullyfreeofmajorblemishes.Noonehadseenthemulberry-coloredbirthmarkagain.ButthattimePiggyhadcoaxedandbullied.Tacitlyadmittingthatherememberedtheunmentionable,RalphnoddedtoPiggy.
"Goon.Askhim."
Piggyknelt,holdingtheconch.
"Nowthen.What’syourname?"
Thesmallboytwistedawayintohistent.PiggyturnedhelplesslytoRalph,whospokesharply.
